Page 34 of Escape To Paradise
Julian: Great. You want to meet up?
Me: Sure. When?
Julian: How about tonight?”
Me: Where?
Julian: I can pick you up near where the yacht is docked.
Me: How about The Flamingo?
Julian: You mean the bar?
Me: Yes.
Julian: Sure. I’ll see you at seven?
Me: Sure. I’ll be at the bar.
I didn’t know why I had even replied. I was disappointed that he hadn’t even bothered to text me for seven days. But I figured, he might have been busy. The girls had planned to go hiking and diving for the next three days, but when I told them that Julian had texted me, they figured I wasn’t planning on joining them.
Zofia teased, “I hope you guys have a great time together.”
“We’re just meeting up.”
“I don’t think he just wants to ‘meet up,’ if you know what I mean,” Zofia said, and she and Kathleen giggled.
“Anyway, I wish you could join us, maybe next time,” Kathleen said.
We still went to our favorite bar in town, The Flamingo. We went there early, around 6 p.m. Maverick, as usual, was happy to see his regular customers.
“What will you gals be having?” Maverick asked.
“I’ll be having a gin and tonic,” I said.
“One gin and tonic for this pretty lady. And how about you two?” Maverick asked Zofia and Kathleen.
“Fruit cocktails!” Zofia said.
“Fruit cocktails, that is.”
Maverick was getting faster on mixing the drinks. He handed us our drinks, but I noticed he served me first. He, then, moved on to the order of the night and proceeded to talk business.
“So, Harper, about our business proposition. When are you planning on training my chef and working on the menu?”
“I can start a day from now if your staff has time. I’ve already prepared the menu and the recipes. I will email it to you shortly if you give me your email address.”
Maverick replied, “It’s [email protected].”
“That’s clever.” I smirked. With a few taps on my phone, I e-mailed him the menu and the recipes.
“So, what time should my staff be here?”
“We can start early in the morning. Like 9 a.m. I mean, it won’t be the only time I’ll train your cook. I’ll have to train him a few more times, depending on his skill level.”
“That’s great, Harper. And can you train me too? To make better cocktails?” Maverick wasn’t trying to flirt with me this time; he really meant business.
“That might take a little longer,” I joked.
