Taking off the apron, Emily headed into the bathroom to wash the stray bits of icing and flour off her hands and arms and changing her shirt she headed to the front of the shop. Customers filled the sitting area and along with the sweet scent of vanilla, coffee filled the air. Finding on the lilac take away boxes she got a couple of Carla and Paul's favorite flavors from the display cabinet.

"Send Carla our love" Jodie took the box and put in a carry bag before pushing back a stray piece of black hair back behind the floral headband.

"I will. Call if you get stuck" Emily instructed, grabbing her purse and the cupcakes. Jodie had been one of her original employees three years ago when the shop first opened. She was also a couple of years older than Emily and more than capable of closing up. She wouldn't be doing it alone either as the other girls o knew how to close up too. She had enough in the cabinets to last until closing and grabbing the trays of coffee Sarah had made for her she waved them goodbye and headed back to the hospital.

"Oooh caramel" Paul greedily broke into the box and pulled out his cupcake as Emily took the chance to steal Anna from his arms.

"So how was work?" Carla asked casually, sipping the coffee that was welcomed after having the instant stuff the hospital provided.

"Work" Emily shrugged. Baking had been a hobby and when a friend of Greg's had come up with the idea to open her own cupcake store, Emily had agreed to go co-owner and run it all. Considering she spent the majority of her time travelling with her husband, she was very much the silent partner. "Jodie sends her love"

Passing the coffee to Paul, Carla looked at him expectantly only with his mouth full of cake he had to chew quickly before being able to speak.

"So you've known Jake long?" He managed to get out before taking a big gulp of coffee to help swallow the lump of icing stuck against the roof of his mouth.

"Jack. I guess a week?" Emily rolled her eyes, she had only been there ten minutes and already they were prying.

"How did you meet?" Carla asked curiously, licking the icing from her own cup cake.

"At the airport when I dropped Greg off. Guys come on, he is new in town and needs a friend" It wasn't the first time in her life when she wondered why she surrounded herself with such pessimistic people. They could only see the worse of things before the good.

"Does he know you're engaged?" Paul asked, earning a glare from Emily as she rocked his daughter by the window. "I take that as a yes. I saw him looking at you Em, not all guys can just be friends" He warned.

"What he means is, be careful Emmy. You attract people like stray animals; they get what they want from you and move on. We don't know this guy and just want to protect you" It was true though, her friend was too nice to people and refused to see their flaws. At least since being engaged she had started to wake up to the fact her fiancé was an asshole but it wasn't there place to interfere. They would do what they could and be there when she needed them.

"He isn't a stray animal. He works for a bank or something and is originally from London. He came from Sydney and will be here for six months for work. He knows no one other than his boss and his Aunty who is living with. Trust my judgment ok?" As if sensing her growing tension, Anna began to cry in her arms and she quickly passed her over to her Mum as the nurse came in.

"I'll see you guys later, call if you need anything" She kissed Anna on the head as she continued to scream and hugged Paul briefly. Waiting at the elevator Paul stopped her, frowning as he saw she was upset.

"I'm sorry Em, you know we love you" Sighing she was quick to forgive, it was stupid to get so worked up over but just once she'd like her friends to be on the same page. Just because they were a few years older than her, they didn't need to baby her. She had parents for that.

"I know but come on, I'm twenty five. You guys can't be telling me who I can and can't hang out with" Now she really did feel like a teenager.

"We're not. We just didn't expect him last night that's all. They're releasing her tomorrow morning so come over tomorrow night for dinner. I'll cook lasagna for you and...." He hesitated, "You can even bring your new friend" He didn't miss the hesitation before she responded but it was really because she didnt actually have any way of asking him so they were all worrying over nothing anyway. She didn't have to tell Paul that.

"I'll bring desert then" Laughing he gave her another hug.

"Dam right you are!" He waited for the doors to close before heading back to his wife, praying she really did know what she was doing. There was something between the pair of them and he didn't want to see her getting hurt.

Getting home, it was nearly four o'clock and deciding to go for a run she changed and found the leash for Nancy, a border collie cross she was currently fostering from a local shelter. The dog was glad for the chance to go out after being left at home for the majority of the day and the pair found their pace along the river. Stopping at the end of the path before the private jetties of the mansions along the water's edge took over Emily stopped to stretch and give Nancy a second to rest, mentally kicking herself for forgetting to bring water for the dog.

"Emily?" Jacks familiar voice had her stopping mid-stretch and with her arms still in the air, turned to see him coming down the path from the road.

"Hey!" She greeted, hating the fact her face was red and she felt sticky. He was in a clean white t-shirt and loose shorts, clearly just at the start of his trip.

"You live around here?" He asked hopefully. Nodding she pointed back down the path, her breathing still a little erratic.

"Follow the path the whole way around and you'll up on the road to my house" She said proudly.

"Did your dog need some water? That's quite a hike, I live just two houses up" He bent down to greet Nancy who despite panting heavily acted like she hadn't been running at all and bounced around to kiss his face.

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to hold you up" Emily ruffled Nancy's back which had her tail going even faster.

"It's no bother at all, I insist" As if agreeing Nancy barked excitedly and bounced towards the path Jack had come from.

"Guess that's a yes then" Laughing they followed him home, things looked different than they had last night when she dropped him off and going through the side gate they headed up the drive.

"Wow. Nice place" Emily admired the mansion as they waited on the porch. The sound of yapping coming from the other side had Nancy turning serious and whining at the prospect of seeing the other dogs. Not wanting the dog to run amuck and possibly damage or dirty anything she made her sit and got control of the leash. "We'll wait here; I don't want her to be a pain"

Nodding Jack went into the house, pushing the tiny dogs out of the way as he made a run for the kitchen. Finding a bowl suitable he filled it and grabbed another bottle from the fridge for Emily and made it the entry when his Aunt appeared.

"Jackson, who is that girl on my porch? That dog is scaring my babies" He didn't miss the snobbery of her voice or the look of disgust on her face.

"Emily, she's a friend Aunty Rosie. They won't come inside but you should come out and meet her" He enthused, wanting his Aunty to like her. "Please?"

She followed him without actually agreeing and seeing the woman behind Jack had Emily feeling nervous. Was this his mother? Putting the bowl down for Nancy the black and white dog quickly lapped it up and Emily accepted the water thankfully.

"Aunty Rosie, this is Emily. Emily my Aunt" Emily extended her hand and Rosie stared at it for a moment before accepting it.

"Hello" Emily greeted, hating the judging look she was being served.

"How do you two know each other?" Rosie turned to Jackson expectantly, and he had no idea why she was acting this way. It was almost embarrassing really.

"I met Emily at the airport, she was the one who helped me with my bags" Realization dawned on the older woman then.

"And the one who dropped you off last night?" Emily nodded, not sure what was implied.

"Yes Aunty Rosie" Jack regretting asking her to come and meet Emily now and prayed she go inside before this became any more awkward.

"Nice meeting you Emily, excuse me" Leaving them be she disappeared inside leaving an uncomfortable silence between them. This wasn't how he imagined this to go.

"Well, thanks for the water. I'll see you Jack" Giving Nancy's leash a tug the pair began to go down the drive towards freedom.

"Wait! Emily!" Jack ran after them and she turned around to face him. "Could I maybe grab your number? I'd love to make up for that awkward situation" He laughed nervously as her face paled slightly.

"Oh. Um. Jack, I don't know. I am engaged and I don't think...." He cut off her off, feeling even more embarrassed as she felt disappointment at the fact maybe Paul was right.

"I know, but as friends. You see what I have to live with, you seem pretty cool and it would get me out of the house for a couple of hours" He tried to bargain. Her eyes seemed to light up slightly as she couldn't stop her laugh, agreeing with him while he couldn't believe he said pretty cool.

"I guess so" She gave him her number which he entered into his phone and sent her a smiley face so she'd have his number too.

"Great, I'll talk to you soon then" He waved as she left the property and jogged off with Nancy at her side. Entering the house his Aunty was waiting, her arms crossed she looked annoyed.

"What?" He asked, giving up on going for his own run.

"She is pretty. Jack, I know I'm not your Mum, lord help me if I did have children of my own but watch the pretty ones. They are usually just after one thing and you have a lot of it" She warned. Rosie should know all about it, in her youth she had gone from man to man in the pursuit of wealth and while she never found love, she had enough of everything this life could offer. But she wanted more for her nephew; he was a good boy and needed someone of their own level not the first pretty face with a mutt of a dog.

"Trust me, Emily is not like that" He laughed, that was what it was all about? Pulling his phone out of his pocket he wanted to call her but there was no hope she'd be home to answer yet and he didn't want to give her the wrong impression. Giving up he went to shower and catch up on a few more accounts before dinner to kill the time.

With Nancy fed, Emily curled up on the sofa beside her as they watched their programs. She had only had the dog for two weeks and it would be easy to keep her. She was a great dog and the fact she had been facing death row at the pound was unimaginable. Picking at the frozen meal in front of her, Emily picked up her phone and the smiley face message stared back at her. Could she call him? Message him back? What if he thought she gave him a fake number or if she did call would she be risking the chance of him thinking she was leading him on? Five minutes later she threw away the dinner no longer hungry and sent him a smiley face back.

The beep from his phone had Jack jumping from the desk and grabbing it off the coffee table. The smiley face wasn't what he was hoping for but it was enough. 'She has a fiancé you idiot' He scolded himself and needing the guidance of someone better at this stuff that he was, was glad to see his brother was online. For whatever reason he was already falling head over heels for this girl and the worst part was, she wouldn't be doing the same.

Jack_D82: I need help, I met a girl......

Stephen82: What's the problem brother? I thought you were gay the way you keep turning down chicks. I'll come over and show you how it goes down ;)

Jack_D82: She is engaged asshole. You actually thought I was gay?

Stephen82: No lol maybe. You turned to Sophia Larazzo No one turns down a model. Engaged? Didn't pick you for the type to go after a taken woman, is she keen on you? Watch those girls bro, she could be trouble.

Jack_D82: I didn't know to start off with, but very clear with friend's thing. I feel whipped

Stephen82: Be her friend then. You're there for six months; you'll have to let her go so not much point in starting something anyway. Meet her friends and have some fun with them and act your age. Once you're thirty it's all downhill. Keep me posted, Mum is on the phone.

Sitting back in the chair Stephen hadn't been much help at all. Be her friend then. He could do that. This wasn't like him at all and getting back to his work he abandoned it the second his phone beeped again. A picture of Nancy on a pale blue sofa greeted him with a message underneath. 'Nice meeting you today, thanks for the water' Smiling he was quick to answer.

'You're welcome. Will you let Emily come out for dinner tomorrow night?' Was it too soon to be asking, doubt made him panic as he could see the message had been read. Did he really just ask the dog that? Dropping his head to the desk he banged it a few times, "Stupid, stupid" he muttered.

Butterflies she hadn't felt for years stirred in her stomach, which was a bad sign. Why was she doing this? Emily stared at his question for a good ten minutes before remembering Paul had invited her over. Saved. 'Cant, have plans'

Disappointment filled Jack as he read her message. Was this her way of saying no to him? He was about to respond when Emily sent another through. Paul had said to bring him along after all and as she received his message, she suddenly couldn't wait for dinner.

'Sounds great'