Chapter 19
Jackson
* * *
“You look very nice, Mr. Weathers,” Mrs. Bales said, looking up from her desk as he passed. She paused typing a memo to smile at him. “Are you going on a date with that lovely Ms. Emma?”
At the sound of Emma’s name, Jackson couldn’t help but smile. “No. Business dinner.”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s Tuesday.” His secretary nodded and then stood up. “Let me fix your tie. It’s crooked.”
Mrs. Bales hobbled around her desk, mumbling something about getting to the doctor for another look at her hips. She stood before her employer and fixed his tie for him. She smiled as she smoothed the dark silk of his tie.
“There you go,” she said. ?
??I sent the flowers to your house as instructed. I went with amaryllis because they mean, ‘worth beyond beauty.’”
“Where did you learn that?” Jackson asked her.
“I looked it up,” Mrs. Bales replied. “I do know how to use Google. I made sure that the flower meaning card got put in there too, so Emma will know as well.”
“You’re going to make her think I’m romantic,” he scolded her with a smile. “Everyone knows that isn’t me.”
“I’ve seen the way you look at her,” Mrs. Bales told him. “There’s a secret between the two of you, but you look at her like she’s worth something. I haven’t seen you look at any of your other dates like that.”
“It’s how I look at you,” he replied, kissing his secretary’s cheek. She had been his secretary for longer than he could remember.
“You big liar.” She smiled as she gave him a gentle push. “Now get going. You’re going to be late.”
“But at least I look good,” he smiled, pointing to his tie. She rolled her eyes and went back behind her desk to keep working.
Jackson was in good spirits as he rode the elevator down. He glanced over at the coffee shop as he walked out the building. He was looking for Emma, even though he knew she wasn’t working. It was just habit now. He wondered just how often he had looked over to her without realizing it.
He drove quickly to the steakhouse where he was meeting with a client. He followed the hostess to the back table where Mr. Cannon waited.
“You’re late,” Mr. Cannon announced. He already had two empty drink glasses on the table.
“I’m right on time,” Jackson replied. “You just like my free drinks.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Mr. Cannon said. He caught the hostess’ attention. “Another drink please.”
Jackson simply laughed. This was how this meeting always went.
It was his monthly meeting with Cannon Chemicals. They always met at this particular steakhouse, and ate and drank until they could barely move. Jackson would then pick up some beautiful girl at the bar, take her upstairs to the penthouse suite of the hotel, and have a wonderful evening.
Except that wasn’t going to happen tonight.
The thought surprised Jackson as he settled into his regular spot and had the regular conversation. He could see a stunning blonde sitting at the bar, but he had no desire to talk to her.
He wanted to go home and talk with Emma. He wanted to bring Emma up to the penthouse suite.
“Jackson, you feeling okay?”
Jackson shook his head, realizing that he wasn’t paying attention to his friend. “Sorry, just thinking.”
“You were thinking of that sexy little brunette you found,” Mr. Cannon decided. The man grinned at him. “I can’t blame you. When you get tired of her, would you give her my number?”
Jackson’s hand balled into a fist and he nearly punched Mr. Cannon right in the nose. How dare he talk about Emma that way?