Page 95 of Tempted

Chapter Thirty-One

Jason flopped down on the couch next to Jasmine. “So what do you want to do tonight to celebrate?”

Jasmine couldn’t keep the grin off her face. Her cheeks were starting to ache from smiling so much.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead. I think you should pinch me to see if this is a dream.”

Jason rubbed Jasmine’s knee. “No. It’s all real. And you deserve this. I must say, Meade really came through for you.”

“Yes. He did.” Now that she had Star back and the stress of her legal issues were out of the way, she still had the uncertainty of her love life to deal with. Jason was so good to her, yet the more she tried to feel for him the more uneasy she became. What was wrong with her? Any woman would be proud to have Jason on their arm. He was handsome, considerate, wealthy and was just an all-around good guy. Jason was even good with Star who was slowly warming up to him.

Then there was Victor. Her heart beat faster whenever he was around. He was no longer the self-obsessed workaholic she’d first met. In his place was a man who obviously loved his children, was responsible, compassionate and nurturing. Her pulse raced and body throbbed at the very scent of his cologne. Even that crooked grin of his made her heart do somersaults.

Jasmine couldn’t trust herself to love that way again because she feared her feelings for Victor were even stronger than the ones she’d felt for Phillip. She had the potential to love Victor with her heart, mind, body and soul if she allowed it. Letting go and opening her heart to the kind of hurt she’d already experienced, terrified the hell out of her. This time around if something were to go wrong, she would be devastated. Her world would be ripped in two and for that reason alone she didn’t think she was strong enough to do it. Besides, she had a daughter and a baby on the way to think about. Their well-being came first and foremost. For them she had to be strong.

“Yes. He really came through,” she repeated. “I can’t thank him enough for everything he’d done.”

“Well, have you decided where you’d like to go out for dinner? No arguing, we’re going to do it big. You’ve been craving ribs lately haven’t you? We can try that new steak house. I hear they have a nice menu. And I’m sure they’ll sell something Star will like.”

“Star would be quite happy with McDonalds. She’s easy to please. If you’d like to go out, I guess I should get ready. I move a lot slower than you do and Star should be waking up from her nap soon.”

Jason slid off the couch in one fluid motion and stood up. He held out his hands to her. “Let me help you up.”

She took his arm grateful for the help because it would have taken her several minutes to get up on her own without assistance. She had gotten huge. It seemed like one minute she barely showed and the next her belly was the size of Washington D.C. This kid was going to be large. Star had weighted just under five pounds when she was born so Jasmine wasn’t looking forward to the labor part of birth.

Jasmine wobbled up the stairs to her daughter’s room. Star was curled up in a ball her little fist resting against her face. Jasmine sat down on the bed next to the little girl. She’d be seven in a few weeks and she couldn’t believe her angelic little baby girl was growing up so fast. Before she knew it Star would be all grown up. It saddened Jasmine that she’d missed so much of her daughter’s life. But losing Star had taught Jasmine how precious her child was to her. Not that she didn’t already know but the separation had put things into perspective.

It still worried Jasmine that Star still wasn’t talking but the child psychologist had assured Jasmine that Star would talk again in her own time. It was normal for young children who’d gone through a lot of trauma to shut themselves off from the world in some little way. Star’s refusal to talk was her own defense mechanism, her one way to control something when her world was constantly changing. Jasmine hoped that Star would soon feel settled enough to finally speak as she once had.

In the meantime Jasmine decided she’d be homeschooling her daughter so Star would be where a seven year old should in her education. Unfortunately because Star wasn’t talking people were quick to label her as a special needs child. Star was extremely bright but what she needed most was some love and understanding.

Jasmine stroked Star’s cheek. “Baby girl, wake up.” She gave Star’s shoulder a shake.

The little girl roused slowly opening one eye at a time. When she focused on her mother, a wide smile curved her lips.

Jasmine smiled back, her heart brimming with love. “Hey honey. Uncle Jason is going to take us out to eat tonight. Are you hungry?”

Star nodded.

“Good. Why don’t you go wash up while mommy gets ready?”

Star leaned over and threw her arms around Jasmine’s neck, something she did often. Jasmine suspected it was because Star was scared Jasmine might go away. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. I’ll just be right down the hall if you need me, okay? Now be a good girl and go wash up.” Star gave her a long hard look before nodding.

Jasmine couldn’t wait for the day when she’d hear her sweet little girl’s voice again.

* * *

“Star wipe your mouth, baby.” Jasmine handed her daughter a napkin.

Star obediently did as she was told before tearing into her child sized steak. For such a small kid she could eat. Jasmine was happy to see her daughter’s appetite had improved.

They finished their leisurely dinner with pleasant conversation. When they’d finished their meals, Jason paid the check while Jasmine and Star went to the restroom.

Jason escorted them outside and said he’d had to park further away from the restaurant because it had been so crowded. As they waited, Jasmine wondered what was taking Jason so long. She glanced at her watch. Did it take this long for him to get the car? She was about to go back into the restaurant because it was kind of chilling when big hands grabbed her shoulder.

“You’re coming with us.”

Before she could let out a scream, a hand was clasped firmly over her mouth.

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