Chapter Seven
Fannin
“Oh my God, I’m so full.” I lean back in the booth attempting to make room in my skirt for the breath I’m trying to take.
“Aye. I must say, that was the best burger I’ve ever had,” Jasper says as he slips his wallet into his pocket. He had insisted on paying. “I’ll let you order for me anytime, Fannin, but I’ll be the one paying for it.” I hadn’t argued.
“Ugh, I don’t want to go back,” I whine, well on my way to a food coma.
“Do you have to?”
“Sadly. I have a conference call this afternoon. Actually with the manager over at the Iron Flask.” He stands beside the booth, holding a hand out to help me up.
“Ahhh, Theo. He’s my good pal. Related to someone at your company too? Or someone who knows someone at your company.” He laughs.
“He’s the cousin of Noah’s best friend Sterling. Hot shot lawyer. Noah claims that’s why I got the lead on this. He doesn’t trust anyone else with family,” I say with a slight eye roll. “Apparently I’ll be dealing with Theo until we’re ready to wrap it all up. He said the owner can’t be bothered with this piddly shit. His words, not mine.” I laugh.
“He’ll be good to you. Just don’t let him get too flirty. He has a bit of a reputation.” Jasper looks at me pointedly.
“Is that so? What about you? Do you have a bit of a reputation?”
“A reputation? No. Well, maybe. But I’ll let you be the judge of that.” Jasper grins devilishly. “I can promise you that I don’t have a woman hidden away anywhere. No ex-fiancé to marry my evil step-sister.” He winks before sliding his sunglasses on. “I’ve not been in a serious relationship in over a year, actually. And meeting women in the bar isn’t usually my style either.”
“No? You sure? You were awfully charming and all come to the rescue ish.”
“Ish?” He chuckles. “Just the right place at the right time.”
“I’ll second that!” With a hand at the small of my back he guides me down the sidewalk back to my office.
“How about you? Do you have a reputation I should worry about?”
“Hardly. I’m a workaholic. It’s something my friends give me hell about all the time and the reason I didn’t have a date for the wedding. My last serious relationship ended with me walking in on him and my step-sister in his office with his pants around his ankles. Which is pretty ironic since they’re both total prudes.”
“Were you badly hurt?” The sincerity in his tone means so much to me. Nobody has really bothered to ask me that question, rather skirting around the whole awkward situation. Not when I walked in on them, not when they announced their engagement, and not once since they started planning this whirlwind wedding, rubbing it in my face every chance they got. In a short amount of time, really short, Jasper has become someone I can really see myself with. He’s funny, incredibly hot, and crazy sexy with that Scottish accent, the beard that I wasn’t aware I found irresistible until now, and the striking blue of his eyes. Clearing my throat, I nod.
“I was. Very. I thought we were in love. And Bethany’s mom married my dad when we were in middle school, not like it was last year, so it felt like the ultimate betrayal.” I’ve never said that to anyone, because again, nobody has ever asked. Shelby didn’t have to ask, she knew, was there to pick up the pieces. But she’s the only one that didn’t shy away from it.
“I can imagine. I’m sorry.” Taking me by surprise he presses his lips to the side of my head, his beard tickling my temple. I allow my eyes to close briefly and just savor the moment. It’s been a long while since a man has shown me this kind of attention. Adam was never affectionate and none of the guys I’ve hooked up with or dated however briefly since has had a chance to be.
“Thank you, Jasper. I’m good now. I see clearly that they deserve each other and did me a huge favor.”
“Good girl.” That makes me smile. He’s too charming for his own good and definitely for mine. “Now. Tell me about this wedding. I think he said it was at The Plaza, which I know is pretty posh. Should I rent a limo? Is there a dinner we need to attend the night before? I’m not entirely sure about your American traditions. This will be my first American wedding.”
Not able to hold back my laugh, “Umm, a limo? No. They’re the Plaza and expensive champagne. I’m not.”
“No? What are you then?” Jasper asks, as we stop in front of Tate and Cane. I’m not ready for our time to be over yet. Taking a moment to consider my answer, “I’m more Justice of the Peace and whisky.”
“My kind of girl.”
“Is that so?”
“Aye.” How one simple word can be so sexy I have no clue, but it is. My God, it is. Jasper reaches up and tucks an unruly curl behind my ear. The warm breeze is wreaking havoc on my hair. I don’t even bother to try to tame it with the humidity like this.
“It’s crazy.” I shrug.
“It’s wild and beautiful. Just like you,” he says smoothly, taking a step closer, wrapping a curl around his finger, rubbing a thumb back and forth over it. His knuckles brush the swell of my breast with each swipe. I’m certain he’s going to kiss me any moment. I’m waiting for it. Hoping for it. Hell, I might do it myself if he makes me wait any longer.
“I want to kiss you, Fannin. I’ve never wanted to kiss someone as much as I do you,” Jasper laughs, a low rumble. “If I’m honest, I want to do a whole lot more than kiss you, but I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
“Why?” My voice is barely a whisper, my eyes focused on his mouth. Never mind that the why should be obvious since we’re standing in front of my office in the middle of Manhattan being jostled by people scurrying by. But I don’t want him to be a gentleman. I want him to be the beast he resembles. Oh God. Just thinking about that beard has me hot in all the right places.
“Well, for starters, because your arsehole ex is right behind you watching us.” Jaspers fingers tighten in my hair, “Don’t turn around, love.”
“Shit, I almost did.”
He throws back his head and laughs. “I know. I could tell in the way your body tensed.” The way he says “body” has me taking a step closer to him. His voice is going to get me into so much trouble. The good kind. But trouble nonetheless. There’s an obnoxious throat-clearing behind us.
“Hate to break this up, but we have a meeting.” Adam is not the least bit sorry.
Jasper tucks me neatly into his side like I belong there. “Alan! How are you?” Biting the inside of my cheek so I don’t laugh, I don’t correct him, though I’m almost positive it wasn’t an accident.
“It’s ‘Adam’ actually.”
“That’s right. My apologies; loud in the bar the other day.” It was not, the liar.
Adam’s pinched face is delightful. “Yeah, well. We have a conference call. Do you think you can tear yourself away from your little boyfriend here so that we can work?”
“Little? Ha! Good one.” Jasper barks out a good-natured laugh like Adam was in fact trying to be funny and not condescending. Jasper stands at least three inches taller than him. Not to mention he’s broader and more chiseled and just . . . more. Yeah, there’s nothing little about him.
Adam shifts uncomfortably but then beams at something behind me. “Sweetheart. There you are,” he says in this sickeningly sweet tone that makes me want to gag.
“Honey, sorry I’m late. I had to run across—oh my God, Fannin. Did you stick your finger in an electric outlet? You know what happens to your hair in the humidity,” Bethany scolds. Bitch acts like she didn’t see me just a little while ago with my hair in the same disarray. She just wanted to make sure that she put me down in front of Adam. I don’t even let it bother me anymore. Whatever she needs to do to make herself feel good. I probably should’ve let Jasper in on that though; I can feel him stiffen beside me. “Let me see if I have a hair tie. You need it, sweetie.” She continues rummaging in her purse and then produces one with a flourish. “Here you go! You can thank me later.” Bethany stands holding it out to me, caught off-guard when Jasper plucks it from her fingers.
“Not a chance. My wee Fanny here has that just-shagged look with her hair all wild in the wind like this. I love it. Gives me a vision to keep with me until I see her later.” There goes that chocolate honey voice. I’m fairly certain that we’ve all fallen under his spell. I know I have. I don’t believe in insta-love but I sure as hell believe in insta-lust, and I am lusting hard over Jasper James. Hard. Right in front of my ex and his soon-to-be bride, and I don’t even care.