Jasper Vale (The Edens, #4)

by Devney Perry

“Oh, hey. There’s Jasper.” I pointed. Chase raised a hand. Jasper did the same. And in his hand was my jacket.

Jasper reached a hand behind his head, fisting his shirt. Whoosh. Shirt gone.

“Holy. Freaking. Abs.” My jaw dropped. “Six. Definitely six.”

“Eight,” he corrected. “Co...

Of all the places in the world, why would I come here again?

That was why I’d brought her here last night. She wasn’t the only one who wanted to take something ugly, something lacking, something painful, and cover it up with something beautiful.

Babe. I’d do this every fucking day to have her call me babe. Eloise wasn’t the first woman to use that endearment. But I liked it in her voice the best. It was just more paint. More color, more beauty, covering up my ugly past.

With him, foreplay didn’t start the minute we hit the bedroom. It started first thing in the morning. A casual touch as we crossed paths. A sensual stare. A chaste kiss. Dirty words and promises of what was to come.

Jasper stood, legs planted wide, arms crossed over his broad chest, staring at two angry men. They also stood with their legs planted wide and arms crossed over their chests. Griffin and Knox didn’t so much as glance my direction. Their glares were locked on Jasper.

A strong arm wrapped around my shoulders, stopping another lame apology. Jasper hauled me backward, flush against his chest. “That’s enough.”

Griffin’s gaze leveled on Jasper. “This is a private conversation.”

“You’re yelling at ...

My jaw dr...

Griffin was the first to break. His arms fell relaxed to his sides. He dropped his attention, his blue eyes finding mine. “You need to call Mom.” His voice was so gentle it hurt.

Griffin sighed, shaking his head. “Do you need help hauling stuff out of here? I can go home and bring in a horse trailer.” My chin began to quiver. Tears welled. They might be mad, disappointed, but they were still my big brothers. And they’d help me move. “Rain check?” I asked. Griffin nodded, touched the tip of my nose, then without another word, turned and walked out of the house. Knox jerked up his chin to Jasper, then followed.

“My mom is an amazing cook. She jokes that Knox and Lyla inherited her talents, and by the time Mateo and I were born, there was nothing left for us. But I still try. I bake cookies for family dinners and pretend not to notice when they all disappear to the garbage can in the garage. I make sangria that no one drinks.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. I guess it would be nice to do it right. Just once.”

Foster had told me about the Edens. He had a lot of respect for Talia’s family. But they had a lot of work to do to earn mine.

“Will you smile for me?”

Her nose scrunched up. “That’s not your real smile. Your eyes aren’t doing the crinkle thing.”

She waved it off, lifting her glass. But before she could take another drink, I stole it from her hand, bringing the sangria to my mouth. Fuck, it was awful. She’d used too much orange juice or too much rum or too much wine. Maybe too much of everything. It was like drinking diluted sweet and sour sauc...

“Look at you. Look at how fucking sexy you are. Who gives a damn if you can bake cookies or make sangria. You’re perfect, El.”

The moment I pressed my mouth to Jasper’s, his hand cupped the back of my head, pulling me closer. His tongue licked at the seam of my lips, sliding inside when I opened. I sank into the kiss, the languid strokes of his tongue and the soft press of his lips. It was slow and unhurried. Different than the way he kissed me in bed. What was this? Affection? Intimacy? An apology?

Her family, her parents, had put so much pressure on Eloise to change that she’d convinced herself she wasn’t good enough. That to get that hotel, she couldn’t say no. That she had to be perfect. She already was.

“That flutter is mine. Only mine.” “Huh?” I waited, giving her a minute to understand. No other man got that flutter. The sparkle in her gaze dimmed, like a sheer curtain had been draped across a window. “Don’t talk like that.” “Like what?” “Jas.” She unwrapped her legs, wiggling to be set down, but my hold on her only tightened. “Promise me, Eloise. Don’t give it to anyone else.”

Two souls lost in the pouring rain.

Fifteen hours on the road, and I’d been so desperate to see her. To climb in bed beside her and finally get some sleep. Apparently, I’d gotten used to the cuddling. Without her, I hadn’t been able to sleep.

Then she’d come home and well . . . I’d missed her.

I wasn’t supposed to miss her.

Fuck, but I was tired. Tired of holding up my hand, keeping her at a distance. Tired of pretending that sex bet...

“...

“...

Well, at least that was something. “And do you see her? When you’re with me?” Please say no. “No, El. I see you. I’ve only ever seen you.”

A fool’s promise. But I made it anyway. Hurting Eloise wasn’t an option. If she wanted me to walk away, if she wanted her own freedom, I’d go. But if she wanted me to stay . . .

And this time when I faced the room, I was met with a pair of jealous hazel eyes. Maybe she was beautiful. But my blue eyes were jewels compared to her muddy irises. My cheeks were beginning to hurt from this saccharine smile, but I didn’t falter as I met her icy glare. Fuck you too, Samantha.

Did she see how perfect we were together? Did she realize that it didn’t matter if I wore a ring? If she had my last name? Eloise Eden was mine. And I was hers. Until the end.

This woman got everything I had—heart, body and soul.

“Blaze,” I snapped. “Goodbye.” His lip curled. “Bitch.” “Watch it,” Jasper rumbled. “That’s my wife.”

The heat from Jasper’s body, his warmth, hit me at the same time as his scent. Then his knuckles grazed my cheek. “You okay?” “Great,” I lied, opening my eyes. It was the look on his face that broke me. The concern. The fear. The tears spilled over my cheeks. “You’re not okay.”

“I got the divorce papers.” Ouch. Damn it, this hurt. “I didn’t realize your attorney was sending them.” “Not mine, angel. Yours.” “Oh.” Guess that item was off my to-do list. “I threw them in the trash.” My brain was too fogged to keep up. “Wait. You did? Because there was something wrong with them or—” “It’s not the end.” “It’s not?” “No.” He shook his head, his eyes searching mine. “You are my wife.”

“I got you,” he murmured, holding me tighter. “What do you need?”

I love you. Every day it got harder and harder not to say it aloud. Last night, after dinner at the ranch, I’d been so proud of how hard he’d tried that I’d almost said it on the way home. Why hadn’t I? Why was I holding back? Because I wanted Jasper to say it first? Because he still wouldn’t wear a stupid wedding ring? How many people had told Jasper they loved him? Not enough. Shame on me for waiting.

I shifted past the desk, about to go and say hello to Covie myself, but when I looked over, Jasper was shoving past Winn. His face was hard, his eyes . . . frantic.

Fuck, I could have lost her. “I love you,” I whispered.

While everyone had come together after the shooting, crowding around us at the A-frame, the ordeal had rattled the Edens. Tonight’s dinner was just another excuse to pull together.

The house was insanity. Seven different conversations were happening at once. It had been like this the first time I’d come out here too, the noise shocking, but to everyone else, it just seemed . . . normal.

“Think you can handle this family?” “Honestly? No.” I chuckled. This was a far cry from the household where I’d been raised. But as I looked to Eloise, as I saw the kids, the growing family, I wouldn’t want anything else for her.

If you’re good with everything, we’ve already signed it. You just need to sign it too.” I turned to Jasper. He was smiling. “You knew.” “Yeah.”

After missing my period, I’d taken a pregnancy test after dinner. He’d almost cried when I’d handed him that positive stick. Or maybe I’d just imagined the sheen of tears in his eyes. I couldn’t exactly be sure. I’d been a hot mess, bouncing between panicked hysterics and joyous laughter, crying enough for us both.

Go for a hike then. You love hiking, and I know you hardly went this summer. It’s a beautiful day. Get some fresh air. Disconnect. Do anything. Just leave this building until tomorrow morning.”