Page 88 of Jasper

“Hey…” He gave her the side-eye while he pulled the tiny tree out of the Target shopping bag and set it on her bedside table. “I still have a couple of months off from work, and since you don’t have a job anymore, I thought maybe we could go back to the farm. We could spend some time getting to know each other better. Explore this thing between us and…”

“And you’re rambling again, soldier.”

“I don’t ramble.”

“You do.” She smiled despite the pain in her belly. It had been hurting since the kiss.

“Fine, I’ll admit to rambling because I’m nervous. I care about you, Sloane, and I think this can go somewhere if we give it some time.”

“Conner told me if I found love, I should grab it and hold on tight. That it could be gone in an instant if I didn’t.”

His eyes widened. “Are you saying you love me?”

“I’m saying I don’t know. Maybe. Is it too soon?”

“Fuck if I know, pretty girl, but I think I really fucking love you.” He groaned. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud. It’s too soon, I know, and…”

“I think I might love you too, my rambling soldier. I’d like to find out if this is what love feels like, though. So, I say when you spring me from the hospital, we go back to the farm and see where things go from there.”

Jasper smiled, and it lit up the entire room. “We can do that, sweetheart. That, we can do.”

For the first time in a long time, Sloane didn’t feel so alone, and that had everything to do with the man standing in front of her.

She’d be a fool not to grab him and hold on for dear life.

And that was exactly what she did.

Christmas Eve

One Year Later

Jasper looked around and decided everything was perfect. The lights were off so only the Christmas lights were shining in the room, twinkling at him from their perches in the tree and among all the other Christmas shit she had thrown all over the apartment. He’d cooked dinner and put it in the oven to keep warm because he had plans that didn’t involve food until later…much, much later.

He glanced at his watch. She’d texted that she’d be late because she had a surprise for him. He hoped it was in the form of that sexy blue lace lingerie set they’d seen while Christmas shopping yesterday.

All he had to do now was wait.

An hour went by, and he started to worry, so he texted her to see where the hell she was. Sloane knew he acted like a bear with an acorn shoved up its ass when she was late. He would never forget the threat to her life, no matter how much Conner assured him she was safe. Some fears weren’t so easy to get away from.

He heard the key in the lock just as he was reaching for his phone. Jumping up, he got into position.

***

Sloane parked her car and got out, helping her cousin get his bags out of the trunk. Jarrod had called her a few hours ago to let her know he was coming home. Not just home for Christmas, but home for good. He’d finally decided enough was enough and had taken an honorable discharge.

He looked tired, but he’d been overseas for nearly two years. He had a right to look tired. Dark blond hair was buzzed short, but it only made his sea-green eyes stand out more. He was taller than she remembered. Not as tall as Jasper, but taller than she was. Her cousin was a cutie pie, and he was going to be back to breaking hearts in no time.

He was also a lot quieter than he usually was and wouldn’t say a word about his last assignment. She figured it had to be bad. Jarrod looked haunted. At least he was home now, and that might help remove some of the shadows from his eyes.

“Thanks for taking me in, Lo-lo.”

“I wasn’t going to send you back to the farm all by yourself. It’s Christmas Eve. Besides, Jasper is going to be thrilled you’re home.”

“He told me his firm might be hiring.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “I’ve been thinking of selling the farm for a while now. Mom isn’t there, and it’s a huge expense. I can find a facility here in New York for her, and that means I won’t be so far away from you anymore. I missed having family around.”

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