Page 109 of Romeo

Georgie’s head snapped around. “What the hell did you just say?”

Sugar’s lips twitched. “He said, ‘My beautiful girl, you’re the answer to a prayer I was never good enough to pray’.”

My heart forgot what it was supposed to be doing.

Georgie made a disgusted sound. “That’s⁠—”

“Nope.” Josie pointed at him. “You’re done, Georgie. One more word of objection and you’re sleeping at the clubhouse tonight instead of going home to your wife. I’m serious.”

His mouth opened.

Closed.

He glared at her, then at Jasper.

And somehow managed to remain silent.

I descended the last few stairs. Up close, Jasper was almost unfair. The tuxedo fit his shoulders perfectly, and the clean white shirt made his skin look darker. I caught the familiar scent of him when I stopped in front of him, cedar mixed with something I’d never been able to name.

But it was his face I couldn’t stop looking at.

Not because he was beautiful. Though, God help me, he was.

Because he looked nervous.

Jasper, who could flirt with anyone.

Jasper, who had an answer for everything.

Jasper, who’d driven halfway across the country in a tuxedo, was looking at me as though my next words actually mattered.

He opened the container. White roses rested against silver ribbon.

“May I?” he asked.

I held out my wrist. His fingers were warm as he slid the corsage into place. His thumb brushed lightly across the inside of my wrist before he let me go. The tiny touch left more behind than it should have.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

His brow furrowed. “For what?”

I looked at him. “For coming.”

Something changed in his expression. His smile this time wasn’t Romeo’s. It wasn’t polished or flirtatious or designed to make women fall at his feet.

It was Jasper.

“Ma Belle, I’d drive across the entire country just to see you smile. Distance is a minor inconvenience when it comes to you.”

I remembered teasing him with those exact words weeks ago. Apparently, he remembered too.

Of course he did.

He offered me his arm.

“Ready?”

I looked behind me. Granny was smiling. Josie looked so pleased with herself I knew she’d been involved in every detail. Sugar winked. Even Jasmine seemed enchanted by the whole thing.