Page 11 of Be-Leaf in Love

We arrive at an upscale boutique hotel. Jack notices my puzzled expression. “No, I didn’t get us a room here.” He grins. “Okay, the thought crossed my mind. But we’re just having a quick dinner on the roof.”

As he holds my hand in the elevator, I wonder if it’s one of those small rooftop parks. Or a green patio area.

I was not expecting a giant greenhouse lit with candles and the sunset glowing behind us.

8

JACK

I’ve dazzled her.Good.

I need her to see that I’m not kidding around with this dating business.

“What is this place?” she exclaims, her eyes scanning the greenery. “Herbs and lettuce and onions?”

I stroll to the tiny white bistro set and pull out her chair. “Kitchen garden. The chefs grow fresh produce for the hotel restaurant here.”

Violet sits, looking up at me strangely. “And they let people have dinner here?”

“Not everyone. But me – yes.” I sit and open the large white paper bag between us. “I happen to be the investment guy for the owner. Since it was last minute, and I didn’t want to have waiters interrupting us all the time, we’ll be making do with Chinese takeout.”

She laughs as I set out the white boxes. As we eat, our conversation loops and twists all over. How Violet adores the constant renewal that is the growth cycle of plants. She lets slip that she enjoys the family apartment, but it feels crowded sometimes.

I find myself confessing that I sometimes feel my employees wish I were my father. They were expecting his wild “devil may care” energy, not my almost clinical dedication to research and disciplined investment methods.

Violet shrugs. “I’ve never had enough money to invest, and I don’t know anything about it. But wow – I’d certainly want a straightforward, non-devilish guy to be my money guru.”

“Guru?” I sputter, almost choking on my fried rice. “That’s definitely something I’ve never been called before.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Her beautiful eyes blaze. “You’ve apparently decided it’s okay to be seen in public with a flower girl. Pretty soon I’ll have you drinking herbal tea and doing yoga. You’ll come out to the park with me to sketch the gardens.”

My hand slides across the table. “Or you could design the gardens at my house.”

Her head tilts as she examines my eyes. Hmm. Am I suggesting moving forward too quickly?

Violet grabs my wrist, turning my Franck Muller watch to the light. “You wear a different watch every day?”

“Not always. I have a few favorites.” My lips brush the top of her hand. “I only wear this one for extremely important occasions.”

She smiles sweetly, then stretches out, picking a few Thai basil leaves. She tears them up into the rice, then stirs it thoroughly. “Try it now.”

I scoop some up with my chopsticks. “Mmm-hmm. Tasty.”

“See?” Her laugh is delightful. “Greenery makes everything better.”

We take a few last bites, but I’m definitely more interested in her than the food.

Reaching under the table, my palm slides along her knee. “I looked up those NASA studies. Not that I ever doubted you, but plants really do clean the air.” I look around, then take anexaggerated deep breath. “Spending time with you is going to make me healthier.”

Violet’s eyes sparkle. “Is that what we’re doing? Spending time together?”

I take her hand to help her up, then we stroll over to a bench under a couple of fruit trees. “Yes. We’re spending time together. I hope that you’ll say we’re dating. “

Her luscious lips turn up in a smile, then her face falls. “Jack, we should be clear about something.”

My heart begins to drop to my shoes. “What’s that?”

“You’re the CEO of an investment company. Don’t you think some people will think I’m too young and flaky for you?”

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