Page 36 of Escape To Paradise
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
“Okay, I’ll just pay for my drink.”
When I turned around, Maverick was standing there, looking dumbfounded.
“You know this guy?” Maverick asked. There was a hint of intensity in his green eyes that I had never seen before. Maybe even a look of hostility.
“Yeah, this is Julian,” I told him.
“Small world, Maverick. I didn’t know you work here.” Julian sneered.
Was there some rivalry between the two? I could sense tension in the air.
Maverick replied, “I own this place.”
Julian looked around and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, good luck to you, then. Come on, Harper. Let’s get out of here.” Julian turned around to leave.
I took money from my purse and placed it in front of the half-consumed gin and tonic.
Maverick grabbed my hand as I was standing up.
“Don’t go with him, Harper.” Maverick’s voice was low, and he sounded serious. His piercing, green eyes were pleading.
“Why?”
“Just don’t. I know him. You don’t want to get involved with him.”
“I’m a big girl, Maverick. I can take care of myself.”
The happy-go-lucky Maverick was gone; gone was the smile.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Hurt? What do you mean?”
Julian called my name. Maverick let go of my hand, and I walked off towards Julian. I turned to look at Maverick again. He still had a strange expression on his face, which I couldn’t read.
When I caught up with Julian, he placed his arm around my waist and led me to a red Jeep. He opened the passenger door for me, and I stepped inside.
I tried to ignore Maverick’s strange behavior and focused on my date. But it bothered me why he felt he needed to do that. I doubt that Julian is capable of whatever Maverick had thought him capable of. I shrugged off my thoughts. Julian played some reggae music, and it lifted my mood. Still, I had to bring up Maverick.
“So, you guys know each other?” I asked.
Julian’s jaws clenched, as he started his jeep. “Yes, I know him from before. There’s not a lot of Americans on this island. We all know each other.”
“It seemed you guys didn’t get along. Or am I wrong to assume that?” I asked again, glancing at Julian; he was focused on the road.
“Yes. We had some business dealings before that went sour. I didn’t want to associate with him after that. Our personalities just clashed. Are you friends with him?” he asked. He shifted his attention to me briefly, hoping for a quick response.
“We’re not friends. We’re friendly. He wants me to help him with his restaurant.”
“In what way?” Julian’s jeep was a stick shift, so he shifted gear as we sped up on the bumpy road.
“Just help him with the menu and train his staff.”
“If you could get away from that deal, you should,” was Julian’s curt reply.
Julian didn’t elaborate, and he turned on the volume of his music. I felt conflicted because I liked Maverick, and I felt like I was lying to Julian. Maverick and I were not friendly, but we were becoming friends. I’m not the type of person who would renege on a deal. So, I decided to still work with Maverick and not let Julian know. He didn’t have to know my personal dealings.
