“Of course.”
Jasmine was torn. On the one hand she felt like she was taking advantage of a friend by accepting his proposal but she was so indebted to him how could she not. Besides, she’d given love a chance and both times she’d been burned. Maybe a marriage of convenience wouldn’t be so bad. “Okay, Jason, but let’s take this slow, okay?”
He gave her a big grin. “Absolutely. You won’t regret this.”
Jasmine certainly hoped not.
Once the bill was paid, Jason took her hand in his and led her out of the restaurant. But as they were leaving awave nausea hit her.”
“I need to go to the lady’s before we go. I don’t think the pasta agreed with me.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you in the lobby.” He kissed her forehead.
Jasmine barely made it to a bathroom stall before she unloaded the entire contents of her belly and she was thankful she didn’t have dessert. She had not been this sick during her first pregnancy. This child was already a handful.
“Are you okay, dear?” Someone asked from outside the bathroom stall.
Jasmine wiped her mouth with some toilet paper and flushed before getting to her feet. “Just a little afternoon sickness,” she laughed weakly.
“I know how you feel. When I was pregnant with my son, I was sick all the time.”
As Jasmine walked out of the stall, she was prepared to thank whoever it was on the other side for their concern, but when she saw the Good Samaritan, she froze in horror.
“Jasmine!” Madeline Meade screeched as if she saw a ghost.
“Madeline!” Jasmine was equally shocked. Out of all the restaurants they could have chosen in the areathey both ended up here. Jasmine thought she’d never see anyone with the name Meade again.
The older woman’s eyes strayed to Jasmine’s mid-section. “You’re pregnant!”
“I…I…” Jasmine looked around for a means to escape.
Madeline frowned. “It’s Victor’s baby isn’t it? My grandchild?”
Jasmine shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
Madeline’s eyebrows flew together. “What do you mean it doesn’t matter? Of course it does. You’re carrying my grandchild.”
“I’m getting married, that’s why.” And without waiting for a reply she rushed out of the bathroom. The doctor told her to avoid stress and that’s exactly what she was doing. But it was all for nothing because she ran in to the man who had haunted her dreams these past months.
Victor’s eyes widened. “Jasmine?”
She frantically searched for Jason.Her head started to spin and dots danced before her eyes as her world went black.
Dammit.