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Juan. You don’t have to pay for anything.”
    Juan, however, almost glared at him as he handed the bill folder back to Leah. “You would do me a great disservice if you were to not let me have the honor of feeding you.”
    James smiled. “Very well. You win.” The men took a moment to clasp hands again before Juan turned to her. “It was lovely to meet you, Ms. Taylor.”
    She smiled and took his hand again, even as she bit back the questions she wanted to ask James.
    It was only after they were seated in the backseat of the car that Quinn asked James her burning questions. “What was all that about? Why would you have been working as a line cook or any kind of cook? I imagine your weekly allowance would have been as much as some people make in a year.”
    “I have my grandfather to thank for that. He thought it was important that I be taught a little something about responsibility. Humility. Respect for what a day of hard work really means. So instead of hanging out in Europe with my friends, I was busting my balls for two summers working my way around the kitchen.”
    She’d have to wrap her head around the visual of James working in the back of the house, but for now, there was still another question. “What does Juan have to be grateful to you for?”
    He shrugged. “Nothing, really. Now, by my estimate, we still have technically another thirty minutes before we have to be leaving, and there’s this great bakery where we could pick up—”
    “You have to be kidding. You could eat? But don’t be changing the subject. What did you do for him?” she persisted.
    He rubbed his hand over the stubble that always seemed to be on his jaw, thinking about it for a moment. “A few years ago, Juan was looking for some investors to help him expand his business. He’d wanted to open up two more restaurants in the area but needed the capital to get them going. He was actually our first successful investment. We both have a lot to be grateful for.”
    She nodded, putting it together. “That’s right. You were the president of a venture capital firm before coming to Thornhill. Must have been a bit risky. Going out on limb like that for a friend.”
    “Not at all. As I suspected, the investment was sound, and he’s now expanding operations farther north. Juan Carlos has been very profitable for our investors. Well, I should say, the firm’s investors. I stepped down as president when I became CEO of Thornhill.”
    “That was quite the leap of faith. Giving up something you’d built up on your own to come back here.” Risking being replaced by the board just as his predecessor before him—whose family ties hadn’t helped him.
    James shrugged. “I don’t see there being that much difference. As a venture capitalist, I answered to the investors. Here, I now answer to the board.” He sat back in the seat, considering her question further. “To be honest, just getting out there, starting something on my own, making it a success on my own was fulfilling. Once I proved I could do it, I felt like I could move on to something bigger and more meaningful. Like coming here. Seeing what I could make of this place.”
    It was admirable, really. He could easily have just lived off his trust fund but instead had set out to prove himself and his capabilities.
    Crap. Just when she tried to pigeonhole James as the overindulged CEO, she discovered something new about him that humanized him, made her realize all over again that her first impression of the man had been unfair.
    “This bakery shop is really quite good,” James said, bringing her focus back on his face. “You said you’re taking out your friend tonight as a celebration. Anna, the health nut, correct?” She nodded, surprised he’d remembered. “I’m sure you could find a few things to tempt even her palate.”
    She smiled, relenting. “All right. Let’s give it a go.”
    “Was that a smile? I think that this ranks as a first. It looks really nice on you.