Page 45 of Escape To Paradise
“So, why are you here, then?”
“Long story. I can help you. I see potential here.”
“You don’t need to help me. All I needed was a menu upgrade.”
“I heard you hired Viktor on the spot. That’s pretty impulsive.”
“I just wanted to help the man.”
“I want to help you help the man.”
Maverick stopped tapping on his laptop. “Why do you want to help?”
“I like you. I consider you my friend now. You don’t have any experience in running a restaurant. But I do.”
Maverick leaned forward. “How do you know I don’t have experience running a restaurant?”
“First, you’re not even a good bartender. You’re a pretend bartender.”
Maverick looked offended. “Ouch, that hurt, Harper. That really hurt.”
“You can’t make a decent cocktail to save your life,” I joked.
“You’re rubbing it in.” He placed his hand on his chest.
Maverick’s mood seemed to lighten. This was the Maverick that I knew. I just couldn’t understand the cold treatment earlier.
We discussed my plans for training him and Viktor. I also suggested that he hired more staff for his bar. At first, Maverick was unconvinced. He didn’t want to throw more money on what he called an ‘experiment’ and a ‘hobby.’ But I persuaded him that his location was ideal. We were going to be targeting the tourists who are looking for good Western food. We shook hands, and I scheduled to see him again when I came back from my next charter.
I went back to the Sea Eagle that afternoon, thinking about Maverick. I had noticed that he had stopped flirting with me like he usually did. He also used to send me text messages, but he hadn’t done it in the past couple of days, ever since I hooked up with Julian. He also didn’t bring up Julian.
“Where have you been, Harper?” was Zofia’s question when I got back. She and Kathleen were sitting outside by the deck, holding fizzy drinks and fanning themselves.
“Been around. Spent time with Julian and just came back from Maverick’s place.”
Kathleen commented, “Some women have all the luck in the world! Two cute men, all after Harper!”
“Maverick’s just my friend,” I told them.
Zofia was fanning herself. “I don’t think he wants to be just your friend.”
“You think so? He’s such a flirt, though.”
“He’s just flirting with you, it seems,” Kathleen shared her observation.
“So, how was Julian?” Zofia asked, changing the topic.
“He’s great. I mean, he showed me around. He took me to his villa. We hiked and swam to a waterfall,” I revealed. Of course, I edited the sex stuff. They were just a few years younger than I was, but I felt it was inappropriate to talk to them about it. Also, they were my work colleagues.
“He seems very romantic,” Kathleen said.
“Yes, he is. He cooked me breakfast.”
“Breakfast in bed?” Zofia’s eyes widened.
“Well, sort of.”
“You’re so lucky. He’s such a dreamboat.” Kathleen sipped her fizzy drink.
