Sitting opposite her, he cleared his throat. “I hope you, ah, slept well. Thank you for being okay with the sleeping arrangements last night.”
Here it is.The awkward conversation. Again, she regretted her choice to let him share the bed. He was clearly into her, and now he presumed he had an opening.
“I slept fine,” she said. “We’ll have the accommodation sorted today and both have our ownseparatebeds.”
“Of course.” He dropped his eyes from hers, and then turned towards the waitress heading their way, a tray balanced in one hand.
She expertly placed a plate and cup in front of Jess, arranging the cutlery and serviette next to them. “One Eggs Benedict, double shot flat white, and here’s your slice to go.”
Jess thanked her.
“That looks incredible,” Nate said.
Pulling her plate in close, she stuffed her mouth with salmon, not caring if it was polite or not. She knew there was some old rule about waiting until everyone had their food to eat, and Nate appeared to be the kind of guy who’d follow that, but she had no interest in impressing him. If her rudeness put him off, mission accomplished.
“What’d you order?” she mumbled between mouthfuls.
“The Kiwi Big Breakfast. I figured while I’m in New Zealand, I should try some of the local delicacies.”
“Don’t think I’d call that a delicacy. It’s usually sausages, mushrooms, and eggs.”
“Don’t forget the beans.”
Jess smiled, despite herself. “Who could forget the beans?”
“So, have you been a consultant before on a show?” Nate asked.
“No. I wasn’t even meant to be on this one. I’m filling in for someone else.”
“I wasn’t meant to be on this one either. I had…other non-acting plans, but this is where I ended up.” Nate chuckled at Jess’s expression. “You look shocked.”
“I am. I assumed this is all you do.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Jess nodded, not wanting to tell him she thought he was arrogant enough to be a seasoned actor, especially when he seemed much less so the more time she spent with him. Still, actors were skilled at playing a part, and his role of choice with her was clearly ‘charming, slightly shy gentleman’.
“So what happened to your non-acting plans?”
“Ah, it’s been a—”
A crash sounded next to their table. Jess and Nate both turned their heads in time to see the young waitress collapse, a mess of red saucy beans and eggs flung across the floor in front of her outstretched hand.
11
NATE LAUNCHED FROM HIS SEAT, but Jess was the first one to reach the waitress. He could feel a switch flip in his brain as Jess reached for the woman’s neck, brushing her hair aside and checking her pulse.
“Hey, can you hear me?” she shouted. “She has a pulse.”
She shook the girl’s shoulder. “Can you hear me?”
He crouched down beside her, now in full work mode, his mind running through emergency procedures.
“Nate, call the ambulance,” Jess ordered him.
“I’m a doctor.”
“Nate! Ugh! We need an actual doctor.” She turned the girl gently onto her side and bent down to listen to her breathing. “She’s just barely breathing.”
