Djinn in Love (Mystical Matchmakers #4)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Veronica tried to ignore her phone when it dinged, but she couldn’t. Not when there was so much going on at the office today and Dominique was out for meetings with clients until after lunch. Her boss needed to hire someone else and soon. They were so swamped with work that they could barely keep up.

With a sigh, she made sure to save the progress she’d been making on the spreadsheet before she picked up her phone from the desk. A message from Jasper waited for her.

Jasper: I want to see you tonight. Are you free?

Veronica couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her mouth. She enjoyed her dinner with Jasper last night and, once she got home and was no longer overwhelmed by his presence, she realized that he had enjoyed it as well. Even though he’d tried to erect a mental shield, a few of his emotions had leaked through. At the time, she’d been too nervous to truly let it sink in, but in the dark peace of her bedroom she finally took the time to process what she’d felt from him.

Still, she didn’t want to get her hopes up. Jasper made it clear that he was only interested in a date for his brother’s wedding. And past experience told her that very few men could handle her abilities over a longer period of time.

As she stared at his question, disappointment overwhelmed the fragile hope. Though she wanted to see him tonight, there was no way she could manage it. She had a late intake interview scheduled at six and that wouldn’t be done until at least seven, maybe seven-thirty if the client needed a little more handholding.

With a sigh, Veronica replied to his text.

Veronica: I would love to, but I have to work late.

Three dots immediately appeared at the bottom of the text string, as though he’d been waiting by the phone for her reply. Nerves shimmered in her belly. God, this felt too real.

Jasper: Lunch tomorrow? I have an appt close to your office in the early afternoon.

I can do lunch. 1 p.m. work?

The three dots reappeared again, but Veronica was distracted by the door to the office opening. She frowned as she glanced at the clock. Her next appointment wasn’t for a couple of hours.

But it wasn’t a client. It was delivery. The woman smiled at her as she carried a beautiful flower arrangement up to her desk.

“Veronica Salt?” she asked.

“That’s me.”

The woman held out the flowers, but Veronica stared at them blankly until she spoke again, “These are for you, hon.”

“Oh!” Veronica got to her feet and took the bouquet from the woman. “Wow. These are lovely.”

“They are. The gentleman who ordered them put a lot of thought into’em,” the woman agreed with a wink. She whipped a small tablet out of one pocket and a stylus out of the other. “If you’ll just sign here.”

Veronica set the vase on the corner of her desk and signed her name on the line the woman indicated, wondering what the woman meant about the thought behind the bouquet.

“Thank you,” she murmured as the woman marched out of the office.

Veronica didn’t look up as the door shut, leaving her alone again. That giddy feeling was back in her belly, only this time it was stronger. She noticed the card nestled between a tulip and dahlia. With gentle fingers, she plucked it free and opened it.

I enjoyed your company last night.

Looking forward to this weekend.

~ Jasper

The bubbly nerves in her belly burst and swelled into her chest. She fanned her suddenly warm face with the card. Jasper wasn’t behaving as she expected. Based on his words yesterday, she assumed that they would meet once or twice to get their story straight before the wedding and he would treat her more as an employee or acquaintance than a date.

But this was a gesture a man made when he liked a woman. No, when he was courting a woman.

Her phone chimed and vibrated against her desk, distracting her from her racing thoughts.

Veronica moved the flowers to the opposite corner of her desk so she could see them even when she was working on her computer and sat down. She didn’t take the time to read Jasper’s text. She was too focused on figuring out how to word her thanks without seeming too…desperate? Emotional? She had no idea what to call the feeling swelling inside her, only that she’d never experienced it before.

Which was frightening in and of itself because Veronica thought she’d been through the entire spectrum of emotions, either through her own heart or vicariously through those around her.

After typing and deleting her message at least five times, Veronica settled on something appropriately gracious but hopefully not too effusive.

Veronica: Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful.

She didn’t add that she was looking forward to the weekend too because it would have been a white lie. While she was looking forward to spending more time with Jasper, she wasn’t happy about the mental chaos that accompanied events that drew large crowds. Especially if Jasper’s family was anything like him.

If his relatives broadcast their emotions as intensely as Jasper, Veronica wasn’t sure how she would make it through the four days of wedding festivities in one piece. Or with her sanity intact.

Once again, his reply was immediate.

Jasper: You’re welcome. I have a meeting, but we’ll talk tonight and decide where to eat tomorrow.

Veronica: Ok.

As she set her phone to the side, Veronica glanced at the flowers on her desk one more time. Their fragrance was light and delicate, and the pastel petals blended in a gentle rainbow.

She wondered again what the woman meant when she said that Jasper had put a lot of thought into them. Had he chosen exactly what flowers were in this bouquet? Or just the color scheme? Or was the woman just saying that because it sounded good?

Shaking her head, Veronica shoved that last thought out of her head. In her experiences with Jasper over the past few weeks, one thing had been very clear—he was honest to a fault. Even if it was to his own detriment.

There was no way he would have asked this woman to lie and make him look better. It wasn’t in his nature and Veronica didn’t need her empathic abilities to understand that. She only had to recall every interaction they’d had thus far.

With a quiet sigh, she pushed her circling thoughts about Jasper to the side. Right now, she had a great deal of work to do and very little time to accomplish it.

Several hours later, Veronica was just finishing up the intake interview with a new client. The woman in question was a siren named Selene. Her magic and the effect her voice had on any man nearby presented a few challenges, but Veronica was confident that they could work together to get past them. Maybe by starting off with text messages or emails. And then moving to phone calls.

A siren’s magic wouldn’t work as well on someone who cared about them. Or someone they cared about as well. By establishing a connection before she spoke to them over the phone or saw them in person, maybe they could mitigate any potential issues that might arise from Selene’s power.

That was the sad fact about supernaturals like Selene. And Veronica. Their magic attracted people to them, but usually not for the right reasons. Men, and women, often wanted to abuse Veronica’s power, using it for their own personal gain.

And Selene could never know if the men she spoke with in passing were truly attracted to her—her personality, her heart, and her mind. Or if they were drawn to her because of the pull of her voice and the beauty her magic had granted her.

Veronica walked Selene out of the conference room where she’d conducted the intake interview. Veronica was explaining the next steps in the intake process when the door to the office opened. They both looked up, startled by the sound.

A young man walked in with a white food container wrapped in a plastic bag in his hands. He grinned when he saw them and came deeper into the office. His eyes widened when he got a load of Selene, his gaze locked on her as he walked closer.

“Veronica Salt?” he asked Selene.

She took a step, shaking her head.

Somehow, the young man tore his gaze away from her and looked at Veronica. “You Veronica Salt?”

“Yes. How can I help you?”

He came close enough to hold out the container. “Delivery from Thai House for you.”

Blinking, Veronica found herself automatically taking the plastic wrapped container. “But I didn’t order anything.”

The boy pulled the receipt off the bag. “Let’s see. Name on the credit card is Jasper Bay…Bay…”

“Bayat?” Veronica asked.

“Yeah. Jasper Bayat. Know him?”

Veronica bit her lip and nodded. The guy was already heading back toward the door before she was able to speak again.

“Wait. Let me get you a tip!” she said.

Without turning around, he waved a hand. “Already taken care of.”

When the door shut behind him, Selene asked, “Who’s Jasper?”

Veronica carried the container to her desk and set it down. She wasn’t sure how to answer the question. She couldn’t say he was a client. That would sound unprofessional. She also couldn’t say her boyfriend because they’d only been on one date.

Selene smiled down at her. She was a tall, willowy blonde who looked like a supermodel. She also wore high heels that meant she towered over Veronica. “Is he your boyfriend?”

Veronica managed to smile back. “Not really. We just started…uh…dating,” she murmured.

“Well, he must like you a lot if he’s sending you dinner.”

Veronica’s smile no longer felt forced. “He wanted to take me to dinner, but I couldn’t meet him tonight.”

“So, he sent you dinner instead,” Selene continued.

Veronica answered with a nod.

Selene’s smile grew wider. “Like I said, he must like you a lot.” Her eyes moved to Veronica’s desk, snagging on the flowers. “Did he send you those?”

Heat worked its way up from Veronica’s neck to her cheeks. “Yes. Earlier this afternoon.”

“Definitely likes you,” Selene repeated.

Veronica put her hands over her cheeks. Her fingers felt cool against her burning face.

As though she sensed Veronica’s discomfort, Selene changed the subject. “Speaking of dinner, I’m starving. I’m going to head out.”

“Oh, you don’t have to,” Veronica started. “I’m sure you have questions or things you’d like to discuss.”

“I literally can’t think of any questions right now because my stomach is growling so loudly. You said you would be calling me next week with a game plan, so I’ll write down any concerns I have, and we can address them then.”

“Really, it’s no trouble?—”

Selene shook her head. “It’s fine, Ms. Salt. It’s nearly seven-thirty. We’ll talk next week.”

With that, Selene turned on an elegant heel and swayed to the door. Her strides were long and graceful, and her footsteps were nearly soundless.

As the door shut behind her, Veronica realized that Selene was exactly the kind of woman she would have paired with Jasper. The thought pierced her, sharp and cold, like a needle in her flesh. Her hands trembled as she moved around her desk to sit in her chair.

In her mind’s eye, she could almost see the two of them together. In her heels, Selene would be nearly eye level with Jasper, her slender figure and gleaming blonde hair the perfect foil for his dark, intense good looks. The image was so clear and focused, like a photograph. It made her stomach ache. Especially when she thought about Jasper moving on after this weekend and asking for more matches.

The tremor in her hands moved to her arms and legs, causing the chair to creak. Dear God, if he wanted to continue on as a client, would he expect her to provide him with matches?

They weren’t even truly dating, and it was already painful to think about setting him up with another woman.

Veronica took a deep breath. No, she couldn’t think like this. They weren’t dating. She couldn’t let herself get attached to him. No matter what kind of generous gestures Jasper threw her way. She had to stay aloof, distant, in order to protect herself.

It had been so long since a man seemed to care about her. About whether she ate dinner. Or sending her flowers to share that he was thinking of her.

Well, the flowers hadn’t happened before, but there had been times her previous boyfriend had texted her or called her just to talk because he said he missed her. That sort of behavior ended shortly after their relationship became more serious and he realized how much her empathic abilities affected her life.

It wasn’t much longer before he broke things off with her.

Veronica had to stop thinking of Jasper as the man she was dating and remember that he was a client. Otherwise, she would get hurt.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. She held the air in her lungs until her chest grew tight and then released it in a slow, steady stream. Then, she repeated the process again. And again.

After the third breath, her emotions were much calmer. She picked up her phone and texted Jasper.

Veronica: Thank you for dinner. I enjoy this restaurant a lot. I didn’t even know they delivered.

Unlike this morning, his reply wasn’t immediate. She was already unwrapping the plastic bag from the food container when her phone chimed.

Jasper: You’re welcome. And you should look into this app called DoorDash. It’s quite handy.

Veronica snorted as she chuckled. His dry, sarcastic sense of humor came through in his text message clearly. She could almost imagine the smirk on his face as he typed the words.

Veronica: I’ll keep that in mind for the next time I’m working late.

The three dots appeared beneath her message and then disappeared. Then, they reappeared. This happened several times before Jasper’s text finally came through.

Jasper: Enjoy your yellow curry. I’ll call you around nine, if that’s okay.

Veronica’s first reaction was a resounding yes, but then she hesitated. They had only been talking for two days, yet she was already getting attached. What would happen after his brother’s wedding was over and he expected her to find matches for him? Or worse, she never heard from him again?

Before she could work through her thoughts and figure out what to do, Jasper texted her again.

Jasper: I emailed the itinerary to you and we need to go over the particulars for Milo’s wedding.

Veronica sighed. No matter what happened after this weekend, she had already committed to being Jasper’s date. She loathed breaking promises because she felt how much it affected those around her when other people did it.

Veronica: 9 is fine. I’m going to eat and finish up some work so I can get home. Thanks again.

Jasper: You’re welcome. Text me before you leave and when you get home so I know you made it safely.

Veronica: I will.

A knot formed in Veronica’s chest, twisting and coiling, making it difficult to breathe. The number of people who cared about her safety was a precious few. Her parents. She counted Dominique, even though her boss had an aloof demeanor. Dominique demonstrated she cared in her own way and Veronica had even sensed her affection a few times, even though Dominique’s mental shields were as solid as stone.

Veronica blinked rapidly, willing away the tears that formed in her eyes. She couldn’t get used to this. To a man caring. She knew better.

He wouldn’t stick around. Not after he realized how much work she was and that she exhausted him like she had with her past relationships.

She had to be honest with herself and keep her eyes wide open. It was the only way to protect herself from heartbreak.