Of Alice’s many and varied dating disasters, none involved an office romance. She’d gone to work for the Cahills after she’d met Lawrence. The romantic in her wanted to say, “Ask her out,” but the feminist in her knew the power imbalance could put the woman in a difficult situation.

“Any suggestions?”

“I’ve asked a woman out who I worked with.”

“But were you her boss?”

“No. And this dude’s right about awkward. One ski season, when I was working at Mount Hotham, this woman and I had amazing chemistry. Eventually, we acted on it. The next day I rocked up to work and she was a completely different person. Either my lust had camouflaged her crazy or sex activated her neediness. It made for a long and difficult three months.”

“So your advice is don’t do it?”

“If he was in the big smoke I’d say that, but let’s face it, this is the bay and choices are limited.” He winked at her. “With a bit of planning, it’s easy enough to run into people.”

She laughed. “That’s your modus operandi, is it?”

“It worked with you.”

“I was at work.”

“Yeah, but thankfully I wasn’t. It’s been a great few months.”

Summer was fast approaching. Dan’s surf school would be gearing up to full strength and their arrangement would finish. Although she’d miss the benefits, she hoped the friendship would continue, because he’d become one of a few unexpected rocks in her life.

“How’s this then for a reply?” She started reading. “‘Dear Awkward, This is tricky! So often we can confuse friendliness and a conscientious and enthusiastic employee with something else. During your week, do you ever see her socially? Away from the office might be the best place to cautiously gauge her interest. Good luck and I hope it works out. Alice.’”

“Sounds fair to me. It’s a shame there are so many small businesses in the district. I’d love to know who the poor bloke is.”

Alice laughed. “You say that every time.”

“And so does the rest of the bay.”

As Jess clutched the back of the hospital gown and maneuvered herself out of the wheelchair and back into bed, she decided it was the most undignified piece of clothing ever invented. She fell onto the pillows, dizzy from painkillers, nauseous from antibiotics and ridiculously exhausted from lying on an examination table for an ultrasound.