"But I like that he's still trying."
"Well, I think he's doing a good job." Jasmine folded her arms. "I would probably go way overboard. You know, room service, shopping, spa treatments, the works. Not that I'd ever be able to afford one night here—-even if I did find another job.
Evan's eyes narrowed. "You lost your job?"
"Sorry," Luke glanced up. "Jasmine told me earlier this week but I didn't want to say anything."
Evan's eyes flashed from Luke back to Jasmine as he sat up on the couch. "Why didn't you talk to me? I could have arranged something for you if I'd known sooner."
"I'm not about to bother you for a handout." She dropped her gaze. "I'll be fine. I already have two interviews lined up: Morgan Consultants and Context Interactive."
Evan grimaced. "Those fat cats will keep you working as a low level office assistant for the rest of your life." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out one of his business cards and a pen. Then flipped the card over and jotted down a number.
"Call Ray. Tell him I've authorized an interview. He can call me to confirm."
"Evan." Jasmine rolled her eyes. "I told you I don't need a free ride. I'll be f—"
"This isn't charity." He slid the card across the table. "I'm only offering you face time with one of my top managers. If you get the job, it will be because of your own merits. And then you'll be working for Ray, not me. I won't have any say in the matter. He's a hard ass but he will treat you well. And he has a great eye for talent." He winked. "I think he'll be impressed with you."
A blush crept up to her cheeks as she took the card. "Thank you," she said with a shy smile.
"And on that note…" Luke stood up and stretched his arms. "I'm taking my boyfriend to bed. Feel free to stay up as late as you like."
Jasmine glanced at Evan, who wore a crooked smile as he stood to join Luke. The term "boyfriend" sounded silly, all things considered, but he seemed not to mind.
"Help yourself to anything in the kitchen," Evan said. "And if you'll stay until morning, Luke will cook you a superb breakfast."
"I think I'd like that." She watched as Luke followed Evan into the hallway. "Goodnight."
As she sat on the large, supple leather couch, sipping premium tea from a crystal cup, and gazing out at the night, fifty floors up, she had to admit that she liked the extravagance. But something was bugging her about the spacious room. It wasn't anything she could put a finger on, like a draft under her feet or the lights dimming slightly. The quiet in the room had a lonely hint to it without Luke's lilting laughter. Though adorned with fine art, the walls seemed pale without Evan's dominating presence.
If she had this kind of wealth, she'd spend a day or so bathing in champagne or decking herself out in diamonds. What woman wouldn't? But she knew she'd tire of that quickly. Marble can't make you breakfast. Crystal won't talk to you about the long day you had at work. And money won't snuggle up with you at night.
Evan and Luke are what make this so magical.
She hadn't expected them to treat her well. No, she'd thought they would use her, then discard her, which was how her experiences with men often turned out. But the truth was, they'd treated her better than any of those so-called relationships.
The earlier comment she'd made about wanting to date both of them had been half jest, half frustration, but after she'd said it, she couldn't ignore the ring of truth underneath. Nor could she deny the gleam in Luke's eyes or the fact that Evan had shot her a wink.
And there was the night on the boardwalk, when they had posed for the photograph. Evan had reached out and grasped her hand. The gesture was so small, insignificant to the point of being overlooked. Yet with a man like him, the simple act had spoken volumes to her.
Part of her had been serious, and if they'd been serious too… Well, she couldn't pass up this drastic turn in her life.
She set the glass down and rose to her
"Well, I think he's doing a good job." Jasmine folded her arms. "I would probably go way overboard. You know, room service, shopping, spa treatments, the works. Not that I'd ever be able to afford one night here—-even if I did find another job.
Evan's eyes narrowed. "You lost your job?"
"Sorry," Luke glanced up. "Jasmine told me earlier this week but I didn't want to say anything."
Evan's eyes flashed from Luke back to Jasmine as he sat up on the couch. "Why didn't you talk to me? I could have arranged something for you if I'd known sooner."
"I'm not about to bother you for a handout." She dropped her gaze. "I'll be fine. I already have two interviews lined up: Morgan Consultants and Context Interactive."
Evan grimaced. "Those fat cats will keep you working as a low level office assistant for the rest of your life." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out one of his business cards and a pen. Then flipped the card over and jotted down a number.
"Call Ray. Tell him I've authorized an interview. He can call me to confirm."
"Evan." Jasmine rolled her eyes. "I told you I don't need a free ride. I'll be f—"
"This isn't charity." He slid the card across the table. "I'm only offering you face time with one of my top managers. If you get the job, it will be because of your own merits. And then you'll be working for Ray, not me. I won't have any say in the matter. He's a hard ass but he will treat you well. And he has a great eye for talent." He winked. "I think he'll be impressed with you."
A blush crept up to her cheeks as she took the card. "Thank you," she said with a shy smile.
"And on that note…" Luke stood up and stretched his arms. "I'm taking my boyfriend to bed. Feel free to stay up as late as you like."
Jasmine glanced at Evan, who wore a crooked smile as he stood to join Luke. The term "boyfriend" sounded silly, all things considered, but he seemed not to mind.
"Help yourself to anything in the kitchen," Evan said. "And if you'll stay until morning, Luke will cook you a superb breakfast."
"I think I'd like that." She watched as Luke followed Evan into the hallway. "Goodnight."
As she sat on the large, supple leather couch, sipping premium tea from a crystal cup, and gazing out at the night, fifty floors up, she had to admit that she liked the extravagance. But something was bugging her about the spacious room. It wasn't anything she could put a finger on, like a draft under her feet or the lights dimming slightly. The quiet in the room had a lonely hint to it without Luke's lilting laughter. Though adorned with fine art, the walls seemed pale without Evan's dominating presence.
If she had this kind of wealth, she'd spend a day or so bathing in champagne or decking herself out in diamonds. What woman wouldn't? But she knew she'd tire of that quickly. Marble can't make you breakfast. Crystal won't talk to you about the long day you had at work. And money won't snuggle up with you at night.
Evan and Luke are what make this so magical.
She hadn't expected them to treat her well. No, she'd thought they would use her, then discard her, which was how her experiences with men often turned out. But the truth was, they'd treated her better than any of those so-called relationships.
The earlier comment she'd made about wanting to date both of them had been half jest, half frustration, but after she'd said it, she couldn't ignore the ring of truth underneath. Nor could she deny the gleam in Luke's eyes or the fact that Evan had shot her a wink.
And there was the night on the boardwalk, when they had posed for the photograph. Evan had reached out and grasped her hand. The gesture was so small, insignificant to the point of being overlooked. Yet with a man like him, the simple act had spoken volumes to her.
Part of her had been serious, and if they'd been serious too… Well, she couldn't pass up this drastic turn in her life.
She set the glass down and rose to her
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