Page 36 of True Abandon

“Then you’re out of a job for insubordination.”

I bite on my thumb and think about this for a moment. Sure, I could easily get another hotel job, but not one in a hotel this nice that pays as well, or a place where I get to make my own hours and wear my own clothes instead of some heinous uniform.

I wasn’t planning to stay in Hawaii forever, but I’ll be damned if I stay here for one day and not do something I at least enjoy.

I’ve lived a decade of Jax Davis haunting my dreams.

I can live through seven days of his giving me hell.

I head back with the noon sun strong against my skin. Jax isn’t in his cabana, or at the tiki bar. I don’t see him in any of the loungers, either. I look over at the Birds of Paradise restaurant, and there he sits at a table, next to an open-air window, looking at a menu.

With a new sense of determination, I walk my ass into the restaurant and straight through the dining room.

“If we're doing this, it's on my terms,” I say as soon as I reach his table. Thankfully, he’s covered his naked torso with a white t-shirt.

His attention is fixed to the menu. “Take a seat.”

“I'll stand.”

“I hear the macadamia crusted tuna is delicious. The waiter also recommends the pig, but I know you won’t eat that. Do you still want a miniature pig as a pet? You don’t have one, do you?”

“Stop being an imbecile and listen to me.” My tone makes me sound like his mother.

Jax slowly lowers his menu and takes in my stern stance. He raises a brow. “You have conditions.”

“A few.”

He places the menu on the table and links his hands on top. “I’m listening.”

I hold up a finger. “I don’t know what your endgame is, but this is my job—I will not do anything that will cause me to lose it."

He opens his hands and closes them, acknowledging my request. “It’s obviously a place you feel passionate about. I won’t put that in jeopardy.”

I raise another finger. “No phones. I don't trust you and technology together.”

He flinches at the demand. “You really think I'd do something to embarrass you?”

“You’ll find I'm not as trusting as I once was.”

He pushes away from the table and crosses his arms. “Okay. Fine.”

With another finger, I explain, “I make your daily itinerary. You have to do everything I set up for you, or you have to leave the hotel.”

He makes a little laughing noise inside his throat. “What, are you gonna make me swim with sharks without a cage?”

“No.” I smirk. “But that’s a good idea."

“Anything else?” His full lips are pursed. The dent in his chin is raised in question.

“Not that I can think of. No.”

With a couple of personal head nods, he opens his menu again. “Okay. Challenge accepted. Now join me for lunch.”

“I won’t be dining with you. I’m not your date. I’m your concierge. I’m sure you can procure a few questionable agencies to help you with something like that.”

His eyes peer up from the menu again. “Do you really think I’d ask you to hire prostitutes?”

“Yes.”