new Porsche. Jessica seldom drove her car and couldn’t see wasting her money on such as expensive one, but it was sure nice to ride in one.
“ What a nice set of wheels,” she said
He glanced over at her and grinned. “Thanks, but it’s rented.”
“ What happened to your truck? Did you blow another water pump?” she teased.
“ No, as a matter of fact, I didn’t. I flew into town this time. I decided it would be safer.” He laughed before continuing, “Besides, I didn’t feel like making that long drive alone. Where would you like to eat lunch?”
“ Do you like Italian?”
“ I love Italian.”
“ Well then, I know a great Italian restaurant. It’s about five miles from here. They serve excellent food, have a superb atmosphere, and it’s truly authentic cooking.”
“ Well then, lead on.”
They drove the short distance to the restaurant, where the delicious aroma of many different dishes greeted them. This was Jessica’s favorite place to eat, so she was pleased to share it with Brandon. At least she knew they had one thing in common.
Antonio greeted them with a big bear hug for Jessica and a firm handshake for Brandon. “Jessica. How is my favorite customer?”
“ I’m fine, Antonio. Thank you for asking. I don’t have a reservation. Can you squeeze us in?”
He grinned. “I always have room for you, my dear.” He glanced around and then led them to a quiet corner. “How’s this?”
“ This is perfect.” He left them alone and signaled a waiter to the table.
“ So, are you here on business again?” she asked as the waiter handed them menus.
“ No. I am here to see you, actually.”
She blushed as her eyes took in his smiling face. “I’m flattered. How did I get so lucky to have an admirer who travels such great distances to see me?”
“ Well, for one, I missed you terribly and wanted to see you, and second, I felt a bit guilty.”
“ Guilty? About what?”
He chuckled. “Well, just a little bit guilty mind you.” He saw the curiosity on her face. “The last time we met, you were in dire need of a place to take some pictures, correct?” She nodded. “Then I have a proposition for you that I think you’ll like. That is if you haven’t found your paradise yet.”
She shook her head. “I’m getting desperate. We are supposed to start shooting in three weeks. Everything else is just about ready. This was my only snag. I even lied to Phillip Stewart this morning.”
“ Then consider your place found, and all it will cost you is dinner tonight.”
She eyed him with suspicion. She was intrigued. “Okay, I give up, enough of this game, just be out with it.”
He saw the amusement in her eyes. “When we last met, I was so dazzled by your beauty I couldn’t think straight. It was by sheer luck that last week my brother mentioned our property in California. I immediately thought of you. It could be your paradise. It has a private lake for your swimwear, and horses to ride for your sportswear, or hiking trails if you prefer. And the nearest town is only forty minutes away, so you can display your glorious evening gowns. So what do you say?”
She smiled brightly. “What would you like for dinner?”
She was still smiling when she returned to the office.
“ Enjoyed your lunch, did you?” Amy teased taking in her blissful mood and blushing cheeks. “It looks like romance is in the air today.”
“ You are jumping to conclusions. Go ahead ask me why I’m so happy.”
“ Oh, probably because you had lunch with a man who is rich, and handsome and cute, and oh, did I mention rich!”
“ Well, if you don’t want to hear, then all right.” She started to turn away and Amy grabbed her arm, turning her back around to face her.
“ You know I’m joking. Tell me what he said.” And she did.
“ That’s amazing. I guess he really must be in love,” she said and went back to her work. She had spent all day trying to match fabric colors with makeup shades.
“ What a nice set of wheels,” she said
He glanced over at her and grinned. “Thanks, but it’s rented.”
“ What happened to your truck? Did you blow another water pump?” she teased.
“ No, as a matter of fact, I didn’t. I flew into town this time. I decided it would be safer.” He laughed before continuing, “Besides, I didn’t feel like making that long drive alone. Where would you like to eat lunch?”
“ Do you like Italian?”
“ I love Italian.”
“ Well then, I know a great Italian restaurant. It’s about five miles from here. They serve excellent food, have a superb atmosphere, and it’s truly authentic cooking.”
“ Well then, lead on.”
They drove the short distance to the restaurant, where the delicious aroma of many different dishes greeted them. This was Jessica’s favorite place to eat, so she was pleased to share it with Brandon. At least she knew they had one thing in common.
Antonio greeted them with a big bear hug for Jessica and a firm handshake for Brandon. “Jessica. How is my favorite customer?”
“ I’m fine, Antonio. Thank you for asking. I don’t have a reservation. Can you squeeze us in?”
He grinned. “I always have room for you, my dear.” He glanced around and then led them to a quiet corner. “How’s this?”
“ This is perfect.” He left them alone and signaled a waiter to the table.
“ So, are you here on business again?” she asked as the waiter handed them menus.
“ No. I am here to see you, actually.”
She blushed as her eyes took in his smiling face. “I’m flattered. How did I get so lucky to have an admirer who travels such great distances to see me?”
“ Well, for one, I missed you terribly and wanted to see you, and second, I felt a bit guilty.”
“ Guilty? About what?”
He chuckled. “Well, just a little bit guilty mind you.” He saw the curiosity on her face. “The last time we met, you were in dire need of a place to take some pictures, correct?” She nodded. “Then I have a proposition for you that I think you’ll like. That is if you haven’t found your paradise yet.”
She shook her head. “I’m getting desperate. We are supposed to start shooting in three weeks. Everything else is just about ready. This was my only snag. I even lied to Phillip Stewart this morning.”
“ Then consider your place found, and all it will cost you is dinner tonight.”
She eyed him with suspicion. She was intrigued. “Okay, I give up, enough of this game, just be out with it.”
He saw the amusement in her eyes. “When we last met, I was so dazzled by your beauty I couldn’t think straight. It was by sheer luck that last week my brother mentioned our property in California. I immediately thought of you. It could be your paradise. It has a private lake for your swimwear, and horses to ride for your sportswear, or hiking trails if you prefer. And the nearest town is only forty minutes away, so you can display your glorious evening gowns. So what do you say?”
She smiled brightly. “What would you like for dinner?”
She was still smiling when she returned to the office.
“ Enjoyed your lunch, did you?” Amy teased taking in her blissful mood and blushing cheeks. “It looks like romance is in the air today.”
“ You are jumping to conclusions. Go ahead ask me why I’m so happy.”
“ Oh, probably because you had lunch with a man who is rich, and handsome and cute, and oh, did I mention rich!”
“ Well, if you don’t want to hear, then all right.” She started to turn away and Amy grabbed her arm, turning her back around to face her.
“ You know I’m joking. Tell me what he said.” And she did.
“ That’s amazing. I guess he really must be in love,” she said and went back to her work. She had spent all day trying to match fabric colors with makeup shades.
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