by Ashlee Price
The next morning I was still grinning from ear to ear. Caroline noticed the difference right off the bat.
“You’re looking well today, Scott. What’s new with you?”
She was being nosy, something that she always did, and the worst part was that she was going to run and tell my father, but I just didn’t care. I didn’t care because even my father couldn’t ruin my good mood, so his lackey surely couldn’t. What could ruin my day was all in Jesse’s hands: her willingness to go on another date. I was prepared to take it slow, as long as I was continuing in a forward direction.
“Not much, Caroline. I’ve just been taking a little more time off, and I can’t tell you how much better I’m feeling.”
“Well, you look good Scott, so something is working.”
I waited for her to say more. I was in a good mood, but not a good enough mood that I was going sit there and spar with her all day. I still appreciated her for getting the gist of it out as quickly as possible.
“I have some paperwork that I was going to drop off. Your father wants you to look over it and sign it, and then I’ll send it all to the lawyers to finalize.”
“What is it about?”
“You know that I don’t get into all of the details. I’m just the messenger.”
I suspected that she was one choosing to be just the messenger. It meant that I wasn’t going to like the papers. I looked at them as if she were handing me a bomb.
“It’s not that bad, Scott, really.”
“I thought you said you didn’t know what they were about?”
“Well, I know that nothing is as bad as how you look right now. You look like something is going to come out and suck your blood.”
It was an odd thing for an older woman like her to say, but I’d never understood her humor. Now I was starting to think that I never would. What was I supposed to say to that? All I could do was take the paperwork that she thrust into my hands and go from there.
After Caroline had left, I studied the papers as long as I could without actually looking at them. I guessed how many pages there were by the thickness of the stack, and then I tried to guess what it was all about. I knew that it was going to be something I didn’t like. My father never really had any good news to tell me, and from the way Caroline was acting about it, I knew that this wasn’t going to be the first time.
So instead of letting it ruin my day and the good mood I was in, I didn’t even open it. There would be the next day to look it over and argue with my father about whatever it was, but today I just wanted to relax and think about my next move with Jesse. I had to sweep her off her feet, or at least get her to take me seriously. I didn’t want to be just some rich guy that she got some money or help from. I wanted to be the man she fell for. What would happen after I’d gotten her there was not even on my radar. All I could think about was what it would be like to have her in my arms.
Caroline came back in a couple of times, her eyes darting to the unopened file folder. I wasn’t going to say anything to her. I was waiting for her to bring it up, but she would leave without saying a word, I think in order to keep the peace. It became clear after a few hours that I was expected to sign right away. I doubted that they even wanted to give me time to read it. I was sure that my father thought that I should sign just because he said so. But I wasn’t ready to obey him that blindly. I knew better, because I knew him better.
The fourth time she came into my office, I was done seeing her. I told her I was taking the rest of the day off. Caroline was not happy about that, reminding me of how much work I still had to do, but I just waved her off. “It always gets done, Caroline. You shouldn’t worry so much.”
From the way she was sending me looks that could have been daggers, it was quite obvious how little humor she found in what I said. I didn’t wait to hear any more. I ran out of there like it wasn’t even my office. It was becoming a habit, me ducking out around two thirty, and I knew exactly where I was going to go. It used to be the time of day I would be looking for a drink, but now I was looking for a pretty smile and a coffee. A lot had changed since I met Jesse, and I was sure that she was good for me. I didn’t know where it was going to lead, but it was the first time that I wasn’t ready to run immediately.
Before going to the bistro, I stopped and picked up some flowers. I didn’t want to go empty-handed, and if any women deserved flowers, it was Jesse. She’d changed my whole outlook on things. I was still nervous about what I was going to find when I got there, but I had to know. Jesse had to feel the same way that I did. She had to.
Chapter 2 – Jesse
I didn’t see him for a time. He was almost up to the front of the line when I saw him with flowers, and I was so busy that I hardly had time to say hello. Melissa was gone for the day, something that I’d insisted on, and I was struggling to get through the line by myself. I wasn’t going to be able to close on time if I didn’t, though.
“You look busy.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Where’s your help?”
“On a date.”
He raised an eyebrow and then smiled at me so sweetly that my heart melted in my chest.
“You could always grab an apron and make some coffees.”
“Okay.”
I was just joking. The thought of him doing menial labor was hard to fathom, and I never thought he would go along with my suggestion. He was, after all, worth billions. I was sure that the last thing Scott wanted to do was take money and pour coffee.
When he got behind the counter, it took me a couple of minutes to figure out how to use him. I finally stuck him at the register. The man knew money, not food. The line went down a little faster than before, and it was only about twenty minutes after closing time that I was able to shut the doors.
“That was intense.”
“Yeah, I haven’t worked like that since I was a fry cook twenty years ago.”
I giggled and told him that he wasn’t old enough for that.
“Unfortunately, I am.”
“Well, you don’t look it.”
“Good. What do you want me to do next?”
I looked around the messy front of the shop and thought of a million things he could do, but he’d already done enough and I would have felt bad to add any more to it. I already felt guilty that I’d let him help me as much as he had. I didn’t want to push it. Scott had done so much for me already.
“Nothing, Scott. Thank you for your help. I think I got it from here.”
“I want to help. You shouldn’t have to do all of this yourself.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I started to pick up the coffee cups and dishes on the counter closest to me. Why did he have to be so damn perfect? It was already hard to be around him, but when he was so nice like this, I had to wonder if he was just perfect on purpose. Did he know how I felt about him and the kiss that we shared the night before? It took everything in me not to touch his lips then and remember what they felt like brushed against mine.
“It’s fine, Scott. I’ve kept you long enough. I’m sure you have important things to do.”
Scott told me that he didn’t and insisted again that he help me. It was becoming clear that he wasn’t going to drop it, so instead of arguing, I asked him to help sweep and pick up the front with me. To my surprise, Scott was quick to help and it didn’t take much time at all to get the place cleaned up. He was right about two pairs of hands being better than one.
***
“So come have dinner with me. You kind of owe me.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled up at the handsome man. “How did I know that it was going to turn into that?”
“What? I’m just trying to be nice, that’s all.”
“You’ve been nice enough. After all of the help you’ve given me, don’t let me ruin anymore of your day.”
“You’ve made my day, so please don’t let me eat alone.”
“You really have no shame, do you?”
He acted like he was
thinking about it for a moment and then he shook his head that he in fact didn’t have any shame. Not when it came to me and what he wanted, apparently. I don’t know how I felt about him wanting me in such a way, and there really wasn’t anything I could say. He had a point about how he’d helped me clean up. I guess I didn’t have a choice but to do what he asked of me. It was just a date, right, just another date?
“Yeah, I guess I can go.”
“Where to? What are you in the mood for?”
“Anywhere is fine. Just anything that isn’t coffee and breakfast. I think I’ve seen enough of it today. I’m feeling completely burned out.”
“Well then I know just the place.”
I expected a fancy restaurant that he was going to use to try and impress me and show off all of his wealth. When he pulled up to a residential place that I knew wasn’t where he lived, I was confused again.
“Where are we?”
“We’re where we’re going to have dinner.”
“Here? Do you know these people?”
It seemed like a legitimate question, even though we were right out front of the house. It didn’t seem like the sort of neighborhood that Scott would find himself in by accident. He was always so full of surprises.
“I don’t really know them that well. I try to find them and come out here a couple of times a month, but I have to say that it has been quite some time since I was last here. It’s one of those pop-up restaurants that you hear about. This one is pretty good. I got a text last night with the new location. They’ll be here for about another couple of days and then they’ll be gone by Friday. I don’t know why I like it so much, but the cook is phenomenal and it’s a good place to go to impress a woman.”
“Ahh, I bet you’ve used this many times before, then.”
Scott stopped and turned me towards him. “I misspoke. I’m not sure why I said that, but I’m not trying to impress any woman but you, Jesse. I haven’t wanted anyone but you since I met you.”
I got out of the car, not really sure what I was supposed to say to his declaration. I had feelings for him, ones that I wished more than anything weren’t there, but there was something about imagining him with other women that had bothered me. The problem was that it shouldn’t bother me. I knew what kind of man he was. Although he was taking an interest in me now, I had to remind myself that the feeling would be fleeting at best. I knew that, so the last thing I needed to do was make it worse by believing him.
“I thank you for the invitation anyway, Scott. I’ve needed to get out for a while, and I’m always ready for a new experience.”
His blue eyes twinkled, and I knew that he was thinking of other new experiences that I might like to try. The way he smiled at me melted my heart and left me speechless. I had no more questions after that, and instead took the arm that he offered. I was going to say something about how I was dressed, but he could see it for himself. If he’d been worried about it, Scott could have asked me to change before we came out.
I was still in uniform, and although it didn’t seem that Scott minded what I was wearing at all, I felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb. I was the only one that wasn’t dressed in formal wear. I didn’t even want to say anything then, or be seen by the judgmental eyes that looked on.
I pulled tighter to Scott. It was one of the first and only times that I felt strange to be in a place. I never felt like anyone was better than me, my father had ground that in young, but I didn’t feel like I belonged here. Being on Scott’s arm with him looking so handsome in his suit, I felt like an imposter and feared that at any moment someone was going to say exactly that and make me leave. There was too much money around for me to be comfortable. I don’t think I would ever be able to get used to it.
Scott noticed nothing, and he treated me like I was gold, holding the chair out for me and always being so polite, so perfect.
Chapter 3 – Scott
“Well, I don’t want to take up any more of your time, Scott. I can see that you have a beautiful woman who deserves your attention far more than I do.”
Jesse smiled and looked away. I could tell that Sam’s words made her blush. Everything he said, every compliment, was true, but to hear it said by another person just concreted the fact. She was beautiful, a rare diamond, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. On the other hand, it didn’t exactly make my day to see the looks that other men in the room were giving her. I had to expect it, of course – she was a beautiful woman – but I didn’t have to like it.
Watching one of my old colleagues leave, I had to wonder if he’d been there to say hello to me, or if he’d merely come over because of Jesse. Even when she was in her uniform of a white collared shirt and black pants, she was breathtaking. There was nothing that I could do but look at her and smile.
“Are you okay, Scott? I don’t think you’ve blinked for a while.” She giggled. “I think people are supposed to blink. Maybe it was the food. The pasta was good, but I don’t think I want to even look at another noodle for a while.”
It took me a minute to process her words. At the moment I was just looking at her lips and trying my best not to pull her across the table and into my lap. I wanted to kiss her. I still tasted her on my lips when I closed my eyes and really thought about it. It wasn’t something that I was able to just brush off.
“Sorry, I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately. You just look so lovely tonight, Jesse. It’s hard not to stare at you.”
Her face turned a little pink and I loved the way she looked. Jesse didn’t seem to realize how pretty she was. She was one of those women who were hard to find. She was heavenly and didn’t see herself that way, so there was no ego. It was rather frustrating, though, because other women would give me a knowing smile that told me what they wanted, but there were no flirtatious looks to be had Jesse. I was just left to wonder and make conjectures that I hoped were right. It kept me guessing, and it kept my hands off of her, because I was afraid that I was reading it wrong and only seeing what I wanted to see from the situation.
“Come on, Scott, let’s get out of here. It’s clear that the wine has gone to your head.”
I had to agree. I would have agreed to anything, even though there was part of me that wanted to stay. I didn’t want to drop her off and go home alone. I wanted her in my arms, and the more I thought about it, the less of a real possibility it started to seem. Maybe if I just stayed there, if we stayed there, then I would have the time to convince her that I was what she wanted.
“Come on, Scott, seriously. It’s getting late and we both have to get up pretty early in the morning.”
I knew then that she meant business, so instead of arguing with her, I got up. My legs felt a little wobbly and I had to steady myself against the table for a moment, but I’d drunk more in one sitting many times before. At first it had been an attempt to calm my nerves, but I now had no nerves whatsoever. I was limber and ready, sure that I was still somehow going to convince her.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I took the fact that she didn’t brush me off as a good sign. I wanted to see it that way. I wanted her to want me. That was really the only thing I knew.
When I got out my keys to open the driver’s side, Jesse took them from me and offered to drive. I told her that it wasn’t necessary, but she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“I’m not saying you’re drunk, but you certainly are not ready to do any driving. Just tell me where to go and I’ll take you there. I can always get a cab from your house.”
“I want to go home with you.”
Her smile faltered. Even in my intoxicated state, I could tell that she wasn’t ready for that answer. But I didn’t budge. I wasn’t going to give her my address. Then she would drop me off and leave me. If I went home with her, Jesse would have to deal with me once and for all. In my mind, at that time, it seemed like a solid plan that was going to work.
“Scott, you have to tell me where you live so I can take you there. M
y place isn’t that big, and you’ll end up on the couch if you stay with me.”
That begged the question of her bed, but I knew not to say anything. She was not ready, and even though I was already pushing it, I knew not to push it that far. If she refused again, I was going to tell her where I really lived. But thankfully that didn’t happen, and before I knew it, we were on our way back to the bistro. There was a surge of hope within me.
“I don’t care if you stay the night, but…”
“I know, I know, no funny business.”
She grinned at me and I was left to suffocate with my throat closing up. Did she even know what she did to me, how she made me feel?
Chapter 4 – Jesse
“Are you sure this is going to be okay?”
I looked at the man on the couch. I felt bad for him. His legs wouldn’t even straighten out, and he didn’t look comfortable. I was sure that he was going to have a crook in his neck if he slept that way all night.
“Yes, I’m fine. Really.”
Not having anything else to offer him but my own bed, I went into my room and got dressed in my sleep clothes. I could hear him rustling around on the couch and I felt bad again. It was hard not to. After everything that he’d done for me, it felt wrong to leave him like that. It just didn’t seem right.
“Scott?”
“Yeah?”
“Why don’t you come in here? The bed is plenty big enough. You’re never going to get to sleep on that thing.”
It didn’t take but a couple of moments for him to get into the room, and if I wasn’t so thrown off I would have laughed, it was that funny. He didn’t seem drunk anymore, and the glaze in his eyes had been replaced with a look that said he wanted to devour me. I was having second thoughts, but it was too late.
“Are you sure, Jesse?”
I nodded my head, but I couldn’t get anything else to come out. Scott was taking his shirt off, and I wasn’t prepared for the hard lines of his chest. He was even more gorgeous with his shirt off, and when he went for his pants, I couldn’t help but hide my face. I could feel it getting hot. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to face him or not. I didn’t think I was, but I didn’t have a choice when he crawled onto the bed next to me and got underneath the covers.