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Especially Jasper’s child. This baby would want for nothing.
“Waiting for someone?” Jasper’s deep voice sounded in my ear, startling me out of my runaway thoughts. I blinked as I realized I was still standing in the middle of the employee room, staring into space.
“Well?”
“No. Hulu’s waiting for me outside. I’m just tired and ready to go home.” Which I would do right after we had a little chat. “Listen, Jasper, I can’t keep doing these double shifts. The late nights are kicking my ass, and I’m constantly tired.”
He stared at me for so long I was sure Jasper was going to walk away without addressing my concerns. His jaws clenched, and his nostrils flared, a sure sign an explosion was imminent.
“I need you, just for a little while longer, Mo.”
Words I’d heard before, though in a different context.
His voice dropped to its begging tone. “You know what you’re doing around here. and I can’t be sure the rest of the girls do.” But it only meant he was leveraging me.
I held my breath, waiting for him to say something nice. Something complimentary. “Jasper,” I groaned.
“I need you, Mo. At least until they’re all trained up right.”
Those first four words, beautiful and misleading all at once, hit me in an unexpected place. Longing shot through me, so strong and deep and visceral it was like a dropkick to the center of my chest, at his slightly anguished words.
I knew Jasper wasn’t saying he needed me. He was the boss, after all. Even if that was true on some planet, he wasn’t the kind of man to say words like that. No, he needed my skills as a waitress.
“Sadie thought they were capable enough to open up Lucky Lopez.”
“Yeah, I know,” he growled and ran a hand through his thick hair. “And I’m telling you they’re not. You’ve seen it for yourself.”
“Fine,” I sighed. “Then train them how you like, or have Thomas do it. He probably needs something else to keep him busy between trips to the hospital. I can’t keep working this schedule, Jasper.”
Just as I said the words, a yawn split my jaw until it cracked, and I shook my head. “I’ll see you tomorrow at Midnight Mass.” It was well past time for me to get home and get to bed.
“Not good enough, Mo.”
Oh, he was fucking kidding me, wasn’t he? I whirled around to face him, no longer swayed by the way my heart beat just for him or the panty-melting scowl on his face. Now, I was pissed.
“I worked these shifts as a favor to you, Jasper. A fucking favor. If you want to fire me, then go right ahead because newsflash, I don’t work here. Send me a text message to let me know because I’m outta here.”
“Hot date?”
The question came out on a derisive snort. His arms folded across his broad chest, a knowing expression on his face as if he knew me. Knew my life.
“Why do you care?”
He shrugged. “Who said I did?”
“Exactly. We both know you don’t so stop with the questions. You get what you want and dismiss me like a fucking whore, so don’t start playing the role of a jealous boyfriend.”
I turned back toward the door and marched right through it, a head full of steam and heart full of anger ready to burst.
“Mo,” he called after me, but I did something I never did when it came to Jasper. I ignored him and kept walking. “Goddammit, Mo.”
“Not now, Jasper. I told you I’m tired.” And I couldn’t be responsible for whatever came out my mouth next. “Tomorrow. Midnight Mass. See you then.”
I felt the weight of his gaze on me as I pushed open the Lucky Lopez entrance harder than I needed to and walked across the parking lot, my heart slowly breaking as I slid into the waiting car.
Hulu spotted me in the rearview mirror. “Everything all right?”
I nodded, but Hulu’s kind gaze, so filled with concern, was my undoing. Tears fell down my cheeks, and I swiped at them angrily, as if they were to blame for my current state of emotions. It wasn’t the tears, hell, it wasn’t even really Jasper. He was the same man he’d always been, the same man I had loved all these years.
Between his all-powerful king of the world behavior and my hormones, my emotions were all over the place. I could barely see straight due to my confused state of mind, and I needed to get my shit together.
“I’m fine, Hulu. Thanks.”
“Wanna talk about it? I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”
His kind words put a smile on my face. “Thanks, but I absolutely do not want to talk about it.”
“I’m here if you do,” he offered and drove me home. Hulu came to a stop outside Emerald Isle and opened the back door for me.
