I should have know things would be different, our moment in the car park had left no confusion as to what he wanted. I was all to aware of him and found myself thinking about his lips, why did he have to ask? Actions speak louder than words after all.

He was pushing me further and further, testing me, teasing me, he must know if it wasn't for the phone call I would have given in to him, eagerly so.

The glancing touches, a hand on my back as we walked together, the way we would stand so closely and his cheeky winks, staff were starting to notice and comment. It should bother me but it doesn't.

His confidence had reached new heights, I'd no idea how that was possible but he became even more brazen in showing his attraction to me.

I appreciated how he remained focused and professional around the patients, how they opened up to him, how competent he was and his ease in relating to others.

I found myself seeking him out to work along side me, to assist with anything and everything and unashamedly so. My excuses were becoming feeble and obvious, afterwards I would curse my eagerness, tripping over myself to be in his company wasn't me yet I couldn't stop. This had never been me, so why now? Why him?

Yes he was very attractive and charming but that didn't explain my reaction to his presence, I found myself longing for his attention and time.

...

"Staff nurse master..." Connie beckoned as she breezed passed the nurses station. "...with me please."

"Yes boss..." he answered, with his long stride he caught up easily. "...what do you need sweetcheeks?" his cheery demeanour was short lived.

"Mr Phillips needs a catheter putting in." Connie couldn't keep the smirk from her face as she caught sight of Jacobs cocky swagger falter.

"Your joking right?" he'd already got his fare share of patients under his care.

Unable to hold back any longer Connie turned to face him. "Yes actually..." she'd surprised him and gave herself an internal cheer. "...there's an RTC coming in...that's if you've the time."

As they walked into resus he whispered in her ear, so close she could felt his breath on her neck and her heart leapt. Memories of the maybe encounter in her office came flooding back. "For you...I've all the time in the world."

Connie refused to let him get to her especially now with such high stakes, the sight of a young girl fighting for her life was sobering. He touched her hip as he squeezed passed her in a hurry to fetch equipment and at any other time it would have been meant as more, been taken as so much more but not now. In this moment as they battled the odds it was nothing, inconsequential and ignored.

"You okay sweetcheeks?" She jumped at the sound of his voice behind her. She'd barely made it into her office before breaking down at the loss of the little girl.

"Ye...fine." she quickly wiped the moisture from her cheeks and set her shoulders ready to face the world but her answer didn't fool Jacob.

"You don't have to pretend with me..." Jacob approached carefully, slowly like you would any wounded animal, one false move and they would run and hide or more than likely lash out. "...if you want to talk..." he ran a tentative hand down her arm. "...I'm a good listener or I've been told I'm good company." His smile was small but genuine, he was as devastated as her.

As his fingers touched hers she pulled away and flopped down on the sofa. "I want to be left alone Jacob...I'm not in the mood for your games tonight." There was no harshness just resigned sadness.

She let out a shuddering breath at the sound of the door shutting, relief washed over her as she relaxed, the effort to stay in control was to great. But she wasn't alone, the dip in the cushion made her jump and out of habit she tried again to hide her pain. "I thought I said I wasn't in the mood for your games."

"Who said I was playing any sort of game?" Jacob countered, he sat still and quiet holding her hand loosely, he offered comfort and support. There was no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive and Connie felt herself falling deeper and deeper.

There was many sides to this man and she hadn't found one that didn't feed the flame that had ignited inside her.