Chapter Text
Phryne came striding through his office door, she didn't bother to knock but she did close it behind her. He pretended to continue completing the paperwork in front of him.
"Do you know one of the things I admire most about you Jack?"
"My infinite patience?" he suggested without raising his eyes.
Her pointed silence made him give up the paperwork farce, it was fooling no one. With a sigh he put down his pen and sat back in his chair, he sighed again when she took that as an invitation to make herself comfortable on his desk.
"No. Care to try again?"
Infuriating woman, he thought, "My safe and considerate approach to driving?"
"Well, that is going too far Inspector," she said, a note of warning in her voice.
He held his hands up in surrender, "I declare myself completely unaware of any personal traits I possess that you would admire, so please feel free to enlighten me."
She considered him for a moment before, in a voice free of all artifice and teasing, she said, "Your quiet generosity."
He held her gaze steadily, "No. I'm sorry, that hasn't enlightened me in the least."
"Lola just told me she has you to thank for her new job."
Jack pulled his chair back under his desk, maybe it was actually worth another attempt at the 'I'm doing paperwork' strategy, "I was simply aware of a vacancy. If there's nothing else, as you can see, I have paperwork to complete."
Smiling she dropped her eyes and saw the open tin of biscuits he had forgotten to put back in his drawer, "As it happens, you do have other qualities that I admire Jack."
Oh good, she was staying, he hadn't really wanted her to leave, just to change the topic. This was her flirting voice which meant, if he could keep a level head, he had a chance to throw her off balance. He gave up on the paperwork, again, "Really Miss Fisher, do tell."
She shuffled across the desk until her leg rested against his and he began to wonder if he had bitten off more than he could chew.
"I admire your calm, even, temperament," she started.
"There certainly are times when I'm forced to operate under extreme provocation," he noted.
"I like the way you're always so buttoned up and proper," she leaned across reaching out with her left hand to stroke his tie, pulling it up and out of his waistcoat running down its length before bringing her hand back to rest on the lapel of his suit jacket.
"Careful Miss Fisher, every man has limits," his voice was low and dangerous as he gazed up at her from under his lashes.
"Surely not you Inspector?" she challenged, moving to clasp his right hand in hers, entwining their fingers, "And your hands Jack, they're strong and slightly calloused but I know how delicately they can move across the piano keys."
"Phryne," he rumbled.
She looked slightly surprised by the depth of his reaction and he saw her tongue flick quickly across her lips. He took her momentary loss of concentration as an opportunity to bring his free hand to where their hands were joined, stroking her wrist, staring steadily into her eyes. He lifted an eyebrow when he felt her pulse quicken.
"I told you Miss Fisher every man has his limits, and mine..." he tightened his fingers around hers so she couldn't withdraw, "in respect of biscuits, is one per person," he said triumphantly, enjoying the flicker in her eyes when she realised she had been caught out. After a second she relaxed, admitting defeat, pouting adorably when he deftly ran his left hand up her arm to locate the biscuits hidden in her sleeve. He handed her one before placing the other back in the tin, put the lid on with a flourish and moved to return it to the drawer.
"Of course, there are always exceptions. I do allow an extra biscuit if there are tears involved," he turned back to her with mock concern on his face, "are there likely to be tears do you think?" he enquired.
She gave him a smile, the one he thought of as 24 karat Collingwood, "No Jack, definitely no tears today," her eyes sparkling as she bit into her biscuit.
He nodded, "Good, because I won't have a fresh supply until Wednesday."
As the drawer closed, he knew, it was worth a hell of a lot more than a tin of baked goods to see that smile every day.