More tears fell. Humiliation, that’s what this was. Shaking her head about Cole, even more so about herself, she practically ran from the room. Luckily Chester was already rushing through the mansion to follow her command. As soon as the puppy reached her, she picked him up. Behind her, she heard Cole’s heavy steps. Quickly he was making his way toward her. “Jasmine, listen to me.”
Having no intention to do so and also not able to handle him right now, she fled the house. Confused, Chester began crying in her arms like babies did when their mommy was sad. “It’s okay, little man,” she promised, choking on another sob. Thankfully she had the keys to the pickup truck in the pocket of her jeans.
The noise behind her had gotten louder. Was Cole running, now that he realized she was leaving? Slightly panicked, she put Chester into the car as fast as she could; afterward she ran around the vehicle, jumped in and drove off.
“Jasmine!” She must have imagined the strong emotion in his bellow. After all, it was that simple: a man who had tricked her into believing he was single, when he actually was married, most likely couldn’t really feel. Only a coldhearted person could do something so heartless. In the rearview mirror, she could see his heaving chest. The way he stood in front of that lonely mansion made him seem more alone than ever before. Like the beast of the fairy tale locked up in his castle, going mad with grief.
It wasn’t true, though; he’d said it himself. He had made her a cheater. With a cry of pain and anger mixed together, Jasmine hit the steering wheel with the palm of her hand. Since Chester immediately jumped and whined loudly, she didn’t do it again. She gripped the wheel as if her life depended on it, ignored the tears streaming down her face, and drove.
♥♥♥
Chapter 12
BEING HEARTBROKEN OVER a guy who clearly didn’t give a fuck sucked so damn much. The whole drive home, her phone hadn’t rung a single time. If he really did care, he would have called. Well, there was the truth right in front of her.
It had made Jasmine cry into her pillow before falling asleep completely exhausted as soon as she’d arrived at home. New York always was busy; normally it made her feel alive, too. The next morning it only gave her a sense of being disconnected from everything and everyone. At least she had her sweet boy, Chester, by her side, although the little French bulldog missed Cole, too. How was that even possible after only a week and a half? Obviously, the man had made an impression.
After waking up, the first thing she did was make some coffee. Next, she drank two cups and put a cold washcloth onto her swollen eyes. Eventually, she felt a little better. Time to make some phone calls. Sighing, she got to work.
“Hello?” By now David’s voice sounded familiar as if he were an old friend. Truthfully it was only due to his controlling nature, calling her every day in the past ten days.
“It’s Jasmine.” He must have recognized her landline number. “I’m sorry, but I had to drive home.” Even to her ears, she sounded defeated.
“What? Why?” Why did he sound so shocked? Her driving home and giving up was what he’d wanted from the start. Now he could take over the project so that he could show his father how freaking great he was.
“I’m sick.” Heartsick, but he didn’t have to know that.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” For a few seconds, he hesitated. All in all, David was a slimeball; he also had a boyish rivalry going on with Cole. Still, he wasn’t such a bad guy. “Are you okay? You don’t sound so good.” There was honest worry in his voice; he was his father’s son after all.
“Thank you, I’ll be okay.” She nodded slightly, the words meant to convince herself, not David. “About the project,” she began, “I presented Cole lots of ideas, but he took to none of them. Perhaps it’ll be better if you take a look at the blueprints and the photos, which I sent you after we finished cleaning out the house.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure,” he quickly agreed but didn’t sound half as satisfied with the situation as Jasmine had expected him to be. “I can do that.” Although not seeing him face-to-face, she was pretty sure that he’d nodded to himself right now.
“Okay then…I…I’ll call in when I feel better. Two days tops,” she promised, for that had to be enough to nurse her broken heart back to functioning.
“Take your time; cleaning that house out wasn’t exactly in your job description,” David chuckled lightly. “You went way beyond. It’s okay to be exhausted.”
“Thank you, David, that’s really kind.” For the first time, her friendliness wasn’t fake. Jasmine was way too tired for that; also she really appreciated him not being a dick right now.
“See you soon.” A strained smile was audible in her tone.
“Get well.”
With his last words, they hung up. Jaded, she let herself fall back onto the couch. When Chester sat down beside her, he lay his head to the side. “You’re sad, too, huh?” At once the sweet puppy whined. It broke her heart even more. So she lifted him and laid him down onto her chest, where he rolled into a little ball. Luckily he was so small, otherwise he’d have gotten quite heavy.
Affectionately, Jasmine stroked Chester’s soft back, giving both of them a little comfort. After a while, she must have dozed off because the doorbell startled her. Blinking, she was awake immediately. The French bulldog had already jumped off her and ran to the door. Curiously, he paced up and down in front of it. At least he was no barker, only wiggled his butt, patiently waiting.
Unsure of who it might be, Jasmine walked toward the door of the apartment. Before she opened it, she looked down at herself, checking if she was presentable or not. When no red flags came up, she answered the door. Taken by surprise, Jasmine stumbled two steps backward.
“David! I didn’t expect you.” In fact, her weak little heart had hoped Cole would come and apologize. However, what difference did it make? He would still be married to another woman. Most likely, his bad conscience for cheating on his wife was the reason for his grim mood all the time.
“Sorry to show up here unannounced but…” Stopping mid-sentence, David stared at her as if taking in the situation. Suddenly, his gaze became fierce. Without waiting for permission, he rushed past her.
“What…?” Overwhelmed, Jasmine closed the door behind him. Turning around, she leaned against it. To say she was confused was an understatement.
In his agitation, David repeatedly ran his fingers through his hair. Right then he very much resembled Cole, pacing like an animal in a cage. “I’m so sorry for sending you to him,” he said, still pacing in Jasmine’s small living room.
“Sorry, why?” Furrowing her brow, she couldn’t do anything else but wait.
“It’s all my fault, I …” If he kept running his fingers through his hair, he’d be bald by the end of their conversation. His obvious discomfort made Jasmine nervous.
“What? What is your fault? I really don’t understand, what’s goi—” Before she could finish her question, David all of a sudden stopped dead in his tracks. When he looked at her, his gaze was determined.
“Did he touch you?” With his index finger, he pointed at her. Apparently it wasn’t meant accusingly, in fact, only seconds later he ran a hand over his face in guilt. “I should have known better than sending a woman all alone to a stranger’s house!”
Oh my God. Did he think Cole touched her against her will?
“David, that’s not what…” But he didn’t let her speak, was still way too agitated to listen.
“You sounded off on the phone, I knew something was wrong, so I came here and…there are bruises on your neck and arms.” After each word, his tone became more and more menacing—within the blink of an eye, the slimeball was her knight in shining armor. The fact that he was angered out of his mind by the thought of Cole forcing himself on her made David so much more likable.
“I have a sister, you know.” Again he ran a hand over his mouth. “I can’t even imagine—” He cut himself off, rushed toward Jasmine, and grabbed both of her ha
nds. “I am so, so sorry.” The empathy and honesty in his eyes quickly changed again. Right now, he seemed to be fighting a hurricane of feelings.
“I’m gonna kick his ass, I…” His ire was so strong, it made his voice shaky. Reassuringly, David squeezed her hands. “We’ll have to go to the police.…I think…or the hospital?” He seemed so lost; quickly Jasmine seized the moment. Hopefully he would let her talk now, so she could explain to him that no such thing had happened.
The bruises? She hadn’t noticed them. Yes, Cole was a little rough during sex sometimes, but she liked it that way. Had liked it, she corrected herself quickly. Also, she bruised easily. The thing on her neck probably only was a hickey. On her arms? Yes, his fingerprints were visible there, but him holding her down during sex had been totally consensual.
“David, listen to me,” she pleaded. “Everything is…” The doorbell rang. Goddamnit! Couldn’t anyone let her finish her sentences?
“Who is that?” David immediately wanted to know, as if the devil himself waited behind that door.
Muttering something incomprehensible—and not very nice—to herself, Jasmine walked past him to open the door for the next unexpected visitor.
Cole.
Just the sight of him rendered her mute. With a racing heart, she took him in. At first his gaze was completely focused on her, then movement behind her caught his attention. From one moment to the other, his standard grim expression changed to seething.
“You said there was nothing going on between the two of you.” She had heard him growl many times before; this time was different, though. This growl was murderous.
Before she could answer, he pushed himself inside her apartment, slamming the door shut behind him.
“You!” David shouted, anger plastered all over his face. In total contrast, little Chester ignored everybody else and was so happy to see Cole again that he began barking and jumping up Cole’s legs. It looked like one of those videos when a soldier came back home after months of deployment, and the dog finally had his whole family back together. Apparently, Jasmine’s dog was a drama queen because he loved on Cole as if they’d been separated from each other equally long. Perhaps he was a teenager in dog years and was going through the being-overdramatic phase?
“Get the fuck out.” Cole was so focused on David that he didn’t even acknowledge poor Chester. That didn’t stop the French bulldog—perhaps his beloved human just hadn’t noticed him yet? He only needed to show him all his love and happiness, then he’d get it all in return. The little dog became hysterical, barking his lungs out and wagging so hard that he fell over a couple of times.
“I should get out?” Outraged, David crossed the room so that the two men were facing each other. How on earth had Jasmine landed right in the middle of all this? “You don’t touch her ever again, or I swear to God, I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Cole scoffed, dangerously coming one step closer. Shit, this was going to escalate if Jasmine didn’t do anything. Pressing one hand against each man’s chest, she literally kept them separated.
“Stop it, both of you,” she demanded.
“I won’t let him hurt you again, Jasmine!” Angrily, David shook his head. No way was he going to budge.
“That is between Jasmine and me, David, and it’s none of your business.” The darkness in Cole’s eyes only seemed more dangerous when he narrowed them to slits.
“None of my business? Of course, it is! I can’t believe I let Jane near you, you fucking rapist!” Jane must be his sister, Jasmine silently thought. “Even Jasmine’s dog is attacking you!” David had read the dog’s behavior all wrong, damn it!
“What?” Honest shock registered on Cole’s face; immediately his gaze dropped to Jasmine’s. The sudden fear that something might have happened to her in the last twelve hours was evident in his expression. So he did care about her. At least a little bit.
Taking his eyes off David had been a mistake; the other man took the first chance he got to attack. After having pulled Jasmine aside, he descended on Cole. Seconds later, David’s fist connected with Cole’s cheekbone. The blow must have hurt like hell, for Cole’s head snapped back from the force of it. Squealing out in panic, Jasmine stumbled back, the two men colliding in front of her. While David was attacking, Cole mostly tried to defend himself and stop his counterpart.
Horrified, Jasmine watched as fists flew, as they shouted and grunted, stumbled against walls and broke a vase. Only then, at the loud bang, did she snap out of her shock. She had to do something!
“Stop!” she screamed, but they wouldn’t listen. David seemed out of his mind; in a way it was understandable. In another time or situation, Jasmine probably would have been thankful for it. When she screamed again, and they didn’t stop, she didn’t know what else to do but take the kitchen hose and spray them.
Yelling, they finally jumped apart. Thank God. As they stared at her, their chests were heaving, their clothes disheveled, and both of them had bruises on their faces.
“If only one of you had just let me finish my sentences, I could have explained!” Frustrated, but above all worried about these pigheads, she threw the hose back into the kitchen sink.
“David,” she tried for a calm voice, “I do appreciate your worry and heroism, really I do, but you need to listen to a girl first, before you go into action, okay?” Raising her brows, she waited for an answer. Nothing came out of his mouth. Apparently, they still were too shocked by her rash action to speak. Good. It only meant that no one would interrupt her this time.
“Cole didn’t touch me,” she reassured David.
“But the bruises…” he immediately started.
“Let me finish, goddamnit!” The force behind her curse made him jump. Even though she felt a little guilty, at least he would let her talk now. “He did touch me but not against my will,” she rephrased. “The bruise on my neck? Just a hickey. On my arms? It’s really none of your business, but yeah, I like it when he holds my arms above my head. Sue me.”
As she revealed this piece of information, Cole growled as if her pleasure only belonged to him and no other man had the right to know her that intimately. Hypocrite, Jasmine thought, anger flaring back up. What about his wife, huh?
“So, I know you think it’s inappropriate to sleep with a client, but well, I think it’s also inappropriate for you to know these things about me.”
Coughing David widened his eyes. “I…um…are you sure?”
Almost amused by his comment, Jasmine calmly nodded. “Yes, I’m sure about my sexual preferences.”
That made him cough again. “I’m sorry, I got it all wrong.” Embarrassed he looked from Jasmine to Cole. It wasn’t all his fault, though. Everything had spun out of control so quickly; it had just happened.
“David, I honestly prefer a guy to overreact in this situation rather than doing nothing or even blaming the victim. So, thank you.” With that, she hugged him tightly. The last ten days they’d had their differences, he’d annoyed the hell out of her, nonetheless, he was someone you could count on. That was precious. “You’re a great guy,” she whispered into his ear during their hug.
When she let go of him, David again gazed at Cole’s bruised face. “I’m really sorry, man.”
“No, I understand.” Cole stuck out his hand to thank David. After they’d shaken hands, he added, “But keep the fuck away from my girl.”
“I am not. Obviously!” Jasmine protested. Did he get a high from hurting her?
“Like hell you’re not.” From then on Cole only had eyes for her. Not even when David awkwardly backed out of the apartment, saying, “I’ll let you two talk this out,” did Cole glance his way.
As soon as the door shut behind Jasmine’s boss, Chester crawled out from under the couch where he’d hidden when the fight had started. Now he rushed toward Jasmine, seeking shelter and comfort.
“Poor baby,” she murmured while picking his shaking body up from the floor and pressing him tightly against her c
hest. She then began rocking him, hopefully calming him down by doing so. Sooner than she knew it, Chester and she were wrapped into Cole’s arms. He held on tight, pressing them into his chest. “When David said…fuck, I…” Although he didn’t finish his rasped-out sentence, Jasmine instinctively knew what he was trying to say.
Cole had been scared for her. Probably she shouldn’t feel so satisfied by that, but she did. For a moment, she allowed herself to sink against his chest, loving the newfound closeness. Of course, she only did it for him to calm himself. Of course. Oblivious to Jasmine’s inner conflict, Chester was thrilled by the bear hug—finally the big human greeted him properly! The fight from before completely forgotten, the little puppy raised his head to lick Cole’s jaw with abandon.
Against her body, Jasmine could feel Cole’s strong heartbeat; warmth, which seeped into her from his frame, felt like heaven. After a few precious seconds, it was enough, though. He had a freaking wife! Hugging her like that wasn’t okay. Hell, coming here was a mistake! Shaking her head, Jasmine pressed the palm of her free hand against Cole’s chest so that she could distance herself from him. In protest, Chester gave a yelp. Promptly Cole joined in with a displeased growl—no wonder the two males got along so well. Men!
“You shouldn’t be here.” She found the guts to speak up.
“Yes, I should.” Despite his voice sounding totally pissed off due to the distance between them, he at least accepted her wish. Completely rigid, his body stood only two steps away from hers. Not one limb he’d moved, obviously refusing to do so. If Jasmine wanted to get away from him, she had to take every step by her damn self. Stubborn man.
In order not to let herself get distracted by his hard stare, she quickly shook her head. “You have a wife! You are married!” she accused. If that wasn’t a reason for him to stay the hell away from her, she didn’t know what was. In a mixture of annoyance and hurt, she slapped his chest once. “You should have told me from the start—I would never have…”
Good Grief Page 9
