Page 40 of Jessie's Girl
“Hey, Rose,” I greet the little girl. Arching an eyebrow, I take in her slightly lopsided braid, and suppress my reluctant smile. The braid actually looks better than Asa’s earlier efforts. He must be watching those YouTube videos I sent him. “What’re you doing here? Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” The little girl launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I missed you. Where were you yesterday? I asked Ms. Hesche where you were but she said you didn’t come to school. Uncle Asa was looking for you, too.”
My heart seizes at the mention of Asa’s name, and I try to keep the panic out of my voice as I pat her back. But there’s nothing I can do about the barb-tipped knot lodged in my gut.
“Rose, you aren’t over here by yourself, right? It’s not safe to walk around unattended without an adult.”
Please say your grandmother is with you. Please say your grandmother…
“No, Uncle Asa is here. There he is!” She twists her torso and points behind her.
Damn.
I can’tnotlook up and in the direction she indicates. And my breath catches in my throat.
Asa stands several feet away, his hands jammed in the pockets of his jacket, his warm gaze settled on me, and it chases away the coolness of the October afternoon. I’m tempted to cross the parking lot, cuddle close to that wide chest and bask in that warmth. Let it burn away the sting of rejection, of hurt and insecurity.
But it’s because I want him to take the pain away that I stay exactly where I am.
I may be a fool, but so far it’s a closely kept secret. Letting him in on it doesn’t appeal to me.
“Are you coming over to our house again, India?” Rose tugs on my waist, and I jerk my attention away from her uncle and refocus on her. “It’s not movie night, but you can eat dinner with us and force Uncle Asa to watch a movie. He’ll do it if you’re there.”
Lord, this girl. Asa had better be careful or she would run him ragged.
“I’m standing right here, and I heard that.” That familiar deep voice rumbles through me, and I fight the urge to close my eyes again. To bask again. But I manage. “Now hurry up. Kayla’s mom is waiting to take you over her house for a playdate. I’ll pick you up about six.”
“Fine,” Rose mutters, loosening her arms from around my waist. She gives me a wave, a “Bye, India! See you at dinner!” even though I promised no such thing and rushes the few feet across the parking lot to jump into the backseat of an SUV.
Leaving me alone with Asa.
Not for long though.
I spin on my heel and head for my car.
“India.” I don’t stop. Ican’tstop. “India, please.”
It’s the “please” that ricochets through me and causes me to jerk to a halt. It’s so rare to hearthatword inthattone—that desperate tone—from this big, dominant, proud man, I immediately still. But my heart, that reckless, silly organ, pounds away, destroying any semblance of calm.
Asa appears in front of me, his grey eyes soft but shadowed.
Dammit, it’s not fair.
The moment he sent me away Saturday night, every need, every craving, every… heartbeat for this man should’ve ceased. I shouldn’t be standing here in this parking lot visually caressing the sharp angle of his cheekbones or the carnal curve of his wide, full mouth. I shouldn’t want to stroke my palms over his broad shoulders and wide chest, shift between those powerful, thick thighs.
I inhale a deep breath and glance away from the impact of him.
“Will you look at me?” he murmurs.
I force myself to meet his grey eyes.
“This isn’t really the appropriate place for this, Asa,” I say. “We should probably do this later.”
“I tried calling but you won’t answer my phone calls. And you haven’t been home since Sunday. I don’t have any pride left to mind admitting that I’m desperate enough to wait after school and use my niece to ambush you into talking to me.” He holds up an arm, then drops it, his fingers curling into a loose fist. “I’m not above it, and I have no shame in admitting it.”
Okay.
I blink.
