“Hi, sorry I am late.”

“Actually you are right on time.” She said rising to greet him with a hand shake. “Thanks for having lunch with me. It is weird not having friends in town. It can get real lonely eating by yourself at restaurants and always getting take out for dinner.” She said with a small smile.

“Well, I am glad you asked me. So how are things going around here? Are you enjoying your job so far?”

“Yeah I am. The other chefs in the kitchen are great. They have been showing me around, helping me get situated in the new surroundings and all. At first I was a little nervous like I was out of my league or something, but Renee, you know Renee right?”

“Yeah I do.” John said in between sips of his beer.

“Well, Renee is great. She kind of took me under her wing and everything. I am sorry I am monopolizing the conversation. How are things with you at the Police station, any leads on who took my stuff?” she said slightly embarrassed at her rambling.

“I am sorry, no. None at all. I wish I had better news for you on that, but nothing has come across my desk. I also have a couple of detectives combing the local pawn shops.”

The waiter came over and they ordered lunch. Alex told John more about her time in New York City and learning how to cook professionally and then becoming a pastry chef.

Their food finally arrived and they both dug into it.

“So, what is your specialty, pasty wise?” John asked in between bites

“Well, I make a mean pie. All kinds actually. Do you have a favorite?”

“I like blueberry pie.” John said with a laugh.

Just as John was finishing his lunch he saw Evangeline walk in to the Palace with tall blonde haired man. This peaked his interest. He watched her stand next to the man and laugh and place her hand on his arm as she threw her hair back and laughed out loud again. He smiled watching her laugh. He loved watching her laugh, but something in his stomach tightened up when he saw her place her hand on his arm. The smile on his face changed, when the man placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to the table.

“John, is everything okay?” Alex asked.

“What? Oh I am so sorry. Yeah everything is fine, can you excuse me for a moment.” John smiled at Alex and got up from his seat and headed towards where Evangeline and this mystery man were sitting.

“Well hello counselor.” He said standing behind the blonde haired man smiling at Evangeline.

“Hi yourself.” She said back rising, from her seat and moving towards him. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “What are you doing here?”

“I should ask you the same thing.”

“John. John this is Jasper Jax, Jax this is my fiancé Lieutenant John McBain.”

John moved aside as Jax stood up and shook hands with him. John squeezed Jax’s hand hard and gave a little wink to him. Evangeline saw all of this and found it quite amusing.

“It’s a pleasure man, you have an amazing woman here.”

“Thanks, I know. So what brings you to town, Jax is it?”

“John, Jax is a friend of Alexis’ I am just helping him with some business matters.” She replied placing her hand on John’s arm to reassure him. “What are you doing here John?”

“Having lunch.” He pointed over to where Alex was sitting and she waved back at them.

“Who is she?” Evangeline asked as John turned back to face her. She was doing that thing with her tongue that meant she was curious about his behaviors and wondered why he was having lunch with a young beautiful woman.

“I will tell you later, I should get back and let you finish your business meeting with Jax here. It was nice to meet you Jax.” John said slapping him on the back. “Evangeline I’ll call you later.” He kissed her on the cheek and ran his hands through her hair and headed back to his table with Alex.

“I am sorry about that Jax; John can be a little over protective at times. It is the cop in him, you know.”

“I think I would be too, I mean you see your beautiful fiancé sitting at table in a nice restaurant with a man you have no idea who he is. His protectiveness is justified.”

Evangeline laughed at Jax’s statement, “Well I guess so. So what looks good to you?”

“Everything.” Jax said staring back at Evangeline, he didn’t even have his menu up, but Evangeline didn’t notice her eyes were fixated on the woman John was having lunch with. He never did tell her who she was.

“So how do you know her?” Alex asked when John joined her back at the table.

“That is my fiancé, Evangeline. I thought I had mentioned her.”

“Nope, you didn’t. She is beautiful. Who is that she is having lunch with?”

“Some guy named Jasper Jax. I don’t know who he is.” He said turning back looking over his shoulder back at Jax and Evangeline.

“Are you serious? You don’t know who Jasper Jax is?”

“And, you do I take it.”

“He is one of the richest guys on the east coast. He is what you call a corporate raider.”

“A what?” John asked with a confused look on his face.

“A corporate raider, you know he buys weak companies then turns them around then sells them for big money.”

“So he has money huh?”

“Yeah, a whole lot of it too.” She said smiling. She saw John get a little uncomfortable as he adjusted in his chair.

“Are you okay over there?”

“Yeah, I am fine. Listen lunch was great but I have to get back to work. I will call you if I find out any more on who ever stole your stuff. Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you other than that okay. Listen this town is really nice, just get out some and explore it okay.” John said with a smile as he rose from the table.

“Thanks again for all your help John.” She stood up from the table and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She looked back at Evangeline as she did so. Evangeline saw her and gave her a glare and stared her down as Evangeline watched John walk out of the restaurant.

When John got close to the host stand he turned around and saw Evangeline watching him. He gave her a sexy smile and waved bye. She held up her hand and waved good bye to him. John walked out of the restaurant wondering what on earth Evangeline would be doing with Jasper Jax of all people.

“I am sorry, Jax what were you saying.” Evangeline said turning back to Jax and their conversation.

“Nothing, I saw you looking at him. He is lucky to have you.” Jax said

“No I am the lucky one.” Evangeline said playing with her engagement ring, twisting it back and forth between her fingers. She ran her hand through her hair and then placed her elbows on the table and just sat there smiling.

“So, how did you guys meet?” he asked bringing her attention back to the table.

“He was helping me with a case and one thing led to another and we started dating. And now we are engaged. Which I never thought I would be.”

“Why is that?” Jax asked as he took a bite of his salmon.

“Umm, it is a long story. But let’s just say that I didn’t think I would ever get married and John changed that for me. He made me see that marriage is worth it if the right person comes along.”

“And, John is the right person for you?”

“Yes, what you don’t think so?” Evangeline asked setting her fork down and looking Jax in the eyes.

“Wow, I am sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that. I don’t even know either of you. It was just a question that’s all.”

“Oh, yes John is the right person for me. So tell me about yourself. You know besides the business Jax, what do you like to do for fun?”

“Anything risky.”

“What do you mean by that? What is risky for you?”

“Let’s just say if it involves possibly losing a life or limb I am up for it. I love sky diving that is my favorite. I also enjoy surfing when I get to go back home to Australia.”

“You sky dive? What is that like, I have always thought about trying it, just a little scared to.”

“Well it is great actually, a total rush. Nothing like the free fall. It is just too difficult to describe. I guess you have to do it to understand it. Maybe I will take you sometime.” He said with a smile.

“I doubt that Jax.” She said with a small laugh.

They finished up their lunch and Jax told Evangeline about his many adventures white water rafting, scuba diving, rock climbing, and anything else she wanted to know about him. After lunch he drove them back to her office and they worked on the case until Jax got a phone call.

“Yeah, Jax here. Hey Chloe what is up? What happened? Are you sure about that? Yeah call and get the helicopter ready I will be there in 20 minutes.” He hung up the phone and looked back up at Evangeline. “I am sorry something huge happened in Port Charles and I have to get back there as soon as possible. You have my cell number call me if you need anything okay. I will be in touch and thank you for lunch it was fun.”

“Yeah, okay I had a great time to.” Evangeline said rising from her desk and escorting Jax from her office. He kissed her lightly on the cheek and smiled back at her. “Have a safe flight, and call me when you get back into town and I will let you know what I have for you.”

“Okay thanks again Evangeline I will talk with you soon have a great afternoon.” Jax said as he walked out of her office and closed the door behind him.