Page 41 of Sweet Little Thing

Sterling’s eyes softened, and I could tell he was sunk by her sweetness. Beulah had that effect on people without realizing that she did. I’d have to get accustomed to seeing men look at her that way. I was in for a lifetime of it. I’d face down the devil himself to keep her with me.

“How did Jasper convince you to give him a chance? Being the ugly bastard that he is?” Sterling asked smirking.

Beulah shrugged. “Oh, you know, promised me millions…and also, a new car. My preference is a Mercedes. Maybe a little red convertible. After that, my own private jet. In case I need to go shopping in Paris when my wardrobe needs sprucing up. Just common, tiny fringe benefits.”

Sterling looked confused for a second. Then he burst into laughter. I was grinning like a fool myself. “Damn, she’s awesome,” Sterling said.

I agreed and kissed her temple. “I told you the jet was for our six-month anniversary.”

Beulah dramatically sighed. “Dang, I was hoping it’d be sooner. I’ll take a hot air balloon instead.”

“What am I missing?” Tate asked, walking back over to us.

“How funny Beulah is,” Sterling said. “Stick around, and you’ll be trying to figure out how to steal her from Jasper before me.”

“There’s always the jet,” Beulah replied, which made him laughagain.

This was going to be fine. She was a charmer. Being herself was what she did best, and that owned any person from the simplest to the most complex.

“We’ll go get that damn jet tomorrow,” I said. “Might put a lean on the company, but I can eventually pay it off. In installments, for half a century.”

“Or you could just order a really good pizza with everything on it instead—that, or tacos. I truly love tacos. Tacos and pizzas are better than jets, in my opinion.” Beulah, as she spoke, beamed up at me and let Tate and Sterling experience an equal beaming that froze the three of us. As previously mentioned, we were now ‘owned,’ and she didn’t even know what she’d done.

Sterling piped, “Please tell me we’re keeping her. That she doesn’t have to be returned to the land of fucking perfection.”

“Oh, I’m keeping her,” I assured him, Beulah’s gaze like a radar, staying on me, her eyes with mine as if Sterling and Tate weren’t there. I’d order pizza and tacos. Fuck, I may even buy a jet. I’d have to run that one by accounting. There may be a question or two.

Chapter

Thirty-One

Beulah

A gentle touch caused me to stir. Opening my eyes, a hand ran through my hair, my head resting in Jasper’s lap. The only light in the room was the candles we’d lit after eating with Sterling and Tate. Both pizza and tacos were consumed. Tate found a movie he wanted to watch. We all settled in, and it began, though apparently, I’d fallen asleep on Jasper’s shoulder and was moved to rest in his lap. Or maybe I put myself down there.

I flipped to my back and looked up at him. “Hey,” I said.

Jasper smiled down. “Hey yourself,” he replied.

The movie was over, and the others were gone. I wasn’t sure how late it was or how long he’d been sitting there with me sound asleep, pinning him down.

“Sorry, I fell asleep,” I said, covering my yawn.

Jasper smirked. “Yeah, it was hard having you laying on me for an hour and forty-five minutes.”

“It was rude of me.”

“Completely,” he agreed, running the tip of his finger down the length of my cheek. “I can’t believe you’d do such a thing.” The amused gleam in his eyes made me smile. He liked teasing me, and I enjoyed it.

The silence in the house, with only the candlelight illuminating the room, made it feel cozy. We were here alone, staring at each other. It was safe, felt right, and had anything ever felt this right in my life before now? I wasn’t sure.

“Having to smell you and feel your body, so soft and pressed against mine, wasn’t easy, Beulah. I’ve never enjoyed watching a movie that much. . .but I wanted them to leave so I could tug you in my lap and wake you up with my mouth.”

I shivered at the thought. Excitement rippled through me.

“They’re gone now. . .and I’m awake.”

His expression grew serious as his eyes gaze darkened.

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