Page 20 of Djinn in Love

“I will,” she murmured.

He smiled at her before he leaned closer and kissed her cheek again. This time his mouth brushed the edge of her lips. Veronica bit back a moan and locked her hands around the arms of her chair to control the full-body shudder that threatened to move through her.

“Bye, Veronica.”

Oh, no. She had to speak. Her throat was so tight that she wasn’t sure she could. She cleared her throat. “Thank you for lunch. It was delicious.” Veronica pushed herself to her feet. “I’ll walk you out.”

“No, you stay and finish your food. I’ll call you later if I get out of the office early enough. With my brother out of the office all week, I’m doing his work and mine, so I may not have time.”

She started to argue, but he was already moving out the door of the conference room and heading to the front of the office. Veronica watched as he strode out of Mystical Matchmakers and let the door swing shut behind him.

She was more confused now than she had been earlier. And she hadn’t been able to ask him about what was happening between them.

Maybe it was for the best. It had been so long since she’d truly been attracted to anyone that Veronica wasn’t sure that she was seeing Jasper’s behavior in the proper light.

She would pretend to be his girlfriend this weekend. If he seemed interested in more, she would ask after the wedding.

It would be better that way.

CHAPTER SIX

Jasper was looking forwardto having Veronica all to himself this weekend.

Well, not completely to himself.

They would be around his family, but neither of them would have to work and there would be down time between all the parties, gatherings, and events. She would be with him constantly for four days.

Any other woman, and he would be preparing himself to have her constantly underfoot. He would be plotting ways to spend time alone. There were very few women he could tolerate for prolonged periods of time. But with Veronica…he wanted to be around her as much as possible.

She’d been quiet when he picked her up from her apartment, other than apologizing for having two suitcases. She laughed when he told her his mother would have twice that amount.

When they stopped for lunch, the smile on her face was bright and surprised. The restaurant he’d chosen was in a little cottage and the entire place was Alice in Wonderland-themed, from the décor to the menu. He would never have gone if she wasn’t with him, but he would do it again and again if it put the sparkle of delight in her eyes and the wide smile on her face.

Some of her reserve dropped away. Veronica chatted with him, chuckling over the names of the cocktails and dishes on the menu. When he tried to order her a Rabbit Hole cocktail, her laughter and playful shove to his arm were the most unrestrained she’d ever been with him. Instead, she’d ordered a glass of the Queen of Hearts sangria, saying she couldn’t resist when she saw sangria listed on any drink menu.

Jasper filed that piece of information away in his mind, just like he had when she told him that she liked Thai food and romance novels. He understood now why his father did things like that for his mother. And how much she seemed to appreciate them.

After lunch, she was a bit more relaxed, and they talked more the last hour of the drive. He warned her about his Aunt Samira. He explained that she had good intentions, but she was also determined to see all the children in the family married off now that most of them were grown. His cousin, Mina, was Samira’s daughter and she always aided and abetted her mother in these endeavors because she didn’t want her mother to start in on her.

He also gave her more details about Milo and his fiancée, Prema. He wanted her to feel comfortable and prepared when she met everyone. Based on his interactions with Veronica, Jasper sensed that she was Type A in terms of her personality. She wanted a plan when going into any situation, whether social or professional. He was doing his best to give her the information she would need to create one.

When they took the exit for the resort, Veronica began to fidget, twisting her fingers together as she stared out the window. Jasper reached over, resting his hand over hers.

“The only people at the hotel right now are my parents, Prema’s parents and sister, and my brother. You won’t have to deal with a big crowd just yet.”

She threw him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” he commanded. Throwing a quick glance toward her, he said, “Just promise me you won’t run away tonight.”

A startled laugh burst out of her. “What? Why would I run away?”

He slowed the vehicle, turning next to the sign for Devil’s Playground. “After you deal with my family this afternoon and evening, you’ll be tempted.”

Veronica shook her head. “If they’re anything like you, they can’t be that bad.”

Jasper shrugged. “Okay, then, promise me that if you’re going to leave, you’ll take me with you. Because they are that bad. I’m just the best of them.”

She giggled again, the sound filling his vehicle. He squeezed her hand with his before he released her and parked the car in front of the main lodge.

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