He felt like he should try to convince her otherwise, but also knew it wasn’t his place.
“Besides,” she took another deep breath and continued, “I love this time of year. It’s still cool enough for warm drinks and jackets, but you can feel the hint of warmth in the air.”
Khizar smiled. “In Nudushan, it’s always warm. But we enjoy warm drinks anyway.”
“I think I’m going to have to do some research tonight. I’d love to know more about your country.”
It was the perfect opening, Khizar thought.
“And I’d love to tell you more. Have lunch with me tomorrow, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know about my home.”
Jacqui smiled, albeit tightly. “I’d like that, but I’m not sure I can get away from the bakery again.”
Khizar shrugged. “I’ll buy all your creations again tomorrow, if I have to.”
That got him a laugh.
“Oh, please don’t. I’d feel terrible,” Jacqui said. “Fine, then, I can get away for a late lunch; I’ll have someone to cover the shop.”
“Excellent. What time shall I pick you up?”
“Around two?”
Khizar nodded. “Two it is. I’ll see you then.”
“I look forward to it.” Jacqui smiled at him shyly.
Khizar wasn’t quite sure how to end the date, since that’s basically what this encounter was. Rather than go in for a kiss, he opted for a warm hug.
He held out an arm to her. “A handshake seems cold for two pastry-wielding do-gooders such as ourselves. How about a hug instead?”
She nodded and stepped into his arms, standing on her toes to place her own arms around his neck. Khizar was surprised again; she felt like she fit there. Still, he kept it brief and chaste. He let her go and stepped back a bit.
“Good night, Jacqui. Thank you again for today.”
He found himself a little dazzled by her smile as she said, “My pleasure, Khizar. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He watched her walk away, waiting until she was out of sight before he asked the valet to bring his car around. He drove to his hotel, left the car with the valet there, and walked into the elaborate lobby.
The doorman greeted him with a respectful nod, and the older woman behind the concierge’s desk wished him a good evening.
Khizar headed for the elevator, but at the last second, turned. He wasn’t quite ready to go up to his room yet, so he walked into the hotel bar. The room was dark and elegant, with brown leather booths along one wall and a few tall leather chairs scattered around the room next to dark wood tables.
He took one of the chairs in a corner where he could watch the room, but it was clear he didn’t want to be disturbed. A server in a crisp white shirt and black pants stopped by the table a few minutes after he sat down. Khizar ordered an expensive whiskey, neat, and then contemplated his next move.
Jacqui was a lovely young woman. She obviously needed help with her business, and Khizar supposed that was one way he could ingratiate himself into her life.
He could offer to look at her books and see if he could find efficiencies. Or perhaps he could offer to negotiate her rent with her landlord. Maybe do some research into other storefronts that wouldn’t cost as much but might bring in more business for her.
But his business was so different from hers that she might not appreciate his advice. And, to be fair, there might not be a lot of advice he could give her. He’d never had to save a failing business, only expand his family’s already strong empire.
And, if she was tied to that location, she might not want him pushing her somewhere else. He needed to know more about her and her business for that plan of action to work.
The server quietly set the crystal tumbler on the table and nodded to Khizar. Khizar nodded back and picked up the glass, then sipped the whiskey and thought some more.
He was definitely seeing her tomorrow. It was a chance to impress her again, and maybe their conversation would give him a clue of something he could use. He needed her to open up about her great-uncle, but he couldn’t just ask her outright.
Perhaps if he talked more about his jewelry business and his mines, she might bring Bill up as a connection. Or he could “discover” the connection later on, once she trusted him more. But he needed a reason to spend additional time with her.