Chapter Thirteen
Jade rushed to get ready, not wanting Joshua to wait but also not wanting to miss out on a second of being with him.
She put on a long pale blue dress that showed off her shoulders and neck nicely. Her hair was still wet when she heard the rap on the door. She scrunched some gel into it and figured it would dry wavy.
Flinging open the door, she felt the now-familiar rush at seeing this handsome man. He was wearing a white button-down shirt, light blue tie, and navy-blue slacks.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said.
“Hey, handsome,” she said back.
He grinned and offered his arm.
“You’re getting pretty comfortable with the touching thing,” she teased him, “Might just be breaking some rules.”
He chuckled and leaned closer, brushing his fingers across her shoulder. “Just being a gentleman.”
“Oh? That’s your pure motivation, eh?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She took his elbow and he escorted her down the steps to the dining room. She felt like she was walking on clouds simply being close to him. He settled her into a chair at the table she’d eaten at every evening, and he’d joined her for four of the seven meals.
The assistant waiter brought them menus, drinks, and rolls. Jade perused the menu then an odd thought struck her. She glanced up at Joshua. “You don’t really act like a billionaire sometimes.”
He took a drink of water and said, “What do you mean?”
She gestured around. “I think this dining room and the food are fabulous, but they’re all included. Why don’t you pay the extra for the steak house, sushi, or the fancy Italian place?”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind spending money, but my parents taught us not to waste. Like you said, this food is fabulous and I like our waiters. There was no reason to eat somewhere else.” His voice lowered. “Plus I was a little afraid to upset the status quo with a beautiful woman whose eyes match her name.”
She smiled at that but pointed out, “Yet you have no problem wasting money on chocolate for me or giving generous tips.”
“Money spent on you would never be a waste, and I like to give generous tips for a job well done. Plus I appreciate any person who’s working hard for their living and not expecting someone else to pay their way.”
Her eyebrows went up. “But you’re paying my way on this trip.” He’d paid for everything and she hadn’t put up much of a fight.
He shook his head. “That’s different. You earned this trip as my employee.”
“Not your employee anymore.”
He nodded but there was something in the tightness of his eyes and mouth. Neither of them had brought up the embezzling for a while. Were the investigators ever going to find anything? Did Joshua still not believe Jade?
The waiter came to recommend food and take their orders. The slightly uncomfortable moment and thoughts disappeared as comfortable conversation, delicious food, teasing with the waiters, and meaningful looks replaced any worries Jade might have had. Joshua was incredible. She didn’t want tomorrow to come. Maybe Priest would advise her tonight to forget all about Jesse. Could she really do that?
As they stood and Joshua hurried to pull out her chair, he murmured to her, “Just one second, please.”
She watched as he pulled three envelopes out of his pocket and gave one to the assistant waiter, the main waiter, and the head waiter, shaking each of their hands and thanking them. Jade swallowed hard. First she hadn’t known she was supposed to do this, she thought tips were included in the price of the cruise. Second it was just another testimonial to her of what a thoughtful and caring person Joshua was. He still hadn’t told her that he trusted she would never steal from him but he never treated her like a thief.
The waiters all shook her hand also and waved them goodbye, wishing them safe travels and happy lives.
Joshua put his hand on Jade’s lower back and delicious tingles traced through her as the thin material of her dress couldn’t negate the feel of his warm, manly palm.
They walked quietly from the dining room then he leaned down and whispered into her ear, “Where to, love?”
Jade glanced up at him. His blue eyes were searching her face, they appeared full of hope that she was going to make his dreams come true. Her breath caught. Shecouldmake his dreams come true. She felt it, and loved it.
Swallowing hard, she decided to take Priest and Teal’s advice. “How about we walk on the quiet parts of deck thirteen?”