They’d already agreed to just be friends, to be there and support each other. She had the feeling she could learn a lot from Jasper but for her own sanity, for her own peace of mind, she needed to keep things on a platonic level.
‘I’d better get going.’
Her words broke the moment and Jasper moved away from her, knowing she was right.
‘Breakfast and a look at the house. That was the…deal.’ He’d almost said ‘date’.
‘It was, and can I just say again that those pancakes were totally amazing?’ And so were you, she added silently.
‘Thanks.’
‘Well…I guess I’ll go find the girls and say goodbye.’
‘I think they’re upstairs. If they’re not, it means they’ve been too quiet for far too long and have no doubt done something they know I won’t approve of.’
Jennifer smiled. ‘Pure mischief, eh?’
‘Yes. You have one Miss Chief but I have two.’ Jasper grinned as he led the way up the stairs to his parents’ domain and there they found both girls drawing at the table, Iris sitting nearby, reading a book. Jennifer declined another cup of tea and said her goodbyes then Jasper walked her out to her car.
‘Thanks again. For everything. Breakfast. The house. Listening.’
‘It was my pleasure.’ He leaned forward and pressed a friendly kiss to her cheek, but as he slowly pulled back and looked down into her face he realised it had been the wrong thing to do.
CHAPTER SIX
TWO weeks later at the Friday morning clinic Jennifer was starting to get exhausted from all the extra running around. Several of the department’s staff were off work, sick with colds and various forms of flu. It was a strong strain of bug which had hit the hospital hard this year and her department wasn’t the only one suffering. Meetings had been cancelled, clinics were bursting at the seams and yet the hospital seemed to be operating with almost a skeleton staff.
After seeing thirty patients, she quickly spoke to the clinic sister before heading off to the cafeteria.
‘Where are you going?’ a deep voice said from behind her. Jennifer spun around, feeling almost guilty at leaving the clinic but it would only be for a few minutes.
‘Jasper! You startled me.’ He fell into step beside her.
‘Coffee?’ he asked, his steps as eager as her own.
‘Most definitely. It’s just so busy that I need a little pick-me-up. My energy reserves are low and we still have half a clinic to get through. How about you?’
‘Same. Although I did promise Louise I’d bring her back a coffee as well.’
She smiled. ‘I promised Allan. In fact, I almost had to pull rank on him, he was so eager to get out for a few minutes.’
‘The perks of being head of unit.’
‘You could say that.’
‘Yet how does it look that you’re sneaking out to get coffee for yourself and the staff?’
‘It looks as though I’m looking after them.’ As they continued along the long corridor, she asked thoughtfully, ‘Do you think I should requisition a coffee-machine to be installed in the clinic?’
‘I think you’d win over the entire department as well as other departments that use that clinic area, not to mention the nursing and clerical staff.’
‘We had one in the clinic in Melbourne.’ They’d entered the cafeteria and headed for the coffee-machine.
‘Was that your doing?’
‘No. Someone else had done that before I arrived at the hospital but there were times too numerous to count that I silently thanked them for their forethought.’
‘Well, if it helps, I’d gladly back up your decision.’ Jasper nodded with firm resolution. ‘Go to it, Dr Thorngate. Change the department, one coffee-machine at a time.’ He leaned a little closer and his fresh, earthy scent enveloped her—the same fresh, earthy scent she’d been thinking about for weeks now. Jennifer breathed it in and tried not to close her eyes in delight. Being this near to Jasper was a definite pick-me-up and she suddenly wondered if she needed the coffee at all.
‘Although…’ His voice was rich and deep and wonderful. ‘I feel compelled to warn you, if you do happen to requisition it and if it does happen, you may be in danger of losing your ice-queen status.’
Jennifer edged back a little, uncomfortable at being so near to him when it only made it more difficult for her to control the tantilising attraction that flowed through her. Pretending to consider his words, she paused thoughtfully before saying, ‘Hmm. That would be worth considering. What if I put in a coffee-machine but increase everyone’s workload? Do you think that might balance it out? I can be a saviour and still remain the ice queen.’