Page 14 of Intrigued
I frowned, wondering why she had such hostility. It had always been clear that the patriarch of their family had been a serious no-show in Bryn’s life. At times, I’d envied her. Every time my dad got his ass in a jam, he called me. Unfortunately, it had taken until the previous year for me not to answer. If he’d called me from prison, I wouldn’t know. I had changed my phone number and my address. It would take some time for him to find me. I hoped he never would.
“Move on, Jasper,” Spencer said, glaring at the nearly empty plate sitting in front of him.
I carefully took another bite of fish. It was almost embarrassing that he had more dinner on the plate than I did. The encrusted pan-seared tuna drizzled with Riesling cream sauce made me want to start from the beginning and eat it over and over again. The main course was that good.
Jasper glanced at me. He seemed nervous. If he was wondering whether I had noticed the dysfunction behind the Christmases’ curtain, the answer was yes. So he quickly changed the subject and asked Asher to explain in more detail the distribution agreements he had brokered to disseminate a line of cleaning products his company had developed. I noticed when Asher spoke about his work, his entire face lit up. He loved using words like “sodium hypochlorite” and “ammonium hydroxide” and touting that the entire product line lacked both without lacking effectiveness.
“Then they’re organic, sort of,” I said, lending to the conversation.
“I’m bored,” Gina whined.
It dawned on me that every time I spoke, she was bored.
“I agree,” Spencer said. “Holly, you really mean to tell us that you have no boyfriend or husband?”
My mouth hung open right in front of the bite of food I was about to put into it. “Huh?” I set my fork back on my plate with the tuna and cream still on it.
“I say we respect the lady’s privacy,” Jasper chimed in.
“We’re all adults. You’re beautiful, Holly. Can I ask you a personal question?” Spencer asked despite what Jasper wanted, which was odd because I sussed that Jasper could play them all like puppets if he chose to.
I hesitated. My first inclination was to say no. But then I remembered I would probably have to interview him soon. I had a better chance at getting him to open up and be emotionally honest with me if I did the same.
“Sure,” I said, hearing my voice veer off in a high-pitched tone.
“When was the last time you were fucked?” Spencer asked.
My mouth dropped open. I had not been expecting him to ask me that.
He held up a finger. “Not only fucked but fucked hard and fucked good.”
Suddenly, Gina jumped to her feet and ran out of the dining room. Asher threw his cloth napkin on top of the mouthwatering meal he had hardly touched and chased after her.
Bryn shook her head at Spencer. “Why can’t you behave like an adult?”
Spencer shrugged nonchalantly. “Adult? I’d say fucking is pretty adult.”
I took a deep breath. It was imperative that I pull it together and not let Spencer’s vulgarity knock me off my game. “Any man-child can fuck. But I would think adults know how to engage in the many variations of making love.”
Spencer stared at me for a long moment, lust burning in his eyes. Then he blew a long breath and fell back in his seat. “My crotch is still tight.”
Jasper pounded the table with his fist. “Spencer, knock it the fuck off.”
Spencer rolled his eyes, but I could tell he wouldn’t dare defy his older brother.
Jasper announced that dinner had officially ended and that the servants would bring dessert and a late drink to everyone’s room. He also told Spencer and Bryn that he would see them for breakfast in the morning. “Miss Henderson, I’ll have your breakfast served to you in bed,” he concluded.
I didn’t know whether I should agree to that or not, but when I looked at Bryn, she nodded.
When we all stood to leave, Jasper walked quickly over to me with an extended hand. “It was enjoyable having you join us for dinner tonight.” Then he put his lips near my ear. “Lock your door,” he whispered.
His warm breath sent tickling sensations through my clitoris as if his tongue were actually doing the stimulating. My blink got stuck for a moment as I swerved backward. I didn’t know what the hell was happening to me. When I regained focus, Jasper was walking away with Spencer by his side.
All I could do was stare at their backs. Then, before they turned the corner, Spencer twisted his head around and winked at me.
“Do not fuck him,” Bryn said.
I jumped slightly, unaware she was still standing there. “Don’t worry.”
