I couldn't believe this was happening to me, I Connie Beauchamp was falling for a nurse.
I'd always imagined that if I was to let any man into my life again it was going be someone I would learn to tolerate, someone that had their own busy lifestyle and demanded nothing from me, somebody with power. Yet here I was pining like I'd never done before for an irritatingly charming man I barely knew with a different kind of power. He had physical strength and being in his company made me feel safe, another first. Showing someone the real me willingly. He'd turned my stable and organized world on its end, it made no sense, the way he made me feel but I didn't want to change a thing. To let him in, to let my guard down was asking for trouble and I couldn't stop, I didn't want to. He made my heart flutter like nobody else ever could with just a glance, which was quite an achievement to say people thought my heart was cold. I am the ice queen, could I be starting to thaw.
The thought of him always brought a smile to my usually stoic expression, the amount of times he'd seen me with that far away look in my eye was becoming absurd. It needed to stop, I needed to call a halt to this impasse, the strain was beginning to show. Since his invitation we'd stayed close to the path, our flirting comfortable and safe, we didn't push the other and it was becoming hard to focus.
The next move had to be mine, he'd tried and I'd knocked him back, now it was my turn and what I needed to decide was whether I was willing to take the risk.
...
Jacob stood in the E.D entrance with his phone to his ear watching the sheets of rain sile down with an internal sigh.
"We should stop meeting like this." came a teasing voice behind him.
Jacob turned to find Connie smirking at him. "Like what?" he wondered.
"Me and you in the entrance with the rain pouring down." she explained moving to stand beside him, almost leaning into him.
Jacob smiled back putting his phone away, calling a taxi could wait, he wanted to enjoy a moment with the beautiful woman that seemed lighter somehow, like she'd wrestled her demons and won.
It felt like a lifetime since they had shared a private conversation and he was missing the playful side of his clinical lead, he wanted to enjoy the moment for the little time it lasted. "Planning on standing out in it again?" he teased.
"No..." shaking her head, adamant not to recreate the drowned rat look. "...took me ages to get warm...I've come prepared this time..." with a press of a button the umbrella she held by her side sprung to life catching Jacob of guard. "...home or pub?" she asked holding back her amusement at Jacobs startled expression.
"Pub I think...got an hour wait for a taxi..." he gave Connie a rye smile. "...should have booked something earlier."
An internal debate raged inside her, was this the opportunity to spend some time with him, ask him all the questions that had plagued her. Connie took a deep breath, her decision was made. "Come on...I'll drop you home." she set of walking towards her car, she focused on the sound of the rain hammering on the umbrella rather then the splashing noise Jacob made as he ran to catch up.
Connie drove in silence as she headed to the address Jacob had given her, she slowed the wipers as the rain eased to a drizzle. She could feel his gaze on her, burning into the side of her face, scrutinizing and analysing her motives no doubt.
Her mind was chaotic, what to say and what to ask in which order, words eluded her as she found herself seconded guessing herself. Maybe he didn't feel like that about her, maybe she'd misread the signs.
"What are you thinking about?" Jacob startled her back into the present.
"Oh...I...It's nothing-" "-are you wondering how your going to seduce me?" Jacob couldn't help but tease, his wide cocky grin told Connie he'd seen her blush even in the low light, maybe there could be some truth in his guess.
"Don't delude yourself." she mumbled feigning disinterested as nerves kicked in.
Pulling up the handbrake as she stopped outside his home she began examining the front of the modern looking building, anything to not look in Jacobs direction.
"You could come inside..." Jacob suggested with caution. "... I have decent coffee...red wine...beer..." he smiled. "...I could order us some food seen as though you won't let me take you out to dinner?"
Connie found herself at her default, ready to refuse and run. "I don't think..." she cursed herself and her knee jerk reaction. "...what kind of food?" she turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow and a playful glint.
"Obviously the choice is yours sweetcheeks." he confirmed, determined to sell the idea to her.
"I could go for some pizza." she said thoughtfully trying to hold back her eagerness.
"Pizza it is." Jacob left the car with an excitement, dashing around to Connie's door, pulling it open he offered his hand. To his surprise she took it and let him help her from her seat, he'd be the perfect host and let her see she could let him in, that this really wasn't a game to him.