by Lucy Clark
‘Daddy! What are you doing there?’ Lilly asked as she came out of the room, almost tripping over her towel.
Jasper groaned and put a hand over his eyes. The best-laid plans…Scooping her into his arms, he decided the best thing was to just keep on moving rather than trying to explain. ‘Bathtime, princess.’ He quickly carried Lilly through and was about to go back for Lola when Jennifer carried her in.
‘Princess Lola arriving for her bath,’ she announced. After hanging up the towel and depositing her royal highness in the bath, Jennifer looked at Jasper. He could see in that one brief moment that she was well aware he’d overheard her conversation with the girls.
‘I’ll get dinner started,’ he said.
‘Need any help?’
‘No. Stay and make sure these two mischief-makers…’ He pointed to each child in turn causing them to giggle ‘…don’t make a mess.’ He gave them each a stern look before pulling a face and making them giggle once more. ‘Be good for Jennifer.’
‘Yes, Daddy,’ they replied in that perfect unison Jennifer was now getting used to. After he’d left, she took off her jumper so she didn’t get her sleeves wet and knelt down, reaching for a bath toy. Between herself and the girls they managed to make up a pretty good story, with the toys, Mr Turtle and Betsy, who was an overly large bath doll, deciding to get married. The bath book was the minister and the two plastic mermaids were the flower girls. Fifteen minutes later Jennifer looked up, surprised to see Jasper lounging in the doorway.
‘How long have you been there?’
‘Not long,’ he answered, a large grin on his face. ‘Betsy marrying Mr Turtle again?’
‘Yes.’
‘Third time this week.’
Jennifer stood and wiped her hands. ‘You’ll be very pleased to know that the flower girls walked carefully and slowly down the aisle.’
‘Did they, now?’ He’d seen Sara and Jennifer take the girls through their paces at the barbecue and had been very pleased with the more suitable pace. So had Megan.
‘Is it time to get out, Daddy? I’m getting all wrinkly.’
‘Yes, buttercup. Dinner’s almost ready.’ Between the two of them they managed to get the girls out, dry and dressed in their matching pink nighties in record time, and soon they were all sitting at the kitchen bench, eating chicken schnitzel and vegetables. Jennifer was impressed at how well both girls ate, not quibbling about eating the food put in front of them. Afterwards, she ended up checking two sets of teeth and reading three bedtime stories. When she’d finished, Lilly beckoned her close and put both arms around her neck, giving her a big squeezy-hug before kissing her cheek.
Lola had her turn, giving Jennifer two kisses. ‘We like you.’ She yawned as Jasper came in to kiss them and turn on their nightlight, knowing they’d be asleep within moments.
‘Can I help you with the dishes?’ Jennifer asked as they headed out of the girls’ bedroom.
‘They’re all done and I’m just brewing a pot of tea. Join me?’
‘Sure.’ She put her jumper back on as he took her into the lounge room. He’d straightened up the cushions and done a general tidy-up since they’d first returned.
‘You’ve been busy.’
‘I’ve had time. It’s amazing. I was almost on the point of getting bored.’
Jennifer smiled as she sat down on the comfortable lounge, Jasper coming to sit next to her after placing the tea things down on the table. He reached for the teapot and poured them both a cup. ‘I guess you’re used to doing everything by yourself.’
‘It’s second nature.’ He left his cup where it was and shifted to face her, his arm running along the back of the lounge. ‘It’s been nice having someone else here.’
‘To help?’
‘Or perhaps I should clarify that by saying it’s been nice having you here…and not just because you’ve helped out.’ He leaned forward and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Then, leaving his hand there for a moment, he looked into her eyes. They were relaxed and filled with open desire. Not only that, they were filled with acceptance and it was that acceptance that gave Jasper the confidence to follow through on his urge.
Reaching around her, he gently pulled the band from her hair and the black strands fell in a soft, silky mass around her face and shoulders. He sucked in a breath at the pretty picture. The woman was stunning. Like a child at Christmas, Jasper sifted both of his hands through the luscious locks, unable to believe how incredible they felt.
‘You have the most beautiful hair.’ He made sure he didn’t rush, didn’t tug, but instead savoured every moment of the silken strands against his skin.
‘Thanks.’ The word was breathless and for a second he thought he felt her tremble.
‘Am I hurting you?’
‘No.’ She closed her eyes loving the way his fingers felt near her face, her scalp, in her hair.
‘Why do you tie it back?’
She smiled as she opened her eyes. ‘It gets in the way.’
‘Logical…but why? It’s perfect.’ Jasper cupped her cheek and angled her head up a little. ‘You’re perfect.’
‘No. I’m not.’
‘In this moment in time, here with just the two of us, you are perfect.’ He shifted to angle his body towards hers, moving in closer. They stared into each other’s eyes, mentally devouring and emotionally communicating their needs. ‘I want to kiss you, Jennifer.’
‘Jasper.’ His name was a caress and she put a hand on his chest, not to push him away but to draw him closer.
‘I’ve been wanting to kiss you for so very long. It feels like an eternity instead of just yesterday.’
‘Yes.’
‘You feel it too, don’t you? That amazing pull that exists between us. I know you’ve told me before but—’
Jennifer lifted her finger to his lips to silence him, the intimate touch sending her senses off into an anticipatory frenzy. ‘You’re talking far too much.’
‘Mmm.’ He kissed her fingertip, the sensual action making her gasp. ‘I am.’ He moved in closer. ‘I just want to make sure…make sure this is what you want, too.’
‘It is. I want you to kiss me, Jasper, and I wish you’d hurry up and—’
Her words were cut off as his mouth met hers, both of them sighing into the moment after that first buzz of electricity had been ignited. The tension, the build-up to that first amazing touch had been so big and so long in coming that the realisation that his mouth was actually on hers, that he could not only hold her and kiss her but that she wanted him to do so, was overpowering.
Jasper slid his arms around her, gathering her close. The feel of her body next to his continued to fuel his hunger but he pulled superhuman strength from somewhere to ensure he kept himself completely under control. He knew how fragile Jennifer was, what she’d been through, how big this step was for her, and he didn’t want anything to ruin it.
Slowly…ever so slowly he moved his lips over hers, tenderly caressing and filling the emptiness she hadn’t realised had been there. For a brief moment she’d been certain of feeling raw passion surge through him but in the next instant his mouth was gently exploring, gently coaxing to ensure she was right there with him, side by side on this journey into the unknown.
On a sigh of delight Jennifer lifted her hands to his head, lacing her fingers into his hair ensuring his head stayed in place. With her eyes closed, she could concentrate on the hypnotic scent of him, the pheromones which were being generated by both, mixing together with the warmth of the fire, igniting to consume them both.
Finally, the need for air made Jasper pull his mouth from hers, both out of breath. Jennifer opened her heavy eyelids and looked at him from beneath her lashes as he placed light, feathery kisses on her cheeks, stopping in the middle to cover her lips with his as though he couldn’t get enough.
‘You’re…amazing,’ he whispered close to her ear, and she smiled.
‘You’re not so bad yourself.’
‘Perhaps it’s this…togetherness…’ he pressed a soft kiss to her waiting lips ‘…that suits us.’
‘Togetherness.’ Jennifer repeated the word as though an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Jasper eased back and looked into her eyes, smoothing his fingers through her glorious locks once more. ‘I know it’s not easy to take a step forward, Jen, but—’
‘Shh,’ she whispered, and placed her finger on his lips again. ‘I’m fine, Jasper. I wanted you to kiss me just as much as you wanted to. I wanted it last night and I wanted it now. In fact, I’ve been wanting it for so very long—even before you teased me by kissing my cheek the other week.’ She shook her finger at him. ‘And may I just say it wasn’t nice to torture me like that. Sent my imagination into overdrive.’
‘You and me both.’ He took her finger and brought it to his lips, kissing it tenderly. Jennifer closed her eyes at the mildly erotic touch and was surprised that another wave of longing flooded through her. ‘You were saying,’ he murmured.
‘Uh…’ Jennifer licked her dry lips.
‘Here. Let me do that for you.’ The line was corny, yet perfect as he pressed his mouth to hers again, running his tongue over her lower lip, causing her to shudder with delight. Jasper accepted that shudder, taking the opportunity to enjoy the sweet sunshine that surrounded her.
When he was done, Jennifer laid her head on his shoulder and waited for her breathing to calm down. ‘You’re…potent.’
Jasper smiled at her word. ‘Thank goodness you didn’t say “lethal”.’
Jennifer sighed and looked up at him. ‘I like this.’
‘This?’
‘This. You and me.’
Jasper tightened his arms about her. ‘Me, too.’
She giggled. ‘You sound like the girls.’
‘Bound to happen eventually,’ he quipped. They enjoyed a few minutes’ silence, both completely comfortable to just sit there and be together, absorbing the essence of each other.
‘Are you comfortable?’ he finally asked.
‘You know, I think I am. I mean, I may have been concerned about this attraction—even a little conflicted—when it first started, but now it’s different.’
Jasper’s laughter rumbled joyously, surrounding them with warmth. ‘That’s fantastic to hear but I meant literally, not metaphorically.’
‘Oh. Well, yes. I’m comfortable.’ Jennifer looked up at him, her eyes intense. ‘Thank you.’
‘For?’
She smiled at his fishing attempt. ‘For ensuring my comfort.’
‘Is that all? That didn’t feel like a throw-away “Thank you” to me.’
‘That’s because it wasn’t. I guess I’m grateful that you’ve shown me that I can move forward with my life.’ She shifted slightly, edging closer. ‘That I need to reach out.’ She gently urged his head towards hers. ‘That I need to let go and venture out of my comfort zone. So here I go again.’ At that, she pressed her mouth to his and where he’d been reining in the fire, Jennifer let it go, opening her mouth and teasing his lower lip with her tongue.
Jasper groaned and hauled her against his chest, eager to let her lead, eager to reciprocate the pace she was setting, eager to let her know he was with her all the way. ‘You make my head spin,’ he muttered against her mouth, both of them breathing heavily.
‘Good. At least it means I’m not alone on this ride.’
‘No chance of that, lady.’
‘Really?’ She smiled at him.
‘None whatsoever. I’ve been fighting this attraction, trying to keep my distance, trying to give you the space I felt you needed, but now that we’ve passed those points, now that I’ve finished fighting, the only thing left for us to do is to continue moving forward.’
‘To where?’
For the first time since the day had begun, Jasper heard hesitation in her voice. Was she thinking about the girls’ earlier question? Did she think he wanted to marry her? He hadn’t even questioned himself that far yet.
He shifted, repositioning himself on the lounge and pulling Jennifer towards him so she could rest her head more comfortably on his shoulder. As she moved, she gasped in pain, then stuck her hand down the back of the cushions and pulled out a pencil.
‘Oops. Sorry. I thought I’d removed them all.’
‘Never mind.’ She leaned forward and put it on the table, and it was as though as she eased away from him in a physical capacity Jasper could also feel her easing away on an emotional level, too. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, hoping the warm liquid would give her the answers to the question now flooding her mind.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked softly.
‘What makes you think something’s wrong?’ She turned around so she could see him better.
‘You’re distancing yourself from me. Talk to me, Jen. Let me into that inner sanctum.’ As he spoke, he played with the ends of her hair, still unable to stop touching her.
She liked it. The fact of the matter was, Jasper really liked her, she could see that as plain as the nose on his face, and that was fantastic. So why should she even think of hesitating?
‘I don’t know, Jasper.’ She put her cup back on the table.
‘You want this, don’t you?’
‘I don’t know what this is. We’re attracted to each other. We’re obviously compatible when it comes to the more…physical aspects, but what about the girls? What about work?’
‘What about work? We’ve covered this, Jen.’
‘I know, but now it’s actually happening and I can’t help the way my brain freaks out. It’s just how I’m wired.’
‘OK.’ He caressed her cheek, then leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips. ‘Thank you for letting me know.’
‘Well?’
‘Well, what?’
‘What do we do?’
He smiled and kissed her again. ‘We take it slowly. We don’t flaunt it at work. We spend time together and time with the girls whenever our schedules allow. How does that sound for starters?’
Jennifer sighed and nodded. ‘Good.’ She paused for a moment. ‘But are you sure, Jasper? Are you sure I’m what you want?’
‘You’re insane.’ How could she not see just how much he wanted her?
‘Possibly, but I’m also very high maintenance. I know this about myself and while it may have taken me a long time to admit it, I can do that now and I don’t want my silly neuroses getting in the way of this thing between us. And even more than that, I don’t want to start treating you differently at work, as though I’m trying to compensate. Neither do I want you to feel that you have to treat me any differently because, after all, let’s face it, to an extent I’m your boss and that can’t be easy if we’re going to have disagreements about work issues. Everything needs to be done by the book because I won’t have anyone accusing me of favouritism. And as far as the girls are concerned, we’ll need to be especially careful because they’re so young and I love them so much and there is no way in the world I ever want to hurt them. So they’ll need to be told something but I’m not at all sure what because I’m not a parent and I don’t have the first idea about parenting, even though it’s what I’ve wanted for so long, and—’
Jennifer’s mouth was captured by Jasper’s, effectively silencing her. When he drew back, he smiled at her. ‘Would you do me the honour of accompanying me to my sister’s wedding?’
‘P-pardon?’
‘Megan’s wedding. Will you be my date?’
‘Uh…um…’
Jasper smiled, causing Jennifer’s stomach to flip-flop. It was amazing how the tingly tension still existed between them even after he’d kissed her the way he had. For some daft reason she’d expected it to diminish, to settle even, yet to her great astonishment it had done quite the opposite. The way he smiled seemed to affect her more than before. Perhaps it was because only a few seconds ago those very lips had been pressed to hers.
‘It’s not a difficult
question. Or, at least, I hope it isn’t.’
‘I would love to go. I’d love to see the girls all done up in their pretty dresses.’
‘Is that the only reason?’
‘Why? Am I putting a dent in your ego?’ She smiled, amazed she had such power over him.
‘Yes. As a matter of fact, you are.’
‘Well, then.’ Jennifer touched her fingers to his cheek. ‘I’d love to be your date.’
‘Good.’ He let out a breath.
‘You were unsure?’
‘Well, after you stated your…concerns, I wasn’t one hundred per cent sure, no.’
‘Sorry. I was babbling.’ She shook her head, slightly embarrassed. ‘I tend to do that when I’m extremely nervous but I tell you again, Jasper, I’m not an easy woman to figure out. I know my faults and I can be honest about them. I’ll probably also be honest about your faults, too. I tend to freeze people out in order to protect myself from pain and hurt. See? I’m not at all easy to understand.’
‘They don’t call you the ice queen for nothing,’ he stated with a smile. ‘And you may have temporarily forgotten it but I live with two very high-maintenance females and consider myself amply qualified to take on a third. As for work, I’m sure we’ll figure everything out. We have so far.’
‘True.’
‘We won’t flaunt this relationship but I won’t hide from it either. If the gossips find out, that’s fine by me.’ He felt her tense and cupped her face in his hands. ‘It’s OK, Jen. You can and will deal with it.’
‘What if I freak out again?’
‘Then I’ll enjoy calming you down. I know how to stop you babbling, remember?’ He pressed his mouth to hers and she sighed with longing.
‘Seriously, Jasper. I don’t like freaking out but I do. I know this about myself.’
‘If you freak out, then we’ll deal with it—together.’
CHAPTER NINE
DURING the next week, Jennifer felt like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs—especially when she was at work. Jasper had told her they wouldn’t flaunt their relationship, and they didn’t, but on the first day they had to attend meetings together and she was positive that everyone in the room could see that something was definitely going on between them. At one point she even called him Eddie, rather than Jasper, to try and show that they were still only just friends. It backfired big time.
