by Ashlee Price
I was there alone, but the way he said it made me not want to tell him that it was just us in there. He was looking at me as if he was hungry, but I didn’t think that food was what he was really after. The look gave my body a new reason to act ridiculous. I was sure it was turning against me. That’s how it felt, anyways. It was impossible to feel any other way when my mind and body were so at odds with each other.
“She’s around here somewhere. Melissa is almost never late. There’s another girl starting today too.” Why did I tell him that? “So what can I get for you, Scott?”
Smiling at me, he told me to make him whatever I thought he would want. That was what he always said, and although I knew that he was a picky man, he didn’t seem to show that side to me. For that I was grateful. My thoughts on him had changed radically, and I was actually starting to like being around him when he was so easygoing about everything. I had a feeling that it would all change one day soon, but for now I was enjoying the attention.
Walking to the back, I waited a heartbeat till I heard the door opening behind me. Since the first time that I’d kicked him out of the bistro, he had been back every day. Every day he came back to the kitchen with me, and it was now another habit with him.
“I’m sorry if I’m disturbing you, but I just love to watch you work.”
I tried to ignore the comment, but I couldn’t help the smile that came to my lips. I liked him being there, even though it was something that I would never admit. Melissa was already giving me a hard time for it. Yesterday she had caught us in there talking, and while I hated to admit it, I was having a good time with him then. He was a great guy when a person got past the rugged exterior, nothing like I’d first thought about him. At first I’d thought he was like all of the other guys that I’d met that acted like him, but there was something about Scott that was different. Even though he was richer than I could imagine, he was still so down to earth, like he wasn’t used to his position.
“You’re not disturbing me. It’s not like this is brain surgery or something. I’m just making a few eggs.”
“You shouldn’t put it down like what you do isn’t great. I’ve eaten at a lot of restaurants, some that are way more expensive, and I think that I’ve never had better eggs. You could do so many things. What makes you stay here?”
I was a little put off by his comment. It made me wonder what he meant. I knew that the bistro wasn’t the nicest place in town, but I loved it there and I couldn’t think of working anywhere else.
“It ain’t the Ritz, but I like it here. My father always wanted a small place to call his own, and when we opened The Ground Bean, we never thought it would turn into this. I like where I am, Scott. Can you say the same for yourself?”
It was meant to be a joke, but I could tell that it wasn’t taken that way at all. I’d been offended by him thinking the place was too dinky, but I think instead I got him thinking about what I’d said. Was a man like him happy where he was? He was at the top of his game. Scott should be happy where was, but by the look on his face, I was starting to think that he wasn’t.
“I can’t say that I can. I didn’t really want the job, but I had to take it. It was take it or I wouldn’t get anything in the inheritance. My father doesn’t make deals, so I did what I had to do. One day I’ll be able to run it the way that I want to, and then I think I’ll be happier.”
He wasn’t so sure, and I think we could both hear it in his voice. I felt bad for him all of a sudden, and for the first time I was seeing him as he really was. Scott was more than just a filthy rich jerk who couldn’t wait in a line. He was so much more than that.
“Well, don’t take too long to get happy, Scott. Life is too short.” I was thinking about my father when I said that, and I turned away to hide the tears that were in my eyes. God, I missed my dad.
Chapter 4 – Scott
Leaving The Ground Bean had me feeling strange. There was a moment where I’d shared a bit too much with Jesse, and I didn’t like the response. I’d said something that seemed to bother her, but I wasn’t sure what. While she tried to hide it, I knew that I’d made her cry. I just didn’t know why, and I felt horrible about it. Remembering what she had said about life being too short, I had a feeling that she was thinking about her dad. The reminder made me feel like crap, and I cursed my father again for the job that he had me doing. I was supposed to be running the company, not working out side deals to make him more money.
I kept telling myself that I should refuse. It was the right thing to do, but I still wasn’t sure that I had the guts to do it. I should, of course. I was in a good position to tell him how it was going to be. If he was anyone else but my dad, I would have. But instead of telling him how I really felt, I just called him with a heads-up. She still wasn’t a good mark in my eyes. After ten minutes of trying to get him to believe me, I gave up and promised to keep checking into it. I was starting to think that nothing I said was going to be enough to keep him from his plan.
As I got to the office, my thoughts were with Jesse, as they always seemed to be as soon as I left her. It was impossible to not think about her, and it was becoming a habit. I didn’t know if it was a problem yet, but I didn’t much feel like myself. I knew others felt this way sometimes, but I’d never had so many thoughts about one woman. It was foreign to me, and it was starting to affect my concentration at work. I was sure that I was a moment away from dropping the ball, something that I didn’t want to do in front of my father.
Waiting for him to call, I knew that I was going to have to keep my composure. It was one of those mornings that I wished I hadn’t said yes to the CEO job that I had now. It was one of the days that I was wishing for another life, one that didn’t involve any of this.
“Good morning, Scott.”
“Morning, Caroline. Has my father called yet?”
“No, sir. He had his secretary call and she left a message. He wants to meet you for dinner tonight.”
The invitation was one that I wasn’t expecting, and I had to wonder what he wanted. Why were we meeting at all? Most of our business was conducted over the phone and through people like Caroline. It sent a ping to my brain. I was going to have to make sure I was on my toes. Dad was up to something.
“Very good. Just leave me the specifics, Caroline. I’ll be out of the office most of the day, so if you need to get a hold of me, just call my cell.”
“Sir, what about the meetings you’ve scheduled?”
“Cancel them.”
She gave me a look, but closed the small gap in between her lips when I waited for her to say something. I was still perturbed about the incident with dad before. If I could have, I would have gotten rid of her in a heartbeat, but I knew that it would just draw Jackson’s ire and I would never hear the end of it.
“That’s all, Caroline. Thank you.”
Speechless, she backed out of the room and closed the door behind her. Getting up from my chair, I glanced around, deciding that there was nothing I needed before leaving the office myself. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I was almost positive where I would end up about closing time later that afternoon.
***
“Okay now, Scott. I know the coffee is good, but twice a day?”
Jesse was smiling at me. I’d waited in line almost thirty minutes to see her smiling face, and I wasn’t disappointed. The sight was worth every single moment that I’d stood outside. Her red hair was pinned up, but that late in the day it was no longer neat. Instead it was piled high and some fell down around her shoulders. I wanted to push my fingers through the silken strands, but I had to resist the urge. I didn’t want to move too fast and change anything. She wasn’t in my arms yet, but I was sure that it was just a matter of time before she was. I wasn’t going to do anything to mess it up.
“What can I say? I can’t get enough of it.”
“The coffee?”
Her green eyes were dark, and I could see that there was more than a smile in them. She was comin
g around. As I watched her bite her lower lip, I knew that she was starting to think of me in a different way. I really liked that.
“No, I think it’s the atmosphere that keeps me coming back.”
I could tell that she was holding her tongue as she looked around. “Well, it is nice. Do you want something else today, Scott?”
I shook my head. For some reason, I couldn’t get the question to come out of my mouth. Instead of asking what I’d come there for, I ordered something else. I wasn’t even hungry, but it gave me time to get myself together. This wasn’t like me. I didn’t get nervous, not over a woman. Why was Jesse so different?
Without an answer, I waited for her to ring me up, and I watched her try to avoid my eyes. Melissa was smiling at both of us, and I could tell that she knew what was going to happen. It was like only Jesse was oblivious to the fact that I wanted her. Everyone else seemed to know it, so why was it so hard to get through to her?
“Are you busy later after you get off?”
Jesse shook her head without looking up at me. “Not really. I’m going to go home with a good book and a glass of wine.”
“I think you can come up with something better than that.”
Jesse finally looked up and met my eyes. “Like what?”
“Dinner with me?”
“With you?”
I didn’t like the way she said it all incredulously, like there was no way that she would go out with me. Was she really going to turn me down? I couldn’t remember a time in the past ten years that I’d been turned down.
“Yes, with me. It has to be better than a book and some wine.”
“I’m reading a really good book right now. Maybe another time.”
Jesse smiled up at me and handed me the bag that had my order in it. “Have a good night, Jesse.”
She had politely brushed me off, and I was trying to decide what I was supposed to do with that. Jesse had turned away and was going back into the kitchen, leaving me a little slack jawed and confused. Had she really just turned me down? For a book?
To be continued in Part 3…
Served Part 3: Fusion
By: Ashlee Price
Prologue
The true state of Jesse’s finances becomes apparent when she has a meeting with her accountant. She knew that the debts were bad, but she had no idea how close she is to having to close the doors. Jesse needs a loan, and she needs one fast. It doesn’t matter how good business is, there is just too much debt left behind by her father – and no way in sight to pay it.
With Scott hanging around so much, Jesse is finding it hard to hold it all in. When he starts to ask her questions, Jesse lets a little too much slip. Scott is quick to offer his assistance, but there’s a catch. Jesse learned a long time ago that there’s always a catch, and she isn’t sure if it’s worth it. Scott wants more than she’s willing to give, but Jesse can’t think of another way to fix things. She doesn’t know what to do.
Chapter 1 – Scott
After talking to Jesse, I wasn’t feeling my best. Never before had I been turned down like that, and the worst part was how bad I wanted her. I’d never wanted any woman as much as I needed Jesse. There was something about her, I still wasn’t sure what it was, but every time she turned me down, it only made me want her more. I didn’t know if it was the idea that I couldn’t have her that made her so tempting or if it was just Jesse. I wouldn’t know until I did have her, and my patience was running thin on that front. It was no longer about my father and his plans. I had plans of my own.
Getting back to work, I tried to worry about anything but what was going on. I tried to forget the redhead who frustrated me at every turn. There was no time for it. I had real work to do at the company, and every time I turned around I was staring off into the distance. It was not like me. None of it was. I kept having to remind myself of who I was.
I was beyond the point of really thinking, and by the end of the day I was cancelling meetings again, thinking about what I was going to do that night. My mind went to the several women who I could call and get what I wanted from. All of the waiting and flirting with Jesse to no end was doing me no good.
Finally I decided that I needed to give one of those girls a call. It didn’t matter which one. That thought didn’t make me feel as carefree as it normally would have; it just depressed me to really think about it. What I really wanted was Jesse, and I knew that any other woman was not going to be enough. If it wasn’t Jesse, it didn’t matter who it was.
So I just started going through the contacts in my phone alphabetically. I couldn’t exactly place Andrea, but I knew that she was an old fling because of the notation by her name. It was my own personal shorthand to keep them all straight.
It was no surprise when she agreed to see me. There wasn’t any anger in her voice and I was hoping that it had ended well between us. Sometimes I called the wrong one, forgetting that things hadn’t turned out as well as I’d hoped. This could get me into complicated situations, and the last thing I needed was any kind of complication. I just couldn’t take it.
We agreed to meet back at my place. I was hoping to relieve myself of the itch that wouldn’t go away, but I knew that it would only be like a Band-Aid. I was still going to want Jesse. Andrea wasn’t going to be what I wanted, but at least I would be able to get the edge off and I wouldn’t be so annoying with Jesse. I didn’t like the desperation that she made me feel, but I knew that it wasn’t going to magically go away without doing something to fix it.
So I took off from work, leaving my assistant asking about when I was going to be back. I knew that she only wanted to know because she was going to report to my father. Since I didn’t want to hear from him either, I turned my phone off and went home to meet Andrea. Whether she was the right one or not, she was what I needed right now to feel as close to normal as I could manage.
It didn’t take me long to get home and I was there before Andrea got there. I gave my maid the rest of the night off and in return she gave me a knowing look. I did my best to ignore that woman and her looks. Why did I feel so guilty? It’s not like I was with anyone. I just didn’t understand it.
Andrea got there not long afterward. She was as beautiful as I remembered. The clothes she wore were of the finest quality and everything about her was made for pleasure. She was a good choice, I thought to myself. If I was going to have to make do with second best, it was hard not to see Andrea as a pretty close second. She was the type of woman my family pushed me towards. Her family had money and she was ‘from good stock’ as my father would say.
****
“Sorry, Andrea, I have to go.”
The half-sleeping woman wasn’t wearing any clothes, and since that was a distraction, I covered up her naked bits with the sheet before I kissed her on the cheek.
“Will I see you again?”
It was a fair question, but one that I didn’t want to answer. If saw her again, it would be because I still didn’t have Jesse, so I liked the idea of saying no. But instead I just kind of shrugged and told her that I wasn’t sure. She didn’t expect anything more, so she was getting up and getting dressed to go home before I was out the door. I had work to do, I claimed, but really I was getting up so early because I wanted to go see Jesse. It was breakfast time and I was starving.
The bistro wasn’t open, and I smiled to myself when I knocked and saw Jesse downstairs. She used to have to come from upstairs, but since I was coming every morning, she was changing her routine for me. I wasn’t getting her in my arms, but small pieces of information like that gave me hope. I was feeling a little steadier this morning and I hoped that today was the day. But if it wasn’t, at least I didn’t feel like I was going to crawl out of my skin now.
“Good morning, Jesse. How are you doing today?”
She kind of nodded and let me in. There wasn’t the same smile on her face as I was usually greeted with, and that saddened me. I didn’t know why she was unhappy, but I wanted to change it. No matte
r what it was, if she would just tell me, I was sure that I could make it all better.
“I’m fine. Are you going to have the usual?”
The question gave me pause. It was strange for me to be anywhere enough to have a ‘usual.’ I never got my own breakfast and coffee, but now I was a guy that had a usual. It struck me as odd and out of place, kind of like me being there at the moment.
“Yeah, I guess I will.”
Jesse smiled for a moment, a small one that didn’t seem to register on the rest of her face. Something was definitely bothering her, but unlike most women I knew, Jesse didn’t want to talk about it. Any other time I would prefer that, staying as far away from female drama as I could, but this was different. I wanted her to tell me so that I could help her. I was trying to find an angle into her heart, and helping her might be that angle. That, and I just wanted to. I didn’t like the idea of her ever being upset, even for one moment.
Chapter 2 – Jesse
“What’s wrong, Jesse? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”
I shrugged and told him that I was fine. I wasn’t about to tell him about the news that I’d just received. That was the very last thing that I wanted to do. While I liked flirting with Scott, I knew that I was just something to keep his mind busy for a while. I didn’t have any false hopes that he actually wanted to be with me.
So instead of baring my soul, something I might have needed, I just made the man some breakfast. That was what he was there for, or at least what I told myself so my silly brain would stop making something out of nothing.
“It’s going to be a pretty day today. I hear that it’s supposed to be mid-seventies.”
Scott wasn’t really listening. He was spending far too much time looking at my face and trying to look deep into my eyes. I wasn’t going for it. His blue depths had too much of something in them. It made it hard to think, and that was the very last thing I needed right then.