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Elena had straightened up, and was giving him a strange look. Jason didn’t want to think what he looked like to her right now. She must think he was an idiot. He cleared his throat.
“I’m fine. It’s just…been a long couple of days.”
“I see.” She slung her bag over her shoulder. “You need something to distract yourself. Anything to get your mind off whatever’s bothering you.”
“Pretty much everything, really,” Jason admitted.
“I’m sure you can find something to do.”
Jason smiled at her. Should he do it? There was only one way to find out.
“Well, I have an idea of what I can do, but I’m going to need your help.”
“Help with what?”
“I was going to head out to dinner, but I haven’t got anyone to take with me.” Jason shrugged. “Do you fancy coming out with me? We could explore the eateries together.”
It looked as if Elena was trying to comprehend what he had just said for a moment. Then her mouth dropped open, staring at him in stunned amazement.
“Did you just ask me to dinner?”
“I believe I did. Someone needs to show you around Wenstown. I haven’t lived here for some time, but from what I can tell, not much has changed.”
Elena’s mouth opened and closed. “I…you…you’re really asking me to dinner?”
“Why are you so surprised?” Jason tried not to laugh at her shock. “Has nobody asked you on a date before?”
“Not in a while,” Elena murmured. “Too busy with work.”
Jason couldn’t believe that. A beautiful girl like her would have all the guys falling over each other. He had seen quite a few of the players hanging around her just to get her attention, though Elena always brushed them off and carried on.
“It’ll just be dinner, and that’s it,” he said. “I can be your guide around here, and I get to have your company while I’m distracting myself from all the stresses of the last couple weeks. What do you think?”
For a second, he thought she was going to tell him off and turn him down. She had every right to, given their current relationship to each other. It would hurt, but Jason could cope with it. For the most part.
“Okay.”
He wondered if he had heard her correctly. “Okay?” he repeated.
“Yes, I said okay, didn’t I?” Elena arched an eyebrow. “Did you think I was going to say no?”
“I did think that, if I’m honest.”
“Well, as it so happens, I’m in need of a distraction myself. I’ve been working so much that I haven’t done much else.” Elena made a face. “It’s like I’m back in Seattle, and I need the monotony to go away.”
“I get that.” Jason looked at his watch. “How about we meet at seven? There’s a barbecue restaurant across the street from here. That’s always been a pretty good place to eat.”
“You don’t want to take me further in your new car?” Elena asked, a slight smile on her face.
“It makes it easier for you to find, and you won’t have to walk far to go home, either. Do you like barbecue?”
“I love barbecue. And you’re making me hungry.” She adjusted her hold on her bag. “Okay, I’ll meet you there at seven. It shouldn’t take too long for me to get ready.”
“You don’t need to wear anything fancy. Just as long as you’re dressed.”
God, why did he have to say that? Elena laughed, and the sound made Jason’s trousers feel even tighter. There was something seriously wrong with him if he was finding a simple laugh attractive.
“I’ll remember that,” she said. “I’d better go and get things sorted. I’ll see you later, Mr. Munro.”
