Page 1 of Djinn in Love

CHAPTER ONE

This wasn’t working.

Jasper Bayat sighed as he walked his date out of the restaurant, his hand resting lightly on her lower back.

This was his third date in a week. Gillian was a lovely woman. Intelligent. Articulate. Cultured.

On paper, she was exactly what he said he wanted in a woman. Exactly what he said he wanted when he signed up for Mystical Matchmakers.

In reality…she bored him. Not only that, but she seemed to tense up any time he raised his voice above a murmur. Or frowned, even if it wasn’t at her.

Based on her demeanor, their date wasn’t what she expected either.

When they stopped next to her white Mercedes, Gillian squared her shoulders and faced him, obviously gearing up to let him down easy.

Jasper was tempted to beat her to the punch because he didn’t want to waste any more time listening to her try to find the words to let him know that she didn’t want to see him again.

To his utter surprise, Gillian said, “You’re a smart, handsome man, Jasper, but I don’t think we need to bother with a second date.”

He blinked at her. All night, she’d been so careful in choosing her words when she spoke that her sudden bluntness was a bit of a shock.

Once the surprise faded, he smiled. “You didn’t seem to be enjoying yourself all that much. I’m sorry I wasn’t better company.”

Gillian cocked her head, studying him. “I think you would have been excellent company if you weren’t distracted by whatever it is you were thinking about all night.”

His smile faded. “I wasn’t distracted.”

It was Gillian’s turn to grin up at him. “I’ve dated enough to know when a man has one hundred percent of his focus on me, Jasper. It was clear that you didn’t. And that’s okay. As I said, you’re very smart, so I enjoyed our conversation, but I think we can both agree that we lack chemistry.”

He fought the urge to scowl and shoved his hands in his pockets. Dammit, the woman was right. He had been distracted. And they did lack chemistry. He noticed that she was beautiful, but he wasn’t attracted to her.

Finally, he relaxed and chuckled. “As I said, I’m sorry I wasn’t better company. At least the food was delicious.”

Gillian’s smile grew. “That it was. Thank you for dinner.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. “And good luck finding your match.”

With that, she climbed into her Mercedes and drove away.

Jasper walked over to his SUV, folding his long frame into the driver’s seat. As he started the car, his mind wandered to the subject that had been distracting him tonight.

Veronica Salt.

In the five weeks he’d been a member of Mystical Matchmakers, he’d spoken to her at least twice a week, sometimes more. Each time, it only cemented in his mind what he’d thought the day he met her.

She should have been his match. Not his matchmaker.

Two months ago, his mother insisted that he have a date for his brother’s wedding. She offered to set him up with the daughter of a friend, which he turned down immediately and with vigor. For some insane reason, his mother thought that he needed a woman like her in his life. Someone outspoken, bossy, and independent.

While he admired all those qualities in his mother, he didn’t want them in his romantic partner. Mostly because he was outspoken, bossy, and independent, so dating a woman just like him would only lead to arguments and him pulling out all his hair.

No, he needed someone who calmed the constant chaos in his head and cooled the fire of his temper. A woman who could stand up for herself, but whose strength was quiet rather than bold.

Until he’d walked into Mystical Matchmakers, Jasper had never met a woman like that. Not until he shook Veronica’s hand.

Instantly, the eternal ticking of his thoughts slowed and his always simmering internal fire calmed. The inside of his head fell silent. He realized the feeling was true peace.

Every time he talked to her, the same thing happened.

But when he’d asked her if she ever dated the clients, she shook her head and said that clients were off-limits. Especially clients that she was working with personally.

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