‘Except for the lawyers. You’re leaving them with nothing to do.’
Jennifer smiled up at him and once more Jasper took a hit to his solar plexus. The woman was starting to really consume his thoughts. In the mornings he’d wonder what she was going to wear to work. At lunch he’d listen to his colleagues sing her praises, all of them totally surprised at how brilliant she was. In the evening he would wonder what she looked like as she dressed for bed, with her dark locks flowing loosely around her shoulders, softening the gorgeous structure of her face. Then he’d dream of her. Dream of kissing her. No woman had consumed him so much since he’d first met Elisha.
Jasper belatedly realised he was staring and turned away, collecting the X-rays and putting them back into the packet. ‘Um…’ He paused at the door. ‘Are you going tomorrow?’
‘Tomorrow?’
‘To Sara’s mid-winter barbecue.’
‘Oh, that. Yes. I’m going. Are you?’ She’d been wondering if she’d see him there or, more to the point, she’d been hoping she’d see him there.
‘Yes. The girls are very excited about it.’
‘No doubt.’
‘My parents will be there too, and Megan, if she can make it.’
‘Great. I’m looking forward to meeting your sister. How are the wedding plans going?’
‘Frantic, from what Mum says. I haven’t had the courage to even broach the subject with my little sis. Besides, she has enough stress on her plate.’
‘Did the girls’ dresses show up?’
‘Yes. They’ve had their final fitting and look like adorable little angels.’
‘I’m sure they do. Do the dresses come complete with halos?’
Jasper chuckled. ‘No, thank goodness, or those halos would definitely be slipping a bit on my two girls.’
‘They’re adorable, Jasper, and you know it.’
‘Adorable? Yes. A handful? Yes. Able to walk slowly down the aisle? No.’
‘They’re four. What do you expect?’
‘I expect Megan’s beginning to regret asking them.’
‘It will all be fine on the day.’
‘You think so?’ He exhaled and fiddled with his tie, smoothing it down. ‘I hope so. I don’t want to disappoint Megan.’
‘Well, it’s not your fault if you have two adorable but unruly children. Oh, wait a minute, it is,’ she joked, and Jasper merely rolled his eyes and shook his head. ‘How about if we have a practice tomorrow at Sara’s place? I’m sure Sara and I can explain it to them, how they need to be perfect young ladies and walk like princesses.’
‘Good luck.’
‘It’ll be fine,’ she repeated. ‘You’re just struggling because you don’t know how to speak female.’
‘Thank goodness you’re fluent in it.’
‘Yes.’ There was a knock on the consulting-room door and the clinic sister poked her head in.
‘There the two of you are. There are patients everywhere and you’re standing around gas-bagging. Get back to work.’
‘Yes, Sister,’ they both replied, dutifully chastised. As the sister headed off, Jasper and Jennifer smiled at each other, no words needed as they communicated they were glad they’d had these few minutes alone.
‘Action stations,’ Jasper said, and winked at her before he left. Jennifer stood where she was for a second, waiting for her heart rate to return to normal, unable to believe the way he affected her. When she felt the lub-dub of her heart was more sedate, she headed to the waiting room to call her next patient through and realised her energy was completely restored. Five minutes in Jasper’s company had done more than all the coffee she’d drunk so far that morning and she was starting to believe he was the healthier option.
CHAPTER SEVEN
DINNER had been lovely. The concert had been amazing and as they walked to Jennifer’s car, she was bouncing with life.
‘That was…so incredibly brilliant.’
‘It was,’ Jasper agreed. He’d taken her hand as they’d headed out of the venue, not wanting to lose her in the throng of people making their way down the steps of the Sydney Opera House…and he hadn’t let go. It also appeared that Jennifer was more than happy for him to continue holding her hand.
They were both dressed casually in jeans and jumpers, their coats now around them to protect from the cool evening wind. Jennifer hadn’t worn her hair loose, as he’d hoped, but it wasn’t in her usual bun either. Instead, she’d pulled it back into a French braid, keeping it tidy and out of the way.