Page 40 of Djinn in Love

Goosebumps broke out over her arms and legs as the low hum he let loose vibrated against her skin.

“Are you hungry?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

“Starving.”

“What do you want for dinner?”

His arms came around her, one wrapped around her shoulders and the other low on her back, just above her hips. “Are you on the menu? You smell good enough to eat.”

Veronica couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her because his lips moved against her throat as he spoke, and it tickled.

“I suppose that was a cheesy line,” Jasper admitted, releasing her, and leaning back against the headboard.

“Maybe just a little,” she agreed. “But your lips tickled when you were talking.”

His answering smile was warm and a little tired. “Honestly, I’d love some pasta.”

“That sounds good,” Veronica agreed. “There’re two different kinds on the menu. Wanna order both and share?”

“Sounds good.” Before she could get up, Jasper caught her with a hand around the back of her neck, pulling her in for a kiss. “Thanks for taking care of me.”

“Anytime.”

After Veronica tossed the alcohol pad in the bathroom trash, she picked up the phone in the kitchen and ordered their dinner. She also requested a bottle of wine, salad, and dessert. Just because they couldn’t go out for their date didn’t mean they couldn’t have a date in the cabin. She would pay for the room service meal before they checked out since she added so much food to it.

As with breakfast, the meal was delivered almost preternaturally fast. Veronica had no idea how the restaurant here at the resort was able to make and deliver the meals so quickly, but she wasn’t going to complain.

She carried the baskets containing their food and the bottle of wine into the bedroom and found that Jasper had gotten up and ditched the ice pack into the bathroom sink.

“You weren’t supposed to get up yet,” she said.

“My ankle is much better. It’ll be healed by the time we’re done eating and watching a movie. I promise.” He started to get up. “Let me help?—”

“I’ve got it,” she insisted, carrying everything over to the nightstand. “I ordered salad and wine, too. I’ll pay you back for that.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Jasper—”

“No, you won’t,” he repeated, his tone firm.

With a sigh, Veronica unpacked the food, pleased to see that there was a foil package containing garlic bread. Before she could talk him out of it, Jasper was on his feet, the bottle of wine in his hand.

“There’s a corkscrew in the kitchen. I’m going to open this and grab some glasses.”

Resigned, Veronica watched as he limped out of the bedroom. By the time he returned, she had the containers opened and sitting on the rolling tray she found in the closet.

He insisted that she pick the movie since he rarely had time to watch television or follow the releases. When she paused on a romcom that she’d been wanting to watch, he told her to go ahead and pick whatever. The trailer began playing automatically and he watched it while he sipped wine.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “It’s what most men would consider a chick flick.”

Jasper shrugged. “It looks funny. Let’s do it.”

They sat on the end of the bed and ate dinner off the tray while they watched the movie. When they were done with their food, they pushed the rolling tray to the side and scooted back on the bed, sitting side-by-side with their backs against the headboard. After a few minutes, Jasper shifted, putting an arm around her shoulders.

“This okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” she murmured, resting her head on his chest.

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