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Chloe sat on the docks with a diagram of the land sea crane in front of her. She mumbled to herself, complaining that the diagram was completely useless. As Chloe tried to figure out the diagram, Jax passed by. He watched her for a moment and smiled. Then he finally approached her.

"Hey."

Chloe blushed. "You caught me-again." She and Jax laughed.

"Well I must say you have very interesting conversations with yourself."

Chloe told Jax about how she was overwhelmed with the docks project. "How did I end up with the deciding vote anyway? Why did I *ever* agree to vote Lila's proxy at this board meeting?"

Jax smiled and asked if there was anything he could do to help.

"With this diagram, I don't think so! It's completely useless! There is absolutely no connection between what is on this paper and what is out there!"

"Right." Jax said. "It's upside down."

Chloe face turned red in embarrassment. "How did I ever get into this?"

"Well, I could explain it to you if you like."

Chloe smiled and nodded her head.

Jax informed Chloe about the pros and cons of opening the docks earlier or later while Chloe was listening intently with pencil and paper in hand.

"You don't have to write down ever word I say."

Chloe grinned and showed him what she was drawing. A dress. "I was inspired."

"By an urban redevelopment project? Are you going to present that at the next ELQ board meeting?"

"Why not? They're total free-for-alls!"

Chloe then thanked Jax for helping her become clearer on the matter.

"Well you barely know me, how do you know I'm not leading you astray?"

"You know how to fix shoes. You make Edward nervous. Ned seems to respect you, but he won't ever turn his back. Why shouldn't I listen to you?"

"Well I have my own agenda at ELQ. How do you know it won't clash with yours?"

Chloe told Jax that she could always look at a dress, even in a rough sketch like the one she was doing now, and know if it was going to sell or not.

"Good intuition." Jax said.

"Yeah, maybe. Maybe it's just your smile." Chloe whispered. She then thanked him again for helping her be able to make an informed decision.

"Glad I could help. So, are you free for the rest of the day?" Jax asked hopefully.

Chloe said she was and Jax asked her if she would be interested in meeting Irmegard, his sailboat that lived on Pier 19. Jax said that Mrs. Irmegard was his fourth grade teacher, the first love of his life, and that is was always good to name a sailboat after the first love of your life.

"I never knew that."

"Well it's true. Can you swim?"

"That really makes me want to go sailing with you."

Jax laughed and explained that Irmegard sometimes had a jealous heart.

"I was state freestyle champion in high school. Can you run?"

"Why?"

"I'll race you to Pier 19!" Chloe then took off. Jax started laughing.

"Uh, Chloe, Pier 19 is that way!" Jax pointed to the other direction.

Chloe looked at Jax and tried to play it off. "I knew that. I was just giving you a head start."

Chloe then ran off towards the pier. Jax smiled and then took off after her.

~*~ Later ~*~

Ned and Alexis were sitting on the bench at the docks and talking when they heard laughter. They looked over and saw Jax and Chloe, soaking wet and chasing each other like little kids.

"Oh hi." Jax said, suddenly aware that he and Chloe had an audience.

"I didn't expect to see you two out here." Chloe said.

"Alright, Jax, what did you do to her this time?" Ned demanded.

"Now hold on a second. The rain the other night was not my fault!"

"Oh but tipping the boat over was!" Chloe said.

"Well now, I told you Irmegard might get jealous!" Jax said in his defense.

"I should have warned you about traveling with Jax." Ned said, and told Chloe about Jax and Alexis' adventure in the Sahara.

"And Jax was very helpful." Alexis said. "What did he do? Oh yeah, he called for help!"

"In the nick of time." Ned commented.

"And then Ned brought me home." Alexis said with a smile.

"But now my real talent is as a corporate advisor." Jax said.

"I see!" Ned said. "She wouldn't vote your way, so you shoved her into the river?"

Chloe laughed and told Ned and Jax that they had both been very helpful, but she could make up her own mind about the vote, if she didn't catch a cold first. "I have to get out of these wet clothes!"

With that, Chloe left, but not without Jax offering to see her home first.

Chloe grinned. "I'll take my chances. Thanks."

"You pushed her to hold off the opening of the docks, right?" Ned asked.

"Sure, but Chloe thinks for herself."

"Aren't you cold?" Alexis asked.

"I know a hint when I hear it." Jax laughed. "Bye." Jax said and left.

To be continued…

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