Page 65 of Craving Paradise

“I’m sorry I was rude to your new boyfriend,” I mumble, rolling my eyes.

“Jasper, my boyfriend, are you insane? I’m not interested in him. Eww. I mean, the man is fine and looks delicious in that tuxedo tonight. But I’ve known him for years. He has a reputation, and it’s well deserved. He breaks hearts left, right, and center. I do not want to be a notch on Jasper Fox’s bedpost.”

“You two looked rather cozy tonight,” I comment, a frown forming on my face, confused over what I saw.

“That’s because I was trying to make someone else jealous. An ex is here with another woman, and Jasper noticed my strange behavior when I ran into them. He pretended to be my plus one for the night to save me from the hurt of seeing him again with someone else.”

Oh.

That was nice, I guess.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am.”

We head past the black curtains leading to the back of the stage. We check in with the assistant, who then tells us to take a seat after handing us our numbers.

"Are you serious? Sixty-nine?" I gasp, glancing down at my number.

Ines is rolling around laughing at my misfortune.

Could this night get any worse?

“Anyway, getting back to you being a jerk to Jasper. Did he upset you or something?”

“No,” I answer, shaking my head.

Ines gasps. “No, you didn’t. You did, didn’t you?”

“What?” Her reaction scares me.

“Are you fucking serious, Lauren? Really, you slept with Jasper?” Ines groans as she shakes her head, giving me a disappointed look.

I refuse to answer her question.

“Your non-answer is all the answer I need. It was in Ibiza, wasn’t it?” She continues to push me on the subject. “Lauren, I can tell when you’re lying.”

“Fine. It was a one-night thing in Ibiza. I haven’t seen him since then until tonight.”

I know this is a lie, but she doesn’t exactly know I work at a sex club or know Jasper is a member.

“Is that why you’ve been rude to him tonight because he hasn’t called since Ibiza?”

“No. I’m the one who kicked him out once it was over. You know me, I enjoy having fun. And that’s all he was. You know his reputation.”

“Please tell me it’s all lies, and all these women crying over their night with Jasper Fox are desperate and have never had good sex before?”

My sister’s question makes me chuckle. “Was it the best I’ve ever had? No. Was it good? Hell, yes.”

“I knew it,” she says, bursting out laughing.

“He’s like the carnival good once a year.”

“You’re such a savage, Lauren.”

“Our parents own a modeling agency. We are currently backstage, surrounded by gorgeous men. You don’t need your ex, and I don’t need Jasper Fox.”

“Preach to me, sister,” Ines says, laughing. “You should think about giving Jasper a chance, though. I noticed he couldn’t keep his eyes off you tonight.”

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