Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The party was in full swing when they entered the ballroom. Two lines snaked down the row of tables in the back, one on each side, and people were filling plates of food. Those who had already gotten their food were seated at the large round tables that had been set up during the cocktail hour.
Though his mother had wanted an actual dinner service for the wedding, the resort hadn’t been able to accommodate that much staff or food preparation, so she and Prema’s mother had agreed that a buffet-style dinner would work best.
Jasper was relieved because it meant that he didn’t have to choose a single meal but was able to try a little bit of everything. There was even a dessert buffet and an open bar.
He craned his head, looking around the room for his aunt. Though he wasn’t going to confront her tonight, he wanted to let her know that they needed to talk. Preferably soon.
Instead of finding Samira and Mina, his gaze landed on Jasmine Shah and the glare she was shooting toward him. No, toward Veronica. His eyes narrowed and, as though she could sense his attention, Jasmine’s glare shifted to him. When their stares clashed, she blinked and looked away almost immediately. For whatever reason, her anger that he wasn’t going to fall in line was directed solely at Veronica and Jasper did not like that.
He wasn’t going to concern himself with it unless she continued to make it a problem. And, as Veronica said, tonight was not the night to address the issue.
Jasper’s gaze swept the rest of the ballroom before coming to a stop on his brother, who was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his dad. Both men were looking right at him, their arms crossed over their chests and smug grins on their faces. His brother looked down and tapped his watch before wiggling his eyebrows at Jasper.
Knowing his brother was subtly giving him shit for disappearing with his date and screwing around in the bathroom, Jasper pretended to scratch one of his eyebrows with his middle finger.
From across the room, he could see his father sigh at his reaction, but the smug grin returned quickly. His dad was happy for him for a different reason—he was glad that Jasper had finally found the woman he wanted for the rest of his life.
He was grateful he’d had trouble finding a date for the wedding this weekend and his mother threatened to set him up with Jasmine. If she hadn’t, he would never have called Mystical Matchmakers.
Jasper slipped an arm around Veronica’s waist when she stepped away to allow one of his many cousins pass between them. A male cousin who was eyeing her like she was a tasty little snack.
“Chad,” Jasper said in greeting.
His cousin shot him a glare. “Stop calling me that.” He turned on the charm as he faced Veronica. “My name is Casper. I’m Jasper’s younger, better-looking cousin.”
Veronica nodded at him but didn’t offer her hand to shake, which pleased him. “Nice to meet you, Casper.” She glanced at Jasper. “Why do you call him Chad?”
“Because Casper and Jasper rhyme and, since I’m older, I get to keep my name. He has to be Chad.”
Jasper saw the quirk of her lips and the brief hint of the small dimple that sometimes appeared in her cheek when she laughed particularly hard.
“I see.”
“So, how did you guys meet?” Casper asked Veronica.
“Bye, Chad,” Jasper replied, using his hold on Veronica’s waist to steer her away.
“Stop calling me that!”
He felt her shoulders shaking as they walked and knew she was trying not to laugh while his cousin was in earshot.
When they were far enough away, he said, “Don’t hurt yourself. He can’t hear you anymore.”
Veronica gave a small snort. It was the cutest sound he’d ever heard. He loved her laugh, but that snort was on another level. She released a quiet giggle and swatted him on the belly.
“Why were you so mean to him?” she murmured.
“Because he was going to flirt with you right in front of me and now, he knows that’s unacceptable.”
She nodded. “He obviously likes to irritate you. I could sense his pleasure at irking you.”
Jasper shrugged. “We grew up around each other, so we act more like siblings than cousins.”
“Well, he loves you, if that helps.”
He sighed. “I know. It’s my cross to bear. I’m so lovable.”
Veronica started laughing again and said, “I’m almost sad for the wedding to be over and go home tomorrow. Your family is pretty entertaining.”
Jasper guided her toward the buffet lines, his mind stuck on what she said about the wedding being over. He hadn’t let himself consider it, but tomorrow, they would be leaving after the brunch and going back to Dallas. He would have to take Veronica to her apartment…and go home alone.
He hated the idea. They had only been here for two and a half days, but he’d gotten used to waking up with her and going to sleep with her. And even though they spent the last two days apart, he’d looked forward to going back to their cabin and finding her there. He didn’t want to go home to an empty house tomorrow.
He wanted her to stay with him every day. He wanted to learn about her habits, even if some of them might drive him crazy. He wanted to truly know her, though he doubted he would ever get to the point where there was no mystery to her. Veronica felt things too deeply and spent a lot of time in her own head. She was a difficult woman to learn, and it would likely take him decades to do it.
He looked forward to it.
Jasper also knew that she wouldn’t want to move in with him so soon. He knew what he wanted, and he was ready to make the move, but Veronica still had to catch up. Yes, she said she was falling for him, but she expressed her worries that it was too soon for that conversation. If he brought up the idea of her moving in with him, or vice versa, because he honestly didn’t give a shit where they lived, she would balk.
Still, he would figure out how to get what he wanted. He always did. This time he knew it would require compromise, but as long as he got time with her, he didn’t care.
He managed to be polite to his family when they interrupted what he considered his last full day with Veronica. He also found time to track down his aunt and let Samira know that they would be having a conversation on Monday after work. Judging by the look on her face, she knew why he was upset.
Surprisingly, she just nodded and said she would call him after dinner on Monday.
The only reason Jasper didn’t hurry Veronica out of the reception after they ate, and his brother and Prema cut the cake, was because the band his mother hired started playing and the music was good. Perfect for holding her close and swaying.
He may not be an empath, but he’d noticed how much she seemed to crave touch. Not just sexual, but affectionate and casual touch as well. If he put his arm around her, she leaned into him. If he scooted his chair closer to hers, she angled her body, so her thigh pressed against his. If he took her hand, she would lace their fingers together.
The biggest giveaway was the way she behaved in her sleep. When she slept next to him, she plastered her body against his in her slumber. If he got up, she would roll away, only to turn over and wrap herself around him like a vine when he returned to the bed. It was as if she was seeking maximum contact when she was fully relaxed, and her guards were down.
He didn’t tell her because he knew she would be embarrassed. And if she felt embarrassed, she might try to stop. Jasper didn’t want that. He liked having her right next to him all night, even if his arm went numb from her head lying on his bicep. Or his hip ached from digging into the mattress when she all but draped her weight over his back when he was on his stomach.
Still, after an hour of dancing, he was ready to leave and have her to himself. They said their good-byes and went back to the cabin, where he “helped” her take off her dress. Which meant they ended up naked in the bed, where he made love to her again. Then, he spent the night pinned to the bed by her weight, something he enjoyed immensely.
He did the same the next morning, only this time, he made her come twice with his mouth before he pulled her on top of him and had her ride him again. It was a view he could get used to.
The brunch wasn’t as loud or crazy as the wedding, probably because most of his relatives and family friends were hungover from their indulgences the night before. His mother made an effort to chat with Veronica, making it clear to him that she liked her. He knew it was mostly because she wanted him to know that she approved, but the added benefit was that Jasmine had a front row seat to the maternal approval Leila was bestowing on Veronica.
He didn’t need to be an empath like his woman to understand that Prema’s younger sister was bitter with jealousy.
Resolutely, he ignored it. Giving her any sort of attention would only feed her need for drama. As long as she didn’t do or say anything to upset Veronica, he wasn’t going to entertain her attitude.
They finished the brunch, gave his parents, brother, and new sister-in-law hugs, and returned to their cabin to pack. Veronica seemed distant. Lost in her own thoughts.
Jasper gave her space and a chance to figure out whatever was in her head, but when she still hadn’t talked to him about it when they were packing up the car, he decided to address the issue head-on.
He took her hand when she turned to walk from the rear of his car to the passenger door, stopping her. “Is something bothering you, Veronica?” he asked.
She huffed out a laugh. “Yes. I’m sorry. I’m not upset with you or anything. Just stuck in my head.”
He lifted his free hand and stroked his thumb over her cheek. “Tell me.”
Her answering smile was a little sad. “I feel kind of silly.”
“I don’t care if it’s silly. I want to understand what’s bothering you so I can help if I’m able.”
Her eyes were soft as she returned his stare and, to his surprise, she didn’t dance around the answer. “It’s only been three days, but I’ve gotten used to having you around. I’m not ready for you to go yet.”
He used his hold on her hand to pull her closer and smiled. “That’s good because I feel the same way.”
She shocked the shit out of him yet again. Shy Veronica licked her lips and asked, “Would you come home with me today? And stay tonight?”
“I was hoping you’d come home with me.”
He could immediately tell she didn’t like that idea. “My house is comfortable and fully stocked. I think you’ll love it,” he explained.
She relaxed a little. “I’m sure I will. It’s just…” She paused and he could tell she was choosing her words carefully.
“You don’t have to worry about hurting my feelings. I’d rather you be honest about what you’re thinking and feeling.”
“It’s not that,” she replied. “I’m just not sure how to describe it in a way that won’t come across as entitled and that you’ll understand.”
“How about you say whatever it is you’re thinking, and I’ll understand that you’re not trying to be entitled, but just telling me how you feel?”
“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Changes in environment are difficult for me. Especially coming off a weekend like this one where I’ve been around a lot of people. I’ll recover faster at my own apartment with my own things around me. And I’ll be able to relax more.”
“I completely understand that. How about I drop you at your apartment, go home to get some clothes, and come back to stay with you for a couple of nights. Once you’re feeling back to normal, we’ll spend some time at my place.”
Her hands tightened around his. “Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“Will I get to see you this week if I do what I just described?”
She nodded, looking confused.
“Then, of course I’m okay with that.”
Her hands tightened on his and she blurted out, “I’m so sorry I didn’t say yes the first or second time you asked me out. I really wish I had.”
Jasper pulled her into his arms, and she wrapped hers so tightly around his waist that he had a little trouble breathing. She took a shaky breath, as though she was fighting back tears.
“Hey,” he whispered. “We’re together now. That’s what matters.”
“But I wasted time I could have spent with you. That we could have spent with each other.”
“It might have felt like years to me, but it was only a few weeks in the scheme of things, Veronica.” He drew back a little and looked down at her. “Besides, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had you exactly where you are right now.”
“At the wedding?”
“No, in my arms.”