The sound of an all to familiar laugh broke Connie's concentration. Looking up from the pile of paperwork that was scattered around her desk she could see Jacob Masters casually leaning against the nurses station.
Right there, was quite possibly the most annoying man in the universe but at the same time he had Connie intrigued with his confidence, personality and charm.
Charm...he had it by the bucket loads, he always managed to come across sincere, he was a people person, a very good nurse and let's not forget good looking, the only problem was...he knew it!
Lost in her train of thought, Connie blushed when she realized he was looking directly at her and had caught her staring. She quickly released her bottom lip from her teeth and tried to focus on the figures in front of her.
Wearing a knowing smirk Jacob excused himself from the group that had gathered round to listen to his latest anecdote.
He swaggered over to lean in the doorway of Connie's office. "See something you like Queen Bee?"
"Excuse me?" Connie feigned ignorance.
Jacob raised an eyebrow at her and moved further into the room. "I saw you looking." He stated as he made himself comfortable on the chair directly in front of her desk.
"I can assure you, the only thing I was looking at was the nursing staff slacking off."
"Ok...if that's what you need to tell yourself, that's fine." Said Jacob feeling amused.
"Get back to work Staff Nurse Masters." Connie said bluntly.
"I'm on my break-" "well go to the staff room then, stop bothering me!" Insisted Connie as she rifled through her papers pretending to look for something.
"Tell me something." Said Jacob watching her intently, completely ignoring her request.
"Your annoying." She muttered not looking up.
Jacob laughed loudly and Connie's head snapped up. "What's so funny?"
"Tell me something about you." Jacob tried again.
"I'm annoyed by you." She said giving him a fake exaggerated smile. "Now leave me alone."
"You want me to leave you alone, tell me something nobody knows about you." Bargained Jacob.
"Why?" Frowned Connie.
"I want to get to know you...nothing wrong with that, is there?" Shrugged Jacob. "I'll share if you do."
"Your presuming I'd want to know something about you!" Said Connie.
Chuckling Jacob stood. "Let me know when your ready to stop pretending." He said just before he left.
Dropping her pen down on the table Connie let out a sigh. "That man!" She muttered to herself as she lazed back in the chair deep in thought, her paperwork no longer in the forefront of her mind.
The next day...
"Morning sweet cheeks." Smiled Jacob greeting Connie as she walked into the E.D.
"Its Mrs Beauchamp, Staff Nurse Masters...how many times?" She huffed doing a really good impression of being annoyed.
As soon as Jacob was no longer in sight Connie let the tiniest smile show on her lips before she caught herself and looked around to make sure no one else had seen the lapse.
...
"It can be anything." Said Jacob standing beside Connie at the nurses station.
Connie let out a sigh at Jacob's cryptic statement. "What can, Staff Nurse Masters?"
"The thing that your going to tell me that nobody knows about you...it doesn't have to be a big thing..." smirked Jacob confidently.
"I'm not telling you anything...big or small!" Insisted Connie turning to move away.
"Oh come on beautiful...don't be a spoil sport." Said Jacob walking with her.
"Its-" "I know, Mrs Beauchamp...I now what you name is...I was just stating a fact." Said Jacob disappearing into cubicles leaving Connie stunned by his comment.
Closing her office door, Connie leaned heavily on it as a bright smile lit up her face. What was this man doing to her?!
And the day after that...
"You not going home tonight sweet cheeks?" Asked Jacob wondering into Connie's office.
"I've still got loads of paperwork to do before I leave." She told him as she deposited another folder in the cabinet.
"Want some company?" He asked.
"Nooo!" Said Connie shaking her head as she stacked more papers.
Jacob made himself comfortable, sitting on the sofa and stretched his arms across the back of the cushions as he continued to gaze in her direction.
"Do you have something wrong with your ears...I'm sure if I look hard enough round here I could find a decent nurse to take a look." She said giving him a smug smile.
Jacob remained completely unfazed by her comment. "Tell me something new queen Bee..."
"No! Go away!" She snapped.
Jacob smiled. "You don't mean that." He told her.
"I really do -" "No you don't." Disagreed Jacob.
"What on earth gave you that idea?" Quizzed Connie.
"If you wanted me to leave you alone you'd give me that lovely glare of yours...you know the one that you give people when your angry...I haven't seen it yet..." said Jacob throwing Connie completely off kilter.
Struggling with a witty remake and feeling flustered she decided to change the subject. "Don't you have somewhere better to be?"
"Nope." He answered and then frowned. ""Have you eaten?" Asked Jacob genuinely concerned.
Connie sighed and looked up at him. "No." She told him simply.
"I'll be right back..." Jacob disappeared leaving Connie shaking her head.
A smirk reappeared on her face as she got back on with her work.
Connie worked solidly for the next half an hour, there was still no sign of Jacob and she was secretly disappointed. Putting away the last file Connie turned to her computer to send off a couple of emails when she heard her office door close.
Looking up she saw Jacob had returned minus his uniform, dressed in a burgundy t-shirt that showed off his toned chest leaving her in a daze for a spilt second until Jacob's movements brought her back.
"I got food." He said placing a bag on the table in front of the sofa giving Connie an expectant look.
Connie sighed as she pushed herself up from her chair and joined Jacob. "You really didn't need to do this." She said looking in the bag.
"I wanted to ...hope you like Chinese...It was the nearest place open at this time of night." Explained Jacob, all the joviality from his previous visit was no where to be seen.
"I do...thank you." Said Connie, honestly appreciating his kindness.
"No problem." Said Jacob pulling out the cartons from the bag. "Besides...how else do I get you to join me for a meal?"
"I thought you didn't ask twice?" Chuckled Connie playfully.
"Well...technically I haven't asked..." he clarified.
"No, you didn't." Agreed Connie. "Have you always been this sure of yourself?"
Jacob passed a open container and a folk to Connie and then picked another one out for himself before he answered. "No...it came with age." He admitted with a small smile.
"Your certainly persistent." Connie told him. "What I can't understand is, why..."
"Are you fishing for complements Mrs Beauchamp?" Teased Jacob.
"No!" She leaned sideways to nudge his shoulder with a smile. "And well done for getting my name right."
"No problem sweet cheeks." Said Jacob.
Connie rolled her eyes at his use of one of the many pet's name's he'd given her. "How are you settling in?" She asked.
"Good...I think. Thanks for recommending me to Rita." Said Jacob watching Connie as smirked.
"I had nothing to do with Rita hiring you." Insisted Connie.
"Mmm...I'm not convinced...nothing happens round here without your say so..." said Jacob giving her a knowing smile. "Not as bad as you thought, hey?"
Connie looked at him puzzled, then Jacob added. "Spending some time with me." He explained.
"I've had better company." Teased Connie.
They sat quietly tucking into their food when Jacob turned his head slightly to look at Connie. "Tell me something -" "Oh don't start that again!" Groaned Connie. "...and you were actually managing not to annoy me as well!" She smiled.
"What's the big deal...we're just sat here...sharing some food...I'm trying to make conversion..." Jacob stopped when Connie's phone bleeped in her pocket.
Pulling it out she read the message shaking her head. Sliding the phone on the table she looked at Jacob.
"Everything okay?" He asked.
"Fine." She sighed. "I'm probably going to regret this but...are you busy tomorrow?"
"No, why?" frowned Jacob, his curiosity spiked.
Connie stood placing the lid back on the Chinese container and collected up her things.
"You want to know something about me that nobody knows...be ready for 8 o'clock...pack an over night bag and something smart to wear." Said Connie issuing her cryptic orders.
"Pm?" Wondered Jacob amused.
"Am...and don't go getting any funny ideas!" Warned Connie. "...and Jacob."
"Yes?"
"Thanks for the food." Smiled Connie as she left Jacob sat in her office ever so slightly confused.