Page 23 of Mistletoe and Mischief

“Earth to Jasmine.” Naomi waves her hand in front of my face. “You haven’t even picked up a brush yet.”

Am I in a trance? When did I return to the table?

I blink, forcing a smile. “Sorry, just processing.”

Betsy leans in, her voice gentle. “So, how are you going to tell them?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, squirting a peach color onto my palette.Peachesfloats through my mind in Landon’s deep voice.His nickname for me forever taints the term. I opt to make the piggy bank white instead. “I should stick to the business angle. Draw up a contract addendum?”

Sabrina raises an eyebrow. “A contract? For a baby?”

“It’s not that weird,” I defend. “We already have one for our... arrangement. This way, we clear up expectations and obligations. Like divorced parents do.”

“Being pregnant doesn’t make you want to settle down?” Naomi asks, carefully painting her mug.

I dip my brush in blue paint. I’m going to add a rainbow of polka dots. “I’m not ready for that. I still need my space and independence. Maybe more than ever.”

Betsy gives mean oddly serious look. “Jasmine, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“What are your real feelings for these guys? And Trent? What are you so afraid of?”

Her question flares up the confusing emotions I’ve been repressing. I stare at the streak of blue paint I smeared over the pig’s back and grab a paper towel to wipe off what I can.

“The way my father treated my mother,” I whisper.

“He was a jerk to your mom,” Sabrina says softly. “But not everyone who wants a relationship wants to strip you of all control. Look at us. We care about you. We have a relationship. We give you advice all the time. That’s what love is.”

The concept hits me hard. Are they right?

“Why do you think Trent says he’s okay with the four of you being together?” Betsy asks.

“He knows I won’t put up with him trying to boss me around.”

“He wants to protect you. He trusts his friends. He’s keeping you close.”

Sabrina’s jaw drops open. “I never thought of that, but you’re right. He’s as hopeless of a romantic as Betsy.”

My hand shakes as I set my brush in the water jar. “We don’t know that,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “For now, I’m sticking with the contract idea. In fact, I’ll use it for the reveal.”

Fourteen

Blake

I lean back in my seat, the faint hum of the helicopter’s rotors a comforting backdrop. Our potential new pilot, Sarah, expertly maneuvers us over the city. Her skills are impressive, but my mind can’t help but wander to our last flight—with Jasmine and a very different set of skills.

“I’ll circle around so everyone gets a good view,” Sarah explains.

Landon catches my eye, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. I can tell he’s thinking the same thing. Cole keeps his voice down while confirming we all give Sarah a thumbs up.

“Excellent attention to detail. Our customers will appreciate that, Sarah,” Cole calls out, ever the professional. “We’ll finalize your contract when we land.”

At the word ‘contract’, I can’t help but grin. Landon snorts, and even Cole’s composure cracks. Trent glances at us, confused, then sags.

He says quietly, “You think you’ve got it all figured out, but Jasmine won’t commit. Trust me, I’ve been there.”

Landon leans forward, elbows on his knees. “We got her to sign a contract, that’s a commitment in itself. It buys us time.”

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