“I can see why,” she said, taking a small bite. Delicious flavor washed over her tongue. They were the best mushrooms she’d ever eaten. “So good.”
He grinned and took a bite off his own plate. “I’m glad you like them. Means we have similar tastes.”
She quickly swallowed a bigger bite. “I think anyone would like these. They’re amazing.”
He chuckled. “You’d be surprised how many women have told me they won’t eat these. Either it’s the bacon, the cream cheese, or that they’re on a juice diet. I’ve had many tell me that these aren’t their cup of tea.”
“Why would you come to a restaurant like this if you were on a juice diet?” Emma asked, quickly finishing off her last mushroom. She wished she had more because she was hungry and those were delicious. She felt like she could eat an entire dozen and still want more.
“I have no idea, actually,” Jackson replied with a laugh. “So, tell me, why do you work at the Coffee Shack?”
Emma smiled, but it was more reflex than joy. “It’s a job. It pays the bills.”
“So your dream isn’t to be a barista?” Jackson asked.
She shook her head. “No. I want to be a marine biologist, but so far I haven’t really gotten the opportunity.”
“What’s stopping you?”
She sighed and played with her fork on the empty plate.
“What’s stopping you, Emma?” he repeated, this time more gently.
“Bills.” She hated that she felt embarrassed.
“Bills?”
“School loans and medical debt. I went to an expensive undergrad and got a degree in biology,” she explained. “Then I had a pretty major car accident that created a lot of medical bills right after I graduated.”
“I see,” he said, finishing the last bite of his own mushroom. There was no judgment in his voice, just understanding.
“So, that’s why I work at Coffee Shack. Until I get those debts paid off, I will do just about any job that pays me.” She shrugged and tried to smile. “Someday, I plan on going back to school so I can get my dream job. I just have to pay some things off first.”
Jackson leaned back with a smooth motion. “It sounds like you have a plan.”
“I just have something that looks like a plan,” she admitted. She fiddled with her napkin and tried to think of a way to change the conversation. She was sure she was making a great impression on her billionaire date telling him all about how she was broke.
“The second course,” the waiter announced, taking advantage of the brief lull between the two of them to place fresh plates and a full bowl of something amazing in front of Emma. She’d never had such service.
“Lobster bisque,” Jackson informed her as she picked up her spoon.
“I love lobster. How is it that you’re picking all my favorites?”
He grinned. “Luck. They’re my favorites, too.”
She smiled and took a sip of the soup. It was heaven in a spoonful. The bisque was hearty while the lobster had sweetness.
“You like it?” Jackson asked, watching her reaction.
“I love it. I think I could eat this every day and never get tired of it.”
He grinned, enjoying her reaction.
“So, tell me about you,” she said, pausing to enjoy her soup. “What’s something that no one knows about Jackson Weathers.”
“If I tell you, then someone will know,” he replied. He took a sip of soup and sat thoughtfully for a moment. “I hate spiders. I can’t stand them. Even the tiny ones.”
“They’re not so bad. They’re very important to the ecosystem.”