Page 58 of Tempted

Chapter Nineteen

“Jasmine?”

Jasmine looked up from wiping down the counter. It was close to closing and all she wanted to do was go home and take a long hot shower. Her feet and back were sore from working yet another double shift and her head ached. She looked up to see who’d called her name.

Standing on the other side of the counter was Jason. She hadn’t seen him in nearly two months. “Jason! What are you doing here?”

His eyes widened briefly as he took in her appearance but the expression was quickly masked. “I was going to ask you the same question? I thought I’d seen you in here yesterday as I was walking by but the diner was already closed. I came a little earlier this time to verify. Where the hell have you been and what happened to you?”

“I’m sorry. I thought my text explained it all.”

“I got the text but it didn’t make sense. Why would you return the money? And why the hell did you drop out of my life? I thought we were friends, Jasmine. Don’t I deserve better than that?”

Guilt assailed her as she saw the deep hurt etched within each line of his face. When she’d severed ties with him she thought it would be for the best. After Victor had kicked her out, the last thing she wanted to do was be a burden on her friend.

She sighed. “Jason, you’re right. I owed you a better explanation.”

“But why did you return the money? You earned it.”

“No I didn’t and you know it. We didn’t complete the painting which is what you paid me. Besides, we both know that fee was exorbitant. I might look it, but I’m not completely ignorant about art and I know models don’t get five grand to sit for a painting.”

“Okay, so I don’t usually pay my models that much, but I wanted you to pose for me. You named your price and I thought you were worth it. Anyway, why does it matter? I can afford it and you needed the money.”

“I forgot. Your trust fund right?” She drawled. Jason had once let it slip that he didn’t rely on his paintings as his only source of income. Apparently his grandparents had been a pretty big deal in Spain and had left him very well off.

“Don’t.”

“Look, Jason I have work to do and¯”

“Hey Jasmine, why don’t you take off now. You’ve been here since opening. I’ll finish closing on up on my own.”

She threw a grateful grin toward Earl, the head cook and owner. There were no more customers or tips to be had so she might as well. “Thanks.” Jasmine held her finger up to Jason signaling for him to wait for her.

Picking up her rag, she headed toward the kitchen and dropped it in the bucket of dishtowels that needed to be laundered. Jasmine was on her way out when Earl called out to her. “Come here for a minute, will ya?”

“Sure.” Jasmine walked over to him with a ready smile on her face. Waiting on tables in a dive of a restaurant with no air conditioning wasn’t ideal, but she’d be forever appreciative of him giving her a chance when no one else would. “What’s up, Earl?”

At first glance, Earl was large and intimidating. A former Marine, he was a man of few words, but when he did speak he didn’t beat around the bush. Sometimes he came off as harsh, but he was basically a big Teddy Bear. He eyed her up and down with those unfathomable dark eyes, his massive arms crossed over his equally massive chest. “I think you should take some time off.”

Panic squeezed her heart. Was this his way of telling her she was being fired? She needed this job! She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I don’t need any time off. I like working here. Do you have any complaints about my work? Whatever it is you need me to do, I’ll fix it.” Her hands began to twitch. Dammit, why couldn’t she stop this nervous habit she’d recently developed?

“Calm down, child. There’s nothing wrong with your work. Truth be told, you’re the hardest worker I have on staff but you can’t go on like this. I mean look at you, baby girl. If you lose any more weight you’ll waste away to nothing. You barely touched those eggs and bacon I cooked up for you this morning.”

“I wasn’t hungry. Look, Earl, I know you mean well, but if I’m doing as good a job as you say then I’m not sure why we’re having this conversation.” When he raised a brow and his lips tightened, she wondered if she’d overstepped her bounds by questioning him. “I’m sorry, but I don’t need any time off.”

“Girl, you don’t look well. You’ve probably lost at least fifteen pounds you can’t really afford since you’ve worked here. There’s bags under your eyes and you’ve got the shakes. You’re jumpier than a prostitute in church, girl. Don’t try to kill yourself trying to prove anything to me. We all make mistakes, Jasmine. I’ve done some pretty knuckleheaded things when I was younger but I’ve moved on. And you have to as well.”

It was easier said than done. “I appreciate your concern and I’ll try to remember that. I guess I’ll be going. See you in the morning.” She spun around and was halfway out of the kitchen when he called her back.

“Jasmine?”

She turned around, her hands starting to shake again. “Yes?” she answered, worried he’d insist on her taking time off.

“Take it easy, girl, you hear?”

Jasmine nodded. “Night, Earl.”

Jason was still waiting for her at the counter when she headed back out the dining area. “Would you like to grab a bite to eat? There’s a twenty-four hour coffee house a couple blocks down the street. They have good sandwiches.”

---