It was too loud and perky, even in Frazer’s ears, but she was going to roll with it.

There was a split second of hesitation. Then Cora said, “Good. And yours?”

She was wearing her hair up. Strands framed her face and made her jaw look stronger, more stubborn. It suited her.

“Great. So glad we can get this going. I’ll admit, I got excited and called the first few patients and rang the shelter contacts they gave me to get this set up.”

Cora chuckled. Her elbows leant on the desk. “Don’t we need to get the first few people trained?”

“Well…” Frazer held her hands up. “The first few are kind of—you and I? And there’s another midwife on staff that has been really excited for this from the beginning.”

With a flick of her wrist, Frazer turned the computer screen so Cora could see. She leant forward too, settling against the desk. Their heads were a foot apart, and Frazer tried to ignore it.

To ignore the perfume that wafted across the small space.

“Here’s the spreadsheet I’ve just e-mailed through to you.” Frazer clicked on a new tab. “You can click on all the tabs and open up a whole bunch of things on figures, donations, people who are supplying things with no charge—for example, we have two rooms available after-hours for nothing; they’re usually used for the prenatal exams, which comes under day clinics. They can be used for consults for the midwives, for chats, for time with you and your team to sort out any government assistance you can help people with.”

After another ten minutes, Frazer started to realise she was info-dumping on Cora pretty hard. When Frazer finally shut her mouth, Cora looked almost blurry eyed.

Frazer grimaced. “Sorry. I’m kind of excited.” She was still staring at the computer screen.

“I can see that.”

Cora’s words breathed across her cheek. Down her back, goosebumps erupted.

What was it about Cora?

Frazer’s heart was beating too hard in her chest. Her eyes were almost watering with the effort to not turn her head and meet Cora’s eyes.

Because she could feel Cora looking at her.

Warmth spread across her cheeks, and Frazer wanted to be angry. What was this married woman doing?

But she couldn’t.

“Yeah, well.” Frazer swallowed. “It’s something I’ve been trying for years now.”

“I’m glad it’s worked out.”

Frazer caved. She turned her head. A foot of distance could feel like a mile or like nothing. At that moment, it felt like both. Cora didn’t blink. Didn’t move. Frazer ran her tongue over her lips, and only then did Cora’s eyes flick down and then back up.

A tiny fraction. That was as far as Cora leant forward, but it was enough to make Frazer match it.

The door was still open. Only partly, halfway. Enough.