Page 40 of Tempted

Jason gave her a long searching look before nodding. “Okay. But just remember, I’m here for you if you need me.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

* * *

By the time Jasmine got home, she was exhausted. Even though it was her day off, she checked on the kids out of habit. In the time she’d been employed as Chelsea and Tyler’s Nanny, she’d grown to love them. It would hurt when she left then, but she knew there would eventually come a time when she’d have to. Maybe she shouldn’t have gotten so emotionally attached to them, but they were so easy to love.

Satisfied they were okay, she went through her nightly hygiene routine, but by the time she slid between her sheets, she couldn’t fall asleep. Her body was exhausted, but her mind was too full of activity. Thoughts of her day spent with Star swirled through her mind. She still wasn’t talking and it worried Jasmine. Damn Phillip. Even after his death, he still managed to wreak havoc on their lives.

After tossing and turning for at least an hour, she glanced at the clock on her nightstand and noticed it was just past midnight. Unable to lie there with so many haunting thoughts, Jasmine kicked off her covers, slipped out of bed and tossed on her robe to go downstairs and watch a movie.

When she made it downstairs to the living room, she was surprised to see Adam, laying on the couch, watching a concert on television. Jasmine wondered if she should intrude on his solitude.

Since his arrival home, she and Adam didn’t speak much, mainly because she was always busy with the children and he basically stayed in his room. He must have sensed her staring at him, because he turned his head. Jasminesmiled. “Mind if I join you?”

He sat up, uncurling his long legs from the sofa. Adam shrugged. “It’s a free country,” he muttered. “I was just going to bed anyway.”

Jasmine took a seat on the other end of the couch. “There’s no need to run away on my account.”

His uncertainty was evident as he eyed her as though trying to figure her out. Jasmine pretended not to notice. “This is a great song, don’t you think?” she had no idea who the band playing on television was, but Adam seemed to be into them.

“You like this group?” His voice dripped with disbelief.

“Of course, who doesn’t? I love this song.”

He folded his arms across his chest, obviously not falling for her ploy. “Yeah? What other songs do you like by them?”

“Uh, well…the one about the boy and the girl.”

“Which one is that? They have a lot of songs like that.”

Jasmine knew the jig was up. That trick may have worked with Chelsea or Tyler, but Adam was far too perceptive. “Okay, you got me. But you can’t blame a girl for trying to be friendly can you?”

“Well you don’t have to pretend to be nice to me. I know what you’re up to.”

“Oh yeah? What do you think I’m up to?”

“You’re trying to get me to talk so you can run back to Dad with a full report.” He crossed his arms over his chest defensively.

“Umm, actually I came downstairs because I couldn’t sleep. I hate to burst your bubble dear, but I don’t have the energy or the interest to play go between for you and your father.”

Adam continued to eye her with mistrust. “Well, I don’t feel like talking if that’s what you came down here for.”

“I don’t recall asking you too. Granted, I did try to relate but merely to be polite, but nothing beyond that.” She slumped back against the couch and focused her attention on the television, but not really seeing anything. Her thoughts drifted to the day’s events.

“Sorry.”

At first Jasmine thought she was hearing things but she turned away from the television to see Adam staring at her. The resemblance to his father was uncanny. “Excuse me?”

“I said I was sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Jasmine offered him a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t have pretended to know who that band was. But honestly, it won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t want to talk to me. My skin is pretty thick.”

His brow shot up as though he was trying to figure her out. “You’re not like any other of Chelsea and Tyler’s nannies.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, the other ones kinds of sucked or at least my brother and sister think so. I only met a couple of them and I’d have to agree. You’re different.”

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