Page 96 of Exposed

“Why are you mad at me?”

Fuck it. I grab the back of her neck and pull her mouth to mine in a rough kiss.

“I love you,” I say, even though my tone is angry. “I’ve told you that once, but you didn’t say it back. Being Simon’s nanny and marrying me may be fake and temporary for you, but it’s not to me. I want you. You’re not just Simon’s nanny or my fake wife to win the custody case. You’re mine, Jasmine. You’remy wife.” I feel my heart cracking in two.

“I’ve never been in love. I don’t know if what I’m feeling is love or not,” she confesses, and my anger melts at her vulnerability.

I swallow hard. “What do you feel for me, Pep?”

She chews on her bottom lip, thinking for a few minutes before she speaks. “A violent feeling. Like I’venever had something I want to fight for so badly. Like I want to be in your corner. I’m a better version of myself when I’m with you. This life with you and Simon, it makes my heart want to bloom like a flower. I’ve never felt needed before you and Simon.”

At her admission, I’m momentarily stunned. Then, I cup her face and a grin spreads across my face.

“That sounds a lot like love to me. There’s no one I’d rather have in my corner than you, princess.”

She blushes at my nickname for her.

“I love you. Not for being my fake wife to help me out and not for being Simon’s nanny. Since the first time I saw you being a server, I wanted you. I see you, Jasmine. And I loveyou.”

Simon is wriggling between us.

“Okay, bud. We get it. Enough mushy stuff,” I murmur and run my fingers over the top of his head.

“I love you, Matt,” Jasmine whispers. The whole world tilts and I almost fall over.

“You do?” I stutter.

“I do. I love you, and I love Simon.”

“Why are you going back to your old job? Those people didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt and turned your life upside down,” I remind her.

“I’m going for closure, Matt. I’m not working for them again, but I’d like to get some answers as to why Kevin did it.”

Oh. I throw a silent prayer of thanks up to God.

“Fuck, Pep. If we weren’t already married, I’d propose to you right now,” I grin.

40

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

MATT

With the threat over Jasmine’s well-being neutralized, we no longer need security, so that’s a small win.

It’s being overshadowed though, by the fact that my son is going with the Trumans this week.

“Finally,” Mr. Truman huffs as he slams his car door when Jasmine and I arrive at our meeting point. We’re halfway between Miami and Orlando, and the Florida sun is already shining bright at 10am.

“We’re not late,” I growl.

“You’re certainly not early, which means you’re late,” he scoffs back. “Give us our grandson.”

Without giving him the satisfaction of an answer, I duck my head into the backseat so I can unbuckle Simon’scar seat. Jasmine opens the door on the other side of the car to grab his blanket for him to have with him.

“I can’t do this,” I whisper to Jasmine.

“You can. We may have lost this temporary battle, but we’re going to win full custody. You’ve got this,” she whispers back.

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