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“Why?” she asks. “What could Ford possibly want with Gabby. She’s too young for him,” she mumbles.
It’s wrong I know, but I don’t correct her when she immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion. I never thought I was a weak man, but being afraid to lose a woman is a new fucking thing to me.
“Some would say you’re too young for everything I want from you Jasmine,” I respond and that, at least, is fully truthful.
“What do you want from me, Luke?”
“For starters, tomorrow, you and I are going to look for a new place to live.”
“Uh…come again?” she asks, pulling back and looking completely startled.
“It took having you meet Daisy. Seeing your reactions and really talking to my daughter to realize I’ve fucked up.”
“I’m listening,” she says, and even in the semi-darkness, I can feel her gaze appraising me. I should worry, I guess, but the sadness is out of her voice and I let that soothe me. I should have come clean, laid all my cards down on the table with Jasmine, but I can’t.
Not yet.
I need time to get her addicted to me, make her feel for me what…
What I’m starting to feel for her.
“Fuck, baby. I don’t know a damn thing about raising a kid but finding out my daughter has been waiting a damn week to get a lightbulb changed in her room… Shit, she had cereal for dinner and was forced to go to bed early. I took on the responsibility of being her father, but that’s as far as it’s truly gone. I love her, but I’ve been a shit dad. Help me find a place I can bring my daughter home to.”
“Oh…I can do that if you’re sure,” she murmurs.
“I’m sure. I’m also sure that I want you in that home.”
“Luke, this is—”
“You said your father loves you. You are secure in that. I want that for Daisy. I want you to show me.”
“I think that’s something you just have to build, honey. You may not believe this, but you’ve got a good start. Daisy adores you.”
“Then stay with me because you want to be a part of what I’m building, Jasmine. Stay because you want to be with me.”
“You’re serious…” I hear her exhale, the sound broken and jittery.
“Baby, you’ve been running from me so much lately. Isn’t the fact that I keep coming after you proof enough? I admit, I’m getting frustrated with the way you keep trying to pull away from me, but from what you said about your ex, I guess I can kind of understand it. Still, what’s it going to take for you to realize that I’m in this for the long haul. I’m not your douchebag ex.”
She giggles and I smile because it’s the first time tonight that her voice has felt light-hearted.
“What?” I prompt, when she doesn’t say anything.
“It sounds kind of funny listening to your big, gravelly voice say douchebag, but it’s so true,” she laughs.
“Stay with me, Jasmine. Go house shopping with me tomorrow.”
“Don’t make me regret this, Luke.”
“I’ll do my best,” I promise, and I hope like hell I can keep that vow.
I really do.33Jasmine“Jaz-min! Jaz-min!” I jerk up in bed, clutching the sheet to my chest, blinking. It takes a minute to focus. The clock on the wall says eight-thirty. Now, it should be said that I don’t normally sleep in—truly I don’t. Last night, however, Luke worked me over and I think it was four orgasms and three in the morning before I finally crashed.
Still, I wouldn’t have thought I was that out of it. Obviously, I would have been wrong, because Luke—dressed, looking damn good with a to-go bag from the local doughnut shop under his arm and a very excited Daisy come into the bedroom.
“Jaz-min! I’m here! Daddy says I get to stay here with you!”
I blink. Oh shit. I mean, I hated leaving Daisy at the club last night—I really did. She was sleeping however, and Luke didn’t mention getting her and I figured it wasn’t my place to question him. Honestly, when I left, I wasn’t sure if I was even going to stay with Luke. I still don’t know if he’s telling me the complete truth, but I want to believe him.
I also love him and it’s real. It’s not the weak emotion that I felt for Dewayne and tried to force. It happened before I knew it and it fills every part of me. Daisy jumps on the bed and I clutch the cover to me even more, wishing I’d put on a nightgown of some sort last night.
“Yay!” I tell her, clearing my throat. “That’s awesome. I know it will make your daddy really happy to have you with him.”
“And you, Jaz-min! You too. Daddy said you live with him.”
“He did?” I ask, going bug-eyed and looking at Luke like he’s lost his damn mind.
