This time, when Jones's hand landed on the small of her back, to guide her out of the elevator and into the restaurant, she didn't flinch away from the contact.
Given its location, Emma was surprised by the clientele the restaurant had attracted. There were a few groups of people gathered around larger tables that looked like they had decided to stop in on their lunchbreaks, wearing business suits and sharp dresses. But the majority of the tables were smaller, set for two people, and occupied by couples clearly out on lunch dates, as they chatted together over their appetizers.
"Holy crap. This is a date," Emma whispered, as they approached the hostess who already had her megawatt smile turned their way.
Jones simply raised a brow at her, before he turned his attention to the woman ready to seat them. "Reservation's under Jones," he told her.
"Of course. If you'll both follow me, please?"
Their hostess guided them over to one of the small, intimate tables that had been set for two, beside the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Emma couldn't help the small gasp of surprise that left her as she took in the views they had to offer.
She'd done all of the usual tourist attractions when she'd first moved to New York, but since then, her time in high-rise buildings had been limited. From where she was now sat, Emma had a perfect view looking out over the Hudson River, and the people gathering around it that were making the most of the early signs of spring, on their free weekend.
"I'll leave you to have a browse through the menu. A server will be over shortly to take your orders," their hostess instructed. "Can I get you anything to drink while you wait?"
Jones turned his eyes to Emma, to indicate that her order should be taken first, and she smiled at the gentlemanlike tendencies he was already displaying.
"Diet Cola for me, please."
At Jones's declaration that he would have the same their hostess made her retreat, and Emma turned to offer her full attention to the menu sat in front of her. "Holy crap," she mumbled, as she took in the prices listed next to each of the appetizers. She didn't even want to turn the page to see what their mains would be costing them both. Emma wasn't exactly the stereotypical broke student you always saw portrayed in the media. Betty paid her fairly well, given that she basically worked in retail. And Emma had a habit of saving her money instead of spending it, so she'd built up a fair bit over the last five years.
She just didn't think she'd be spending a week's rent on her lunch when she left the apartment that morning.
"Hey," Jones called out softly, jolting her attention away from the leather-bound menu, and up to his face. "It's a date, remember? One I asked you on. Don't focus on the prices. Just order what makes you happy."
"Just so we're clear," she pointed out, "next time, I'm paying. But it might have to be lunch at McDonalds, if that's okay with you? New York is an expensive city to live in."
Jones chuckled at her words, but nodded his head in agreement. "As long as you're there, I'm sure I could swallow down a Big Mac. But you know… the next one doesn't even have to involve food," he teased.
Emma waited until their orders had been placed, and two ice-cold glasses of Cola had been sat before each of them, until she asked, "So… a date, huh? You couldn't have made that clearer in your message, so I could mentally prepare myself for this?"
"I thought my intentions with you had been perfectly clear," he replied softly. "Do you think I make a habit of regularly contacting students I've delivered a guest lecture to?"
"I don't know. Do you?" she wondered, flicking her eyes back up to meet his.
She could see the way the anger at her question darkened them. But this was something she needed to know before things went too far. Her career meant a lot to her, and Emma knew that any relationship with someone who had once taught her in any capacity could jeopardize that. While she was strongly attracted to Jones both physically and mentally, she could and would push that aside, if he was only interested in making her a notch on his bedpost.
Jones cocked his head for a moment, regarding her silently as the heat behind his eyes simmered back down. "No," he replied eventually. "Look, I don't want you to think I'm bragging here, but I get hit on whenever I deliver a lecture on a regular basis. Everyone seems to have this glorified notion of how sexy forbidden romances are. But they're not. There's nothing sexy about losing your job. Or being arrested, because you couldn't keep it in your pants. I have absolutely no desire to ruin the career and reputation I've spent more than half of my life building for myself, for a quick fling with a pretty student. If I wanted casual sex, I'd use Tinder."
"Then… what's so special about me?"
"Your mind," he whispered. "Your mind is a beautiful and fascinating place to be a part of, Emma."
"Beautiful and fascinating enough to risk your job and reputation?" she worried.
Jones's eyes flicked down to the tabletop briefly, before he brought them back up to meet hers. "I asked myself this when our emails started becoming more personal in nature," he explained. "I knew that was the time to end things, before they could go any further, if I felt it wasn't worth the risk. But Emma… I'm not your professor. While a few people will no doubt find this a little odd, I'm not breaking any laws. And I find you completely enchanting. So to answer your question… yes, I think you're beautiful and fascinating enough to risk any potential fallout that could come from us dating. As long as you're prepared to take that risk with me."
Emma fidgeted a little under the intensity burning behind his gaze. It was nice to know she wasn't the only one who had been over-analyzing their correspondence. And it was even nicer to know that Jones felt she was worthy of any fallout he may catch from forming a relationship with her. Because, as much as Emma was worried about the potential impact their relationship could have on her future, after speaking with Gloria that morning, she had come to the same conclusions he had.
He wasn't her professor.
He didn't have any influence over her grades.
And she certainly wasn't interested in him with the hopes that he would be able to pull any strings for her. If she was completely honest with herself, Emma knew she didn't need his help. She was doing just fine on her own.
She wanted a relationship with Jones because he had connected with her on a level that she'd never experienced before, with any of her peers.
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," she stated, just as their server approached the table with their meals in hand.
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