Chapter Three
Once they got back to the resort around seven, Joshua admitted to himself, and to Jade, that he’d better get some work done. Jade said she was going to swim in the ocean and the pool. He thought it was an invitation, but he didn’t take it. He found himself drawn to her, but he had no kind of proof that she wasn’t the embezzler and that she didn’t know exactly who she was flirting with. Over the past year, someone had been skimming a small fee off the additional tax and resort fee for the Jewel Resorts that were located throughout the Caribbean, rerouting the money to different Grand Cayman accounts. A million dollars and change was gone.
He thought he’d played the part of Jesse James pretty well as he tried to figure out exactly who Jade Jardine was. Unfortunately, Jade was even more appealing to him now that he’d spent the day with her, and he still had no answers.
Joshua went back to the suite and worked for a couple of hours, asking for a full report on the embezzlement and why the finger was pointed at Jade Jardine. After that, he ordered room service and ate on the balcony, overlooking the moonlit beach and ocean. He wished he’d asked Jade to a late dinner that night, but he needed to slow way down. He’d already asked her to go to the west side of the island to explore tomorrow. On Sunday they’d both get on the cruise ship, though she didn’t know he’d be there as Joshua Jewel, not Jesse James. It made him smile that she was obviously bugged by not knowing who he was or seeing his eyes and face completely, but she’d been great about it too. She hadn’t given him too hard of a time, and she had exhibited patience that he’d rarely seen in a woman who was pursuing him.
He paced the long patio and found he couldn’t get the beautiful and fun Jade Jardine out of his mind. Was she into him? His cynical mind told him that even if she didn’t know who he was, she could still be using him as a buddy to explore the island with, or even a meal ticket. Yet that made no sense; the meals at the resort were all-inclusive, so she’d have all the food she wanted, and it wasn’t as if the hamburger from the roadside restaurant was expensive.
He flashed back to Amber, and his gut tightened. He’d only been a junior in college, twenty years old and thinking he had the world in his grasp. He’d fallen quickly for the gorgeous Amber, drawn in by her charming personality, her long, black curls, her smooth brown skin, and her perfect body. She was a star volleyball player. Several of his lacrosse buddies had told him she was using him, but he didn’t believe them—until one of them recorded her telling her friend about all the things she was going to do with the money and fame of the Jewel family.
Then, before he could dump her, he caught her with a senior hockey player whose family money was even greater than Joshua’s and who already had a contract with the NHL. She’d assumed she could keep both of her boyfriends and play them both for all they were worth. Joshua had ruined that plan, and she’d retaliated by making him look bad around campus and on social media.
It was pathetic, as he’d been so young, but he’d been deeply in love with her. The betrayal hurt so much that he became a recluse, quit lacrosse, and focused on school and becoming the businessman his dad needed him to be. He determined that he wasn’t going to be some billionaire that every woman went after for only his money, so he made certain not to get his face photographed and he promised himself to never, ever fall in love again.
Jade was testing his conviction. He wasn’t falling in love, he assured himself. She was great to be around, and maybe he was lonely for a friend without his brothers and sisters, and hilarious niece, Paisley, being around. If Paisley was here he’d be laughing nonstop and constantly distracted. That was it. He simply missed his family.
He forced himself to go lie down on the massive bed in his suite. The crashing of the waves far below didn’t put him to sleep like usual. He couldn’t forget how cute Jade had been as they’d swum in the small waterfall pool, as she’d teased with him, and as she’d taken in the beauty of the rainforest. She was unique, and he was excited to spend tomorrow with her. Besides, he needed to get to the bottom of the embezzlement accusations against her. That was all it was.
Love. He scoffed, punched the pillow, and rolled over. That wasn’t happening to him again.
* * *
Jade woke early and ran the beach. Her mind flipped between concern over the embezzlement accusation and delight over memories of her day with Jesse yesterday. After seven miles traversing back and forth along the stretch in front of the resort, she slowed down and walked, savoring the beauty of the morning and the sand and the waves. Living in Florida, she had a lot of opportunities to enjoy the beach, but usually she was busy with work and researching for her blog.
She showered quickly, ate some eggs and fruit from room service, and waited in the lobby at eight a.m. for Jesse. He strode confidently around the rear of the Italian restaurant. She waved, and he grinned as he approached. Sadly, he was still wearing the sunglasses and a hat; this hat was a new one, sporting the name Duke.
“Is that where you went to school?” she asked, pointing.
He nodded. “And you went to Stanford.”
“Yep.” She liked that he remembered.
“Very impressive.”
She swung her day bag between her fingers. “For sure. Duke’s not exactly for slouches either.”
He shrugged. “And you graduated with an MBA in business?”
“That’s right. You?”
“The same.” He grinned as if they were sharing a secret.
“Mr. Jewel?”
Jade whipped around. Joshua Jewel was here? It did make sense that he’d be at his own resort, especially as they were leaving on the cruise tomorrow. She couldn’t wait to meet him. Worry rolled inside her gut, though. How was she going to meet him when she’d quit and he’d probably already heard about Curtis’s accusations? Luckily, she hadn’t seen the slime Curtis since yesterday morning.
The lady who Jade assumed had called to Mr. Jewel was looking a little confused. Then she simply turned and walked the other direction. That was weird.
Jesse put his hand on her lower back and escorted her out the glass front doors. “I think the valet has the car,” he murmured.
“Did you hear that lady call to Mr. Jewel?” she asked as they walked to the Lexus and the valet got her door.
Jesse said nothing as he walked around and climbed in.
“Jesse?” she asked again. “Do you think Joshua Jewel is here?”
“It’s his resort, so maybe.”