“There’s no one I want to call, text, or hear from during my getaway birthday weekend,” she said, purposely adding a lighthearted shrug. She could tell he wasn’t buying it.
“Because you being here would cause trouble.”
It wasn’t a question, and Jade didn’t know how much to say. Though Chase had told her about his family, ranch, and house, he hadn’t divulged anything about his personal life. He could be married, engaged, estranged, or separated. Or single. She already had concerns as to what he thought of her being tipsy at Chloe’s and still felt embarrassed about falling off Jubilee. Everything about the past twenty-four hours had been as exciting as it was unnerving. He gave her some space to think by grabbing a couple of oven mitts and opening up the oven.
Tell me the truth from now on so you don’t get hurt.
“Being here would cause trouble,” Jade said softly. Maybe he’d let it go at that.
“Boyfriend?” he asked, not looking at her as he removed a covered pan from the oven.
“No!” she said a little too fast. No matter what Franco Spatafore might want, imagining him as her boyfriend gave her an icy chill. “Bosses.”
“Bosses?” Striding toward her, Chase set the hot pan on an iron trivet in the shape of a bull on the granite counter. “Because you were supposed to work this weekend?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’d be there for my clients if scheduled to work.”
“Because your bosses planned to celebrate your birthday with you?”
“It’s more complicated than that.” He was so good at getting answers from her. She said quickly, “Let’s change the subject.”
“Were you named for the color of your eyes?”
“No, although that worked out.” Jade tilted her head and arched her brow. He’d changed the subject, but the focus was still on her. This man was not easily distracted. He gave her an innocent grin, and she heard herself say, “For one thing, my mother and grandmother wanted to name me Emerald for May’s birthstone. Grandpa said to go with green for spring, but Jade would be a better name. So I ended up being named Jade Emerald.”
“It fits. You’re a gem,” Chase chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve heard that before.”
“I haven’t actually. Thank you.” She glanced around at the granite countertops that matched the island and said, “If the tour is still on, tell me about your kitchen. It looks new.”
“I updated it last year with the Sub-Zero fridge and other stainless steel appliances.
“I like the black-and-gray tile backsplashes.”
“I was told they go with the natural stone floor,” he said and rolled his eyes. “If I’m not eating at my desk or in front of a flat-screen, I’m usually here at this island.” He flattened a hand on the granite below the pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. What would his big, strong hand with those long, thick fingers feel like on her—
“Wine? Beer?”
“Wine,” Jade said and redirected her thoughts. “May I help you with anything?”
“Nope. Red or white?”
“Red.”
“Pinot Noir, right?” He glanced over his shoulder as he crossed the kitchen, and she nodded. He opened a door to a pantry, which was more like a small room than a cupboard, and said, “Teresa keeps these shelves stocked with staples, and I keep ‘em stocked with wine.”
“As I told Chloe, Pinot Noir is the healthiest red wine.”
She told him why as he returned to her with a bottle and two wine glasses taken from a glass cabinet. After setting places on the granite island, from the pantry, he selected a bag of tortilla chips and jar of salsa to go with the quesadillas. Next, he returned with utensils, a big spoon, a corkscrew, and a roll of paper towels.
“If I don’t use the linen napkins, Teresa doesn’t fuss at me for getting them dirty.” He chuckled, and Jade did too. Just when she was feeling unsettled by it all, he did something down-to-earth like hand her a paper towel. Chase uncovered the pan, revealing two quesadillas and fried rice. “I hope you like Mexican food.”
“Yum.” Aromas of cheese and spices scented the kitchen. “Having been born and raised in Los Angeles, I love Mexican food.”
“Great. How about you dish us out some while I open the wine?”
“Happy to.” Jade used the big spoon to serve each of them a triangular slice of quesadilla along with rice as he popped the cork out of the wine bottle. He was so at ease with everything, and so in charge of his own life. She knew he’d never understand her situation. “I don’t usually drink, so I’ll limit myself to one glass this evening. Two at the most.”
“Would you rather have a beer? Got plenty of cold ones in the Sub-Zero.”
