Jimmy nodded.

"Course I'd like to. I cleared my whole day to come up here and unload the fish and then see if I could drag you out to have that drink we never got last time."

He smiled then and stood up.

"As for the ships, well, they're nothing special, but I'll tell you about them if you want all the same. Just tell me what I need to do and where I should go for these hot springs. I'm sure there's some kind of changing room or something for your fancy robes."

He lowered his voice then.

"I really want to put one of those on, they look nice and fluffy and soft. A bit like they are all brand new. I might be a hard man, but I like soft things."

He let his hand gently brush Emily's hair out of her face then so he could better see her eyes and he held it out for her to take as she stood up.

The way Jimmy intoned the last few words sent a rush through her, like someone had found a missing cord and plugged it in. Her eyes stayed on his as he brushed her hair away then reached for her hand. With a grin on her face bigger than she had worn in weeks, she took his offered hand and rose. 

After a brief walk up the hallway, she led him to the reception desk where Jen and one of the attendants were looking over something. Emily cleared her throat softly, getting their attention. 

"Excuse me, Annabella, I would like for you to see Mr. Green to the gentleman's locker room, and please have a steward bring him a swimsuit and robe."

Certain that the look on her face told Jen everything she needed to know, she added

"Please tell Chloe she need not meet me for the springs today. Mr. Green will accompany me."

The slight, older Hispanic woman grinned knowingly, and tugged on Jimmy's arm to lead him away. When his back was turned, Jen and Emily shared a quiet, girlish giggle before Emily went to change. ​​​

There were no other guests in the springs when Emily walked into the glass enclosed area. Check-in wasn't for another hour, and any guests staying from before were likely out seeing the sights or shopping. 

Stopoing at a nearby chair, she slid off her own robe and lay it over the back. For a moment, she sighed softly with dismay looking down at her figure. Well, what was left of it. She'd had her black halter top bathing suit taken in twice already, and while she wasn't skeletal, she missed her gentle curves and the way she used to fill out a dress. Hopefully, whatever spark there had been between she and Jimmy wouldn't be diminished. But, he didn't seem like that kind of man at all. 

Behind her, she heard the door open again. Turning, she smiled as Jimmy appeared in the dazzling white robe with "SS" embroidered on the breast. 

​​​​​​

Jimmy beamed at Emily as she stood there at the edge of the spring.

"You know, if i were a betting man, I would have guessed that you paid the owner off so you could be seen in that outfit. Course, I'm not a betting man, and I know the owner personally, so I don't think any of that is true."

He then made his way to a chair next to the one which Emily laid her robe on and he doffed his own. His body an inverted image of Emily's, full of muscle and scars from years of working on the docks, and he wore his skin with pride and confidence.

He made his way slowly into the water and hissed at the heat of it.

"You know, I'm used to very cold water. Icy cold. I see water and my body tenses up because it knows it's about to be frozen. This? This is very different."

He sunk in to his waist then and reached out, taking Emily by the hand. Suddenly, he had the urge to lift the woman, and so he did. One arm under her knees, and the other under her shoulders, he slowly waded into the water with her.

"Apologies if I am being a bit forward. Seeing you alone and vulnerable, well, it's certainly had an impact on me."

He did not smile, but the corner of his mouth twitched, and he looked into her eyes then, hungry.

Before she realized what was happening, Emily felt herself very literally swept off her feet. Instinctively, she draped her arms around his shoulders. Due to the natural heat from the springs, she couldn't feel her cheeks blushing, but the giddy feeling like a school girl was plainly evident in her smile. All her challenges, losses, and fears were forgotten. In his eyes, Emily could see a man who knew what he wanted in life and wasn't afraid to take it when it was within reach. 

"Apologies if I'm being a bit forward. Seeing you alone and vulnerable, well, it certainly had an impact on me."

Three hours ago, Emily would have stiffened at being seen as vulnerable, but again, Jimmy seemed to have a way to make her believe that- even in her vulnerability--she was desirable. That was something she hadn't felt since.... 

Emily stopped that train of thought quickly, instead prying her eyes down from his eyes to take in an unabashed view of his bare chest and shoulders. The muscular frame and hazel eyes gazing at her quickened her heat beat, drumming away her inhibitions. A split second later, she leaned up and pressed her lips against his, her fingers gently sliding up his shoulder to his jaw line. After just a few moments, she pulled her head back and met his eyes with a coy little smile. 

"I'll forgive your forwardness if you forgive mine."

Jimmy smiled and nodded.

"All is forgiven then."

He smiled a bright smile and slowly let her into the water on her own merit before settling within arms reach she did look frail, so he wanted to make sure she was alright. Of course, being near enough to touch her was a bonus.

"There really is a nice feel to this water. It's not like the salty spray I'm used to, but there's definitely some water in the air. It's almost like being on a boat, but not as harsh. Does that make any sense?"

"It makes perfect sense. The mineral water here is naturally softer than sea water, besides it not flying in your face."

She settled down onto one of the submerged rocks and let her head recline back, then smiled softly as she thought back to a few years ago. 

​​​​​​"You know, I've been on a ship in the ocean before. It wasn't exactly a fishing boat, but it was fantastic. I stayed on the deck nearly all day just looking out over the wide open water. There's something about it that seems so...free."

Jimmy cocked his head to the side.

"I can't say I've ever had the time to do that. I'm normally working my ass off when I'm out to sea. Sure there's downtime, but mostly when the sun is gone, so there's really no relaxing, looking out over the wide ocean, everything out there is black and unknown. It's not freeing at all, it's really scary actually."

He swallowed a lump in his throat and then splashed a tiny bit of water toward Emily.

"I thought this water wasn't supposed to fly at your face."

He chuckled at himself and then continued.

"So why were you out on the ocean then? Just for fun?"

Laughing, Emily unsuccessfully ducked away from the splash. 

"Oh, it was some casino cruise off the coast of Manhattan some years ago. I was there with some big business man who was busy gambling away a cool million, so he didn't notice I wasn't there."

She took a deep breath, allowing the warm air to seep into her senses. Whether the water helped her muscles at all or not, she enjoyed the break from work. And, not that she didn't appreciate Chloe's company, but having Jimmy there made it more enjoyable than usual. 

"So you even work at night? That seems dangerous."

Jimmy's eyes went wide.

"Hold on a sec, back up. A million?! Who has that kind of money?!"

He shook his head. Maybe he had gotten in deeper with this gal than he thought.

"You're not some politician's wife are you? I know they are all rich as hell."

"Oh god, no no."

Emily laughed a and sat up, her shoulders just peeking out of the water. 

"That was when I worked in Las Vegas. I was an escort." 

Suddenly, that didn't come out as easily as usual. Quickly, she followed up. 

"Not...not a hooker. Mostly just paid arm candy."

She blushed, looking down for a moment. 

"It was a job. Paid my way through nursing school. Seems like a lifetime ago, really."

​​​​​

Jimmy sat there, a little slack jawed, but he closed his mouth quick as he noticed.

"Sorry, I just never met a girl like you before. I can get that though. I know lots of guys who would pay to be seen with you, or Chloe or Jen. You're funny, and smart and really good looking. If you can make money just being those things, then why not right?"

He leaned his head back against the rocks.

"Don't tell me you didn't enjoy some time with those guys though, I might not be the brightest, but I wasn't born yesterday either."

He closed his eyes and let the warm water invade his senses for a few moments before speaking again.

"Do you, do you still do that sort of thing?"

Shaking her head, Emily let her arms float to her sides and dragged them back and forth through the water thoughtfully. 

"No, that part of my life is over. Sure, there were some fun times, but it wasn't a good long-term plan. Especially in Vegas. Or Detroit."

Indeed, a lifetime ago. She briefly thought of Billy, Gavin, and the escort agency. 

"Moving to Seattle was the best move for me, and for the girls. I think we're all much happier. This place, my house, my boss...and new friends. Really, this is the best life I've lived."

​​​​Emily paused, then slid a little closer to Jimmy. 

"Well I've talked way too much about myself. I want to know more about you."

Jimmy shrugged.

"I think you're way more interesting. Course I'm glad you don't do that anymore. I don't have that kind of money."

He chuckled a bit and then opened one eye to look at her as he saw he sliding through the water toward him.

"I'm just a kid who grew up on the docks, and one day wound up with a lucky break. My uncle died a few years back and he gave me my boats you see. Nothing crazy just four of them, I managed to buy one more just a couple weeks ago with this business arrangement you and I have. Makes me feel good to know that I'm continuing something, you know? That my uncle passed it on to me and I didn't just run it into the ground."

He took a deep breath and then reached out, taking hold of Emily as she slid closer, and instead he slid her against him, so close in fact that her one leg was just on top of his under the water. Then he lowered his voice.

"I think my uncle might have been involved in some not so great stuff for a bit though. This guy, he called him a Don, he was arranging to have stuff smuggled in to Seattle and then put on trains to go down to Las Vegas. Never worked out though. My uncle said the guy in Vegas just up and disappeared one day. Kinda glad he didn't get involved in that though. Who knows who might up and disappear one day with guys like that right?"

He shook his head and moved to wrap an arm around Emily, but thought better of it and just lay it on the rocks behind her head instead. It was as if offering her a pillow for her head, rather than swallowing her up in his arms.

With a little smile, Emily cuddled against Jimmy while he talked about his life. She was, in a way, envious of the seemingly simple life of honest work. She could see the pride cross his face when he talked about continuing something. 

She was just about to settle her head back on his arm when another few words caught her attention quickly. "Don," "Vegas," and "disappeared." Her eyes popped open a bit wider. 

"A Don?" 

Sitting up slightly, she looked at him. 

"You don't remember his name do you? The Don?" 

Jimmy shook his head.

"I never met the guy. I was told he was a very scary man with a lot of money though. Big guy, like me. My Uncle said his nickname was Billy the Bull."

He picked up his head and looked to Emily.

"You don't want to mess with a guy with that kind of name, you know?"

With a curiously gentle smile, Emily shook her head. 

"No. You wouldn't want to cross a man like Billy Mastrosimone. I saw the results of those who tried."

She then looked straight at Jimmy. It hadn't yet occurred to her that her connections in organized crime might be a problem for him. If the truth was going to have to come out, at least she could give him some truth with perspective. 

​​​​​​"Billy was the kindest man I think I've ever known. Sure, he had a reputation for being a tough guy- he had to. But respect was the most valuable currency to him. If you needed a friend, you couldn't find a better one. He even saved my life once."

Emily turned slightly and ran her fingers over the faded scar on her back. There were rumors that he and Aurora had escaped, but Emily had lost too many friends in the past to allow herself that h kind of hope. Instead, she glanced back at Jimmy, watching to see how he took her revelation. 

Jimmy's eyes went wide for a split second, and then everything clicked. Escort. Hopping from place to place. The kind of money she had. It all made sense.

"Well, that makes a lot more sense now actually. See I thought you were just a rich lady, maybe a manager who had some connections to some real rich people. I guess that part is true..."

He paused, still in thought.

"Well, if you're mixed up in that kind of crowd, far be it from me to tell you what to do. I just know that the less I know, the better when it comes to this stuff, so don't be mad if I don't ask lots of questions. I like you Emily. I want to know about you, not about your past boyfriends."

He nodded as if to convince himself that was the truth of it as much as anyone else. In truth, the only reason he wasn't looking for an exit right now is because he knew very very well that Emily didn't want him dead. At least not yet.

The moment of panic when civilians realize they're looking at a "mobster" is easy to spot. Emily reached out and touched his arm so softly. 

"Listen, Jimmy, my work...it's not what you think. I'm not a strong arm or a shot-caller. I'm a nurse, and a resort owner. My boss is a good friend of mine, and asks me for nothing more than I'm willing to do. I patch up friends and run my business, and the rest of my life is fairly quiet. That's why I came to Seattle. To get away from the busier, more dangerous cities."

Emily's face broke into a shy smile, and she let her fingers play lightly through his hair behind his ear. 

​​​​​​"Hey, you said you like me. That's really good to hear, because I like you, too."

Jimmy smiled and nodded, though in the back of his head he did notice that she hadn't denied they were boyfriends. That could be a problem in the future. Not something to worry about now though.

"Well that's good to hear. I mean, if you got into the hot springs with guys you don't have a thing for, I can only imagine what you would do with guys you like."

He winked and smiled, but then looked up through the glass dome into the sky.

"What time do you think it is? Don't you have other guests coming? We should get out soon, maybe go have a drink. Or I could leave too if you want, I've spent a lot of time here today. Can't have too much all at once they say. Right?"

He chuckled and, despite what he had said, leaned back against the rocks.

Before Emily had a chance to reply, Chloe appeared at the edge of the water.

"Em, I'm sorry, but I thought you'd like to know that Alucard is on his way over for his usual appointment."

Nodding, she turned back and looked at Jimmy with a little shrug.

"Looks like my decision was made for me. That happens sometimes."

Standing up, she reached back and twisted her brunette hair to rid the locks of excess water.

"I really wanted to keep this going, but it's my boss and I need to see him. Would you...maybe...like to walk me back to my office? Maybe we can make some plans for later?"