Page 95 of The Boyfriend Gamble

Jasper pursed his lips and squinted. “Yeah…sex…” He shook his head. “I would forgo sex if I had to consume brussels sprouts.”

“Well, I’ll never make you choose.”

“You’re a good man.” He grinned and sipped his coffee. “Oh nectar of the gods, I do love you.”

“You love frapuccinos as well.”

“A man can have more than one love. A frapp is a nice treat after badminton. Coffee is for when I need to stay awake.”

“Do you want to have a short nap? We can set the alarm. Or would that mess up your schedule?”

“We?”

My fork froze halfway to my mouth. “Well…”

“So you’ll spoon me? We can cuddle?”

What’s the right answer to that question?

Go with your gut.

“That sounds perfect to me.”

He grinned. “Yeah, me too.”

Twenty minutes later, we were curled under my duvet with him spooning me.

Chapter Eight

Jasper

Toofuckingwarm.Cozy…buttoo fucking hot.

I stuck a hand out from under the covers, seeking some kind of relief.

Surreptitiously, I tried to toe my socks off.

“What’s wrong?”

Cameron turned in my arms to gaze at me. “Are you okay? You haven’t been asleep long. Did you even get to sleep?”

“I’m too hot. You’re wearing a sweater. How are you not hot?”

“Well, I’m warm now. But I always feel cold. My hands are always freezing. You’ll notice I often wear layers.”

“And keep your house warm. Yes, I’d noticed that.”

“Not good for the electric bill, but I can only do so much with layers.” He smiled. “My dad says it’s my southern roots.”

I cocked my head.

“He was from Louisiana before he came north to dodge the Vietnam draft. President Carter pardoned him, but he’d made a life for himself in Canada. He took instructions on how to lessen his accent. He wanted to fit in. Eventually, when he was older, he met my mother. They had me.”

“And now?”

“He’s in a retirement community, and she passed, gosh, a long time ago. I barely remember her. He was a good father. Is a good father. And I owe him a visit.”

“You could probably go this afternoon. The roads are mostly clear.”

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