“I’m good with water for now, thanks,” I said, not wanting to drink yet.
Jules gave him a small smile. “I’ll take an iced tea and a water.”
When we were alone again, Jules continued. “It’s definitely more laid-back than other places, which is why I love it so much. I hate snobby people. You know, the kind who throw their money in your face and want you to know how rich they are? It’s obnoxious. Malibu isn’t like that, for the most part. The guy dressed in a ripped T-shirt and worn-out Vans could be a freaking billionaire, and probably is, but you’d never know it.”
“That’s pretty cool. I like that,” I admitted.
I’d never really thought about it that way before. Granted, I was surrounded by success and excess in my line of work, but not to the level she was talking about. At least, not on a consistent basis. Schmoozing was required in my business. While I didn’t necessarily love that part of it, it was a necessary evil, and if I wanted to land big clients and make big money, it was something I had to do. But Jules had a point when she called it obnoxious.
“It’s all just so over the top, you know?” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, I have success and I want more of it, but it’s not so I can walk around like I’m better than everyone else. Some of the other beach communities out here are like that. I can barely stomach going there when I have to.”
I smirked. “What is it you don’t like exactly?”
“All the fakeness. The fake people, the fake things. I prefer the people in my life to be authentic, you know? Wait, do I sound crazy? I probably sound crazy.”
Jules needed to stop talking. I needed to stop asking her questions. Because every damn thing she said made her more and more attractive to me, and I was already in over my head here.
“No, I get it. East Coast money is the same. The worst are the families that come from old money. They walk around like they’re royalty, as if everyone should be grateful for their presence.”
She nodded. “I just don’t get it. Do I want money? Yes. Do I want nice things? Yes. But will I become a total bitch who looks down her nose at people? Never.”
“You’re secure.” I reached for her hand. “You know who you are, and your priorities aren’t all screwed up. Most people aren’t like that, Jules. They have fucked-up ideas about what really matters. They get a little money and they lose themselves.”
“I like that.” She smiled as she mulled over my words. “They get money and they lose themselves. So simple, but so true.”
Our waiter came back with our drinks and asked if we needed more time.
“Yeah, sorry. We haven’t even looked at our menus yet,” I said, feeling like an ass.
“But in the meantime, we’ll take the sampler for two,” Jules suggested before looking at me. “It’s delicious. A bunch of seafood for us to share.”
“Sounds perfect.” I opened my menu, trying to concentrate on it, but all I wanted was to focus my attention on Jules. I loved talking to her, learning the way her mind worked, hearing the things she thought.
“What about you?” she asked, distracting me from the menu again.
“What do you mean?”
“When you get more money, are you going to lose yourself?” she teased.
“I’m already so far gone, I’m never coming back,” I answered playfully before lifting her hand to my lips and pressing a kiss there.
“Be serious. What kind of guy are you when it comes to money?”
“The kind of guy who likes money and wants a lot more of it?” I shrugged. “I don’t know, Jules. I like nice things too, like you said. I would love to own a few properties, and I like nice cars. But I don’t want to turn into some pompous asshole because I can afford nice stuff.”
“I don’t think you will.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Why not?”
“Because I think Cooper would kick your ass,” she said with a laugh, referring to my little brother. “Plus, you spend a lot of your time volunteering. Pompous assholes don’t usually tend to do that. Unless they’re doing it for the press or having cameras following them around. Is that why you do it, Cal? For all the accolades?”
I shook my head, wondering what the hell to do with this woman. Part of me wanted to bend her over my knee and spank her.
“Yes, Jules. I spend my time teaching kids about math and finance for the fame that comes with it.”
“Figures.”
“What am I going to do with you?” I asked her rhetorically.