Page 6 of Djinn in Love

“Okay,” Veronica countered. “Then, I don’t want to date a man who’s going out with me because I’m the only one available. I want a man who wants me for me, not someone desperate for a warm body to prop up beside him at a wedding.”

Dominique arched her brows. “Oh, so that’s why he didn’t take his eyes off you when he came in? Because he’s so desperate for a warm body to prop up beside him?”

“He was upset when he came in. I’m sure even you felt that.”

“Oh, yes, he was upset, but I don’t think it was because he didn’t have a date for the wedding. I think it was because the only woman he wants to take to said wedding was laughing and blushing with another man while he watched from the front window.”

Veronica gaped at her. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“You blushed when Torin winked at you. I didn’t realize it was Jasper at the time, but I saw someone standing at the frontwindow, looking in. Now that I’m looking back at the situation, I’m almost positive that was him. And that the sight of you flirting with another man upset him more than his lack of date for his brother’s wedding.”

A short bark of laughter escaped Veronica. “I wasn’t flirting with Torin! He’s living with someone. I was just happy for him!”

“I know, but he’s also extremely hot. Even my temperature rose a couple of degrees when he winked at you, and I have no romantic interest in him in the least.”

Veronica’s mouth open and closed several times. She had no idea how to respond to that.

“All I’m saying is that I think Jasper Bayat likes you. And that he wanted you to be his date rather than just viewing you as a faceless woman to drag around what’s surely to be a stressful family event.” With a smile, Dominique patted her arm. “Just try to be open to the idea that Jasper likes you. You might be surprised.”

With that, her boss disappeared into her office.

Veronica went back to her desk and sat down, but she had no idea what to do next.

Less than an hour later,Veronica got a text from Jasper, asking her to meet him for dinner at an Italian restaurant not far from her office.

Her first instinct was to say no, but she decided it was best to rip the band-aid off and tell him tonight that she was an empath. Plus, she really liked the restaurant he named, and she rarely went there because it was a little expensive and didn’t fit well into her budget.

Delicious pasta and limoncello cake would ease the sting of rejection after she explained what she was, so she would make an exception tonight.

After staring at the text for five minutes, Veronica finally texted him back.

Veronica: I’ll be there at six.

Jasper didn’t make her wait for his reply.

Jasper: I’ll be waiting.

Oh, how those words made her feel. To know that a man like Jasper would be waiting for her. To know that when she left work that night, she had somewhere to go and someone who wanted to see her.

It was what she’d dreamed of since she realized that her abilities meant she would never have a normal life or a normal relationship.

A short time later, she walked intoIntermezzo. The maître d’ greeted her with a smile.

“I’m meeting a friend,” Veronica said. “Jasper Bayat.”

“Of course. Mr. Bayat has arranged a private room. Please follow me.”

A private room? She didn’t even realizeIntermezzohad private rooms.

Veronica followed the maître d’ around the side of the dining area to a hallway. He turned into the second door on his left, holding it open for her.

She nodded to him as she walked through and almost tripped over her own feet when she saw Jasper seated at a table set with lit candles and delicate stemware.

He looked like her every romantic fantasy come to life.

Not because he was beautiful, though he certainly was. No, it was because he’d obviously gone to some effort for tonight. Reserving a private room. Candles. A bottle of white wine chilling in a bucket beside the table. The way he stood when she entered the room.

The maître d’ left them alone, but Veronica didn’t even notice.

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