Page 39 of Jack

"You mean you have a crush on her."

Jason blushed furiously.

"I like her," he repeated.

"Go to your room."

"Dad-"

"Now."

With a pleading look at his grandmother, hefled, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

Millicent watched as he walked over to thesideboard and untwisted the crystal top off the decanter.

"Aren't you going to lecture me on myresponsibilities?" he asked sardonically as he turned with theglass in his hand.

"I think you already know." Shefolded her hands in her lap and gazed at him with steady eyes. "Ihave never seen you like this before."

"Like what?" Tossing back thedrink, he wished it would burn the anger and lust out of him. Yes, hehad to acknowledge it to himself. He was hot for her. Underneath theanger, he had wanted to rip off her clothes and drive himself intoher until she was whimpering. And while the anger was slipping awaylike so much smoke, the lust stubbornly remained.

"So angry. You never-" Her voicetrailed off and she wished she had kept her mouth shut.

"Go on."

"Nothing." She pressed her lipstogether. "What are you going to do with him?"

"I haven't decided yet." Hismouth twisted bitterly. "Ms. Bennett accused me of shovingactivities down his throat." His eyes flickered over hismother's face. "All the extra-curricular activities he'sinvolved in, is it voluntary?"

Millicent hid her surprise quickly.

"He's trying to impress you."

"Is he?" Lifting the glass, hewatched the overhead lights turning the liquid into gold, the exactshade of her eyes. Biting off a curse, he went to put the glass away.

"I'm going to bed. We will discussthis in the morning or over dinner."

"Will you be home in time to eat withus?" The question was casually asked, but he knew the answer wasimportant. Quickly shifting through his schedule mentally, he decidedto skip the meal he had planned on having with Belinda. It was timeto sort things out with Jason.

"Yes. Goodnight mother."

Her breath sighed out as she stared at theopen doorway, a thoughtful expression on her face.

*****

"You're being too hard on her."Jazmine made the comment tentatively. What was supposed to be a nightof celebration for them was turning into something else. She wasfinally moved into her apartment. The place was still empty, becauseshe and Zuri planned on hitting up some antique stores later in theweek. But she had a bed and kitchen stuff so she could make a meal.

Tonight was the first night they were alonetogether. She had been terrified of Zuri discovering her naked in herbrother's bed. But her friend was caught up in her own situation andhad been oblivious of what was happening around her.

"I apologize," he muttered,stopping his pacing long enough to throw her a smile. "She'sexasperating."

"I am betting she thinks the same ofyou."

Flashing her a look, he found himselfgrinning. "Probably." With a weary sigh, he came to sit onthe edge of the bed. "I should have left this back at the bar."

"I don't mind." She reached forhis hand, admiring the strong and callused fingers and wide palm."You needed an outlet."

"And I can think of better ways thanimagining myself murdering my sister." He linked his fingerswith hers. He shook his head, and a reluctant smile teased his lips."Christ! You should have seen the way she lit into that son of abitch. For one awful moment, I thought he was going to do some damageto her."

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