Page 51 of A Mother for His Twins

‘True.’

‘We won’t flaunt this relationship but I won’t hide from it either. If the gossips find out, that’s fine by me.’ He felt her tense and cupped her face in his hands. ‘It’s OK, Jen. You can and will deal with it.’

‘What if I freak out again?’

‘Then I’ll enjoy calming you down. I know how to stop you babbling, remember?’ He pressed his mouth to hers and she sighed with longing.

‘Seriously, Jasper. I don’t like freaking out but I do. I know this about myself.’

‘If you freak out, then we’ll deal with it—together.’

CHAPTER NINE

DURING the next week, Jennifer felt like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs—especially when she was at work. Jasper had told her they wouldn’t flaunt their relationship, and they didn’t, but on the first day they had to attend meetings together and she was positive that everyone in the room could see that something was definitely going on between them. At one point she even called him Eddie, rather than Jasper, to try and show that they were still only just friends. It backfired big time.

‘Well, now they definitely know,’ Jasper said as he fell into step with her as she headed up to her office.

‘What? How?’ Jennifer was so caught off guard by his comments that some of the files she was holding slipped from her grasp.

When she didn’t bend down to pick them up, instead simply standing there and staring at him, Jasper bent and gathered the files. ‘You called me Eddie, Jennifer. You never call me that. By doing so, you’ve raised suspicions. They’ll all be grinning to themselves asking exactly what you’re trying to cover up.’

‘Really?’

There was such a look of wild panic in her eyes that Jasper quickly put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ‘It’s all right. Remember? We said we wouldn’t hide from it.’

‘You weren’t going to hide from it. I was going to run for the hills.’

‘Why?’ He looked a little hurt as they continued on their way and entered her office. Jasper closing the door firmly behind him. ‘Why don’t you want people to know?’ He tried for a nonchalant pose. ‘Don’t think I’m good enough to thaw the ice queen?’

‘Oh, Jasper. No.’ She was mortified at his words and crossed to his side, taking his hands in hers, wanting to dispel the pain she saw in his eyes. ‘It’s not that at all. It’s just different for me, that’s all. They’ve all known you for years. I’m the new girl and head of department.’

‘But we discussed this.’

‘I know.’ She gave his hands a little squeeze. ‘I thought I’d have more time, that’s all.’

‘What else? Come on, Jennifer. I know you well enough by now to sense when you’re holding back.’

He was right and she was amazed at his insight. Dropping his hands, she turned and went to sit behind her desk trying to figure out how to say what she was thinking. ‘It’s nothing.’

‘Don’t go saying it’s nothing because it already is. What is it?’ He came around and leaned against her desk, facing her, his thigh brushing the arm of her chair. She could feel his comforting warmth enveloping her even though he wasn’t touching her. Slowly, she raised her head and looked into his amazing, hypnotic eyes.

‘You’re the biggest catch in the hospital.’

‘You make me sound like a fish.’

‘You know what I mean, Jasper. You were voted most eligible Bachelor of the Hospital last year—or so Maryanne said.’

‘Maryanne?’

‘Yes, and she said it with a dreamy look in her eyes.’

‘Nah. They were just glassy from the bug she was fighting.’

‘Stop it, Jasper.’ She half laughed as she spoke. ‘It’s easy for you to make jokes but the truth is there are plenty of women out there who, once they discover our relationship, will treat me differently. I’ve seen it happen before when staff date. I know of one woman who actually received anonymous hate mail because she was dating the hospital’s most eligible bachelor. What if that happens to me?’

‘It won’t.’

‘How do you know?’

‘The people in Sydney aren’t nearly as crazy as those who live in Melbourne.’

Jennifer shook her head and stood, moving away from him.

‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ He came up behind her. ‘I guess I’m not all that comfortable hearing you talk about me as though I’m some product on the meat market.’

‘I thought you said it was fish?’

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