Page 31 of Bulletproof Love

I move off the dance floor and back to the side of the room, passing by a few wandering eyes. Jasper follows, close enough that I still smell him. “Try yours. Mine isn’t working.”

“Lee?” he says quietly. “You there?” When he gets no response, he curses under his breath. “What do you think it is?”

“I’m not sure. Some kind of signal jammer probably, but that’s not really my area of expertise.”

“Leon’s probably freaking the fuck out,” he says, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing server.

“You think?”

“Yeah.” He lets out a long breath. “You haven’t seen that side of him yet, but he can lose it when shit goes sideways. Check your phone, see if it has any signal.”

I didn’t think of that. I open my clutch and pull out my phone at the same time that Jasper takes his out. “No signal.”

“Same,” he says.

His eyes wander over the guests as a muscle in his jaw ticks. “Stick close to me. We just got the confirmation we needed that this party is more than it seems.”

I follow his lead, making small talk with other guests and listening in on conversations. I notice right away that the only individual who introduced themself by name all night was Fairfax. Every other person we’ve had the displeasure of speaking with has stayed anonymous. Masks, no names. Can they be more obvious? On the plus side, no one has asked for our names since we checked in at the door.

After at least an hour and two more drinks, my patience is thinning. The jazz music settles at the base of my skull, and I’d love nothing more than to be back at our place, curled up in bed with the kittens on my chest.

I put my arms around Jasper’s neck and nuzzle him, pulling his attention from the stock market conversation he’s faking his way through. “We’re not getting anywhere,” I say against his ear.

He breathes out shakily and rubs the rough stubble on his cheek against mine. God, it feels good enough to be a major distraction. “I know. These old fucks aren’t taking any of my bait.”

I stretch onto my tiptoes and murmur against his lips, ignoring the way my blood rushes in my ears. “Maybe we should snoop around?”

The idea has my stomach twisting, but it may be the only way we find out what’s going on. His lips graze mine, and a rush of warm whiskey-scented breath fills my senses, making me dizzy. “Lead the way.”

“You two are making me feel ten years younger,” someone croaks from the other side of the table. I can almost feel his eyes lingering on my ass. “I’m enjoying the show.”

Jasper tenses, his eyes sharp as he puts a few inches between us. I take that as our cue to leave. “I need to use the powder room. Babe, will you help me find it?”

Jasper slides his mask back in place, a smile pulling his lips up. “Of course. Gentlemen, let’s catch up again later about that round of golf.”

The three men at the table chuckle and the same croaking voice speaks again. I now see it comes from a man with liver-spotted hands clutching a silver cane and combed over white hair. “Take your time with that one. If I were younger, I’d join you.”

I squeeze Jasper’s hand, knowing without looking at him that he’s about ten seconds from losing his shit. “Not worth it,” I say for only him to hear.

Once I pull him from earshot, we stop in the hallway near the restroom. He leans against the wall, clenching his hand into a tight fist, breathing heavily. “I wish I could kill that wrinkly old piece of shit.”

I pull on the lapels of his jacket, capturing his attention. “I know.”

My palm unfurls against his chest as his breathing starts to slow. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Pervy McPerverson just bought us some time, as creepy as he is. If anyone asks where we went…” I trail off.

“He’ll tell them we’re off fucking in a closet somewhere,” Jasper finishes.

I swallow hard. “Exactly.”

I have no idea where the hallway leads, but it’s quiet and dark enough that we have no problem sneaking away. Jasper checks several closed doors as we move down the dimly lit space. Finding only a closet and another bathroom, we continue until the hallway curves, returning us to the great hall where our evening began. We take in all the possible ways to go and he curses under his breath.

“Where to?”

“It’s too big.”

I feel his smirk before I see it. “I’ve heard that a lot. I promise you can take it though.”

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