Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Jasper was looking forward to having Veronica all to himself this weekend.
Well, not completely to himself.
They would be around his family, but neither of them would have to work and there would be down time between all the parties, gatherings, and events. She would be with him constantly for four days.
Any other woman, and he would be preparing himself to have her constantly underfoot. He would be plotting ways to spend time alone. There were very few women he could tolerate for prolonged periods of time. But with Veronica…he wanted to be around her as much as possible.
She’d been quiet when he picked her up from her apartment, other than apologizing for having two suitcases. She laughed when he told her his mother would have twice that amount.
When they stopped for lunch, the smile on her face was bright and surprised. The restaurant he’d chosen was in a little cottage and the entire place was Alice in Wonderland-themed, from the décor to the menu. He would never have gone if she wasn’t with him, but he would do it again and again if it put the sparkle of delight in her eyes and the wide smile on her face.
Some of her reserve dropped away. Veronica chatted with him, chuckling over the names of the cocktails and dishes on the menu. When he tried to order her a Rabbit Hole cocktail, her laughter and playful shove to his arm were the most unrestrained she’d ever been with him. Instead, she’d ordered a glass of the Queen of Hearts sangria, saying she couldn’t resist when she saw sangria listed on any drink menu.
Jasper filed that piece of information away in his mind, just like he had when she told him that she liked Thai food and romance novels. He understood now why his father did things like that for his mother. And how much she seemed to appreciate them.
After lunch, she was a bit more relaxed, and they talked more the last hour of the drive. He warned her about his Aunt Samira. He explained that she had good intentions, but she was also determined to see all the children in the family married off now that most of them were grown. His cousin, Mina, was Samira’s daughter and she always aided and abetted her mother in these endeavors because she didn’t want her mother to start in on her.
He also gave her more details about Milo and his fiancée, Prema. He wanted her to feel comfortable and prepared when she met everyone. Based on his interactions with Veronica, Jasper sensed that she was Type A in terms of her personality. She wanted a plan when going into any situation, whether social or professional. He was doing his best to give her the information she would need to create one.
When they took the exit for the resort, Veronica began to fidget, twisting her fingers together as she stared out the window. Jasper reached over, resting his hand over hers.
“The only people at the hotel right now are my parents, Prema’s parents and sister, and my brother. You won’t have to deal with a big crowd just yet.”
She threw him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” he commanded. Throwing a quick glance toward her, he said, “Just promise me you won’t run away tonight.”
A startled laugh burst out of her. “What? Why would I run away?”
He slowed the vehicle, turning next to the sign for Devil’s Playground. “After you deal with my family this afternoon and evening, you’ll be tempted.”
Veronica shook her head. “If they’re anything like you, they can’t be that bad.”
Jasper shrugged. “Okay, then, promise me that if you’re going to leave, you’ll take me with you. Because they are that bad. I’m just the best of them.”
She giggled again, the sound filling his vehicle. He squeezed her hand with his before he released her and parked the car in front of the main lodge.
Jasper turned toward her just as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. Her lips landed on his and Veronica jolted with a squeak. Before she could pull away completely, he cupped her cheek in his hand, rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip.
When she took a shaky breath, his eyes lifted to hers. Then, he said what he’d been wanting to say since Monday.
“The only woman I’ve wanted to date since I joined Mystical Matchmakers is you.”
Veronica blinked, staring back up at him in confusion. “What?”
“After you turned me down the third time I asked you on a date, I stopped because I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
A furrow appeared between her brows. “Then, why did you basically blackmail me into coming to the wedding with you?”
Jasper shrugged. “I said I’m the best of my family, not that I’m a good guy. I’m not above exploiting a weakness when necessary if it gets me what I want.”
A flush spread across her cheeks.
“A wedding with my entire crazy family wouldn’t be my choice for a third date, but I’ll take what I can get and ask for more.”
“Ask for more?” she repeated.
His thumb skimmed across her lower lip again. “I want to kiss you. Will you let me?”
The pink on her cheeks deepened. Her eyes grew heavy, and her breathing became unsteady. He heard her swallow before she opened her mouth and answered, “Yes.”
Though she agreed, Jasper took his time. He leaned forward, giving her a chance to change her mind. He kept his eyes locked on hers until their lips touched. Veronica inhaled, a small sound escaping her, before her eyes fluttered shut.
He traced the tip of his tongue over her lip, enjoying the softness of her flesh. Her mouth opened against his, her tongue slipping out to meet his. She tasted like the sangria she drank with lunch and the apple tartlet they’d shared for dessert.
Jasper curved his hand around the back of her neck, sliding his fingers into the hair at her nape. Her mouth opened wider against his and let him inside. Using his hold on her hair, he pulled her closer.
A breathy moan escaped her, vibrating against his tongue. Jasper tried to lean closer, to remove the distance between them. But his elbow hit the steering wheel, and the horn blared, echoing around them.
Veronica jolted, pulling away. Her eyelids were heavy, and her mouth was wet and swollen. She looked dazed and thoroughly kissed.
Jasper leaned forward, intent on kissing her again, when his brother’s ugly face appeared on the other side of the passenger window as he rapped the glass with his knuckles. Veronica yelped, whirling around to see who was knocking on her window.
Biting back a string of foul language, Jasper unbuckled his seatbelt. “Don’t move. I’ll get rid of him and open your door.”
He didn’t wait for her to reply, just hauled his body out of the car and rounded the front end. Jasper didn’t stop moving until his body bumped Milo’s. His brother’s cheeky grin didn’t dim in the least as he backed up.
“What’s up, big bro?” he asked. When he tried to lower his head to take another peek at Veronica, Jasper put his hand flat against his brother’s chest. “Aw, c’mon. I just wanted to say hi.”
Keeping his voice low, Jasper answered him, “Veronica is shy. Her family is small and not that close. She’s not used to people like you or me. Or our family. I want her to be comfortable this weekend and not run away screaming, never to take my calls again. So, tone it the fuck down for now, okay?”
With each word that Jasper spoke, his brother’s eyebrows rose higher and higher until he looked as though his eyes were about to pop out of his head. “Holy shit. You really do like her.”
Jasper released a disgusted sigh. “I thought we already established this.”
“Yeah, but I figured you’d be over the infatuation by today. It’s obvious that you’re in even deeper than before.”
“And this surprises you, why?” Jasper asked. “I told you she was different. That she was the only woman I’ve wanted like this. Ever.”
At his words, Milo took a step back. “Okay. Understood. I’ll watch my step for now and help you keep Mom and Dad in line tonight. But you know she’s going to see us as our true selves before the night is over. With Auntie Samira and Mina being here for the cocktail party and the rest of our cousins and friends coming in tomorrow, the typical Bayat family craziness will make an appearance sooner rather than later.”
“I know, Milo. I just want to give her a chance to meet you, Prema, and Mom and Dad before I throw her in the deep end.”
The passenger door to his car opened, nudging him in the hip. Jasper stepped back, taking hold of the door handle, and pulling it the rest of the way open. Veronica looked up at him, her cheeks still pink, but her eyes were sparking with irritation.
“If you need to talk to your brother, I can wait inside,” she said.
Before Jasper could speak, his brother jumped right in. “My brother was just making sure I would be on my best behavior so you wouldn’t realize that our entire family is completely nuts and order an Uber to escape as quickly as possible.”
Jasper elbowed his little brother in the gut, making him grunt and take a step back. “He’s partially right. I wanted to make sure he didn’t act like the heathen he is right off the bat. Obviously, it’s too late.”
The annoyance vanished off Veronica’s face as she watched them. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Okay, then I’d like to go inside.”
Jasper reached out, took her hand, and helped her out of the car. Her long hair glinted in the sunlight, and he saw the hints of deep purple shimmer in the strands. He’d noticed them before, but this was the first time he felt free to touch the silky strands. His fingers sifted through the ends of her hair, enraptured by the change in the color.
“Right, brother?”
Jasper looked up to find Milo smirking at him, clearly amused by catching him off guard. He ignored him and whatever inane question he’d asked. There was no valet at Devil’s Playground, so he grabbed Veronica’s purse from the floorboard, handed it to her, and shut the door.
“Let’s go inside and get checked in.” Jasper slipped his hand around Veronica’s and gently tugged her along with him. He liked the way her hand tightened on his for a moment, as though she was surprised he’d laced his fingers with hers.
Milo’s smirk became a shit-eating grin as he followed them. “Since it’s obvious you weren’t listening, I’ll repeat myself. I was telling Veronica that our family might be an eccentric bunch but they’re a lot of fun.”
Jasper grunted. “Maybe for you since you’re as crazy as they are. But for me, they’re?—”
“Don’t finish that sentence unless you want Mom to hear,” Milo hissed over Veronica’s head. “She’s standing right inside the door.”
“Shit,” Jasper whispered.
Between them, Veronica giggled. He glanced down at her because he liked the sound.
“What?” Milo asked.
“Jasper told me a lot about your family this week. I think he’s worried that you’ll all run me off,” she answered his brother. Then, she turned her face up to look at him, her brown eyes sparkling with humor. “I’ll be fine. I promise. I’ve dealt with a lot of eccentric and even some mean clients. I’m sure your family is lovely.”
“Famous last words,” Jasper muttered as they walked through the open double doors to the lobby of the resort lodge.
Veronica laughed again.
“Jasper! My baby!”
He barely refrained from rolling his eyes at his mother’s exclamations. She was calling his name as though it had been a decade since they’d last seen each other rather than a couple of days. They worked in the same office for fire’s sake.
“Mom, I just saw you a couple of days ago at the office. Why are you acting like I’m returning from war?”
His mother huffed at him as she came closer. “Is that any way to talk to your mother?” she asked, sounding haughty and put-out.
“Yeah, Jas, is that any way to talk to—oof!” Milo’s taunt was cut off by Jasper discreetly smacking him in the back of the head. “Hey! No need for violence. I don’t need to be concussed on my wedding night. It’ll ruin the mood.”
His mother sighed as she came to a stop in front of them. “Can you two not behave for five minutes? And not act like such children in front of this lovely lady. You should be embarrassed. I know I am.”
Milo and Jasper shared a look over Veronica’s head but managed to keep from rolling their eyes.
“Now, are you going to introduce me or have you forgotten all the manners I tried to teach you over the years?” Leila Bayat asked.
“Mom, this is Veronica Salt. Veronica, this is my mother, Leila Bayat,” Jasper said.
Veronica held out a hand to his mother. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Bayat. Jasper has told me so much about you.”
Leila brushed her hand away and grabbed her by both shoulders, pulling her into a hug. “No need to be formal, dear. I’m so pleased to meet you.” She released her, pushing her back just far enough to study Veronica’s face. “Honestly, I thought Jasper was making you up to keep his meddling aunt from playing matchmaker this weekend until he called me a couple of days ago and told me to be sure there was an extra room for you at the lodge.”
Veronica thought she heard Jasper mutter something about his aunt being less of a meddler than his mother, but she didn’t want to react and get him in trouble.
Veronica didn’t have time to respond because Leila glanced at Jasper, but didn’t release her. “And speaking of that, Jasper, I’m afraid there is a problem with the room situation.”
“What problem?” he asked, reaching out to hook his arm around Veronica’s waist and pull her away from his mother and into his side. He squeezed her tighter when she let her weight rest against him, cuddling a bit closer to his body.
His mother’s eyes moved over them as they stood together, and a faint smile tugged at her mouth. It vanished so quickly that Jasper wasn’t certain Veronica saw it, but he did. And it made him suspicious as hell.
“There are no extra rooms this weekend,” his mother said, forcing her face into the semblance of a frown.
He could tell it was fake because there was a line that appeared between her eyebrows whenever she was truly irritated, and it was missing. Leila the Meddler was striking again. “Mother…”
“I’m sorry, darling. It’s just not possible. Now, if you’d told me you needed another room two months ago, I could have done it.”
Jasper didn’t bother arguing. He knew that she was digging in. “I’ll just go speak to the manager myself, then.”
Still holding Veronica against his side, he moved toward the counter, hearing his mother sigh behind them.
“Jasper—” Veronica began.
“It’s fine. She’s just playing matchmaker. I’m sure there are rooms left.”
Veronica didn’t say anything else, just did her best to match her stride to his. When he realized he was moving too quickly for her, he slowed down, his arm around her waist loosening a bit.
A tall, statuesque woman with blonde hair stood at the counter. Her nametag declared that she was the manager and her name was Poppy.
“Hello, Poppy,” Jasper said when they came to a stop on the other side of the antique counter. “I’m here for the Bayat-Shah wedding this weekend. My mother was supposed to arrange for two adjoining rooms for us. She forgot to do so.”
The woman’s smile was serene. “Your name, sir?” she asked.
“Jasper Bayat.”
She looked down at the computer screen in front of her and began typing. After a few moments, she looked back up, her face pulling into a gentle frown. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bayat, but we don’t have two adjoining rooms available. Our last four rooms were booked about an hour ago. But I do have you in one of our cabins. It is one bedroom, but there is a pull-out couch.”
Jasper glanced over his shoulder and saw his mother watching them, her arms crossed over her chest and her brows raised. The smirk playing about her mouth told him that this little hiccup was due to her scheming. He wouldn’t put it past her to have reserved the last four rooms just to create exactly this situation.
Why was she so determined to make his life more difficult?
Jasper faced the manager again. “That will have to do. Could you please give me a call if there are any cancellations on a two-bedroom cabin or two adjoining rooms happen to become available?” He knew it was long shot, but he had to try.
“Of course, Mr. Bayat.”
“Please call me Jasper,” he stated. “I always look around for my father when I hear Mr. Bayat.”
Poppy’s answering smile was more genuine. “Of course. Let me get you checked in. Will you need two keys?” she asked.
“Yes, please.”
As she began to type away, Jasper looked down at Veronica. “I am sorry about this,” he said. “I asked my mother to take care of it earlier this week and it’s clear that she didn’t. I should have handled it myself.”
Veronica tilted her head to look up at him. She seemed calm, but the blush was back in her cheeks. “It will be fine.”
“I can room with my brother until the wedding,” he offered.
“It will be fine, Jasper,” she said.
The fine tension running through her told a different story, though. Jasper felt a sharp pain shoot from his jaw down his neck as he ground his molars together. His meddling mother was likely to fuck everything up if she didn’t butt out. He would have to make himself clear this evening.
He would also talk to his brother about rooming together until Saturday, no matter what Veronica said. She should be comfortable while they were here.
A few moments later, Poppy looked up from the computer. “You’ll be in the Campfire Cabin. If you follow the drive to the right of the lodge, it will be the fourth cabin on your left. There is a golf cart parked beneath the carport beside the cabin. It will be yours to use during your stay.” She slid a little paper folder across the counter that held their keycards. “The wi-fi is free and the password is listed inside there,” she stated, gesturing to the small folder. “Will there be anything else?” she asked.
Jasper shook his head. “Do you need my credit card?”
“No, the rooms for the bridal and groom party have been taken care of by the bride’s family. Please enjoy your stay.”
Jasper suppressed the scowl that wanted to take over his face. The Shah’s were a nice family, but Prema’s mother, Darya, and his mother had been pressuring him to attend the wedding with Prema’s younger sister, Jasmine. He’d tried to be polite in his refusal, but he worried that Darya and Jasmine would expect him to act as her escort during the wedding since they were paying for his cabin.
Jasper took the keycards, trying not to crush them in his fist. “Thank you.”
He took a firm hold on his temper as he guided Veronica away from the counter. “I am so sorry,” he repeated. “I know I warned you that my mother was a bit of meddler, but I wasn’t expecting something like this.”
“You think your mom is the reason there are no extra rooms?” Veronica asked, obviously bewildered. He understood her confusion. Most parents would never go to such extremes to get their way.
He glanced down at her, quirking a brow. “I inherited my determination to get what I want from my mother, and I can assure you, this was all her.”
Veronica chuckled, which took him by surprise.
“You think this is funny?” he asked. As they walked out the front door, his mother and brother were noticeably absent. It was clear they had decided to escape while he was distracted by checking in.
“Not necessarily this…only at the idea that there is someone who might be more devious and pushier than you. And that it annoys you so much.”
She was looking straight ahead, so she missed the way he looked at her, surprised that was her response. He knew he was a pushy, bossy, arrogant asshole. He just couldn’t believe that Veronica was discussing those aspects of his character as though they amused her rather than upset her.
Maybe this weekend wouldn’t become a disaster after all.