this man would keep her attention. “I love them, too, and I’ll get on it this afternoon.” Wasn’t a giraffe the mascot for a chain of toy stores? Later in the day, if she had time, she’d find the nearest location and get a giraffe. Going into a toy store might be a little difficult, but she’d manage somehow. Maybe she could convince Deidre to go with her.
“ Great. I think we’ll make a good team.” Finishing his last bite of cheesecake, Jackson drained his coffee and those dark eyes met hers above the rim of his cup. “The coffee here is strong, but good. So was the cheesecake.” Glancing around, he nodded at a few of the older men. “Seems there’s a lot of local flavor in this coffee shop. If you’re game and have time, I’d like you to take a walk with me.”
She wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin, wondering what was in his mind. “Now?” Where could he take her that she hadn’t already been, didn’t already know? She knew this town inside and out. From all appearances, it hadn’t changed much since she’d been away. Croisette Shores hadn’t changed much since she’d been born .
“ I have a flexible schedule, and where I’d like to take you actually involves the project with you. Well, sort of. If you’re not free…”
“ It’s not that.”
“ I assure you, I’m completely honest, above-board, and have no criminal record. Or no ulterior motive.”
What prompted that speech? No way could Jackson know her personal history. Charlie knew plenty, but he was her friend and even orchestrated this meeting, so no, he wouldn’t sabotage her. She liked Dr. Ross but didn’t wish to diffuse any bombs so soon after meeting him. She imagined most women would jump at the opportunity to go anywhere with this man. The expectant expression on his face was rather endearing.
“ All right, but only because you’ve made me curious. Can we get something settled first?”
H e held her gaze steady. “Sure. Name it.”
“ Are you definitely contracting my services for the decorating job?” Standing, Serenity ran a quick hand over a wrinkle in her pale pink cotton top, not wanting to seem too eager. Her question probably gave her anxiousness away, as it was. If he was pleased with her work, he might be amenable to giving her a recommendation and referring her services to other professionals in Croisette Shores and the surrounding towns.
Jackson rose to his feet, a good three or four inches taller and—at almost five foot nine—she was no slouch in the height department. “Yes, you’re definitely hired,” he said. “Do you have the contract with you now? I’ll sign it, shake your hand, whatever you want. I look forward to working with you, Serenity. After all, any woman who can appreciate my affinity for animals and not veto it on principle is my kind of decorator.”
“ I’ll have my assistant deliver the contract to you tomorrow morning if you’ll be in your office.” How she loved saying that… my assistant .
“ Great. I’m working out of Dr. Rasmussen’s office while he’s on holiday or until my office is ready. Do you think we can get it put together in the next couple of weeks, or is that pushing it? I don’t want to rush you.”
“ Since you’re keeping most of your furniture from your previous office, I don’t see why not. And,” she gave him a small smile, “you’re not rushing me.” Other things, yes, but no rushing was involved.
Jackson t ossed a few bills on the table, more than enough for their coffee and the cheesecake, although Nancy told them she’d cover the cost of the dessert. If Sophia in the deli at McHenry’s Market was to be believed, Nancy had gone through some tough times lately. Maybe Jackson somehow knew that , too, and wanted to repay her.
“ Where are we going next, Doc Jack?”
H is smile disarmed her. “Somewhere that might change your life.”
~ CHAPTER 5~
Where is Jackson taking me?
Serenity appreciated how Jackson
“ Great. I think we’ll make a good team.” Finishing his last bite of cheesecake, Jackson drained his coffee and those dark eyes met hers above the rim of his cup. “The coffee here is strong, but good. So was the cheesecake.” Glancing around, he nodded at a few of the older men. “Seems there’s a lot of local flavor in this coffee shop. If you’re game and have time, I’d like you to take a walk with me.”
She wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin, wondering what was in his mind. “Now?” Where could he take her that she hadn’t already been, didn’t already know? She knew this town inside and out. From all appearances, it hadn’t changed much since she’d been away. Croisette Shores hadn’t changed much since she’d been born .
“ I have a flexible schedule, and where I’d like to take you actually involves the project with you. Well, sort of. If you’re not free…”
“ It’s not that.”
“ I assure you, I’m completely honest, above-board, and have no criminal record. Or no ulterior motive.”
What prompted that speech? No way could Jackson know her personal history. Charlie knew plenty, but he was her friend and even orchestrated this meeting, so no, he wouldn’t sabotage her. She liked Dr. Ross but didn’t wish to diffuse any bombs so soon after meeting him. She imagined most women would jump at the opportunity to go anywhere with this man. The expectant expression on his face was rather endearing.
“ All right, but only because you’ve made me curious. Can we get something settled first?”
H e held her gaze steady. “Sure. Name it.”
“ Are you definitely contracting my services for the decorating job?” Standing, Serenity ran a quick hand over a wrinkle in her pale pink cotton top, not wanting to seem too eager. Her question probably gave her anxiousness away, as it was. If he was pleased with her work, he might be amenable to giving her a recommendation and referring her services to other professionals in Croisette Shores and the surrounding towns.
Jackson rose to his feet, a good three or four inches taller and—at almost five foot nine—she was no slouch in the height department. “Yes, you’re definitely hired,” he said. “Do you have the contract with you now? I’ll sign it, shake your hand, whatever you want. I look forward to working with you, Serenity. After all, any woman who can appreciate my affinity for animals and not veto it on principle is my kind of decorator.”
“ I’ll have my assistant deliver the contract to you tomorrow morning if you’ll be in your office.” How she loved saying that… my assistant .
“ Great. I’m working out of Dr. Rasmussen’s office while he’s on holiday or until my office is ready. Do you think we can get it put together in the next couple of weeks, or is that pushing it? I don’t want to rush you.”
“ Since you’re keeping most of your furniture from your previous office, I don’t see why not. And,” she gave him a small smile, “you’re not rushing me.” Other things, yes, but no rushing was involved.
Jackson t ossed a few bills on the table, more than enough for their coffee and the cheesecake, although Nancy told them she’d cover the cost of the dessert. If Sophia in the deli at McHenry’s Market was to be believed, Nancy had gone through some tough times lately. Maybe Jackson somehow knew that , too, and wanted to repay her.
“ Where are we going next, Doc Jack?”
H is smile disarmed her. “Somewhere that might change your life.”
~ CHAPTER 5~
Where is Jackson taking me?
Serenity appreciated how Jackson
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