"Don't worry," Jackson said. "I'll look out for you."
I took his arm. The maitre 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 twenty-four 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."
"Is that what you see for yourself?" I asked. "Retiring to hold court at your favorite country club and find yourself a lovely queen?"
"Then, a big white house with a yard, a vacation home, and a few good years of enjoying it all before the kids come along," Jackson said. "Sounds perfect, doesn't it? I told you that great minds think alike."
He plucked my hand from the white linen tablecloth and brushed his thumb gently across the back of my knuckles. I had to admit that Jackson McRay was very attractive. A few women around the restaurant were watching us with barely contained jealousy. I did feel a thrill at the easy and comfortable life he had outlined.
The only problem was he was not Fenton. I pulled my hand back. "It's a bit expected," I said. "I wouldn't want you to think I was boring."
Jackson's lips curled in an appreciative smile. "You're right. I do like a girl who needs to be chased. So tell me, Kya, what kind of wild future do you see for yourself?"
I sipped my wine. "I'm going to try Las Vegas for a while. It makes the most sense for my business. So, there goes my country club plans. I might have to take up gambling," I said.
"Or martial arts?" he asked. His smile disappeared and he reached for his wine.
"Who knows," I said. "There are lots of hobbies I haven't tried yet. I think it’s kind of fun to takes things as they come. I mean, don't get me wrong. I had outlined the exact life you described, but now I think I should see what happens instead of trying to make it happen. Does that make sense?"
"No," he said. He took my hand again. "It makes sense that you want to cut loose and try on the world for size. But only for a little while, Kya. You're smart, you're practical, and you know the best course for your life to take. Once you're on that course and your momentum really gets going, it can feel a little scary. That's why you should find someone with your same tastes to guide you back when the time comes."
"You don't think I can take care of myself?" I asked. The words echoed what Dana Maria had said earlier.
"It’s not that. I just don't want you to wake up one morning lost. Having a goal keeps you on track."
I had to agree. Having solid goals was the only thing that kept me from falling apart when my parents passed away. "I know. I agree. I'm just not sure my end goal is a big white house. Lots of people work towards the goal of being happy and securing their future without mapping out every step."
"Like your fighter?"
"You can't possibly think of Fenton Morris as unfocused," I said.
"Then how about impetus?" Jackson asked. "He can certainly be all over the map with what he does and what he wants."
"I don't know if I agree," I said. "Both he and his sister are very driven. They might not have the house picked out, but I bet they are both working towards the same kind of security that you are describing."