Leanne smiled and gestured for him to go an ahead. “By all means go,” she encouraged. “I’m in no rush to lose my money in the casino. I’ll wait here for you and we can hammer out the details.” Joseph smiled appreciatively and then got up.
Ah, new love, Leanne thought, as she watched Joseph head into the kitchen. She remembered when she had first met her husband. The trials and tribulations, and misunderstandings had been there for her too. But it had been fun.
*
Joseph caught up to Jewel just as she walked back into the office where they had their argument earlier. With his hand on her shoulder, he stopped her. “Wait, Jewel, please let me explain.”
“There is nothing to explain,” she hissed through clenched teeth still trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. “You’ve moved on. We had a fight. And you called it quits. But letting me know that way, well it was cold. But that’s your prerogative, I guess.”
She began to turn once more, but not before he saw her bright eyes begin to fill with the emotion that was conveyed so thickly in her voice.
“That was not a date. Leanne is a new distributor for the spa. It was a business meeting. We were in the middle of contract negotiations. And yes, we had a fight, but I’m really sorry about that. I don’t want this to be over,” he whispered clutching her trembling shoulders and pulling her back against him to give her comfort.
Jewel was confused but turned then. “You don’t?” She looked up into his dark stormy eyes and saw him nod. He looked sincere, and she lost it. The tears came and she buried her face in his chest oblivious to the scene she was making.
Joseph’s arms went round her and he began to stroke her back. “We had a fight. Yes, but this is not over with us. I want to apologize for my rashness, I planned to do that later. But when she wanted to thank the chef, I couldn’t very well say no. Can we talk later, Babe? Please.”
She couldn’t speak. So she just nodded. She couldn’t believe how hurt she felt seeing Joseph with another woman. It was so soon. She wrapped her arms around him just wanting to feel him close to her. He gently kissed the top of her head, and just held her until her emotions were under control. When she pushed back as a waiter passed by them, he wiped away the tears that glittered like diamonds on her cheeks. “I need to get back to her. But how about, when you get done, we have a drink? Talk. We could meet upstairs in my suite.”
She hoped they could clear the air and agreed. She felt attacked when he implied her brothers were involved. It was ludicrous. They had been out of town. “I can’t stay long though. I have my brothers to think about.”
“Okay, a quick talk. I’ll see you later, Babe.”
She stood, mute, but he kissed her once chastely before he left. A soft kiss on the lips, a promise. Jewel took another minute to get her emotions under control before heading back to the work. She felt foolish. Several of the kitchen staff had witnessed her little scene, but they were being sensitive to her needs and just carried on with their work. She was glad for that because she really needed to think about this relationship with Joseph. She was beginning to care for him a lot more than she felt comfortable with. And it was all happening so fast.
*
Joseph rejoined Leanne to finish their meeting. She teased light heartedly about his new woman, but then they quickly got down to particulars. They were able to hammer out the last few details, and he promised to have a contract sent to her the next day.
But Jewel was on his mind the entire time. She cared for him. That he knew. Those emotions couldn’t be faked. And he knew he was feeling the same way. He’d figured that out while watching those tapes upstairs this morning. The thought of her or her brothers being involved in criminal activity had gutted him. But his heart told him she wasn’t involved. She couldn’t be. She was just too good of a person. Although his head was fighting him on this, he felt the need to do something for her. Help her. To show how much he cared. He thought about her housing situation, and knew he might be able to pull a few strings with the housing authority. With that thought in his mind, he turned and gave his full attention back to Leanne. Business now. Pleasure later.
Chapter 13
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