"Maybe he thrives under pressure."
Joey took the lasagna from the oven and set it on the counter. "Yes, I'm sure he does. But it doesn't mean he doesn't need a soft place to fall. We all do every now and then."
* * * *
By the end of the meal, Jesse was sure he could take even the most subtle of hints. Of course, Joey wasn't being subtle at all, so, knowing the woman like he did, he decided to do what she wanted. As they settled back drinking coffee and eating some amazing layered dessert, he decided to take the plunge.
"Have you seen much of DC before, Zoe?"
She shook her head. "I've only been here once. I guess I'll be up here more often if Gee and Kianna decide to retire here. They've been talking about it. Although, I'm not sure she wants to leave Valdosta State."
Kianna was a professor in the small Georgia town where Gee was stationed.
"So, since Joey isn't going to let it go, why don't you come out this week with me?"
"That is the rudest thing. And at my table," Joey said, but he knew she wasn't that mad. Papa just laughed.
That sparkle returned to her eyes. "If I don't say yes, she'll probably yell at me later."
Jesse nodded. "And I was taking some time off this week. I missed the blossom festival because I was in San Antonio for work, but it's still pretty. Why don't we get together and go see the monuments."
"Sounds like a plan."
"There, are you happy?" he asked Joey.
"You are incorrigible."
"I have to disagree with you there. Leo is kind of a pain in the arse, or so says Vince."
Zoe laughed. "Vince says that about all of them. See, you're the oldest, just like him, so you think all of us younger siblings are idiots."
He considered that with mocking deliberation. "But you are."
"Maybe now I should tell Joey I don't want to go to the monuments with you."
He chuckled. "No, that's one thing I don't want to deal with. She'll blame me."
Joey looked from him to Zoe then back to him again. "I am sitting right here. You two are worse than my own children."
Zoe laughed. It was the first genuine laugh he had heard from her since he came to the house. It bubbled up out of her and made him smile.
"Why are you getting mad, babe? You're getting what you wanted," Papa said. Joey shot him a warning look, but he just shook his head and changed the subject.
"So, how is Jack doing?" he asked.
Thinking about his brother always made him itchy these days. He knew Jack would be pissed if he knew how many people were really worried about him.
"Okay, I guess. He sounds like he's getting obsessed with his neighbor's dog."
There was a beat of silence. "Ah, you say the dog?" Papa asked.
"Yeah."
"Not like he's going to hurt it?"
He glanced at Papa Santini. Former Special Forces, he had seen more action than probably most everyone Jesse knew-and that was saying a lot. Jesse knew what he asked.
"No, Jack would never hurt a dog. Loves them in fact. I think it has more to do with the owner, but I'll give him another call later."
"That's good. Just keep in contact with him, and he'll be fine."
He looked at Zoe. "So, where do you want to meet tomorrow?"
"I think I can meet you in DC. Don't you live closer to there than here?"
He nodded.
"You can't drive," Joey said.
Papa rolled his eyes again. The man seemed to constantly be doing that around his wife.
"I can drive since I'm no longer taking the pills.
Joey didn't look too happy about it, but apparently she was going to let it go. "I guess it will be okay if I let you go."
Zoe's lips twitched. "Thanks, Joey. And now that you made this great dinner, we are going to clean up."
Standing, Zoe looked at Jesse. From the expression on her face, he apparently had been ordered to kitchen duty. He was happy enough to comply. "Sure. It's the least I can do."
Joey tried to protest, but Zoe was having none of that. "I think a Marine should be able to help with the dishes. You and Papa go relax."
She stacked a couple of plates and he did the same following her through the kitchen door.
"I'm sorry about that," she said, setting the dishes next to the sink. She turned on the water and he shook his head.
"Your arm is still in the cast," he said, pushing her aside. He laughed at the look she gave him. It was identical to the one Joey had given her.
"I can handle it."
Oh, she knew how to pout, this one. She was very cute while doing it, too. Sexy as could be. She was a little on the thin side, but she did not lack in the curves department. Those amazing, full lips of hers were still pouting when he returned his gaze to her face. Damn, her eyes always seemed to fascinate him. They tilted up at the corners and had flecks of gold in the deep, chocolate brown depths.
She blinked as he continued to stare and that's when he realized he was staring. Mentally, he shook himself from his stupor, and busied himself rinsing off the dishes.
"What are you sorry about?" he asked.
"Oh, Joey trying to set us up."
He almost dropped the plate. In the process of juggling it around, the water sprayed on his shirt. "What?"
She laughed.
"Joey. She was trying to set us up." She handed him a towel. "I thought that might be why she invited you over, but I wasn't sure."
"No trouble. Joey means well."
"I know she does. She won't listen to me when I say military men are not for me."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Okay, so now he sounded defensive.
She shrugged as she sprayed down the counters to clean them. "Military guys are kind of … structured. That's just not for me. I like to do what I want. No offense."
"None taken."
She laughed. "Oh you were offended. All of y'all are. Gee had a couple friends of his try and get me to go out with them. It isn't you-it's me. And admit it, I'm too young for you."
"How old do you think I am?"
"Well, I'd say you're about ten years older than I am. I'm only twenty-three."
It was his turn to blink. He thought she was older. Not that she looked it, but she seemed so steady.
"What is going through that noggin of yours, Marine?"
He blinked again. "Sorry."
"Do you do that a lot?"
"What?"
"Just disappear into your thoughts? I did it a lot as a kid. I was always getting in trouble at school, unless I was in art class."
He shook his head. "I think the traveling is starting to get to me."
She nodded in understanding as she continued to wipe down the counter. "So, as I was saying, it is more me than you. After what I just went through, I just … I am not in the mood for anything, not even a date."
He realized she was worried he would be offended. He was a bit but not that much and he completely understood. Again, she was being responsible. She could lead him on and use him for entertainment, but she was straight up and honest. He couldn't fault her for that.
"No problem. Just two people seeing DC. Got it."
She frowned as if she had expected more of a protest. "Okay, as long as we understand each other."
"Sure." He said, mentally counting backwards from ten-then doing it again, as she bent over to pick something up. The woman had a world-class ass on her and it was going to be hard not to pay attention to his attraction to her. Before she stood up, though, he turned away.
Somewhere, some day, he would be rewarded for being a good guy. And it better be soon.
Chapter Three
Zoe hadn't been sure what to expect on a date with Jesse Johnson. Okay, it wasn't a date for real, but it was in a way. In fact, he acted like it was a date: opening doors and holding out the chair for her when they stopped in one of the Smithsonians to eat. More than likely, that had a lot to do with his upbringing and current career. Her brother-in-law Gee was always doing that for women.
"So, Joey says you sculpt."
She took a sip of her soda. "You don't have to say it as if it's a disease."
"I didn't mean it that way."
"But it doesn't fit into your well-ordered way of life."
He shrugged. "I like art, but I don't always understand it."
"I paint too, although not that much. Usually when the mood strikes me."
Portraits for family or people she really cared about, like Nick. The men who had been looking for him had destroyed the one painting she had done of him. She shook away those thoughts. Thinking about Nick, or the things that had happened in Savannah could wait for another day.
"How long are you going to be in town?"