Page 46 of Reckless Harmony

Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Is that any way to talk to family, Isaac?”

He walked toward Rayna, his hand extended. “Jasper Stark.”

She shook his hand. “Rayna Abrams.”

“Nice to meet you.” His dark eyes gave her a quick once over before he smiled cheerfully at her. “Isaac didn’t mention he was dating someone.”

“We’re not dating,” Stark said quickly.

The look on Stark’s face suggested he would rather eat dirt than date her, and any lingering lust Rayna might have felt disappeared faster than Freddie when a stranger came to the house. She gave him a frosty look as he said, “What are you doing here, Jasper? And how did you get into my house?”

“The door was unlocked,” Jasper said breezily. “I guess now that you live in the country, you don’t lock your doors? Not a good idea, buddy.”

Stark huffed out an angry breath. “An unlocked door doesn’t mean you can just waltz right the fuck in.”

Jasper grinned at Rayna. “Do your cousins treat you so rudely, Rayna?”

“I don’t have any cousins,” she said.

“Well, trust me when I say that… what the fuck? Is that a… cat?” Jasper stared in disbelief as Molly, purring loudly, walked back and forth on the bed, rubbing against Stark’s hip. “Why do you have a cat?”

“It’s cats. Multiple,” Rayna said.

Jasper laughed. “Are you kidding me?”

“Nope,” Rayna said and pointed to the clear container on Stark’s bed.

Jasper’s jaw dropped. “Kittens? You have a cat and kittens in your house?”

“It wasn’t my idea,” Stark said through gritted teeth. “She’s forcing me to keep them.”

“He’s straight-up lying,” Rayna said to Jasper. “I just gave him the option of moving them to a different foster home, and he refused.”

Jasper laughed again. “Who are you, and what have you done to my cousin?”

“I’m his number one enemy, actually,” Rayna said.

“Are you?” Jasper gave her an admiring look. “That’s intriguing. What have you done to piss him off? And how have you survived against Isaac ‘tremble before me, mere mortals,’ Stark?”

“I’m tougher than I look,” Rayna said.

“Gorgeous and tough… a lethal combination.” Jasper let his gaze linger on her mouth.

Ignoring the fact that Jasper’s gaze didn’t send even one tiny tingle to her crotch, Rayna smiled at him. “You’re pretty gorgeous yourself.”

Another angry huff behind her, this one so hard she felt the end of her ponytail flutter.

“Ms. Abrams, isn’t it time you left?” Stark said pointedly.

“No need to be rude, Isaac,” Jasper said.

“Ms. Abrams has a busy schedule. I’m sure there is a plumbing emergency somewhere in town,” Stark said.

“You’re a plumber?” Jasper asked

“I am,” Rayna said. “But I’m on vacation this week. I run a local animal rescue, and we’re having a big fundraiser this weekend, so I took the week off to organize the final details.”

“What kind of fundraiser?” Jasper asked.

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