"Fenton Morris, the martial arts fighter. Do you know him?" I asked.
"Do I know him?" The cab driver gestured to one of Fenton's billboards. "Though, he sounds like a rough customer. Got a real reputation, that one. A nice girl like you would do better with the tennis players or the golfers. Or how about the video gamers? Everyone says it’s like an up and coming sport."
I shook my head. Fenton's reputation seemed like its own entity. Would I have to date it, too? I held my breath. Was I dating Fenton Morris? We had never really talked about it. His jealousy made us seem exclusive, but he did have a reputation to maintain. What would people say if they knew he was dating someone like me?
"So you like those martial arts fights? All the blood? You don't strike me as that kind of girl," the cab driver said.
"Then, I guess I'd surprise you," I said. Maybe my reputation was the greater hindrance. I always thought it helped me with work, but I was sick of it. It was time for a change. I promised myself that Jackson McRay would be the first client I landed as myself, not some prim and proper projection of what the other person wanted.
With that thought bolstering my courage, I sprang from the cab and stopped in shock. Jackson McRay had beaten me to the restaurant, and he was arm in arm with Dana Maria. More than arm in arm, his hand trailed along her neck and dipped down the front of her revealing sea-foam dress. I could not read her expression, but Jackson's smile was predatory.
"Sorry if I'm late," I said. "There was a lot of traffic on the Strip."
Jackson stepped in front of Dana Maria, giving her his back and not looking around again. "There's my beautiful date. I have been waiting, but it was worth it."
I sidestepped his charming smile and greeted Fenton's sister. "Nice to see you again, Dana Maria."
"I'm not checking up on you if that's what you think," she said. "I have a private gig in the adjoining hotel and your friend here snagged me as I walked past."
"Private gig?" I asked.
"Yes," Dana Maria tossed her hair. "I dance for private parties, bachelor nights, and whatever. There's good money in it and I stick to the high-end hotels where everything is on the up and up."
"Alone? Does Fenton know?" I asked.
"Look, hun, I'm a professional and, despite you turning your nose up at me, I love what I do. Fenton knows and he's proud of me for making my own way in the world," Dana Maria said.
"No, I just meant, I wanted to make sure it was safe for you. Fenton would not like you going into a bachelor party alone," I said.
She sniffed at me. "I got a bodyguard, but I can take care of myself. Better hope you can say the same thing," she said. She gave Jackson's back a sharp look and then turned on her platform heels. A burly man appeared from the hallway and followed her to the elevators.
"Don't worry," Jackson said. "I'll look out for you."
I took his arm. The maître d' escorted us directly to our table, where Jackson held out my chair for me. I thanked him, but could not get Dana Maria's look out of my mind.
"I ordered a bottle of wine while I was waiting. I hope that's alright," Jackson said. "You just relax and start on your glass while I order us dinner."
I nodded, but wondered what he would say if I disagreed. Jackson seemed gracious and well-mannered, but he liked to have things a certain way. I had a feeling that everything in his world fit the way he wanted it to or it did not stick around for long.
Still, he made delicious choices and I was not discontent.
He smiled as I enjoyed my first long sip of the wine. "It is so nice to meet someone with the same tastes, isn't it?" he asked.
"Well, I can't complain about the wine," I said.
"You would have chosen a different entree?" Jackson asked. "I chose the salmon because it consistently gets the highest reviews. I just thought it was best to go with the best."
"Of course. I would have done the same," I agreed. I was just being silly. Jackson was courteous not controlling. I was just thrown by the vast differences between him and Fenton.
"See," he smiled. "Great minds think alike. That's why I believe we can finish our business before the first course."
"Well, I already put out calls to a few of our clients, but the one I think is the best fit for you is Precision Tools. It’s another long-term, brand-loyalty contract like the vitamin supplements. I liked the idea of you choosing the right club and incorporating that into choosing the right tool for the job," I said.
"See? Perfect," he said. "Let's do that. You're really good at your job, Kya. Do you see yourself at it for a long time to come?"
I sipped my wine and tried to come up with a succinct answer. Until 24 hours ago, I would have been able to tell him my entire life plan. Now, it was all up in the air. I smiled. "I'm going to get off the road, find a base, and see where it goes from there."
He nodded. "I can see you settled down. I imagine you'll do well. Then, you'll join a good country club and some lucky man will snap you up right away."