Page 1 of Four Fiances & I

ChapterOne

JASMINE

“Please tell me this is the last one,” Layton whines beside me as we make our way down the busy high street. “Why couldn’t you have brought your fiancé, who loves to shop? That would have made more sense than making me deal with all these people. I hate people.”

Count to ten, Jaz. Daddy and Terry will not be happy if you stab your security.

“Because I’m shoppingforJason, so he couldn’t come,” I point out, rolling my eyes. “And yes, this is the last one, so stop sulking. Otherwise, I will tell Daddy you threatened to shoot me.” I warn, but looking at Layton, I know he’s not threatened.

“He would ask what you did to annoy me,” he points out. “They are all surprised I haven’t done it yet.”

I open my mouth to argue with him, but as I turn to do so, I see the way his eyebrows have disappeared under his hairline, daring me to try and prove him wrong.

“Yeah, fine. I’ll give you that one,” I sigh, shaking my head. “Why don’t you put the bags in the car, and I’ll meet you there. I will only be in here for ten minutes.”

“Yeah, like that’s going to happen,” he laughs, shaking his head.

“I won't tell anyone you left me. It will be our secret.”

“Please, you can't hold your own piss when it comes to the O’Reilly’s. Do you really believe you won’t let it slip that I left you unsupervised?”

“I’m not that bad!” I argue, turning back towards the jewellers I have an appointment with. I notice the security signs and smile. “See, you can watch me go in and leave. I will be perfectly safe.” I turn back to Layton and can tell he’s assessing the situation.

Honestly, he’s not the only one fed up, but I have to get the last Christmas gifts today, or I risk not having anything for the guys. Performances only finished yesterday, and with everything that’s been happening with Verity, who is still hiding with her men, I am stupidly behind. It doesn’t help that the constant worry of them being found has left me exhausted, thanks to being unable to sleep properly. I’m terrified she will be forced to marry the prick like her arsehole of a father has arranged behind her back. Thinking about it makes me so angry that I force myself to concentrate on everything around me.

Turning to Layton, I see him eyeing the multi-storey car park before us. The car is on the third level, and would only take a few minutes to get to it. If it weren’t for the fact that I still need to find Christian a Christmas present, I would be demanding Layton take me home.

“Come on,” he sighs, reluctantly walking to the door of the jewellers. He knocks on the door, and a gentleman in a suit appears.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Yes, under the name O’Reilly,” Layton explains. The gentleman's eyes widen when he recognises, and his whole persona changes.

“Of course, Mr O’Reilly, please do come in.”

“I’m their security team, she…” Layton nods at me, “Is their fiancée. You are to treat her with the same respect as you would them. Is that understood?”

“Yes, of course, sorry.” The gentleman smiles nervously as I watch him tremble slightly before turning his attention to me. “Congratulations on your engagement, Miss …”

“Connors. Thank you for seeing me at such short notice, Mr …”

“Cooper, but please call me Trent.”

“Mr Cooper is fine,” Layton warns. He can sometimes be a little overprotective, even more so when he is tense, tired, hungry, or all of the above.

“Layton,” I say through gritted teeth whilst trying to force a smile. “Why don’t you sit outside while I get what I need from here? You will be able to see the door and will be only a call away should I need you.”

Layton stares at me momentarily before looking down at the bags, which I know must be hurting his hands. I offered to carry them myself, but he went all macho man on me and told me I was being ridiculous.

“Fine,” he sighs, walking towards the door. Mr Cooper quickly steps around and opens it for him. “I’m going to drop these bags off at the car and come straight back. Do not leave this shop until you see I’m out there,” Layton snaps at me before rushing towards the car park.

“Feel free to grab me a coffee on the way back,” I call out while giving him a little wave. I can see him muttering under his breath, no doubt calling me every name under the sun. I smile, stepping back as Mr Cooper closes the door behind him and turns to me nervously.

“Let’s try this again without the hangry guard,” I say with a relaxed smile. “Hello, Mr Cooper, I’m Jasmine Connors, but please call me Jasmine.” Holding out my hand. His body visibly relaxes before he reaches out and shakes my hand.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Jasmine. Please, call me Trent.”

“Thank you, Trent,” I reply happily before turning my attention to the display cabinets around me. “The O’Reillys all speak very highly of you and the quality of your products.” I spot Trent’s chest expanding at the praise. “I know you know their style, so I need to find something special to gift Christian for Christmas. I also need something for each of the brothers as wedding gifts. The wedding is in just over a month, so I want to order them now. Do you have anything unique that can be personalised?”

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