Page 64 of Tempted

“Tell me then. What has she been through?”

Madeline shook her head. “It’s not my story to tell. If your paths should cross again, maybe she’ll tell you.”

“I haven’t seen her in nearly two months. I may never see her again.”

His mother shrugged. “Well, I guess that will be your problem to deal with.”

“Then I’ll find her.”

“Oh? So you can demand an explanation from her?”

“No. So I can ask and listen like I should have. Have you seen her?”

“Victor! Don’t you think I would have told you if I knew?”

“I’m sorry, for asking.”

“It’s okay. But I need to know something.”

“What?”

“What happened between you and Jasmine? Was it my imagination or was there a spark between the two of you?”

There was no point in denying it. “I…I fell in love with her.” It was the first time he’d admitted it, even to himself and it was like a huge weight off his shoulders. He was in love with Jasmine which made her secrets hurt even more. She didn’t trust him enough to tell the truth about her past. Was he destined to love the wrong women?

Madeline smiled triumphantly. “I knew it. I can see why you went off the deep end now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jasmine is nothing like, Carolyn you know,” his mother said gently.

“I know. They’re polar opposites, but…”

“You’re hurt all the same. I understand. You’re my son. I changed your dirty diapers and I know you better than you know yourself. You love so deeply that when things don’t work out you retreat into yourself and shut others out. You did it before with Carolyn and those kids suffered for it. Now you’re doing it again. Your children need you.”

“They despise me.”

“No they don’t. They’re hurt and confused. But it doesn’t help matters when you spend all your time at the office now. Even though Miss Davis has graciously pitched in to watch the children until you find another Nanny she’s not the solution and neither am I. You’re the one who’ll have to bridge that gap between you and them again. You did it once before. I know you can do it again.”

It went unsaid that Jasmine had played a huge factor. The more he thought about how things had been when she was here he felt like an even bigger asshole for what he’d done. “I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am. Come her and give me a hug.”

Victor gratefully went into the circle of her arms. It was torture having a feud with his mother and finally it was over. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, son, but if you don’t find Jasmine and apologize to her, I’ll disown you permanently.”

There was no doubt in his mind that she meant it.

Chapter Twenty-One

Jasmine’s hands began to shake as she wrote down each patron’s order. She didn’t understand what was happening to her. That fuzzy feeling that came and went these last few days wasn’t going away and her head throbbed like a son of a bitch. It took every bit of her concentration to pay attention to her customers. Her vision blurred momentarily before going back to normal. She’d ask Earl for a break when the crowd died down.

“Okay, I have a grilled chicken parm sandwich with fries instead of the potato chips and meatloaf, extra mash with no gravy, and one open faced turkey sandwich with mixed vegetables. Anything else?”

“No, that’s all for now, but I’d like another drink. This soda is flat.” The woman held up her glass without bothering to look in Jasmine’s direction. Jasmine groaned inwardly. For the most part her customers were generally nice but she knew there’d be issues the minute this group had sat at her table. It was two men and one woman. They all looked college aged. The men were the condescending kind that kept referring to her as honey while making sexual innuendoes. The woman acted as if talking to Jasmine was beneath her.

“I’m sorry about that. What can I get you instead?”

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