Page 31 of Djinn in Love

“Do you have a wrap or jacket?” he asked. “It’s chilly outside.”

She smiled at him. “I do.”

After she grabbed the pashmina she brought, Jasper drove them to the main lodge and parked the golf cart in the special spots for them by the entrance. The lobby was strangely empty as they walked inside with only two lodge employees standing behind the antique counter where Jasper checked them in.

But it soon became clear where everyone was when Jasper led her down a hall to their left. The low strains of jazz music drifted out of the open double doors at the end of the hall. Veronica could hear the hum of conversation as they drew closer.

“I’ll stick close to you,” Jasper murmured as they approached the doors. “Introduce you to everyone.”

“You don’t have a creepy uncle, or anything do you?” Veronica asked, only half joking.

“None of them are creepy but they are all annoying.”

She couldn’t hold back the giggle that erupted from her mouth at his words. Before she could ask him to remind her how many uncles he did have (he’d told her, but she couldn’t remember), they were inside.

The room had been transformed into a romantic lounge. Floral arrangements of varying sizes were placed all over the room and in the center of the tall round tables scattered around. Despite the variety of species, each flower was a shade of red ranging from bright crimson to a deep burgundy. Flameless candles flickered in small votives on every flat surface. There were two bartenders behind the heavy, ornate bar, both busy mixing drinks. Three waitresses worked the room, carryingdrinks to people at the tables. In each corner of the lounge, there was a table full of finger foods.

While the space wasn’t packed with people, it was crowded enough to make Veronica hesitate. There were so many emotions and ideas flying around. Though she couldn’t usually read individual thoughts, she could sense it when someone was thinking intently.

Taking a deep breath, Veronica fortified her mental shields, building them to a thickness that pushed out all the emotional static that a large group of people tended to give off.

“Let me find Milo and Prema and I’ll introduce you,” Jasper said.

As he looked around, Veronica spotted his mother standing in the center of the room, her arm threaded through the arm of the man standing next to her. He could only be Jasper’s father, considering he looked exactly like him, just a little older.

As soon as Leila saw her, a wide smile broke out across her face. She turned back to the couple she’d been talking to, her mouth moving quickly, and then tugged her husband away a few moments later. The woman was bearing down on them, all but frog-marching her husband in their direction.

“Um, Jasper—” Veronica murmured.

Before she could figure out how to tell him that his mother was all but sprinting toward them, he saw her as well. Despite the background noise, Veronica heard his put-out sigh.

Leila Bayat stopped just in front of them, that same wide grin still pulling at her mouth and her dark grey eyes shining. Veronica could feel the happiness wafting from the older woman. And the excitement.

Suddenly, her nerves lessened because it was clear that Jasper’s mom was very excited about her youngest son getting married. It was difficult to be nervous when someone was all but beaming at you with sheer joy.

“Veronica, you look so lovely,” Leila said, releasing her husband long enough to grasp Veronica’s shoulders and pull her in to kiss her cheeks. When she released her, Jasper’s mother gestured to the man standing beside her. “This is my husband, Cyrus.”

Blinking in shock at the warmth of Leila’s welcome, Veronica turned toward the handsome older man and held out her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Bayat,” she said.

Cyrus smiled at her, gently cradling her fingers with his as he lifted the back of her hand to his lips for an old-fashioned kiss. The move surprised a laugh out of her, especially when he threw in a wink.

“Call me Cyrus, please,” he insisted. “If you’re putting up with my son for the weekend, we’re certainly on a first name basis.”

Another laugh escaped her as Jasper scoffed at his father’s antics. She almost jerked when his arm slipped around her waist, tucking her against his side, and his hand rested on her hip.

Though he clearly wanted to remonstrate his father, all he said was, “Dad.”

Cyrus smirked at his son. “You were right, Jas. She’s way out of your league.”

Veronica opened her mouth to speak, unsure of what in the heck she could say to that, but Jasper merely shook his head at his father.

“Stop flirting with my girl, Dad,” he said. “Now, where are the bride and groom? I wanted to introduce Veronica to Prema.”

Her nerves had faded during the brief conversation with Jasper’s parents, but they returned full throttle at the mention of his brother and his soon-to-be sister-in-law.

“I think they snuck out to neck in the coat closet,” Cyrus answered, twisting his head to peer around the room. “I know that’s what I’d be doing if your mother wasn’t such a spoilsport.”

Leila whirled on her husband, already chastising him. Jasper didn’t bother to intervene, just guided Veronica away from his bickering parents.

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