“Work, work, work, all the time, eh?”
He led her to a table and pulled out her chair. The waiter immediately filled their water glasses, took their drink orders, offered them menus, and made his suggestions; then he scurried away.
“What about you?” It looked like Jesse was watching her over the top of his menu.
“Me?”
“Do you work nonstop too?”
“I used to. Between …” She almost told him about her celebrity blog, but she held back. It wasn’t something she just volunteered, especially since she didn’t know if he was a celebrity or not. “The job for Jewel Enterprises was demanding, and you know … exercise, church, family, life,” she finished lamely.
Jesse didn’t seem to like her answer, but the waiter came and took their orders, and shortly after that, the chef came and started cooking in front of them and laughing and teasing with them. They didn’t get to talk much, but Jesse visibly relaxed. Jade wondered what had happened with work that had made him withdraw a little bit, or if it was something she’d said.
The chef threw a cooked shrimp at Jesse, and he easily caught it in his mouth. All three of them cheered. When the chef threw one at Jade, it hit her neck and tumbled down the front of her dress. She cried out in surprise, squirming until she got the hot piece of shrimp out. Jesse and the chef both laughed, and she couldn’t help but join them. The chef finished with a flourish, putting the salmon and steak on their plates to complement the veggies and fried rice. He bowed and thanked them as they applauded for him.
After he left, they ate in silence for a few minutes. The food was delicious, seasoned perfectly, and Jade loved the savory vegetables, the rice, and the heartier steak and flaky salmon.
“How is everything?” Jesse asked.
“Great.” She patted at her mouth with her cloth napkin to blot the sauce that may have been left from her latest bite salmon. “How are you? You seem a little … on edge.”
Jesse’s gaze darted to her. Well, as near as she could tell. His head and sunglasses turned to her. She was very interested in him, but this was getting old. “I apologize if I’m not good company.” His voice was stiff, and it sounded as if he was testing her.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being at dinner with you,” she retorted, “but you haven’t been as relaxed as you were today or yesterday.”
He bowed his head slightly. “You’re right. There are some issues with work I’m not sure how to deal with.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
He took a bite of veggies, and when he’d swallowed, his lips pursed. “If there was a conflict between two high-level employees, would you trust the employee you didn’t know very well, or trust the employee who’d been faithful to your company for a really long time?”
Her eyebrows rose. “I take it this isn’t hypothetical?”
“Unfortunately not.”
She ate a bite of the flavorful salmon and then a sip of water before saying, “I’d think you’d have to research it and have multiple sources to believe someone you don’t know very well over a long-time, faithful employee.”
He didn’t say anything. His face was turned toward her. She would give a lot to get those sunglasses off. The hat did make him kind of dapper. “Hmm,” he finally said noncommittally.
They picked at their respective dinners; then he tilted his head to her. “Are you finished?”
“Yes.”
Jesse left an extra tip for the chef and waiter. The resort was all-inclusive and that was supposed to include tips, but she’d noticed him leaving extra wherever they went.
They walked together out of the restaurant and into one of the open areas of the resort. A water feature trickled nearby. Stopping, they turned to face each other. He opened his mouth, but she preempted him.
“Would you like to walk on the beach?” she asked bravely, afraid that he was going to end their night early like he had last night and she might never see him again. He never had asked for her phone number so he could text her the name of the waterfall. She didn’t like being the needy woman, at all, but Jesse was mysterious, handsome, intriguing, and fun. She’d had a great couple of days with him, even if he wouldn’t let her see his eyes.
Jesse hesitated, and her stomach plunged. Something was wrong with him tonight, and she feared it had more to do with her than with some employee. What had she done wrong? Maybe he really was a famous celebrity and he had found out about her blog. Her name was on it. If he Googled her, the page and her social media would come up. She didn’t really care about losing an interview at the moment. She was very interested in him and wanted to spend more time with him.
“Okay,” he finally said.
“I don’t want to force you.” She put one hand on her hip and tossed her long hair.
Jesse chuckled. “I don’t know about that. You’re feisty enough you’d probably pin my arm behind my back and drag me across the sand if I said no.”
“Ah,” she gasped. “Even if I was tough enough to manhandle you, I wouldn’t force you to be with me.” Whirling on her heel, she headed toward the south side of the resort and the bank of elevators that went to her room. She had had a fun time with him, but she wasn’t going to “drag him.”