"You know what today is, don't you?" Jacob spoke softly into Connie's ear as she passed him.

"Remind me again?" Connie asked, turning only slightly towards the nurse who she knew was smiling.

"I think you'll remember soon enough." Jacob's lips brushed Connie's ear as he spoke, and she had to tense every muscle in her body to stop it giving an obvious shiver.

Connie started down at the card in front of her. The usual message she would put in staff birthday cards seemed wrong, but she also didn't want to put anything too much. When she finally wrote the message, she was instantly sure it was a mistake. Much too formal, but she couldn't go back now.

…

Two hours later there was a knock on Connie's door and she gave a muttered oath under her breath. She was supposed to be having an admin day, and all that seemed to happen was interruptions.

"Come in!"

She didn't look up, but she knew instantly who it was, and what his face was doing.

"What?" The lead consultant finally asked when nothing was forthcoming.

"Happy Birthday Staff Nurse Masters. That is what you thought would be appropriate to write in my card. Happy Birthday Staff Nurse Masters." Jacob held up the card with raised eyebrows and a grin.

Giving a slight smile, Connie finally looked up and pushed another envelope across the table.

Jacob took a couple of steps forward as he offered a frown. "What's this?"

Connie didn't reply, just motioned for him to open it.

The smile still there but curious now, Jacob open the envelope and pulled out a card. As he did so, hundreds of sparkles shimmered as they fell to the floor.

"Grace." Connie offered before the man in front of her had the chance to ask.

Jacob smirked and read the card, his full grin soon returning.

"Well?" Connie finally asked, impatiently.

"It says Grace is inviting me to a special birthday dinner, so I think its Grace I should give my reply to. You might want to clean the glitter off that coroner's file."

Connie watched with a mixture of amusement and something else she couldn't name as Jacob slipped the card into his back pocket and left the room.

...

It was Grace who was her next interruption, her photo showing up on Connie's phone as it rang.

"You shouldn't be on your phone at school, Grace. I gave it to you for emergencies only."

"If it was an emergency, you have just wasted a lot of time."

Connie smiled at this, for that probably would have been her own response if the roles were reversed. Softening her voice, she asked, "Is there an emergency?"

"Well…no. But Jacob sent me a message to say he would love to come tonight, so you need to go shopping. I emailed you a list while I was in the library, and there are recipes for you to print off, as well."

Connie sighed and rubbed her temple. She'd thought a birthday dinner might be a take away and a shop bought cake, but evidently Grace had other ideas. "Okay, okay, but you're the one who is cooking, I will just supervise!"

Grace and Jacob had got on as soon as they met, much to Connie's surprise. She'd expected complaints from one or both of them, but instead she'd received a request for Jacob's email address so they could skype when she went back to New York.

Grace had had two holidays here since then, and on the last had quietly requested that she be allowed to move home. She'd been back two months now, and so far things seemed to be going well.

…

"A word please, Staff Nurse Masters." Connie called from the doorway of her office.

"Now?" Jacob asked, beginning a slow saunter towards her.

"No, I thought I'd ask you now if we can have a word later on."

Jacob smiled at the sarcasm dripping from her voice as he walked past into her office. "Alright, Queen B, you have my full attention."

Connie hesitated now. Whenever he was in her office, it seemed smaller somehow, and he was the only person she'd ever met that often made her lost for words.

When nothing was forthcoming, Jacob rested back against the desk. "If you want to give me a birthday present now, I won't say no."

Connie gave a slight smile and took a step forward, her lips inching closer to his until her breath tickled his lips as she replied, "I gave her that phone for emergencies. You're not supposed to call it!"

Jacob lowered his head and gave a smile. "Sorry, boss. I guess I just excited."

"Excited?" Connie asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Dinner at the boss' house for my birthday. That's a pretty big occasion in my book. I might even have to dig out a tie." Jacob replied, studying the doctor's face.

Connie gave a small smirk as she stepped back. "Well don't get your hopes up, because the last time Grace cooked I had to remodel the kitchen and make an emergency dentist appointment."

"I think I'll take my chances. See you tonight, sweet cheeks." Jacob offered before making his way to the door.

"Jacob."

He turned, a slight smile on his lips. "Connie?"

She opened her mouth to wish him happy birthday, but couldn't quite bring herself to, not in this setting. "There's no need for a tie. A clean shirt will do."

His smile widening, Jacob nodded and left the office.