‘Ready?’
‘As ready as I’ll ever be,’ she replied, and they headed out of the hospital. Jasper walked with her to her car and this time refused the keys when she offered them to him.
‘I’ll navigate.’ His deep words washed over her as she exited the car park and for a split second she wondered if he was offering to navigate more than the car. Was Jasper also willing to navigate her through the rocky waters of moving on with her life? Of course she’d moved on in a professional capacity but emotionally she knew she’d held onto the past for too long. It was one of the reasons she’d returned to Parramatta. She needed to lay her past to rest once and for all. She needed to move on. To date. To find someone else to share her time with. Otherwise she’d end up all alone…And she didn’t want to be alone.
Jasper navigated extremely well and after she’d parked Miss Chief, they walked the short block to the dining district in the main street of Parramatta. ‘The world is your oyster…literally,’ Jasper said, pointing to a seafood restaurant. ‘What do you feel in the mood for?’
‘Huh?’ Jennifer was mildly startled by his question. She’d been intent on walking beside him, intent on trying not to get too close that their hands touched, intent on calming her nerves because she was out with a man…and not just any man at that.
Jasper only chuckled. ‘Good to see your brain’s starting to relax. How about here?’ He pointed at a restaurant that served café cuisine but also a large variety of foods. Their menus were printed up as a newspaper which you had to open to read. Jennifer was impressed with the gimmick and after they were seated and had trawled through the menu, deciding what to eat, she eased back in her chair and sighed, a smile on her face.
‘That’s better,’ Jasper declared.
‘What is?’
‘You.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes. Now you’re starting to relax. It’s good to see.’
Jennifer nodded. ‘You’re right. I do tend to push myself too hard, too fast. Thanks for making me get out, Jasper.’
‘Although I have to confess…’ he leaned a little closer, his elbows on the table, his eyes focused on hers ‘…I thought I was doing a good job of relaxing you back in your office.’
Jennifer blinked once and simply stared at him. Did he mean what she thought he meant? She swallowed, unable to speak for a moment.
‘Your shoulders are far too tight. I’d be more than happy to act as your remedial massage therapist if it’s going to help.’ He waggled his eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manner, that gorgeous smile that managed to melt her heart touching his lips.
‘Uh…I don’t…Uh…’ She cleared her throat ‘…know if that would be the…er…best idea.’
‘Why not? You were certainly enjoying it back in your office.’ His voice was so rich, so deep, and it wasn’t just washing over her any more—it was washing through her.
‘Jasper.’ She knew now he’d been well aware of the effects he’d been having on her, was still having on her. She decided not to play games any longer. ‘We can’t. We’re colleagues.’
‘True, and no doubt we’re better off maintaining a friendship, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re the first woman I have been seriously attracted to in a very long time.’
‘Jasper.’ His name was a tortured whisper as she shook her head. ‘Don’t say things like that.’
‘Why not? It’s the truth and I’ve found it a good policy always to stick to it wherever possible.’
‘So you’re…you’re…attra—’ She stopped as the waiter delivered their food. They both smiled their thanks and when they were left alone Jennifer found it difficult to look at him again. He was attracted to her and he’d admitted it. Just like that. She had a feeling that she’d been out of the dating loop for far too long if this was the way things were now done.
‘You have your family. I have…’ She paused.
‘You have what?’ His words soft and slightly probing.
Jennifer sat up a little straighter and squared her shoulders. When she spoke, she met his eyes. ‘I have my job and while that might not sound like much to some, I’ve worked extremely hard to get to where I am and I want to enjoy it.’
Jasper opened his mouth as though he was about to say something else but then changed his mind at the last second. ‘Fair enough. Let’s eat while it’s still hot.’
She blinked once, a little surprised at his acquiescence, but decided it wasn’t good to look a gift horse in the mouth. ‘It looks delicious,’ she remarked.