As the last rays of the sun fell below the horizon, Jason Masters leaned his athletic body against his car and wondered for the hundredth time just what he was doing there.
He kept his green eyes focused on the back doors of the theater as he awaited Chloe's appearance. After placing a call to the Craig's office, Jason had learned that Chloe would be at the theater all afternoon and into the evening. And, knowing that she would have to leave the theater alone and walk home in the dark, Jason had made the decision to drive over and wait for her.
Jason repeatedly told himself that his actions were not truly about Chloe. Instead, he attempted to convince himself that he was just being a gentleman and looking out for a "loser" who had no friends left in town. Jason released a disgruntled sigh as he realized that even he didn't believe his own lies.
Alone in the parking lot, Jason found himself recalling the words his older brother had spoken earlier that day, "Quit wasting time, Jason. You've screwed around long enough. If you want the girl, just ask her out. Otherwise, I think you need to let her go, because it's pretty damn obvious that you're really starting to fall for her."
Shaking his head as though to force away the thoughts that refused to stop haunting him, Jason muttered aloud, "Nah, I'm not really falling for Chloe . . . am I?"
The question was left unanswered, because Chloe chose that moment to exit the theater via the backdoor. Not immediately taking notice of Jason, Chloe carefully scanned her immediate surroundings. It was almost as if she were watching and waiting for the pile of boxes to become alive and attack her.
However, as her expressive eyes fell on Jason, Chloe felt her timidity and fear diminish. After all, if Jason was there, she couldn't imagine having to feel afraid at all. He would protect her.
Realizing her own line of thinking, Chloe muttered under her breath, "When did Satan become my hero . . . and, when did he start looking so hot?" Hearing her own words, Chloe quietly groaned, "I did not just refer to Jason Masters as my hot hero . . . what is wrong with me?"
As Chloe made her approach, Jason lifted his hands into the air as though he were surrendering and said, "I know, I know. You're a big girl and don't need anyone protecting you. You're strong and independent and don't need to rely on anyone - especially me."
A smile appearing on her lips as she reached Jason, Chloe responded, "Actually, I was just going to say that I hope you're here to give me a ride, because I'm starving and want to go home, find something to eat, and just rest."
Jason's cunning mind was set afire with a sudden blaze of thought. He was not yet ready to ask Chloe on a real date, but some part of him honestly wanted to spend more time with her. Giving Chloe a smile, Jason replied nonchalantly, "Sure, I don't mind giving you a ride home. But, do you care if we stop at the Brady Pub? I haven't eaten since breakfast, and there's not much real food at my house."
Smiling extra brightly, Chloe happily replied, "Actually, that sounds great. If I wait to eat at my house, Nancy will try and stuff some mystery meat loaf-casserole dish down my throat."
"That sounds disgusting."
"Trust me, Jase. It is."
A gentle laugh erupted from Jason as he moved away from his car and said, "Get in . . . a real dinner awaits you."
Her eyes drifted over the menu with a mixture of disbelief and wonder. However, that sense of wonder paled in comparison to the true amazement she felt every time she sneaked a look across the table at her dinner companion.
Had someone even suggested her having an enjoyable dinner alone with him a year before, she would have thought it completely ridiculous and impossible. She didn't fool herself into believing it was really a date, but she did allow herself to feel the joy of just sitting across from him.
Lowering her menu to the table, Mimi glanced at Austin and whispered rather naively, "I know this is probably normal for you, but I've never had dinner anywhere the cheapest appetizer is fifteen dollars . . . . Actually, I've hardly ever eaten anywhere that even served real appetizers."
Austin felt a smile engulf his face as Mimi spoke. He was beginning to realize just how it was that his younger brother had fallen for the quirky teenager. Returning the comment in a whisper, Austin stated, "Believe it or not, I'm not really an old pro at this either."
With just a slight roll of her eyes, Mimi retorted, "Hello, you're a bigwig at Titan, and your mother is Kate Roberts . . . the Kate Roberts. I bet you could have a dinner like this every night of week if you wanted to."
"I can now, but it wasn't always that way," revealed Austin. "To make a long story short, I didn't really know my mom while I was growing up. My sister and I were raised by our father. I'll be honest with you, Mimi. It wasn't anywhere close to being a walk in the park. We had it pretty rough."
A darker mood seeming to encompass the table, Mimi replied, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize that your mother didn't raise you."
Attempting to shake away the morose feeling, Austin shook his head just slightly and responded, "Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. So, let's just enjoy our dinner, then I can take you to Orlando tomorrow morning."
When the comment failed to bring the expected smile to Mimi's face, Austin curiously asked, "Mimi, is something wrong?"
"No, everything's fine. I was just thinking . . ." Afraid to tell Austin that she was actually wishing she didn't have to leave Miami just yet, Mimi improvised, " . . . about what to order. I just can't decide between the Chicken Alfredo and the Seafood Alfredo.
Austin did not truly buy Mimi's flimsy excuse, but he assumed she would tell him what was really bothering her if and when she felt comfortable enough to divulge the information. Letting the matter pass, Austin merely suggested, "I had the Grilled Portebella the last time I was here. You should try it." With a rather silly grin he added, "Go on, be a risk taker and try something different."
Trying to smile while she frowned inwardly, Mimi wished that it was possible to take risks in other areas of her life without there being any harm . . . but, she knew better.
There was a rather awkward silence that blanketed Jason and Chloe as they ate their dinner at the Brady Pub. It was the same silence that had filled Jason's car on the ride over to the family establishment.
Feeling almost suffocated by the lack of conversation, Jason began, "So . . ."
"So . . . ?"
Jason searched him mind for anything to say that wouldn't make him look entirely ignorant. He wasn't sure when exactly he started caring about what Chloe Lane thought of him, but, at some point, it had become imperative to not disappoint the diva or allow her to think of him as a complete fool.
"So . . . how did things go at the theater?"
The large smile that immediately appeared on Chloe's face was enough proof for Jason to know that he had somehow found the right words.
Chloe gently dropped her fork to her plate as she replied, "Actually, things went great. I think I'm really going to have a lot of fun while working there."
"That's great," responded Jason with rare sincerity and gentleness.
Laughing softly, Chloe jokingly remarked, "Okay, I don't know who you are, but what have you done with the real Jason Masters?"
"What?"
"Sure, I like you much better than I do the Jason Masters I go to school with, but what exactly did you do with him? Not that I'm complaining, because you haven't called me any horrible names in quite a while, and the real Jason did it all the time."
"I have a better question. What have you done with the real Chloe Lane? You know, the girl who would rather stab her own eyes out than share a meal with me." Leaning over the table in what appeared to be a secretive manner, Jason whispered with false seriousness, "It think it's time we both admit the truth . . . we've actually matured."
Releasing an overly dramatic gasp, Chloe sarcastically remarked, "Jason Masters has matured? I didn't even think that was possible! What a surprise."
"I'm full of surprises," stated Jason in a tender yet husky manner that came close to taking Chloe's breath away.
"I just bet you are," Chloe responded as she stared deep into Jason's eyes for any sign of his truest and deepest feelings.
"Sorry to interrupt, but is there anything I can get for either of you," chirped Caroline as she clasped her hands together and smiled brightly at the teenagers seated at the booth.
Clearing his throat and forcing himself to look away from Chloe, Jason stared at Shawn's grandmother as though she had grown a tail and sprouted horns. Searching his mind for a logical thought that didn't involve Chloe, Jason stammered, "Um, we're fine. Yeah, um, thanks, though."
Caroline sent the teens a knowing smile and cryptically replied, "So, I see." Walking away from the booth, she added, "If you need anything, just let me know."
When the older woman was a sufficient distance from the table, Jason gave Chloe his most cocky smile and asked with immense charm, "Now, where were we?"
For Chloe, it was just too much hearing Jason use his seductive tone while carrying on a conversation with her. Breaking into a fit of laughter, Chloe fought to control her giggles and to form actual words. As her eyes watered from the laughter that had now spread to Jason, Chloe cheerfully replied, "I think we were finishing our dinner, so you could take me home."
Struggling to control his own laughter, Jason responded, "Oh, yeah! How could I forget?"
Removing herself from the booth, Chloe joked, "Seriously, what did you do with the real Jason Masters?"
Also rising from the booth, Jason moved his body so that it was quite near Chloe's and replied with no hint of humor, "Maybe the guy you think is Jason Masters doesn't even exist. Maybe, just maybe, I am the real Jason - and you just need to get to know me."
Chloe's eyes searched Jason's for any sign of his true feelings. Finding only a clouded mystery, she meekly replied, "Yeah, I guess I do."