Page 22 of Jasper

When she steps away, all the warmth she brought with her is gone, reminding me exactly the way she makes me feel. I crave more of it but can't yet bring myself to tell her that. I watch as she grabs her coat. "Here, let me help you put that on."

Surprise flashes. "This is new."

It shouldn't be, but I can't keep comparing myself to who I was before. That isn't going to get me anywhere, and the only way I can start to show her that I want to change is by making those changes. "I'm a husband now, right?"

Walking over to where I stand, she hands me the coat and then turns to put her arms through the sleeves. Once I make sure it's on, I hug her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder. I allow a moment to take a deep breath and let her scent wash over me. This reminds me that we could be a different couple. We could be one of those sickening sweet ones like Kara and Abel, if I would allow us to. When the hug is over, she steps away from me before turning around putting the palm of her hand to my cheek. "You're enough, Jasper. The little moments you share with me are enough. I'm willing to wait, but I won't be a doormat."

"I know." I swallow roughly. "But I've made you wait for years, and it doesn't seem fair that I continue to do so."

"I'll let you know if and when I've had enough. Leave my own personal boundaries up to me, Hamilton. That's where you fucked up the first time."

Digging my chin into my chest, I give her a grin. "Duly noted. Now, let's get outta here. You wanna take your SUV so you don't have to climb up in my truck with that dress on?"

"Sure, I'll even let you drive it."

Now that's saying something since she doesn't let anyone touch her vehicle. It was almost brand new when she drove it off the lot last year, or so I heard through the grapevine. "That's a lot of trust coming from you. I'll be sure and handle it carefully."

I follow her around to the passenger side and hold the door open for her.

"I don't know if you realize it or not, but you never did that for me when we were dating. You've changed, Jasper. Whether you want to admit it or not. You aren't the same man you used to be, and you're doing yourself a disservice with the comparisons. I'm willing to let everything go that happened before if you do, too. I want to know the man you are now. The one who's halfway willing to show me how he feels about things. We can work with that, and I won't throw anything you did before back in your face. Deal?" She holds out her hand.

"Deal, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna shake on it. C'mere." We seal it with a kiss that leaves both of us breathless, and I'm thankful for the cool night to temper my raging libido.

* * *

"Holy shit," she whispers as we pull up to my grandfather's.

I don't necessarily think about what his house looks like. Maybe it's because I'm used to it, and it doesn't impress me. It wasn't the place where I had love when I grew up, and I learned to hate coming here. Would rather be anywhere else but inside the walls of this house. "I guess it's interesting if you didn't grow up here." I shrug, going over to the passenger side and helping her out.

"You hate it, huh?"

"With every part of my being. I'd rather live in a shack down by the river than have someone cook my dinner every night."

She cuts her eyes over at me. "Was that an option for you."

"Sure was. For a while, it was fun when I'd request different stuff for dinner every night, but it lost its appeal pretty quick. Especially when all I had to look forward to was asking for my favorite meals. I was starting to think the cook loved me because she'd make me whatever I asked for. I learned later that's what she was paid to do," I say it as quickly as I can to reduce the pain I feel when I admit this.

Daisy turns to me, puts her arms around me tightly, burrowing her face into my chest. "I'm sorry that hurt you, but it made you the man you are today. He's pretty amazing, even if he can't see it."

My throat tightens, and I don't know how to respond, so I pull her closer and think about what my life would be like without her. I remember it well.

It was empty, and I don't ever want to go back there again.

"You ready?" I ask.

"I'll go wherever you do, Jasper. Let's show this man who he's messing with."

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Daisy

I've never felt so out of place in my life as we enter through the foyer. Jasper's hand is strong against my back, as he pushes me into the throng of people. Many are smiling at him and asking how he's doing. Jasper isn't comfortable, either. It's in the way he's half-answering, and not really paying attention to what is going on around him.

I'm trying to take it all in. This is the type of house I always thought I'd love when I was little, but now I get what Jasper's been saying. It's cold, and barren. There isn't a feeling of home here.

"That was the first thing I saw when I walked in as a kid." He bends down to talk in my ear.

I look where his finger is pointing, and I see a staircase that looks as if it's a replica from the one on the Titanic. Which is fitting since that ship sank spectacularly. That's exactly how I feel right now, as if I'm on a ship that's sinking, and there's nothing that's going to keep it from being a disaster. "It had to be intimidating."

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