Page 13 of Breakaway

“Are you the oldest?”

“No. My brother Tag is older. Matt and Logan are both younger.”

“That’s cool. Must have been a busy house with four boys.” She eyed him. “Are they all as big as you?”

“Bigger.” He grinned.

“That’s not possible.”

“Well, Matt is about the same size as me. I might have a few pounds on him yet.”

She was intensely curious about the woman who’d given birth to four boys as big as Jase and how she’d raised them, but that was way more personal than they needed to get, so she shut off that train of thought.

The taxi pulled up in front of her two-story Victorian style house, and Jase reached for his wallet to pay. Remi started to protest, but he waved a hand and gave the driver some bills, including enough for a generous tip.

She led the way in her front door, flicked on a light and looked around at her home, wondering how it looked to Jase. She lived a simple life. Although Jasmine had been working at a full-time jobfor several months now and money was easier, there hadn’t been a lot left for luxuries from Remi’s teacher’s salary over the years. But Jase bought drinks and handed out money easily, wore clothes that were clearly expensive and the watch she’d noticed on his wrist was a stainless steel Baume & Mercier. She didn’t know what he did, but he obviously had money.

“This is nice.” He surveyed the living room. The house was old, but Remi loved it, loved the character in the big baseboards, the mullioned windows, the original brick fireplace and hardwood floors. “It reminds me of my parents’ home in Winnipeg.”

“Winnipeg? That’s where you’re from?”

“Yeah.” He slid his coat off and she stepped toward him to take it and hang it up. Nerves tightened and twisted inside her. She’d never done this—never brought a man home like this. She and Darryl had dated for months before they’d had sex and then it had to be quick and planned so as to avoid Kyle and Jasmine. What were the rules? Were there rules? Should she offer him a drink?

“Would you like a drink?” she inquired after hanging his coat in the closet. She stroked a hand down the sleeve of the exquisitely soft black wool fabric before closing the closet door.

“Your coat?”

“Hmm?” She stared at him.

“Are you going to take your coat off?”

She looked down at herself. “Oh!” Her cheeks heated and she gave a lopsided smile. “Yes, of course.” She quickly removed the pretty new coat that she shouldn’t have spent so much money on and hung it in the closet next to his.

“C’mere.” He held out a hand and she hesitated, then walked toward him and took it. “You’re nervous.”

“No, I’m not.”

He laughed softly and pulled her closer, his hands on her hips. She trembled.

“It’s okay. Let’s have a drink, sit down and talk some more.”

“Okay. I have beer or wine…or champagne.”

“Champagne?” He lifted a brow.

She moved away from his touch toward the kitchen. “Delise brought it over earlier. To celebrate.” She shook her head, smiling.

“Well, we should finish it.” Jase followed her. “That stuff doesn’t keep.”

“Okay.” She found two clean champagne flutes and poured the bubbly wine into them.

He touched the edge of his glass to hers before lifting it to his lips. “To Remi. All on her own now. Ready to have fun.”

She inhaled. Exhaled. Sipped her fizzy wine. Jase took her hand and led her back to the living room. They sat down on the slip-covered couch.

“Tell me about Winnipeg.”

He grinned. “Do you even know where it is?”

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