Page 60 of Jasper

Safer? What the hell?

“Jasper, you’re starting to scare me. You need to tell me what’s going on.”

“Are you hungry?” he asked instead of answering her.

“I…” Her stomach grumbled at the mention of food, embarrassing her. “Maybe.”

“I’ll call down and order room service. Go on in the bathroom and get cleaned up. It shouldn’t take them too long. Is there anything in particular you want?”

“Since I don’t know what they have, as long as it’s not shellfish, I’m good.”

“Allergic?”

“Severely.”

“Noted.” He pointed toward the bathroom. “Go on. Take a shower, and the food will be here when you’re done.”

He must not have stayed at many hotels. Food was never delivered on time unless you were in one of those overpriced rich people suites. From the look of this, it wasn’t one of those. It was your standard king-size room.

But the urge to pee hit as soon as he said the wordbathroom. She gently put the kitten down and scooted off the big bed and did the dancey-walk to the bathroom. It was a jig she did often at work.

Her bladder thanked her, and she grimaced as she peed. She stank. She smelled like she’d been running five miles and forgot to shower for a week. It was foul.

She did turn on the shower but went back out into the main room to find clothes. The kittens were sitting in Jasper’s lap while he was working on his laptop. He glanced up when she came out.

“Do I have clothes?”

He nodded toward the corner, and she saw two of her suitcases sitting tucked away behind the armchair. She recognized her camera case right away. He’d remembered to bring it. She was a little shocked.

“What?” he asked when she just stood here.

“You remembered my cameras.”

“Well, yeah. You did tell me they were how you earned your living and were worth thousands of dollars. I wasn’t going to leave them behind.”

“Thank you.” That small gesture meant more to her than anything Brad had ever done for her in the two years they’d been together. Not that he’d done a lot, but he’d never shown her such consideration, not even in the beginning.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Jasper offered her a smile when she moved toward the suitcases. She pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweater along with some underwear. She’d been mortified to discover she didn’t have on a bra or panties.

“If I was unconscious, how did you get me into the room? Weren’t the hotel staff alarmed?”

“I drove around to the side door. We’re on the second floor, and it was after midnight when we checked in. There wasn’t anyone around when I carried you in. There’re no security cameras in the elevators. It was easier than it should have been.”

Well. So much for hotel security.

The shower proved to be what she needed. Her muscles were stiff and sore, a testament to having slept for almost two days. She came back out of the bathroom feeling refreshed and ready to make Jasper tell her what was going on.

“I see the food isn’t here.” She plopped down on the bed beside him, and Patches immediately jumped to her lap.

Jasper scowled at the kitten. “Traitor.”

“She is not. She just thinks my lap is comfier.” Sloane shifted to face him. “Now, tell me what’s going on.”

Jasper did not want to tell her a damn thing. He’d never been more relieved than when she’d woken up. It scared him to his core to see her in that unconscious state and not be able to help her. He’d been in constant contact with Max, who was starting to worry about her too, though he tried to hide that. Jasper knew him too well, though. They’d grown up together, served together, and would probably die together in an old folks’ home harassing all the nurses.

The fact she didn’t remember shit testified to how deep her shock had run. He didn’t want a repeat, but she deserved to know the truth.

The knock on the door saved him from having to answer her right away. He stood and collected his gun from under the pillow. Ignoring her sharp intake of breath, he approached the door as quietly as a cat and looked out the peephole. A man wearing a staff uniform stood there. Jasper tucked the gun into the back waistband of his jeans but kept one hand on it when he opened the door.

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