Page 60 of Tempted

“No. Can we go? Please?”

He gave her one last questioning look before sighing. “If that’s what you want.”

“It is.”

Once inside Jason’s car, the only words exchanged were directions to her apartment complex. Actually it was more like the projects. Hell, who was she kidding? It was the projects. The cheapest place she could find was a hole in the wall place in the Anacostia area.

To his credit Jason didn’t say anything as he pulled up to the curb. “Let me walk you inside.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Maybe not, but I’d feel better if I did. Would you stop arguing so much?”

“Fine.” She slid out of the car feeling weak, woozy and tired. Leaning against the car to regain her balance, she took a few deep breaths. Jason was at her side in a flash, propping her up. “Let’s get you inside.”

He was practically carried her by the time they made it to the front of the building where thankfully the usual crowd wasn’t gathered. For the most part they left her alone, but there were a few of them who made sexual innuendoes when she’d walked past. There was no telling how they would have reacted seeing Jason with her.

Jason guided her to the elevators but Jasmine shook her head. “No. The elevators are broken.”

“Both of them?”

“Yep. They’re being serviced.”

He sighed. “Okay, what floor are you on?”

“The fourteenth.”

“Do you mean to tell me, you’ve been working these double shifts only to come home and climb fourteen flights of stairs?”

“They’ve only been out of service for a week, besides walking upstairs is good exercise, helps me maintain my girlish figure,” she joked.

“That’s not funny. Okay, get on my back.”

“What?” she asked incredulously.

“I’ll give you a piggy back ride. As tired as you are, you’re not going to make it up those stairs tonight.”

As tempting as his offer was, she had her pride. “I am perfectly capable of walking.” And to prove it, she walked toward the stairs.

Jason however, was just as determined. Grabbing her from behind, he twirled around, bent at the waist and threw her over his shoulder.

“Put me down, Jason. This isn’t funny.”

“It wasn’t meant to be.” He carried her up the stairs taking two at a time as if she wasn’t heavier than a pillow case of feathers. It took him no time to reach the fourteenth floor. The man had to be in great shape because he was barely out of breath. Even on a good day she could hardly make it up the stairs without hacking out lung. “Which door is yours?”

“1402.”

He took her to the door before placing Jasmine back on her feet.

She glared. “I wish you wouldn’t have done that.”

“If wishes and buts were candy and nuts we’d all have a Merry Christmas.”

“That made absolutely no sense.” Unable to help herself, Jasmine smiled, producing the keys from her purse.

Her efficiency was tiny and probably even smaller to an outsider’s eyes.

“You live here?” he asked incredulously.

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