Chapter 340 - Give Steve a chance (1)

~Los Angeles~

Early evening, JoAnna and Jeff are getting ready for dinner.

JoAnna just finished dressing up and came out of the walk-in-closet. 'It's not a formal place so we don't need to dress...' Her thoughts stopped there, when her eyes landed on her handsome fiancé looking sharp in a suit, putting his Patek Philippe watch on. She sighed, 'I guess I need to change...' Her outfit was fine, but next to him it really stood out as too plain. Few minutes later, she came out in a little black dress, which is nothing over the top, but shows her curves and long legs perfectly.

"Mrs. White, you are stunning tonight!", Jeff exclaimed and pulled her in for a kiss.

JoAnna smiled, "Well, Mr. White I can't let you out-dress me."

Jeff's eyes opened wide and his lips stretched into a wide smile, showing two rows of white teeth.

"What?", JoAnna was suspicious of his exaggerated expression.

"This is the first time you didn't tell me not to call you Mrs. White!", Jeff exclaimed. He pulled her in his embrace up, off the ground, and spun around three times.

JoAnna giggled thinking how silly he is to keep track of such things. "Oh... well, I guess I should start getting used to it."

When Jeff stopped spinning them, JoAnna gave him a light kiss. "I think we should head out soon." She reminded him that it's easy for them to end up in bed, but she does not want to be late for dinner.

Jeff's mood dropped. "I think we have few minutes. I want to talk to you first..."

JoAnna was intrigued, seeing that Jeff's expression became troubled.

Jeff was delaying this, but now he can't avoid the topic anymore, "How is your schedule next week? Can you take two days off back-to-back?"

"I guess I could... what is this about?" JoAnna noticed hesitation in his voice, and immediately thought of Isabella.

"I need to go to Salina this week, to meet with Isabella and her father. I would like you to come with me. We will go in the morning and come back next evening." Jeff said in one breath.

'Of course, Isabella...' JoAnna frowned. She knows that there is nothing between Isabella and Jeff, and it never was. But she can't help herself feel upset every time she thinks that he almost ended up married to that woman. It two of them met later, there is a good chance that Jeff would already be married to Isabella. That possibility made her chest constrict.

She sighed. "What will I do there?"

"I need to go... but I can't bear to separate from you. When you went to Seattle, I thought I'm losing my mind. I need you." Jeff knows that he is acting selfish, but he can't suppress his desire to be with JoAnna all the time.

"Why two days?" JoAnna can understand Jeff's point of view, but she can't make herself like the idea of joining him there. And she does not like that he needs to go.

Jeff took her question as a non-rejection, and he started explaining patiently, "First day I will talk with Isabella and Lambert. Two meetings, they should not take too long. I assume that everything will go well, and they agree with the plan. On the second day, Sophia will join. I will help Sophia analyze their company and come up with a plan for Isabella. I feel the responsibility to help out." He looked at JoAnna with guilt in his eyes. "I know this must be uncomfortable for you. I'm reluctant to drag you into this, but I need you... I am reduced to a state where I feel physical pain when we are apart. I know I am selfish. I'm sorry." He lowered his head, anxiously waiting for JoAnna's response, not daring to look her in the eyes.

JoAnna was conflicted. Part of her admires that he is not heartless and wants to help. Her heart is aching when she thinks that for two days they might be apart. On the other side, he is selfish, asking her to drop her life and join him. Will he ask her to join him every time he goes on a business trip? 'How often does he go on business trips?' And this whole thing with Isabella is making JoAnna very uncomfortable. JoAnna sighed. "I need to think about it... Let's go. We will be late."

Jeff saw that JoAnna is conflicted and his heart ached.

…

Sarah and Aiden reached restaurant with Sophia and Felix first.

Sophia made sure that next to Felix are two open seats, she planned that Bridgette and Steve will sit there. It will be easier for them to get to know each other. Shortly after, Jeff and JoAnna arrived. They ordered drinks and appetizers and chatted while waiting for Bridgette and Steve.

…

At Bridgette's apartment, Steve is waiting for her to get ready.

Since Friday evening, things are a strained between two of them. Steve is conflicted, thinking how he wants to be with Bridgette, but she is obviously very tense around him. Also, this brother showed up as an additional headache. Steve wants to clarify some things with Bridgette before this dinner. Last two days, he feels like he is the only one trying to get closer to her, while she is most of the time avoiding him. If she is not willing to invest herself into this relationship, what is the point going through dinner-from-hell with her brother?

While Steve was in his thoughts, Bridgette came out in a light blue dress, which fit rather loosely, hiding her curves, didn't reveal any cleavage, and it went below her knees. 'Did she cover up like this because she is avoiding me? Or because her brother will be there?' Steve had a troubled expression, "Can we talk?"

Bridgette nodded and sat next to Steve on the sofa, making sure to keep her distance.

Steve looked her in the eyes and took a deep breath. "Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Bridgette was stunned. "I thought we crossed that bridge a while ago."

"From my point of view, you went back to the other side of that bridge." Steve did his best to sound calm, despite his heart ache.

Bridgette lowered her head and didn't speak.

Steve continued, "I will be honest with you... I like you, and I want us to be together. And I though you feel the same. It all went well, until Friday. Since then you are avoiding my touch, and when I kissed you last night, I thought you will run away how tense you were... I feel alone in this relationship."