Page 55 of Jasper

“Good girl,” he says softly, uncapping the sunblock.

I shoot him a defiant glare, but don’t say anything that might end up with me over his lap right here in the daylight where anyone could see.

He tilts my chin up gently and smooths the sunblock over my cheeks and nose with careful fingers, his touch soft but sure. His brows are furrowed with focus, and the way he takes his time makes my heart stutter.

“There,” he says quietly, brushing a thumb under my chin. “All protected now.”

I peek up at him through my lashes, no longer pretending to be annoyed with him. “Thanks.”

His hand lingers at my jaw, then slides back to cradle the side of my face. “You look good out here. Like you belong.”

Warmth blooms in my chest. “I feel like I do.”

We stay like that for a beat too long—his fingers on my face, mine resting on his thigh, the garden warm and quiet around us.

Then he leans in just a little, just enough to press his lips against my forehead.

“I like sitting with you,” I whisper.

“I likeyou.”

I smile softly, melting over his words. “I like you, too.”

He beams and brushes his lips over mine. “Not as much as I like you, rainbow. I don’t think you have any idea.”

As he wraps me in his arms for a tight hug, my heart practically beats out of my chest, and I think he’s wrong about that. I think I have ahugeidea. Because I might not just like Jasper Black. I might be falling in love with him.

21

JASPER

The main house is quiet, which is unusual enough to make me pause when I walk in. I head down the hall toward the playroom, something pulling me there. When I get there, I find Rowie inside the tree trunk with a picture book in her lap. It’s always been one of her favorite places to spend time.

She’s alone, her legs tucked under her, hair spilling around her shoulders as she flips a page with careful fingers.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I say as I bend down and step inside, then stretch out beside her on the rug.

We really should have made this spot taller and bigger because it’s not nearly as easy for us guys to get in here as it is for the Littles. I’m sure my body will be screaming at me later for folding myself into such a small space.

She looks up with a bright smile and rolls onto her side to face me. “Hi, Jazzy.”

I chuckle, nudging her gently with my shoulder. “Feels like I haven’t seen you much lately.”

Our sweet Rowie. Deke Black saved all of us from ourselves. But Rowie, she saved our broken souls and mended pieced them back together again, day by day. It’s probably the only reason we put up with her being such a sassy girl at times.

“That’s because,” she says in a singsong voice, “you’ve been too busy falling in love with Ariana.”

I scoff, ready to argue, but the words stall in my throat. My mouth opens, then closes again.

Because shit… she might be right.

Rowie giggles and taps my nose. “Told ya!”

I shake my head, smiling like a fool. “You like her, huh?”

She nods, her eyes searching my face. “I really do. She’s sweet. And quiet, but not in a scared way. It’s like she brightens the room when she walks in. And… I think you look good together.”

I swallow hard, emotion catching in my chest. “Thanks, Row.”

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