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“I’ve got a highchair in the pantry. Let me grab it, and we can set it by the table. And don’t think of leaving until we’ve finished discussing this matter. You try to leave before we’ve finished our negotiations, and I will call the authorities.”
She sucked in a breath at the threat. Rich people really were different. Only a guy who had never interacted with cops would call them the authorities. But she had no plans to leave just yet. Because she wanted to see if he was serious about his offer.
Did he really want to marry her for a year to gain his inheritance? Would he really buy her a house and give her twenty million dollars if she agreed?
It was the best offer she’d ever received. And she wanted to uncover if it was too good to be true. Because if he was serious and could prove he had that type of money to toss around, she couldn’t turn it down.
Jasper returned moments later with a highchair that looked brand spanking new for Maddie and sat it next to the table.
“Do you have kids?” Because she really didn’t want or need the drama of caring for his kids or dealing with an ex-wife or ex-girlfriend in the mix.
“No. But I’ve got cousins with children. It’s easier to have one of these on hand when we all get together.”
“I see.” But she didn’t. How could she when it was such a foreign concept? Having furniture on hand just in case an extended family member might need to use it when they visited. But she guessed that was the difference between those who had money and the rest of the population.
“I hope you don’t mind leftovers. One of my cousins hosted a big barbecue last night and sent us home with loads of food.”
“No, I don’t mind at all. It’s been a while since I had barbecue.” Or anything resembling an actual meal that wasn’t microwavable noodles in a cup. The thought of eating real protein almost made her swoon and liable to sign on the dotted line without verifying he was legit.
“Good.” He started pulling trays of food out from the fridge. “Will Maddie eat chicken? Or is she more of a hotdog kind of lass?”
“Dog.” Maddie piped in, clapping her pudgy little hands.
“She’s a big fan of hotdogs.”
“Well, why don’t we get her situated first? There’s even some mac and cheese.”
“Yay!” Maddie squealed in delight.
This man was speaking her daughter’s language with food. She approached the kitchen island, the one she had cleaned an hour ago, with caution. “I can put together her plate.”
Jasper nodded and moved enough to let her over by the food. Her stomach growled at the offerings. There was chicken, burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, green beans with bacon and onions, salad, and fruit. They’d struck gold in the food department. Her mouth watered. She was so hungry. If he wasn’t around, she’d start eating it with her bare hands, not caring that it was cold.
She took one of the plates with Maddie in her arms. It was always a juggling act, getting anything done with a toddler.
“Here, let me take her,” Jasper offered, holding his rather large hands out for her kid.
Her desire to feed her daughter and herself warred with handing her child over into the arms of a virtual stranger. Hunger won out. She handed Maddie over. And Maddie just grinned at him. She took his face in her chubby little hands and babbled.
Jasper chuckled, the sound a deep, rich timbre that turned her insides into mush. Who the hell was this guy? And why did he have such a hold on her? She should be out the door with Maddie. She should be packing their things and heading to a new location.
But where would they go? What would she do?
They’d spent time in Boston, Seattle, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Louisville, and Houston before coming to Denver. And he’d found them every single time. Jasper was offering them the opportunity to leave the country using his last name. Surely they could hide from him on the other side of the world, and she could stop looking over her shoulder every minute of every day. The thought of having a cottage by the sea in a small Scottish town where they could truly make a fresh start would be a dream come true.
“Why me? You’re not an unattractive man. I mean, you could get any woman in the world.” If she hadn’t sworn off men, he was someone she would definitely go for, because he was smoking hot. He filled out his jeans with thighs the size of tree trunks. He was powerfully built and had an ass she could bounce a nickel off—if she had a nickel to her name to use.
And he kissed like a wet dream. She could still taste his seductive flavor on her lips. Because kissing him had been like a shot of tequila and twice as potent.
Jasper smirked at her comment. His cobalt eyes filled with mirth at her offhand compliment. She’d bet he’d give a woman a fun ride. Not that she would experience it firsthand, but between that kiss and his body, she saw his smoldering appeal.
“Yes, that is all true. But most women want things I can’t give them,” he replied with a shake of his head, shifting the tousled waves of his inky hair.
Freya had had her fingers in that silken hair. And that mouth and—gah! What the hell was happening to her? A single kiss shouldn’t make her go gaga over a man.
Her heart clenched because she perceived an unspoken sorrow deep within him. It made her want to cuddle him. “Like what?”
“Permanence. For me to fall for them, when I’m simply not capable of softer emotions.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.
