by Ashlee Price
I kind of giggled and plated the food on a regular plate. “So do I get to eat with you this morning?”
I didn’t realize what I’d done, but he shrugged and told me that I could if I wanted to.
“So why were you drinking, anyways?”
“Just a lot on my mind, is all. Running a business is harder than I would have thought.”
“Well, a business like this is an easy one. You have a good amount of revenue coming in.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“What’s the matter?”
Should I tell him?
“I don’t know. I just got left with a lot of debt when my father died, and I don’t know what to do. No one wants to loan me money to get through, and I’m afraid I’ll have to close down the shop.”
My breath came out raggedly. Although I felt better getting that off of my chest, I knew that there was more to the story, and a guy like Scott wouldn’t understand my dilemma.
“I can loan you some money.”
“Yeah, right.” I set the two coffee cups down on the table and sat down with my own breakfast. Scott had waited for me, a gesture that I saw as sweet.
“I’m serious.”
“I don’t need your charity.”
“No charity. I’ll charge interest, and I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t think you would pay it back. You have a small gold mine here, and I would hate to see you close.”
“I couldn’t, really.”
“Then let me sweeten the deal.”
I got nervous at the suggestion. What would he want?
“How about a date?”
“You want me to go out with you?”
“I’ve been asking you for a week now. Go out with me and I’ll give you the loan, or put my signature on one at the bank. However you want to do it, just go out with me.”
Could I really say yes to such an offer? Did I really have no other choice?
To be continued in Part 4…
Served Part 4: Taste
By: Ashlee Price
Prologue
Jesse gives in to Scott’s offer. How could she not? He’s offering to help her at a time when no one else is going to. She isn’t happy about what he wants from her, but it’s just one date, right? Jesse knows that she doesn’t have a choice. She has to go out with Scott to save her father’s bistro.
It isn’t something that she ever thought would be a possibility, but Jesse is going to go out with the billionaire because she has to. Sure, Scott is handsome and has a way about him, but the truth is that he’s dangerous, and Jesse knows it. There’s a gleam in his blue eyes that makes it hard to breathe, and Jesse knows that she’s going to have to be careful. Scott is the type of man she could fall in love with, no matter how bad of an idea it is.
Chapter 1 – Jesse
“So are you going to do it?”
I knew what she was talking about, but I didn’t want to appear like I was thinking about him the way I was. I wanted her to think that I wasn’t even thinking about Scott or the crazy proposition that he’d offered me.
“Do what?”
“Don’t play with me, Jesse. Are you going to go out with him or are you closing up shop?”
“Why do you have to put it like that?”
“Isn’t that the way it is? I mean, if you don’t get the money, we are really going to have to close, aren’t we?”
She was right, I knew that, and that was the only reason I was thinking about it to begin with. In any other circumstances, I would have told him no and made sure that he knew I didn’t want to have anything to do with him. I mean, yeah, he was hot, but there was the attitude of his that he couldn’t be turned down. And although it was a little hard to refuse such an offer, I wanted to be the one who did. I really didn’t want to see the bistro closed down, but could I really do such a thing?
“Would you do it?”
I knew her answer before she even gave it. Melissa was the type who was up for anything. I knew that she would have done it if he’d asked for a date with her instead of me. Why couldn’t I be so open? It was just one date, and it wasn’t like I really had to do anything with him, so what was the big deal?
Even as I thought that, there was this inkling in the pit of my stomach that told me that it would be a huge problem if I went out with Scott. I wanted to believe that it wouldn’t be, but I was already feeling more than I should have for him. And there was nothing that I could do. I had to agree to it, no matter what the personal cost to me was going to be. I had to keep dad’s place running. I wouldn’t just lose the business, but I would also lose our home, and I wasn’t ready to do that.
“You know you have to, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I know. But I want to think about other options that I might have. There is just too much involved, and I don’t want to be the girl who does something like that to get ahead in the world.”
“It’s not like you have much of a choice, is it?”
I didn’t, and that’s what I hated the most about it. I hated that I didn’t have any other options but the one provided to me by a man like Scott.
“Not that I can see.”
“So when are you going to tell him?”
“When I see him next.”
She gave me a smile that made me want to puke. I knew what she was thinking. Melissa was a romantic at heart, and although I was more pragmatic, I knew that she was going to get her way. It was better to just let her say what she was going to say and get it out of her.
“So, are you going to really give him a shot or are you just going to get the money?”
God, I hated the way she said that. Why did she have to word it like that? It made it sound even worse. Or maybe it was just hearing it said out loud that made me cringe inside.
“It’s just for the loan, and I’m not going to take the money from him, but if I could get him to sign as a cosigner, I know that the banks won’t be able to turn me down. It really is the only way.”
“Yeah, I know, but don’t you think that you could have a good time? I mean, come on, Jesse, don’t act like the man isn’t gorgeous.”
She had a point. Melissa usually did, but even though I saw it, that didn’t mean I wanted to admit it. I wanted to go out with him. That was the hardest part of all. It was the fact that even though I knew what type of guy he was, there was still a big part of me that wanted him. I wanted what his eyes promised, and I was afraid that I would not be able to resist him. That’s really what it was about, my fear of him – and what I would allow him to do to me.
“He’s sort of cute, but you know what guys like him are like. I don’t want to get involved with someone like that.”
“You told me yourself that he wasn’t that bad.”
I’d said that, but I certainly hadn’t said it for it to be thrown back in my face. He was cute and a nice guy, but that didn’t mean that I wanted to be his next plaything.
“He’s not all bad, but we’re living in two very different worlds.”
She kind of nodded her head. While Melissa could say a lot of things, she knew what I said was true. It was fun to fantasize about everything going on, but he was a billionaire businessman and I ran a glorified coffee shop. That reality was not something that I could forget about.
“You know what they say about opposites attracting.”
“Uh huh.”
I tried to ignore the grin on her face and the meaning behind it. I wasn’t going to let her positivity get my hopes up. It was just a situation that I was in. It was just a date that I would suffer through so I would get the help I needed. It wasn’t charity and it wasn’t me doing something crazy, it was just a date and then everything could go back to normal. Scott would most likely realize how boring I was, or that he wasn’t as in to me as he thought he was. Either way I would get him out of my life for good. I just had to go on one date with him.
“I’m going to go out with him and then that will be that. This is all it’s going to be, that’s it.”
&nbs
p; She gave me another sound that told me that she didn’t believe me before I turned around, not wanting to see her face anymore. I wasn’t going to let it go any further than that. It was just a date. Just one date, and I was going to make sure that I didn’t make the same mistakes I had in the past.
Chapter 2 – Scott
“So have you thought about my offer?”
“What, the offer to buy me?”
“I’m not trying to buy you, Jesse. I don’t think you’re the type that could be bought. What I want to do is help you, and you were the one who seemed to want the deal sweetened. All I could think about was a date. Cook for me and pretend that you like me for a couple of hours. What could be wrong with that?”
She seemed to think that there were a lot of things wrong with that. But although I was ready to give her what she wanted, what she needed, I wanted something in return. It was the business side of me that thought a good deal was where both sides came out happy.
“What do you expect?”
I tried to look offended, but I didn’t blame her for thinking that way. If I could have gotten away with it and I thought she would have gone for it, there was a side of me that would have had no problem asking for more. But she wasn’t that type of girl, I knew that.
“I just want a date. Like I said, I’ll come over here and you can make me something for dinner. We’ll have a few drinks and that will be it. Nothing will happen that you don’t want to happen.”
She was about to say something and she stopped. What I would have given to have heard what was going on in Jesse’s mind. She was always so full of thoughts, but she wasn’t the type to share them. I was really starting to think that she wasn’t going to go for my offer. Was it really that bad of an idea for her to be with me? She acted like it was the worst thing in the world, and I had to admit that it wasn’t doing anything for my ego. Jesse never was good for an ego stroke.
“Fine, Scott, I’ll give you your date, but that’s it. If you think that there’s going to be anything extra, don’t waste your time. That’s all it’s going to be: just a date.”
“Okay, I can see that you’re not going to budge. All I want is a date from you, Jesse. I’m not the kind of man who has to beg.”
“I know. I just don’t really know why you keep messing with me. I’m sure that it isn’t hard for you to find a girl to go on a date with.”
“None of them are you, though. I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Jesse, but you’re all I can think about. It’s like you’ve put some kind of voodoo on me.”
She laughed, and the sound was like a dream. “Not hardly. If I had that kind of magic, I don’t think that I would still be single at my age.”
“You’re not that old. Mid-twenties?”
She nodded and told me that I was close. I wasn’t going to ask her precise age. It really didn’t matter. With a face like that and the way she cooked, it just didn’t matter at all. Nothing really mattered, now that she was going to say yes. I had to think of a way to sweep her off her feet so that she would never want anyone else. I had one date to make her fall for me. Before I wouldn’t have thought that it would be a hard task, but Jesse was different, and that wasn’t always a good thing. If she’d been like all of the rest, I would have already had her in my bed days ago.
***
We had agreed to a date and had agreed to a place, but I wasn’t sure if Jesse was ready for me to come down the same night. When Jesse had asked me when, I could only think of the closest possible time. I wanted her to want it soon as well, but she didn’t. Jesse was more worried about getting things ready. I knew that part of it was just who she was. There was also the question of the loan, but I’d had the bank manager deliver a copy for her to sign before the end of the business day. I hadn’t left any i’s un-dotted or t’s uncrossed. Everything was in place, but when I knocked on the bistro’s door later in the evening, Jesse was not as prepared as I was.
When she finally got downstairs to answer the door, I could tell that she wasn’t ready for me. Jesse was too polite to say anything, but I had a feeling that if she’d been raised differently she would have told me to bug off. I just wanted to see her, so I pretended like I didn’t spot the obvious. I wanted to pretend that she was happy to see me. It was easier on my ego.
“You look beautiful.” Jesse wasn’t even really dressed for dinner, but she still looked the way I described. There was nothing that she could put on that would diminish her beauty. When she realized what she was wearing, though, she got a look of horror on her face and ran back up the stairs without saying a word.
I couldn’t stop the chuckle that came to my lips. I was forced to follow her and the smell that was coming from her apartment. Jesse was never what I expected, and this date was going to be no different. I liked that she was so nervous to see me, but at the same time I wanted her to relax. How was I going to get to know the real her if she was running around like a chicken with its head cut off?
“Jesse, whatever you wear is fine, really.”
“No, I didn’t realize that I hadn’t changed yet. It’s been a crazy day and I just got finished with writing out a bunch of checks. Thanks for that, by the way.”
She’d popped her head out from the bedroom, and I could see bare shoulders. The sight made me want to move closer to her, but she was not having it. She giggled fetchingly when she stopped me with her hand.
“I’m not dressed yet. I just thought I should remember to tell you thanks before the date started.”
“It hasn’t started yet?”
“Nope, it doesn’t start until dinner is on the table. You’re just early, like always.”
“You know what they say about the early bird…”
“Yeah, too bad I’m not a worm. Now stay out there and be good.”
I wanted to promise her that I would be good. I would be so good that she would never forget me and never be able to deny me again. I wanted to make it where she thought about me as much as I thought about her. It was a shame that I couldn’t get her off of my mind, but it was far worse that she didn’t seem bothered by me at all. She was more worried about the money, and a small part of me wanted to leave. This wasn’t what I wanted, not truly. I didn’t want to have to basically bribe her to get her to go out with me. I wanted her to want me like I wanted her.
“So how does this look?”
Now she was breathtaking, and all I could do was swallow hard and nod my head. What did it really matter why she was with me, when she looked like that?
The black dress was short and left nothing to the imagination because of how form-fitting it was. She made me want to pull her to me immediately and ravish her. But this was just a date, and I’d made promises. Promises that I now wished I could forget. Now I didn’t want to be held to them. Not when Jesse was looking like that.
Chapter 3 – Jesse
As soon as I saw his face, I knew that I’d picked the right dress. I wanted him to see me differently, and while I was adamant that it was only a date, it was clear to me then that I wanted him to want me. What was so wrong with the idea of him choking a little because of how hot I was? I didn’t see anything wrong with that – and it was not out of the realm of possibility now that I’d seen his reaction.
“Do you like it?”
He nodded his head so fast that locks of his shoulder-length brown hair moved out of place. I had to stop my hand from wanting to right the rebellious strands, but I didn’t think that it was a good idea. He was looking at me as if he wasn’t going to be able to control himself if I pushed him any further. The look in his dark blue eyes was hard to take, but I forced myself to meet his gaze anyway.
“Yes. God, Jesse, you’re…”
“Beautiful? I think you already said that.”
I liked having Scott off of his game for a moment. It felt like he was always getting the best of me, and there was something to be said about having the upper hand. I liked it more than I should have. My eyes swept over his suit, which l
ooked much like the one he wore every single day. I’d never seen him in anything casual, and I had to wonder if he even could be casual. He was always so serious that it was hard to see a lighter side of him.
“Do you want me to take your coat? You’re going to start burning up in here with the oven going.”
Scott smiled at me, but didn’t answer me one way or another. When I moved towards him, he finally started to realize what I was doing and let me take the jacket. I hung it up on the coat rack by the door, and when I came back into the room, I could tell that he was still staring at me. He hadn’t moved from his spot. Maybe the dress was too much?
“So I hope you’re hungry. I figure if you’re going to cosign for such a large amount of money and only wanted a meal for it, it better be the best, right?”
“Anything you make will be fine. I’d be happy if it was a bologna sandwich, as long as you made it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. More than anything else I was shocked that he even knew what bologna was. I’d only had it a few times when my father would lose his job and money was tight, and a man like Scott knowing about it was surprising.
“When have you ever had bologna? If you’d had it before, I would bet that you wouldn’t be so quick to accept that for your dinner.”
“Do you really think I always had all of this money?”
“Yeah, I think so. You kind of act like you’ve always had it.”
Scott didn’t take my words as a compliment, and although I was being a bit sarcastic, I was a little surprised at how he responded to me. It was like he didn’t want to hear it. I think I pissed him off a little bit, which was surprising because I’d never seen the fast temper that he was displaying then.
“I didn’t mean any offense, really.”
“No, you’re most likely right. I do act like I was born into it, but I wasn’t. I was raised by a single mother. I knew who my dad was, but he was never around and he didn’t help out financially. It wasn’t until a year ago that I ever had more than a five-minute conversation with him. But I think he only gave me the business because of what I had going on. He knew that he could drop it in my lap and walk away.”