At my puzzled look, he smiled. “I’m a cook,” he said. “Been on the line for years. You collect a few.”
Understanding clicked. “You’re a chef.”
“Not yet.” He cleared his throat. “I’m working on it.”
“That’s impressive. I can barely manage cereal.” I edged a little closer. “So—” I started, then laughed and kept going anyway. “Is it, like, standard to get burns? Wouldn’t it be the opposite if you did it for a living? I mean, I guess things slip, and it’s fast, right? I’ve seen kitchens. Well, from the outside. They look hectic. And I did watchThe Bear, so there’s that. Is it really like that?”
Jessie stared at me like I’d switched languages mid-sentence, dark eyes fixed on my face, completely unreadable.
“Sorry,” I said. “I know I’m rambling.” And then my mouth kept going anyway. “I’ve dated guys who couldn’t even boil water, so this is—”
The camera shutter clicked.
Oh. Right. Photoshoot.
I straightened a little, grinning despite myself. “Forgot we were being documented.”
A faint smile pulled at his mouth. “It’s a good frame of reference. That show.”
Heat crept up my neck at the way he was looking at me.
“So,” I said, trying again, softer this time. “Where do you work?”
Jessie hesitated. Just a beat too long. “A… resort.”
“Yeah?” I tilted my head, curiosity sparking once again. “My family’s in the hotel business. I might know it. Which one?”
He licked his lips, eyes flicking away, mumbling something the waves swallowed.
“Sorry,” I said, stepping a little closer. “Didn’t catch that.”
He took a breath. “The Kahua Kai Resort.”
I barked a laugh, eyes going wide as I nudged his shoulder. “Get out of fucking town. That’s my dad’s hotel. I’ve been staying there all summer.”
Jessie’s hand slipped from my waist, his posture tightening, gaze skimming my face like he was bracing for impact.
And there it was.
The other shoe.
“You totally know who I am, don’t you?”
It took him a second, but then he nodded guilty.
“Oh,” I said, more to myself than to him. “That’s why you’re so shy.” That was a little disappointing. I’d hoped it was just me having that effect on him.
The tops of his cheeks flushed. “I mean… it’s one of the reasons.”
That helped. A little.
“So… if you don’t want to keep going, we could just—”
I stepped in before he could finish, my hand catching his wrist and guiding it back to my waist. “Would you stop saying that?” I laughed softly. “I want to do this. With you.”
“But I kind of work for you—”
I laughed again. “Man, you don’t work for me. I have nothing to do with my dad’s businesses.”
