Mitch had a point. He was placed among the two hundred richest people in the world. His business was booming, and he’d driven it hard. Walking away from his family at eighteen, Mitch had taken over his mother’s four jewellery stores and turned them into a worldwide-recognised name.
Elysian Memories was high class and expensive. Mitch had foreseen the potential downturn in customers when people began penny-pinching a few years ago. To combat that and to reach regular customers, he’d opened a discount chain called Velvet Memories eight years ago. Since then, both chains had grown in leaps and bounds. Mitch had earned his fortune with eighteen-hour days, seven days a week, and three hundred and sixty-five days a year.
It was only five years ago, when Diar started his conference, that Mitch began taking a break. Now Mitch was confident his empire would run if he took a few weeks off. Mitch owned the company lock, stock, and barrel. Nobody could take it away from him. He’d ensured that after his father turned a greedy eye to it.
“I’m tired,” Mitch said and yawned.
“Go to bed, my friend. You’ve got dinner to look forward to,” Diar teased and motioned for the bartender. Mitch watched with some concern until Diar ordered a soft drink. He didn’t want the man he thought of as family ending up with a drinking problem. That would be terrible.
Jess
She was running late. She’d taken the nap earlier and overslept, and was now rushing to get everything done. Jess had made a starter of lemon-soaked prawns, garlic bread, and several dips with bruschetta. The chicken was marinating in the sauce, and she’d cooked lemon rice with a side of roasted vegetables. She laid the table, rearranged it, and then did it a third time. What was wrong with her? Jess was never nervous, so why was Mitch affecting her so?
She threw her head back and took a deep breath. Mitch was a human male, nothing special that she knew of. Jess just had tokeep her nerves, which was going to be hard when she saw Mitch walking up her path. He wore trousers and a button-down shirt, and had clearly made an effort. Damn it, her lady parts were standing up and applauding.
Mitch knocked, and Jess hurried to the door.
“Hi,” she murmured, opening it, and Mitch beamed.
“These are for you,” he said, holding out a bunch of flowers. They were a mixture of blue, green, and white, and Jess smiled.
“The colours of the sea,” Jess said softly.
“They’ll always remind me of the time I pulled a mermaid from a loch. And this is for you, too,” Mitch handed her a large gift bag. Jess frowned at it quizzically and then realised they were still standing in the doorway.
“Come in, sorry!” she exclaimed with a slight blush.
Mitch stepped inside and sniffed. “Wow, something smells really good. You cooked?”
“Yes. I love cooking, and getting a takeout would have been cheating.”
“I haven’t had a home-cooked meal since I was—damn, eighteen,” Mitch commented, and a look flickered across his face. Jess wondered what that was about. Mitch quickly wiped away whatever it was and smiled.
“I hope you enjoy it,” Jess said, suddenly feeling awkward.
“Jess, the fact that you took the time to do this means everything,” Mitch stated.
She placed the gift bag on the worktop and peered inside. A laugh escaped her as she pulled out a coloured crystal mermaid.
“Really?” she giggled. Alongside the mermaid were some bath bombs, bubble bath, and shower gel. “Thank you, Mitch, this is so nice of you.”
“It’s nothing. How did it go with the police?”
“They weren’t too amused I was on the boat, but without the owner, they can’t press charges,” Jess replied.
“That sucks having that hanging over your head,” Mitch said as he grabbed a stool. I began checking dinner and saw it was nearly ready.
“Would you like wine, beer, or something stronger?” Jess offered.
“A soft drink would be fine. I’m driving, and I’ve an aversion to drink-driving at any level,” Mitch replied.
Jess’s heart fluttered. Damn, he was perfect, and not for her. She turned to the fridge and noticed a slight tremble in her hands and busied herself pouring two glasses of coke.
“Hey, I didn’t mean that you had to abstain,” Mitch said.
“It’s fine, want to take a seat, and I’ll bring the starters over?” Jess suggested, gesturing at the table.
“Sure,” Mitch moved across to the table and sat. Moments later, Jess carried the tray over. “Damn, Jess. This looks fantastic!”
