Page 20 of The Prices We Pay
It took me the entire five minutes he spent making my latte to set up a simple username and password. I couldn’t focus for more than ten seconds at a time, my eyes continuously straying to the way the muscles on his back flexed beneath his shirt as he worked.
I just know that what’s underneath those clothes is absolutely delicious.
Placing the mug down on the coffee table in front of the white sofa with a smile. Sitting on one of the plush cushions, he gently pats the one next to him. I eye him suspiciously. He chuckles lightly and nods toward the desk chair I’m currently sitting in. “Unless you wanted to sit on my lap at your desk.”
Yeah, I think I’d like that a lot.
Ignoring the sudden pressure between my legs, I gather my laptop and sit beside him on the sofa.Kicking one heel off, I tuck my foot under my opposite leg. His thigh presses against mine as he reaches forward to grab my latte off the table. “Swap you?”
As I take the delicious-smelling drink from his hand, he grabs the laptop from my lap. Goosebumps skate across my skin when his fingers dust the tops of my thighs. Trying to focus on anything else other than the way one simple graze made me feel, I take a sip of my vanilla latte. A satisfied moan spills from my lips as it hits my tongue, and I watch as Sebastian’s eyes snap to mine, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows harshly.
“Sorry.” I laugh, licking the foam from my top lip. His eyes trail the movement of my tongue. “That’s delicious.”
He clears his throat. “Told you. Competent.”
Sebastian refocuses back on my laptop, and I notice a slight feeling of disappointment that his eyes are no longer on me.
“You pick a username and password?” he asks.
“Yes. Username is Josephine0918.” His fingers move across the keyboard as he types in my name and the date of my birthday. “And thepassword is my brother’s name and birthday. Jasp—”
“Jasper0112,” he answers matter-of-factly, and my lips part in surprise. “Do I need any symbols?”
“Umm… yeah…” I draw out. “An exclamation mark at the end. Wait. How in the hell did you know that?”
He flashes me another smile, one that rivals Prince Charming himself. “Came in early this morning and did someresearch.” His emphasis on the word lets me know he found everything he needed to.
Shit.
“Josephine Elizabeth Jenkins. 26 years old. Born in Billings, Montana. Daughter of John and Sarah Jenkins. Mother deceased. Father’s sentenced to life in prison.” The mention of my parents causes my breath to still in my lungs, and even though I know he knows, I’m really hoping he doesn’t elaborate further on my parents. “One sibling, Jasper Wesley Jenkins. 24 years old. Professional bull rider. You attended one year at Palm University, where you eventually dropped out and got a job inMiami with Aldrich Real Estate. Quit after you got your customs brokerage license. After some research into Mr. Aldrich, I’m assuming you aren’t missing out on much anyway. Built up your portfolio in Florida until you moved up here, where you’ve lived for the last two years. No outstanding criminal charges against you or your brother. Doing well financially. No shady business with anyone nefarious. Missing small details here and there, but that about sums it up.”
I blink a few times, my mouth dry from it gaping open the entire time he was speaking.
“That only took me about ten minutes.” He shrugs as he grins proudly.
“Ten minutes?” I ask incredulously.
“Competent, Josephine. I’m more than just a pretty face.”
“Are you going to tell them about—”
“No. There’s a reason your and Jasper’s names were redacted from the case file. You were just children. You had nothing to do with it. Unless it becomes a problem, nobody else needs to know.”
“It won’t,” my answer is rushed. I don’t want to have to talk about this. I just want it behind me. It would sure be a hell of a lot easier if those letters didn’t keep showing up at my door, but Sebastian doesn’t need to know that. “It won’t be a problem.”
Sebastian reaches over and gives my thigh a reassuring squeeze. My eyes lock onto the sight of his tattooed hand resting on the soft ivory cashmere of my slacks. “I know, Joe.”
Our eyes lock for a moment, our stares suspended in time. I watch as his eyes widen slightly, as if he’s realizing something for the first time. But before I can ask what it is, he releases his hold on my leg and claps his hands together. “All right. Ready to pretend to be interested while I show you how to work these programs?”
I chuckle as I settle back in my spot, vanilla latte in hand. “So ready.”
9
Luca
“Congratulazioni, Papà.” I watch him through the screen on my phone. His smile is practically as wide as the ocean that separates us. “ Sono così felice per voi due.”
“Thank you, Son.” He switches to English as Emma sits on his lap and wraps her arm around his neck. She’s been working on her Italian, but she’s nowhere near fluent, and I know he wants her to be a part of this conversation.
