Page 45 of Djinn in Love

He hooked a finger beneath her chin and tilted her face up so he could look at her. “I don’t need another match. I found the one I wanted as soon as I walked in the door.”

God, he had to stop saying sweet things like that. Every time he did, Veronica felt hopeful that this time things would work out. That he wouldn’t ghost her the way other men had.

“Why did you get so tense?” he asked.

Veronica sighed. “I guess I’m waiting for the catch. I know it’s my issue. You’ve been nothing but honest and great. There’s no reason for me to automatically think the worst of the situation.” She shrugged. “I’m used to the men I date thinking I’m too much work.”

Jasper traced her hairline with his fingertips, his eyes moving over her face. He didn’t look angry. Or even frustrated. If anything, his expression was sad.

“You don’t feel like work to me. You’re exactly what I want.”

Veronica was beginning to believe him.

For the secondmorning in a row, Veronica woke up in Jasper’s arms. He was curled around her back, his knees pressed against the backs of her thighs. One arm acted as a pillow for her head and the other wrapped completely around her waist, his hand tucked between her body and the mattress.

He’d made love to her in the middle of the night, and she’d only had the energy to pull on her underwear before falling back into the bed. Though it was cool in the room, Jasper ran hotter than a normal human or even a typical supernatural. He put offenough heat to keep her toasty warm, even dressed in nothing but a skimpy pair of panties.

Veronica tried to slip from beneath his arm, but Jasper grunted and tightened his hold on her.

“Where you going?” he rumbled, his voice deep and rough from sleep.

“Bathroom.”

With another grunt, he released her, and Veronica snagged his t-shirt off the floor, tugging it over her head as she headed into the bathroom. She washed her face and brushed her teeth while she was in there. When she came out, he was drinking a cup of coffee and holding another for her. The cabin came equipped with a single-cup coffee maker and pods, as well as sugar and tiny liquid creamer containers.

Grateful he’d made her coffee, Veronica took the cup and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I ordered French toast, eggs, and bacon. The food should be delivered soon.”

“Sounds delicious. Thanks.” She sipped her coffee, humming in appreciation. He’d made it exactly as she liked it, with sugar and vanilla creamer.

“You don’t have to thank me.” He waited until she lowered her cup before he kissed her.

Veronica scrunched her nose at him when he pulled away and said, “I’ll thank you if I want to and you’ll take it.”

Chuckling, Jasper sidled past her into the bathroom. “If you insist.”

The food arrived before he came out, so Veronica accepted the brown paper bag and carried it into the kitchen. She liked that the food was delivered in containers rather than on porcelain plates or in glassware. It made it less likely that she would accidentally break something. She wasn’t usually clumsy,but she always worried she would mess things up when she stayed at hotels or at someone’s home.

The hotel must have spelled the containers to keep the food warm because it was still steaming when Jasper came into the kitchen and grabbed his plate. As they ate, Veronica asked him to go over the schedule for the day again.

“I’ll have to head to the main lodge in a couple of hours. The groomsmen and Milo are all having lunch with my dad and Prema’s dad. The ladies are doing the same thing with Mom and the bride’s mother. After that, I’m sure we’ll all be running herd on Milo to keep him away from Prema before the ceremony.”

“When does the ceremony start again?” she asked.

“Four p.m. It will end at five and the guests will have a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres while the wedding party takes photos. The reception is supposed to start at six, but knowing my mother and Prema’s mother, it will likely be six-fifteen or even six-thirty before we’re done. They’re going to want pictures of everything and everyone. Multiple pictures in case they don’t like the first, second, or third options they get.”

Veronica smiled. She hadn’t spent much time with his parents, but if his mother was anything like him, she could see the woman wanting everything to be as perfect as possible.

“What are you going to do while I’m gone all day?” he asked.

She grinned. “I booked a mani-pedi in town. I’ll probably have lunch while I’m there. Then, I think I’ll read for a while before I get ready.”

“I think I’d rather go with you,” Jasper grumbled.

Veronica laughed and waved him off. “You should enjoy your day with your family. Your brother is only going to get married once.”

“I hope so, because I’m not going through this rigamarole again.”

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