All You'll Ever Need by Sharon C. Cooper Page B

time I see you.”
    Jada beamed. “You’re so sweet. Thank you.” She did a quick glance at his dark blue tailored suit with the small gray pinstripes, his gray shirt, and the designer tie. He looked every bit the banker. “You look pretty amazing yourself. Did you have to work today?”
    “I did, but you know, I work pretty much every day.”
    She remembered. The number of work hours he put in was probably the one thing she didn’t like about him. Cancelling a couple of dates with her because of work obligations didn’t go over well. She was all for a man making money, but she didn’t appreciate coming second to someone’s job.
    “Shall we go?”
    “I’m ready.” She slipped her arm through his bent arm, and he guided her to the door. “CJ, I’m gone. Don’t wait up.” She didn’t wait for a response, and they stepped out into the warm, fall night.
    Two hours later, Jada sat across from Marcus sipping a glass of white wine, slouching in her seat. If he talked any more about bank stuff or how great he was on the golf course the day before she was going to throw a plate at him.
    “Can I get the two of you anything else? Maybe dessert?” the server asked as she cleared away their dinner dishes.
    “No, thanks. My dessert for the evening is sitting across from me,” Marcus said, flashing his beautiful smile. Too bad Jada wasn’t feeling him or his pretty white teeth. She couldn’t understand how a perfectly packaged man could be such a bore.
    “Nothing for me, thank you,” Jada said sweetly.
    Marcus caressed her hand, his touch more irritating than sensual. “Why don’t we go back to my penthouse for a nightcap … and dessert?”
    She squeezed his hand before slipping hers from his grasp. Sitting back in her seat, she debated on how to play the next few minutes. She’d had dinner at his place a couple of times and loved being surrounded by such luxury. Before tonight, she thought Marcus was potential marriage material despite the twenty year age difference, but now, all she wanted to do was get away from him.
    “You know what? Why don’t we call it a night? I’ve had a super long day and volunteering at the farm has worn me out.” Tonight she didn’t have to feign exhaustion. It had been a long day.
    “Since when did you start volunteering anywhere, especially on a farm?” Marcus lifted the glass of Cognac to his lips and sipped. “Isn’t that a little beneath you? Especially since I remember you saying something about having an adverse reaction to dirt.”
    Jada ignored the funky attitude behind his words. “Doing something to help those less fortunate is not beneath me. Granted I don’t like getting dirty, but I have to admit, it felt good to do something for someone else.” She thought about Zack and his reasons for volunteering on the farm. She wondered if she sounded as snobbish as Marcus did when she all but turned her nose up at the idea originally.
    They left the restaurant and the more she talked about her time with Zack, the more she realized she actually had a good time.
    “So what prompted you to volunteer?” Marcus merged onto I-275, which had more traffic than usual for that time of night. “I just can’t see you doing it willingly. With the wealth your family has, I’d think you’d just write a check.”
    Did he really think that little of her? And her grandparents were wealthy. Heck, she barely had enough in her checking account to buy a sandwich. The conversation with Marcus tonight made her recognize just how little they knew about each other, but she could see how her usual attitude would warrant his questions.
    “A friend of mine does a lot of volunteering and asked if I’d be interested in tagging along.”
    He chuckled. “ You have friends who do volunteer work? The way you talk, all you guys usually do is shop.”
    Jada turned slightly in her seat. “If you think so little of me, why ask me out and send me gifts?”
    Marcus shrugged. “Honestly?” He