run."
"Lucas. I canceled a conference call with China so we could have a night together. This is what you've been asking for. Tell them—"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, I can't." Luke started jogging down the street. "I'll try to be off as soon as I can," he called over his shoulder.
Chapter 4
Jasmine watched as Luke faded into the dark: black casual shirt, khaki pants, then nothing. She suddenly felt strange and out of place. As if she had just watched a wedding proposal go wrong and she was left standing with the embarrassed groom-to-not-be. She wanted to say something: apologize, reassure him, or anything that would help to bring back the mood they had shared mere moments before.
Evan sighed and dropped his lingering gaze. Then he offered one of the cups. "I'll walk you to your car."
She accepted the yogurt but remained silent. The three of them had shared such a brief flash of time, and it had been brilliant, magical. But now she was left feeling embarrassed and clumsy. It was exactly what she'd wanted to avoid by leaving the hotel late that night.
Taking a bite, she tried to let the sweetness distract her anxiety. But it left a bland taste in her mouth, as if her tongue had gone numb. This isn't as good as I remember it.
They strolled together in the quiet, Jasmine taking small bites of the chilly dessert as Evan simply held the extra cup. He could have eaten it. Or he could have thrown it away. But he did neither. It was as if he expected Luke to return, and he was simply holding it, waiting.
When she couldn't stand the awkward silence anymore, she ventured a glance.
"His work must be very important. Do you think he'll save any lives tonight?"
Evan's gaze remained fixed on the street ahead of them. "I'm not sure. It doesn't matter. He takes his job seriously, regardless of the circumstances."
His eyes flashed to hers. "This night is a bad example but I normally love his dedication."
"It's what he wants to do, huh?" She spooned the last of her yogurt, hoping to change the subject away from Luke's sudden absence.
He nodded. "I told him he doesn't have to work, much less hold down a full time job. But he's where he wants to be." He lowered his eyes. "Helping those in need."
"I wish I could have my dream job." She dropped the half-empty cup in a trash can as they passed by. "I've only been able to land a temporary contractor position. But it will build up my resume so it's worth it. Plus I don't know what I'd do if I they let me go."
"You said you're in marketing?"
"For now. But my career focus leans more toward design. Like—" She scrunched her nose as she tried to think of a good example. "Not only how to market something but how to create things that are more marketable."
Evan chuckled. "That's good. I always say, you can market junk as gold or you can make it with gold to begin with."
She spotted her car as they rounded the bend and she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest. Anxious questions rolled through her mind: Where does this leave us? Do I give him a kiss goodnight? Without Luke? Would they want to see me again or was this it?
Soon she would be back in her world, at her shitty job, driving a rusty car, and dealing with all the frustrating complications of her life. She wished this night could have lasted longer. If nothing else, so she could pretend she was being courted by two handsome men.
She had a taste of something special and she loathed to give it up. The fact that she'd had a good time made it all the more jarring to leave on this melancholy note.
Luke and Evan tried to wear the guise of having a perfect relationship. But she had to admit that the strain underneath shone through. And her presence had not made things any easier.
Their affection toward her was awkward and complicated by their competitive drives. Luke obviously liked her although he could come off a little strong—like he was hurried or troubled about something.
Then there was Evan, the handsome enigma. She wanted
"Lucas. I canceled a conference call with China so we could have a night together. This is what you've been asking for. Tell them—"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, I can't." Luke started jogging down the street. "I'll try to be off as soon as I can," he called over his shoulder.
Chapter 4
Jasmine watched as Luke faded into the dark: black casual shirt, khaki pants, then nothing. She suddenly felt strange and out of place. As if she had just watched a wedding proposal go wrong and she was left standing with the embarrassed groom-to-not-be. She wanted to say something: apologize, reassure him, or anything that would help to bring back the mood they had shared mere moments before.
Evan sighed and dropped his lingering gaze. Then he offered one of the cups. "I'll walk you to your car."
She accepted the yogurt but remained silent. The three of them had shared such a brief flash of time, and it had been brilliant, magical. But now she was left feeling embarrassed and clumsy. It was exactly what she'd wanted to avoid by leaving the hotel late that night.
Taking a bite, she tried to let the sweetness distract her anxiety. But it left a bland taste in her mouth, as if her tongue had gone numb. This isn't as good as I remember it.
They strolled together in the quiet, Jasmine taking small bites of the chilly dessert as Evan simply held the extra cup. He could have eaten it. Or he could have thrown it away. But he did neither. It was as if he expected Luke to return, and he was simply holding it, waiting.
When she couldn't stand the awkward silence anymore, she ventured a glance.
"His work must be very important. Do you think he'll save any lives tonight?"
Evan's gaze remained fixed on the street ahead of them. "I'm not sure. It doesn't matter. He takes his job seriously, regardless of the circumstances."
His eyes flashed to hers. "This night is a bad example but I normally love his dedication."
"It's what he wants to do, huh?" She spooned the last of her yogurt, hoping to change the subject away from Luke's sudden absence.
He nodded. "I told him he doesn't have to work, much less hold down a full time job. But he's where he wants to be." He lowered his eyes. "Helping those in need."
"I wish I could have my dream job." She dropped the half-empty cup in a trash can as they passed by. "I've only been able to land a temporary contractor position. But it will build up my resume so it's worth it. Plus I don't know what I'd do if I they let me go."
"You said you're in marketing?"
"For now. But my career focus leans more toward design. Like—" She scrunched her nose as she tried to think of a good example. "Not only how to market something but how to create things that are more marketable."
Evan chuckled. "That's good. I always say, you can market junk as gold or you can make it with gold to begin with."
She spotted her car as they rounded the bend and she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest. Anxious questions rolled through her mind: Where does this leave us? Do I give him a kiss goodnight? Without Luke? Would they want to see me again or was this it?
Soon she would be back in her world, at her shitty job, driving a rusty car, and dealing with all the frustrating complications of her life. She wished this night could have lasted longer. If nothing else, so she could pretend she was being courted by two handsome men.
She had a taste of something special and she loathed to give it up. The fact that she'd had a good time made it all the more jarring to leave on this melancholy note.
Luke and Evan tried to wear the guise of having a perfect relationship. But she had to admit that the strain underneath shone through. And her presence had not made things any easier.
Their affection toward her was awkward and complicated by their competitive drives. Luke obviously liked her although he could come off a little strong—like he was hurried or troubled about something.
Then there was Evan, the handsome enigma. She wanted
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