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“I’ll have to stop by,” he says with a small smile.
That was the thing about Jasper. He never really smiled or showed other emotions. It was just those grayish-blue eyes taking everything in.
My phone goes off and it’s my mom’s ringtone.
“I should get that,” I say apologetically.
“No worries. It was nice seeing you again. We’ll have to grab dinner and catch up some more soon,” he says as he starts to push his cart past me.
I can only stare after him as I wonder just what exactly he meant by that.
Did Jasper Mackelroy just ask me out?
ChapterThree
Jasper
I’m standing outside the hotel the next day, my neck feeling hot as I look around Rosewood. I can feel people staring at me, and I don’t like it. This place never felt like home and I feel even more alienated now that I’m back.
I’m in the shadows in the little nook by the front door people watching. It’s a slow day, only a few people out and about.
My eyes lock on Evangeline as she walks down the sidewalk on the other side of the road. Her round hips sway with each step and my mouth starts to water. I want to run my hands over those curves. I want to explore every inch of her.
I shift, my eyes locked on Evangeline as she heads past my hiding spot. She’s wearing a pair of jeans with dirt on the knees and I can picture her doing other things on her knees.
I get lost in my daydreams and maybe that’s why I don’t notice when my brother pulls into the parking lot.
Gray and Nora park in the spot next to my rental car and I push off from the hotel wall and head over to greet them. It’s weird, but I’m nervous to see my brother again. I’ve been shot, blown up, fought in wars, but the thought of facing my brother has me feeling anxious.
I take one last look at Evangeline before she turns the corner and heads toward her nursery.
“What the fuck?” Gray growls, stalking the few feet over to me with a scowl on his face, his eyes locked on my bandaged arm and then the scars on my neck. “You’re hurt?”
“Yeah,” I say, my hand rubbing at the back of my neck. “My unit got hit on our last mission. I was going to tell you but then I got the call about Dad.”
“And you just decided to let me know when I saw you?” Gray asks and I can tell that he’s annoyed with me for hiding this.
“We’re just glad that you’re alright,” Nora says, laying her hand on Gray’s arm. “It’s good to see you again, Jasper. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Those last words don’t ring true and I know that no one who ever knew him really thinks that Rod Mackelroy’s death is any real loss.
“Thanks, Nora. It’s good to see you too. Are you guys all checked in?”
“Not yet. We’re headed in now.”
I nod, following after Gray and Nora as we all head for the hotel lobby. Gray heads over to check in and Nora stays with me off to the side.
“Do you need me to do anything for tomorrow?” she asks, careful not to let Gray hear her, and I wonder how my brother is taking the news.
“No, I already made all of the plans. I don’t anticipate it being a big funeral. Rod wasn’t exactly a pillar of the community.”
Nora gives me a sad smile and I wonder if she’s thinking about her own father and home life. She didn’t exactly have it better than we did.
“It starts at ten, right?” she asks and I nod.
“Yeah, then I thought we could grab lunch downtown somewhere. I need to go over to the house and clean it out sometime this week too.”
“Are you sure that you should be doing that?” she asks, nodding toward my injured side.
