Jasper nodded thoughtfully. ‘That might work.’ They paid for the drinks and headed back to clinic, sipping their own coffees along the way.
‘As an alternative, I could fill in all the paperwork and get you to sign in the relevant places as though you were the instigator.’
‘You’d let me take the glory for your brilliant idea?’
‘If it meant ensuring most of the department were still afraid to approach me for any other funding requirements, sure.’
‘Ah…well in that case, I think I have to tell you it may be a matter of too little, too late.’
‘How so?’
‘The registrars have already seen through your façade. They like you.’
‘Oh, no.’ Her expression was serious as she shook her head. ‘That wasn’t part of the plan.’
Jasper chuckled, liking the way she could keep a straight face. He made a mental note never to play poker against her. ‘In fact, you’ve already won over both Allan and Louise. I think it might have been when you turned up for work the other day with flour on your nose and your hair a little out of place.’
‘I was baking with your mother and the girls. Lilly gave me one extra hug before I left to come in for the afternoon clinic and her fingers got caught in my hair. I didn’t have time to tidy myself up. That’s all.’
Jasper chuckled again. ‘I was only teasing, Jen. Besides, it’s good that people are seeing the real you.’
‘It is?’
‘Definitely.’ He glanced over at her, his words warm. ‘I like the real Jen Thorngate a lot better than the ice queen.’
‘Hmm. I may have to rectify that situation. Remind me to leave an extra load of case notes on your desk before I leave.’
‘It won’t work. Everyone is saying that you’re just what this department needs, that you’re gifted when it comes to administration and that you’re an excellent surgeon. I have to say, I agree with them. I’m sure if Maryanne wasn’t so sick with this lurgy that she’d join the Jennifer Thorngate fan club.’
‘Are you a card-carrying member?’
Jasper stopped just outside the clinic doors and gave her an intense look. His eyes had darkened to a smoky grey colour and Jennifer couldn’t ignore the way her body sizzled with tingles. She parted her lips to let out her pent-up breath, her own eyes widening a little at his nearness.
‘Jen. I’m the president.’ His words were soft but filled with meaning. His eyes dipped to her lips for a split second, causing another wave of tingles to flood her body before he walked through the clinic waiting room. She stood in the corridor, watching him through the glass until he disappeared from view down another side hallway.
He was the president of her fan club? What did that mean? She knew he was highly attracted to her, just as she was to him. They’d covered all of that a few weeks ago and until this moment he’d never even alluded to it since. What they hadn’t covered was the fact that he’d kissed her. It had been a kiss on the cheek and a fleeting one at that but it had been enough to send her mind into a complete meltdown and leave her body whirling with need.
That kiss had been meant as a friendly gesture, a way of thanking her for opening up to him, but at the same time it had been Jasper’s lips, brushing against her skin. His breath fanning softly over her and down her neck. It had been enough to take her dreams of him to another level, the one where he was kissing her, more thoroughly and far more often.
Jennifer closed her eyes, forcing her senses to return before following Jasper back into clinic, trying desperately to push his words and deep, penetrating looks aside, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Still, she managed to achieve it to some degree and concentrated on her work rather than on the gorgeous, sexy man who was only three consulting rooms down from her own. She delivered coffee to a very grateful Allan before finishing off her own and calling her next patient through.
‘Christopher.’ She welcomed her nineteen-year-old patient back into the consulting room, accepting the X-ray packet from him. ‘Now, let’s see what’s been happening with your hand.’ She took the X-ray out and flicked on her viewing box. ‘Ah…still not fully healed.’ She pointed to where he had fractured his third and fourth metacarpals while he’d been skateboarding down a dimly lit road at three o’clock in the morning. ‘When you come off your skateboard, you do a good job.’
‘I really do.’ Christopher was very interested in what she had to show him.
‘I think you need to have the cast on for at least another fortnight. We’ll do another check X-ray then to see if the healing has improved.’