Page 17 of Off-Limits Mate

He doesn’t say anything in response.

I lean forward again, looking him straight in the eye. “You’re being hard on yourself. I understand why. But just because you made a mistake at work doesn’t mean you’re bad at it. Just because you haven’t tried any kind of domestic life, doesn’t mean you’re bad at it. It seems to me like you just want to have some kind of… sad hottie vibe, and it’s kind of annoying.”

Jasper looks at me for a minute. I realize, in that moment, that I just insulted him. Instead of being helpful, I was mean, and that…

“Sad hottie?” he interrupts my thoughts.

Oh. Oh. Oh, dear.

I look away. “I mean. You know. Just like the whole brooding bad-boy thing. It’s like. Kind of cultivated. Like you want people to think you’re sad and hot. Because that’s what brooding means. I mean, I don’t know if it means that. But people usually say brooding to describe someone that’s attractive. Not that you have to be attractive to brood…” I trail off.

Shit.

Jasper’s mouth twitches. “Do you think I’m hot, Amara?”

“No. Absolutely not. Never. I’ve seen you come home super drunk and fall on the stairs, Jasper Rayburn. I really don’t think you’re hot.”

“So the sad hottie thing is…”

“I mean, even if I don’t think you’re hot, it doesn’t mean you’re not hot. I’ve seen how the girls like… you know…” I make a strange waving gesture with my hands.

Jasper’s eyebrow arches.

“They flock to you,” I finish. “It’s clear that you are attractive. To other people. Not me.”

“I see,” he rumbles. But his voice is low. Really, really low. Lower than usual.

I can’t look at him right now.

“If anyone’s a sad hottie, Amara, it’s you.”

My eyes whip to his. “Excuse me?”

“Pouting about your house being broken. That’s pretty damn sad.”

“I’ll have you know, I wasn’t pouting! My house is actually pretty broken!” I say. But the word hottie rings in my mind. Like a freaking bell.

Jasper laughs and returns to his sandwich. The moment seems gone, and it’s not like I’m going to ask him what he meant by that. In my heart, though, I wonder.

Does Jasper Rayburn think I’m attractive?

I gulp. I want to know the answer to that question. Maybe. Or maybe… I don’t.

If Jasper did find me attractive, it’s not like I could actually do anything about that information.

Right?

Chapter 8

Jasper

About a week and a half into the remodeling of Amara’s house, it’s starting to look pretty good. If I do say so myself.

I’ve never really pictured myself as a manual labor guy, and I definitely don’t think this is something I’d be interested in long term. I’ve bought plenty of real estate in the last few years and hired people to renovate it. But figuring out what to do, then doing it? It’s kind of satisfying. Not to mention, it makes Amara really fucking happy.

Putting that smile on her face is even more satisfying, and I’m a little worried that I’m getting kind of addicted to it at this point. Every time she lights up, every time she gets that look on her face that says that she’s excited or she likes something that I’ve done, it hits me like an electric shock.

Also… seeing her walk around in any type of clothing makes me hard. Doesn’t matter what it is. Painting overalls. Tight yoga pants. Loose pajama pants. If Amara has something on her body, I’m spending all of my time trying to figure out what she looks like under it. I don’t even try to hide it anymore, as long as Nolan’s not around.

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