Page 54 of Tempted

“I know what you said but where is this coming from?”

A grin tilted her lips. “Because I saw you kiss this morning.”

Victor groaned inwardly. That one stolen kiss this morning when he’d found Jasmine alone in the kitchen had meant the world to him. He thought he’d heard the kitchen door creak but he’d put it down to his imagination when no had entered. Part of him was glad Chelsea had caught them but her assumption of that kiss leading to marriage unnerved Victor more than he cared to admit. He wanted to be with Jasmine, but he hadn’t thought that far ahead. How could he when Jasmine shut him down when he even talked about being in an official relationship?

“Jasmine and I are friends. Sometimes friends kiss.” As explanations went, it was pretty lame but what was he supposed to say to a seven year old? Jasmine was willing to have sex with him as long as they kept it a secret? There were some conversations better left unspoken.

“I don’t kiss my friends like that.”

He raised a brow. “And you better not until you’re thirty-five, young lady. Sometimes adults kiss when they’re friends.”

“But you and Jasmine do more than kiss, Daddy. Tyler says he heard you two making funnies noises in your room and¯”

“That’s enough, Chelsea. This subject is closed!” He made a mental note to talk to his son later. So much for being discreet. Chelsea’s mouth fell open, her expression crestfallen. Victor sighed, not wanting their perfect day to end up like this. “Sweetheart, if you’re afraid about Jasmine leaving us, I can assure you, she’s not going anywhere any time soon.”

She pouted slightly. “But if you married her, then she would never leave.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her marriage didn’t guarantee forever; he’d made enough of a mess with his first one to realize that. But Victor didn’t have the heart to tell his child, who still believed all was right and good in the world, what was really going on. “We’ll see. I don’t know what the future holds but I will make this promise, as long as Jasmine wants to stay with us she’s welcome. I won’t send her away.”

Her green gaze searched his face for several silent moments before a smile cracked her face. “I guess that’s okay. For now.” She leaned back in her seat.

Victor was saved from continuing this awkward conversation when he saw Jasmine coming out of the house looking quite distracted. When she slid into the car, Chelsea moved closer to her.

“Jasmine what took you so long?” the child demanded.

“Chelsea…” Victor said in a warning tone.

Jasmine smiled faintly. “Just saying goodnight to Star, sweetheart.”

“Oh,” Chelsea paused before saying, “I was just telling Daddy that—”

“That she had a good, day,” Victor interjected not wanting to embarrass Jasmine with the conversation he’d had with his seven year old. Besides, like Chelsea had said, the day was perfect and he wanted it to remain that way.

* * *

For the first time, Jasmine began to believe that maybe she could have her happily ever after with the Meade family. There was no denying that she’d developed deep feelings for Victor and she was already in love with Tyler and Chelsea. She’d even grown to care for Adam.

“What the hell is she doing here?” Victor muttered when he pulled up to the driveway and Madison was standing by her vehicle.

“Umm, I’ll take care of the kids, while you talk to your guest,” Jasmine said with an impending sense of doom. She wasn’t fooled for one minute as to the reason for Madison’s visit as she caught the gleam of determination in the blonde’s eyes. She must have overheard the conversation Jasmine and Madeline had had at the restaurant. But why did she wait until now? Weeks later.

Madison didn’t give them a chance to walk toward her before she stormed toward him. “Victor, I’m so glad you’re home. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for days.”

The boys who were still in the state of semi-sleep finally showed signs of movement in the backseat and Chelsea had gotten out of the car to cling to Jasmine.

Victor’s nostrils flared. “Seeing as how I didn’t return your calls, I thought you’d get the hint.”

Madison briefly turned an icy glare in Jasmine’s direction, her hatred evident, before returning her attention to Victor. “Victor please don’t be this way. I was only concerned for your safety as well as your children’s.”

So this was the game she was going to play. Jasmine’s heart pounded against her chest as if it would explode. This was the moment she’d been dreading for months.

Victor narrowed his eyes. “What the hell are you talking about, Madison?” he demanded with impatience.

Madison stepped forward and placed her hand on Victor’s arm. “Even if you no longer consider me one, I am your friend. And it’s only natural to worry about your well-being when you’ve hired a felon to take care of your kids.”

Victor snatched his arm away. “What the hell are you talking about, Madison?”

Jasmine couldn’t move if her life had depended on it. She wanted the Earth to open up and swallow her.

“Jasmine, let’s go inside. I don’t like her,” Chelsea whispered in a voice that wasn’t quite a whisper.

A feline smile curved Madison’s lips. “I’m talking about the nanny of course. But I’m sure you already know about her stint in prison for nearly murdering a man. Good help is hard to find these days, but did you have to resort to hiring a criminal, Victor?”

When Victor turned that penetrating gaze on Jasmine, she knew it was all over. “She’s making this up isn’t she, Jasmine?”

Madison’s grin widened to a smile of pure triumph. “Am I making it up, Jemi—I mean Jasmine?”

She couldn’t meet Victor’s gaze. “No,” She croaked, her throat tight as she forced the word out. “She’s not making it up. Everything she says is true.”

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