Page 32 of His Christmas Gift

“Promise?” she asked, and he didn’t bother responding with words.

He lifted her up against his body, kissing her, showing her how much he meant it. How much he loved her. Wanted her. Adored her. She was made for him.

“I love you, Jasper,” she whispered softly against his lips, and he let out a low groan, wanting her more.

“I love you too, princess, but I don’t think it’d be a good thing to meet your father quite like this,” he stated, trying to make himself let her go but he couldn’t yet.

“What does that mean?” she asked, her tone slightly worried again and he pressed soft kisses over it, calming her.

“I meant with you wrapped around me like this,” he said between kisses.

“Well now, this isn’t the greeting I was expecting,” a new voice said, and Jasper gave Melissa another kiss before putting her down on her feet, letting her move forward to hug her father.

“Dad,” Melissa said, hugging him tightly, smiling more than before after Jasper’s sweetness.

“It’s good to see you, baby girl,” he replied, returning the hug before lifting his hands to her face, studying her intently. She fought against the warmth that was working its way into her cheeks, but it was a losing battle, she knew. “I guess I know why your tone’s been so happy lately. Why don’t you introduce your friend, and we can chat about what’s been going on?”

Melissa smiled taking a step back into Jasper’s reach. The smile softened when his arm slid around her waist, his lips feathering a kiss to her temple. “Dad, this is Jasper Thomas, he’s…”

“The head of the company you were interning at, graduated summa cum laude from Harvard Law School. He was the top at his father’s firm before he left and pulled Myers Investments from bankruptcy to being solvent in less than two years, took Copeland Manufacturing along with him on the journey and they’re now at the top of the industry,” her father said surprising her a bit. “Did you think I’d let you just go off to intern at some company without researching them?”

“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head slightly.

“Not when it comes to my baby girl. Now, why don’t you explain to me why you’re here with my daughter and I’ll decide if I’m going to take a swing or not with what I walked in on?” he continued looking up to Jasper with a slight glare.

“Dad…”

“It’s okay, princess,” Jasper said stopping her. “I came here with Missy to meet her father because I’m in love with her. I knew she wouldn’t discuss furthering our relationship until we met, had your approval of us.”

“And what exactly is it that you love? Her money or her looks?” her father stated, his tone darker shocking her at the look in his eyes.

“Her compassion and sweetness, her desire to help, make others’ lives easier. Her selflessness, integrity, commitment to keeping her word…I could go on for hours about everything that made me fall in love with her, sir, but I can assure you that her money never once came up in discussion. As for her looks, you fell for her mother’s, didn’t you?” Jasper added making her fight a grin as her father’s brow rose in surprise.

“Dad, Jasper didn’t know who you were until we got here,” Melissa stated pulling his attention back to her. “I used Carson at work so people wouldn’t bother me.”

“She didn’t want me fighting her battle on her internship either, she gave you her word and was determined to stick to it. If she’d told me who you were three months ago, we’d have been having this discussion then, I assure you.”

“You didn’t tell him until today?” her father asked, and she nodded. “Well then, I guess I’d have to ask, how do you feel you’d do running a global electronics empire in the future?”

“Pardon me?” Jasper said pulling a little giggle from her, and it deepened when he pulled her further into his arms, tickling her side.

“My daughter’s made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t want to run it. The only thing she likes about it is her charitable donations division and I need to know someone can handle it when I retire one day.”

“I can’t say that I’m up to speed on the electronics industry, but I can say that I know how to pick the right people for the job. I’d be more than happy to share that knowledge with family,” Jasper said, holding her father’s gaze.

“I guess we’ll have to see what it takes to get us to be that then,” her father stated, and Melissa relaxed entirely, letting them settle in to catch up.

Chapter 14

Melissa glanced out the windows, smiling at the lights sparkling on the water. She was ready to get back to New York, but she knew she’d miss this view. She’d miss her father as well, but she’d likely see him as much from now on as she had living with him.

“I still can’t get over how beautiful you are when you’re dressed up like this,” Jasper said, sliding his arms around her, his lips pressing a kiss to her temple. “Tell me who we’re meeting tonight at this thing.”

“Caroline and Ryan Matthews, but you’ll likely know them better as Santa and Mrs. Claus,” she said, turning to face him with a grin.

“Hence the reason they were able to attend and were so familiar with you,” he said, and she nodded. “And I’d guess why your father hasn’t thrown a punch.”

“Maybe a bit,” she mused, as he glanced over her dress. She was wearing the necklace he gave her for Christmas again, with the simple but elegant silk dress in a soft champagne color.

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