Page 6 of Maybe This Time (About Time 0.5)
Because I like to talk.
But I also need to know he can do the job.
Fortunately, that’s Veronica’s role—to figure that out.
For now, I want to laser in on whether I can handle being around him for so damn long every day.
“I am definitely getting my eight hours a night, Jackson,” I say, answering him. “Often more.”
“Lucky you,” he says.
“Lucky me indeed.” Then I turn to Candi. “And the reasons I’m asking him these questions is we might just have to shoot the shit for a long period of time together. I know you’ll get to all the hard questions.”
Jackson shoots a bring it on grin to all of us. “I don’t mind the questions. Any questions at all. Hard or easy.”
Hard.
“Fine,” Candi says, laughing. “Proceed with the Would You Rather game.”
“Please,” I say with a scoff. “Would You Rather is what we’ll be playing when he’s been on my detail for a few weeks.”
“Good to know. I like all sorts of board and parlor games,” he adds.
I gesture to the big man, then to Candi and Veronica. “See? He even uses the term ‘parlor games.’ This is going to be epic,” I say, then I narrow my eyes. “But I have a very important question, Jackson.”
“Hit me up.”
“If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?”
His answer is instant and earnest. “Learning a new language. I want to speak more languages. I know basic Japanese, and I’m learning Spanish. I use it in Los Angeles occasionally, but I’d like to try using it on a regular basis.”
“Excellent answer.”
“How would you spend an extra hour each day?” Jackson tosses back at me, and I like that. I like that he has no problem turning the questions in my direction.
“I’d read,” I answer. “Or read more. I love old mysteries—Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler and Elmore Leonard.”
“I bet you like them because they’re a total escape from your world.”
Dude, it’s like he can see inside my soul. “Yes, exactly. What do you read?”
“Nonfiction. Magazines. News articles.”
“You like to learn,” I say.
“I do.”
I rub my palms together. “All right. Now for the hard ones.” I draw a deep breath, like I’m prepping for the final Jeopardy! round. “Pizza or Chinese food?”
“Both,” he answers.
“Library or museum?”
“Absolutely both,” he says, his hazel eyes glinting with playfulness at his own answers.
“And finally,” I say, making the sound of a drumroll, “music or sports?”
“Not fair. You can never pick between two of the greatest things ever.”
I hold my hands out wide, pleased as hell with how he handles me. I turn the reins over to Candi and Veronica, relaxing into the couch as I let them interview the guy.
“Tell us what you think you would bring to the job,” Veronica says.
He clears his throat and begins. “I have some definite ideas, especially since I went to Stone’s concert earlier this week. I checked things out. I went to the VIP room,” he says. And holy shit, my skin sizzles.
That’s him.
I sit up straight, my bones sparking.
I’d sworn he looked familiar. I’d sworn I’d seen him before. He is the stone-cold fox who showed up in the green room the other night. For, like, thirty seconds.
Thirty seconds when I’d sworn I had seen the sexiest man ever.
When I’d looked him over, hoping he was there to pick me up, to come on to me, to ask me out for a drink.
That guy.
That’s who he is.
But who cares?
I roll out my shoulders, shaking off the thoughts.
I mean, he’s probably straight. I’m sure he’s straight. Of course he’s straight.
Besides, why do I care? I’m not going to ask a potential employee out on a date.
His orientation is no business of mine, now or ever.
But he is so damn sexy.
I wag a finger. “That was you.”
He dips his face then raises his gaze again so fast I can’t even see if he blushed. “Yes. I was there. I wanted to do some assessment.”
“Color me impressed,” I say, leaning forward on the couch, my hands on my knees. “Tell me. Tell me everything. What did you think?”
“Yes, we’d love to hear,” Veronica chimes in.
“I’ve identified some holes in your security. Some areas where I think things could be improved. I think you need more coverage immediately after your concerts end. There are some moments of vulnerability,” he says, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. Holy shit. This guy did his research. He did all of his research. Jackson goes on, listing areas where we could improve, and displays how he could bring something special to the job.
He has plans, an agenda, ideas to implement, showing us he’s eagle-eyed, quick-witted, and smart as a whip.
Doesn’t hurt that he has a fantastic deadpan sense of humor, and I dig talking to him.
We chat for a little longer, and when the interview ends, he says goodbye to Candi and Veronica and I walk him to the elevator. “One more question.”
