***Part 3 of 12: I just realised my labelling could be confusing; I am counting the prologue as part 1 when I write these little notes :/ sorry... This is the last of my preprepared chapters, so the story will be updated every couple of days from now on. I would love to hear what you think so far please, please comment***
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"I knew it." Jonathan shook his head and walked past him, not even bothering to look at Martha as he strode down the corridor.
"Knew what?" Jasper was beside him in an instant, those long strides of his eating up the distance with ease. "How do you know all these things?"
"I knew she couldn't resist meddling in my life, but this...this is pure cunning." Jon was muttering, talking more to himself than Jasper, who was listening to what was being said quite intently as he kept pace beside the shorter man.
"Who? Who are you talking about? How do you know about my girls?"
Jonathan stopped walking and turned to face him. "Sarah." His tone was confident and cross and after shaking his head he continued on his way.
"Sarah? Matt's wife?"
"Yes. Matt's wife. How many Sarahs do you know?"
"A few. But that's not the point, Obviously you know Sarah."
"Yes, and obviously we spoke on the phone last week."
"What?" Jasper couldn't believe how bewildering this man was. He was smart and blonde and slim AND gorgeous. And his new boss. To top it all off, he knew about Jasper's daughters. It wasn't that people around the hospital didn't know he had children, they did, But Jasper had worked hard to keep his private life as far away from the hospital world as possible.
When he'd started dating again two years ago, he'd made a pact with himself to protect the girls as much a possible. He'd started out by not wanting to date anyone who worked at the hospital; but as he spent the majority f his time there-and the rest at home with his twins-he realised it was virtually impossible to meet someone who was not associated in some way with the medical profession. To ensure the girl's were protected he'd, compartmentalized his life and things had been going swimmingly...until now. If Jonathan knew Sarah then his two worlds had just collided with a very loud bang and he wasn't quite sure what to do next.
"What do you mean we spoke on the phone, when?"
"The other day when you called Sarah's house. The line was bad. Remember?"
"That was you?" His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why did you say you were Matt?"
"I didn't. I told you it wasn't Matt but you couldn't hear me."
He nodded, "The line was bad."
"They weren't far from the ward now and Jon was having difficulty slotting Jasper 'call me Eddie' Edwards into a nice, neat compartment. He didn't fit under the 'work colleague' banner, neither did he fit under the 'friend' banner, and in the past those were the only two banners he'd had. Knowing Jasper was a friend of Matt and Sarah's automatically connected his professional and private lives and he didn't like that at all. He needed to get this sorted out and now.
He came to a halt and grabbed Jasper's arm, pulling him into a small nook near the drinking fountain.
"Look, I don't like it when my professional and private lives mix."
"Neither do I"
"Good. Then Sarah can just forget her wild ideas and we can simply work together as colleagues and nothing more. Agreed?"
Jasper frowned. "What wild ideas? What are you talking about?"
"Sarah!"
"I've gathered that much. I've also realised you're the friend who's been staying with Matt and Sarah this past week."
"Yes." It was Jonathan's turn to frown.
"The girls came home on Thursday, after spending the day with Sarah, talking about Sarah's friend, Jon. I'm guessing you're Jon."
"You really are very smart, DR Edwards. Good to know you can connect the dots so easily." His tone was laced with light sarcasm.
"Hey! Why are you cross with me? It's just a coincidence, that's all."
"Yes, but one I could have at least prepared myself for."
"You're talking in riddles again."
"Sarah's been trying to get me to date again..."
Jasper's eyebrows hit his hairline at Jon's words. "Sarah wants to set us up! You're..."
"Yes, now you get the picture." Jonathan looked down at his clenched hands for a moment, then lifted his head, raising his chin with a hint of defiance. Jasper found he liked the action but pushed that thought aside for now. "we were talking about you the other day. After you'd called."
"You were?" Should he be worried? Jonathan had already mentioned that Sarah was trying to set them up. Had Sarah been touting his good points? He waited.
"I was trying to figure out the loose family connection." Jon waived his words away and shook his head as though a little embarrassed by the confession. "Anyway, I asked her where you worked and she quickly changed the subject. You see she knew I was coming to work here- in this department. She knew you worked here. Why do you think that a woman as bright and intelligent as Sarah wouldn't tell us about each other?"
"I don't know. It slipped her mind?"
"Do you really believe that?" If you do you don't know Sarah all that well."
"Wait a minute. Why does she want you to start dating again?"
Jonathan visible bristled and squared his shoulders. "That. Is none one your business, DR Edwards."
"I think it is, especially if I've been chosen as the guy to get you off the blocks." Jasper's good humour was beginning to reassert itself. A flush came to Jon's cheeks at his words, and Jasper realised it caused his boss' eyes to shine a deep dark chocolate brown. His breath caught at the startling contrast between the fair hair and dark eyes, and for a second he wondered what else could make those eyes sparkle.
"DR Edwards, all you need to know is that I don't date my staff, even if I was ready to 'get off the blocks', as you so eloquently put it. End of discussion." With that Jon turned and walked into the ward, his back firm as he put all thoughts of his new, sexy colleague out of her mind.
It was easier said than done and he was very aware of Jasper as he undertook his first round of the ward. It was the one time he should be exhibiting total professionalism. He was the new boss. This is what he'd been waiting for so long and now that it was here all that he seemed conscious of was where Jasper Edwards was standing. Jon's senses seemed to have tuned themselves into the other man, and even when Edwards was out of sight, his fresh scent worked his way into Jon's synapses and continued to tease him to distraction.
Twice he had an intern waiting patiently for him to answer a question. The whole entourage, which was made up of med students, interns, registrars and her fellow consultants -including Jasper- watched her intently, waiting for her words of wisdom. The problem was, he had no idea what the original question had been, all due to his awareness of 'Eddie.'
Jonathan was cross with himself for not maintaining total control. He's had to freeze out the world before and he could do it again, especially if it mean he avoided making a fool out of himself in front of his staff. Sarah may have thought Jasper Edwards up to the job of melting his hardened heart but Jon knew better. He'd been called the iceman at his old hospital and he wasn't all that perturbed about continuing that name here- especially if it meant that colleagues like Jasper Edwards kept their distance.
After they'd completed the round, Jonathan was about to head back to his office to take another look at his schedule for the day when the clinical nurse consultant called him over.
"There's a call for you DR Thornegate."
"Thank you." Jonathan took he receiver to discover it was Martha.
"Your morning head of unit meeting has been cancelled. Professors Dorian and Fitzgibbon have flu and won't be in."
"It seems to be chasing me," He muttered absentmindedly.
"Pardon?" Martha asked.
"It was going around in Melbourne and I managed to avoid it. It doesn't matter. Does this mean I need to head to clinic?"
"Yes, Eddie will show you around if you're not sure where to go."
"Thank you." There was no point in telling his new secretary he wasn't about to rely on 'Eddie' for anything. If he got lost, he'd ask someone else for directions. After all, he was a gay man, and if there was one thing a gay man could do better than a straight man it was ask for directions.
"I've rebooked you in to have your ID photo taken at one o'clock, which should give you enough time to finish up in clinic," Martha continued. Jonathan listened to his secretary, pleased that Martha was not only highly trained but communicative as well. It was sort of strange having a secretary to himself; as deputy head of unit at his last hospital he'd had to share secretarial support with three other consultants.
When he'd finished on the phone, Jon closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep, calming breath. His eyes snapped open when that now familiar spicy scent wound itself around his senses once more.
Without turning around, he said, "Is there something I can help you with, Doctor Edwards?"
"How did you know I was here?" Jasper asked softly.
"I'm good like that." He turned slightly to see Eddie lounging in a chair, his hands fiddling with a pen he'd picked up off the desk. He was handsome. Jon'd give him that. Those eyes of his, which were now watching him intently, were the most amazing colour and Jonathan had the feeling he could lose himself in them quite easily... Bt he was stronger than that. He could quite easily resist. Straightening his shoulders and lifting his chin with a hint of defiance, she waited for him to continue.
"Better than you were during ward round I hope," he stated with the quirk of an eyebrow.
