Page 6 of Plain Jade

Jade wasn’t sure what to do. The food smelled nice, and she didn’t want to seem rude. Why did she feel so tense just being in his company? This was so strange.

Placing the fork into the pot, she twirled the noodles around, aware of him staring at her. She wanted to ask him if she had any other cuts or bruises, but she was also afraid to ask. So, she stayed silent, twirled her fork, got more than a ladylike mouthful of noodles, and then shoved the whole lot into her mouth. If her mother was alive and saw her now, there would be such disapproval at the way she was eating. She was tempted to apologize. Instead, she said nothing. Words seemed to offend him.

She kept eating, curious about the man who had saved her life. He didn’t have to save her at all, and yet he had. She felt indebted to him.

Jade kept chancing a look in his general direction, hoping to figure him out, or to know what was he was thinking. She was used to figuring people out, but this man was a mystery.

He had saved her. Was he disappointed in who he had saved? Did he wish he had helped someone else? Someone prettier?

She was tempted to ask, but the polite woman her mother raised refused to ask such questions. She ate her noodles and tried not to feel uncomfortable about everything that had happened tonight.

Was it still tonight?

“How long was I out?” Jade asked, lifting her head, and looking at him.

“A couple of hours.”

“It’s still night?”

“It’s still night.”

He wasn’t one for conversation, clearly.

****

Braxton didn’t like company. He’d never been interested in making small talk, or attempting conversation. To him it had always been pointless, as most people who seemed to want to talk did so with their own agenda. It was never to enjoy a conversation; there was always a reason.

Jade Newton was not a bounty hunter, or a convict, or a person of any interest at all. There was not a lot of information about her. She lived in a small apartment in a good neighborhood. She worked full-time at a cosmetics store, and she was a good worker. Paid her taxes. Never once been taken in by the police. She didn’t have a license, and was never able to pass the driver’s test in school. She hadn’t done so as an adult either. From the information he had on her, she either walked, took the bus, or a cab. That was it.

There was no boyfriend or husband. No one waiting for her at home, not even a pet.

To all intents and purposes, he had saved one of the most boring people on the planet, and yet Braxton couldn’t stop looking at her.

She didn’t press for his name, even though she clearly wanted to know it. Every now and then, she tried to look at him, but there wasn’t revulsion on her face, just curiosity.

Who was this woman?

He knew the only reason she had been attacked was because she’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even her attacker had been insulting to her. From the brief pieces of information he had on her, he knew she was aware of how plain she was. The failed dates. The dating apps. There had been some cruel comments on old pictures of her.

Braxton didn’t mind the way she looked. Yes, she wasn’t conventionally pretty, but there was something special about her, and he couldn’t stop himself from staring at her.

Finishing his noodles, he watched her, curious and waiting. He was going to have to take her home.

She drank the last of the liquid from her pot and placed the plastic fork inside. “Thank you.”

He noticed she didn’t say it was delicious. Braxton didn’t eat for enjoyment, he ate because he had to.

“I’m going to take you home,” Braxton said, getting to his feet.

“O-okay.” She got to her feet and he saw she was a little unsteady. He gritted his teeth.

There was no way she could stay here. When he dropped her off at her apartment, he would have no choice but to stay with her, just to make sure she was okay.

He walked her toward the car and helped her inside. He went to the steel door, unlocked it, got behind the wheel, pulled out, and then bolted the door once again. He drove away from his place and headed toward her apartment.

Her hands pushed the hem of her dress down toward her knees. Braxton couldn’t help but notice the smoothness of her thigh.

“Will I have to go to the cops?” Jade asked.

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