Page 16 of Jasper

“If you won’t pack your stuff,” I call over my shoulder, “I’mmovingall your stuff.”

“You can’t just kidnap me!” she yells, storming down the steps as I yank the camper hitch off her shitty car and turn it so it’s lined up to my truck.

“I’m not kidnapping you,” I snap, locking the hitch into place. “I’m taking you home.”

8

ARIANA

“You are not taking my home!” I shout, marching up to him as he messes with the hitch like he owns the damn thing. “Unhook it, right now!”

Jasper doesn’t even flinch. The man’s a wall of muscle and testosterone, and apparently, full-blown stubbornness too. “Too bad. You’re not living out here in the damn forest in freezing temperatures with wild fucking animals, rainbow.”

Rainbow?

Huh.

I guess that’s better than Little thief.

I’m still pissed at him, though.

“I’ve been living out here just fine, thank you very much!” I stick my hands on my hips and glare at him like I can set fire to him with just my eyes. “You don’t get to waltz into my life and play boss.”

“Stop arguing with me and get in the truck,” he growls, standing to his full intimidating height.

“No.”

He lifts one of his dark eyebrows, then marches toward me.

“No!” I say again, louder this time, so maybe he’ll take me more seriously.

I’m planted with my feet concreted to the ground. I’m not going anywhere, and he can’t make me.

And then I’m upside down.

“What the—Let me go!” I squeal, pounding my fists against his back as he hauls me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing. “You caveman! This is assault! Kidnapping! Burglary!”

He chuckles. “You would know if it’s burglary, wouldn’t you, Little thief?”

I gasp.

The audacity of this man.

And the shoulders.

Wow.

How is he so strong?

I can’t be distracted by that right now. I’m about to be kidnapped.

He doesn’t say a word as he stomps to his truck, throws open the door, and drops me unceremoniously into the passenger seat.

I scramble, about to lunge out of the seat.

Click.

He flips the child lock on.

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