‘Filling in for other staff and working yourself to death isn’t going to accomplish anything.’
‘Then what do you suggest I do?’ She indicated her desk, piled high with paperwork, as she spoke. Jasper heard a hint of mild desperation in her tone. ‘I was chosen for this job. It’s what I’ve been working towards for a very long time and I don’t want the powers that be to think I’m incompetent and—’
‘They won’t think that,’ Jasper interrupted as he stood and walked towards her. He stood behind her chair and placed his hands on her shoulders. She jumped when he touched her but he kept his hands still for a moment and the warmth he generated started to flow into her tired and exhausted trapezius. ‘You are doing an incredible job and no one is going to blame you for taking a night off and relaxing a little rather than beating yourself with a stick and wearing sackcloth and ashes.’
Her lips twitched at his words. ‘Sackcloth and ashes?’ She was working very hard at ignoring the way her body responded so readily to his nearness. There was something about him which she found highly attractive…in fact, if she was honest, there was a lot about him she found highly attractive and keeping her distance, making sure their working relationship was that and nothing more, was the only thing which had helped keep her unwanted attraction to Jasper in check.
‘You know what I mean. Listen. Why don’t we get out of here and go grab a bite to eat?’
‘But what about your girls? Don’t you need to get home to them?’ Jennifer was concerned for both Lilly and Lola, not wanting to take their father’s time away from them but, really, she was more concerned with being alone with Jasper for any great stretch of time. In fact, they were alone now…here…in her office…the rest of the staff either on duty or off home. They were more alone here than they would be at a crowded, busy restaurant.
Jasper’s hands were moving slowly, working their magic and beginning to unknot her shoulders. She would relax too much with him like this…secluded in her office. She needed to move. She needed to put distance between them. She needed to…
‘Mmm.’ Jennifer heard herself moan as he continued to massage. It was so good. So nice. So warm and caring. So…evocative.
At that realisation, she pushed away from her desk, almost knocking Jasper over in her haste to put as much distance between them as possible. Her eyes were wide, her breathing doubling in an instant from its previous relaxed rate, and she started fidgeting with the papers she’d almost knocked off her desk.
‘Jennifer?’
‘Er…Nothing. I mean, thanks for the massage. Did you say something about dinner?’ She opened her drawer and pulled out her handbag. ‘We can take my car if you like.’ Focusing on searching for her car keys and quite unable to look at him, she tried to pull herself together. When he didn’t say anything, she knew she had to meet his gaze. ‘Unless you do need to get home to your girls. Of course you do. It’s all right. Sara usually keeps leftovers in the fridge for me so it’s no trouble to—’
‘Jennifer.’ He interrupted her again, a smile twitching at his lips. ‘The girls will already be in bed by now and are well cared for. Of course we can take your car, if you’d prefer, but just relax. It’s only dinner.’
‘Right. I know. I guess your words are finally starting to sink in.’ she walked over to the coat rack and swapped her white coat for her warm jacket. ‘Do you know anywhere good that’s also close?’
‘I do.’ Jasper walked to the door. ‘I’ll just get my things from my office. Won’t be a moment.’
‘Great. Sounds great.’ She watched him walk away, his stride strong and purposeful as he made his way down the corridor to where his own office was. When he was out of sight, she closed her eyes and started to reflect over what had just happened. Jasper’s touch. The way he’d looked at her, that cute little smile of his playing about his lips. The warmth of his hands. The nearness of his body. The scent of him overpowering her senses.
It had been so incredibly long since she’d been seriously attracted to another man that she wasn’t at all sure how to behave. ‘You can do this. You can do this,’ she kept telling herself as she locked up. ‘It’s just dinner…with a friend. Nothing more.’
But as Jasper made his way back up the corridor towards her, she knew she was lying to herself. Spending time one on one with Jasper probably wasn’t the best idea in the world but, she had to admit, she was rather curious about him. Sure, Sara had filled in a few of the gaps but she had definitely been intrigued by him, even before she’d known his true identity.