LITMIR.BIZ

       Chapter Three

      Jazmine arrived at the Painted Dolphin thirty minutes early. She wanted to be there before Elijah so she could pick the table where this meeting would take place. The seat of power had to be hers. She walked around the building, then went up the steps.

      A few boats with lights strung over every mast and piece of rigging sailed by in the bay. A longing surprised her.

      A young staff member in a tie-dyed T-shirt came over to her. “Can I help you?”

      A nervous laugh slipped out. Why did she felt like a teenager sneaking out of her parents’ house? “Yes. I’m meeting someone.” She scanned the large room. Several life-size sculpted dolphins painted with bright patterns still hung from the ceiling, but everything else looked new. The place was a surprising mix of modern and bohemian charm. Elijah had said it had been reopened a couple of months ago.

      “Ma’am?” The blonde, sun-kissed girl looked at her with concern.

      “Oh, I’m sorry. I use to come here all the time. It looks different.”

      She smiled. “It looks great, right? So, do you want to sit inside or on the deck? The singer will be starting up again, so if you want to talk, then I suggest the deck. Sitting by the water is nice. It’s my favorite place.”

      Jazmine nodded. “I always sat next to the railing.” She glanced across the room at the long wooden serving counter and froze. He was already here.

      Working? He shook hands with someone and laughed.

      Then he saw her and his smile vanished. With a few words to the man, he left the register area and headed straight for her. The work-worn clothes were gone. A blue dress shirt was open at the neck, the long sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

      Oh my. The beach bum cowboy cleaned up well. Very well.

      He moved with the easy grace she remembered from the early days. Like he owned everything around him. The confidence that he had shown the world was always in conflict with his self-esteem.

      Without a doubt he had always been gorgeous, and she had never understood what he had seen in her. All the local girls had wondered the same thing. Her parents said he had just been after her money and social standing, but she had never believed that.

      As she watched him, she saw a difference in him. He seemed more...more something. What, she wasn’t sure, but wow. Okay, so it looked as if he had a steady job. That was good.

      “Hey, Jenny. I’ll seat Ms. Daniels.”

      “Hi, Mr. De La Rosa. Oh.” She looked back to Jazmine. “You’re meeting Mr. De La Rosa.”

      “Yes. She’s meeting me. We’re going to be outside at table seven. Will you bring us some chips with guacamole and some lemonade?”

      “Of course, sir. I’ll have it right out.” Her long blond hair swung as she turned to do his bidding.

      With his most charming wink, he grinned at her. “You’re early.”

      Caught. She glanced around. “I wanted to—”

      “Get here first to get the lay of the land.” He chuckled. “I’m not surprised.” He lifted his right arm and gestured to the doors leading out to the deck. “Ladies first.”

      She glanced around as they walked under the giant garage doors made of glass. Two of the three were rolled up into the ceiling, leaving the restaurant open to the water. On a small platform, a man was strumming a guitar and softly singing. The dining area looked busy. “Will you get in trouble for talking while you’re at work?”

      With a half-hearted chuckle, he shook his head. “No. I’m good. I’m pretty tight with the owner.” He pushed back his hair.

      Her brain was trying to catch up. The Elijah she saw this afternoon was not matching up with the Mr. De La Rosa she followed now. “You work here?” Was he the manager? “You’re not... Why were you eating at Esperanza’s today?”

      Outside, they walked to the far corner of the railed deck. He pulled out the chair on the opposite side of the table and waited for her to sit before seating himself across from her. “I volunteer there, and I have a few men there I visit with whenever I get the chance.”

      “Oh.” Her cheeks felt warm. “Are they in AA?”

      He gave her a tight smile. “We’re here to talk about our daughter.”

      “Of course.” Opening her purse, she pulled out an envelope. “I printed these up for you. I can send you more if you want.”

      His hands shook a little as he picked up the pictures. Was he nervous or was it a side effect from all the drinking? The gentle lapping of the water against the pier was the only sound as she watched him.

      He flipped through the pictures one at a time, studying each one as if devouring every detail. They started with the first hospital pictures and ended with a selfie they had taken yesterday while waiting for the car to take them to the airport. He looked through them again.

      The only indication of what he was feeling was the flicker of muscle on his jawline and the bounce of his Adam’s apple. Unable to watch any longer, she let her gaze follow the boats in the harbor.

      The clearing of his throat brought her attention back to him. He held the envelope out to her.

      “No. Those are yours.”

      “Thanks.” He slid them into his shirt pocket. For a moment his hand rested there.

      Needing to focus on something else, her gaze swept their old hangout. “It’s nice. I like the changes. How long have you worked here?”

      “About six months.” He sighed. His gaze darted around like he was embarrassed.

      “You have the look of a manager.” She tried to keep her face neutral, rather than judgmental, but she wasn’t sure how successful she was. “So, you’re not homeless? You run the restaurant? That’s great.”

      He

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