Chapter 64

JASPER

I leaned forward and kissed Harper's cheek. "Doll, that was amazing," I settled back into my chair and fought the urge to loosen my belt.

"Yes, it was delicious. Are you sure you like it here with Jasper? You could come home with me; I'd let you cook for me anytime." Max joked.

I gave him a pointed look.

"Easy, brother. You've got one amazing lady there, and she's only got eyes for you," he raised his hands in surrender and threw a quick wink at Harper. She smiled and leaned into my side.

Aster looked over at Harper, her eyes brimming with an emotion that was unfamiliar to me. Aster was always such a flirty, loud, speak-your-mind type of girl but the look she just shared with Harper was different.

Harper made eye contact with Aster, widening her eyes, and nodding in Max's direction, so slightly that anyone could have missed it—except for me, because I see everything, especially when it comes to Harper.

Aster looked at me and nervously smiled, but it didn't meet her eyes.

Something was going on.

Thinking back on it, I did notice that Aster was much quieter and less opinionated than usual.

"Okay, what's going on ladies?"

I finally spoke up because the secrets were driving me nuts.

Aster glared at me, but it wasn't a mean look—it was more of a scared one. My eyes narrowed as neither of them said a word.

The two of them kept sharing looks in some girly mute language. I reached down and tilted Harper's head, coaxing her to meet my eyes.

"You better speak your mind before I have Max do some digging and find out more than we need to." I squinted my eyes in warning, only half-joking.

Harper cleared her throat leaving the talking to Aster.

"That's kinda what we are hoping for," Aster finally spoke. I must have looked confused because she didn't leave much time before continuing.

"Well, I kinda need some help." She said, biting her bottom lip nervously.

"More specifically, yours," She looked to Max. Max looked up from the glass he was sipping. He pointed his thumb toward his chest, "Me?" he questioned.

Aster nodded, looking more nervous now. I wasn't sure where this was going, but I was starting to worry Harper was involved.

Why wouldn't she have told me if they were in trouble?

I thought we were in a better place, than keeping things from each other.

"Oh darling, I can help you out, no problem, but it's kinda rude to ask for that, at the dinner table, don't you think?" Fucking Max, and his inappropriate, yet perfectly timed sexual innuendos.

I couldn't help but chuckle when the drink Aster just sipped from, sprayed out of her mouth, drenching Max's white T-shirt. As the wine dripped from his chin, Aster jumped up, grabbed the cloth napkin from the table, and started dabbing his face.

He smirked, grabbed her hand, and the napkin, then lowered it to his chest, where he flexed. Her lips formed an ‘O', and her cheeks flushed. I don't think I've ever seen her get embarrassed, but there she was, with embarrassment written all over her face. Harper was still at my side laughing so hard, that tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Oh wow, that's one way to cop a feel, Darlin'. All you had to do was ask." He winked. She threw the cloth at him and turned on her heels, but Max grabbed her wrist before she could go far, pulling her down into his lap.

"You had something to ask me?" he raised his brows questionably. She responded by smacking him in the chest and pushing herself up from his lap. Harper was breathlessly laughing.

"See Harper, I told you this was a bad idea." Aster huffed, before plopping back into her chair.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, Buttercup, you have my attention." Max teased. Aster clicked her teeth, and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest, like an eight-year-old throwing a tantrum.

After a few minutes of pouting, she finally sat straight and explained what happened. As she spoke, she looked down, avoiding eye contact. She was so ashamed. Harper rose and settled beside her, taking her hand in a comforting grip, and offering support while Aster tried to recount the events in detail.

Max's expression was a smirk, full of snide at the thought of Aster needing his help. However, once everything was explained, Max looked like a completely different person sitting across from her.

His face was red, his jaw tight, and we could hear his teeth grinding together. He stared at Aster, allowing her to complete her story before he spoke. The whole time visibly fucking fuming.

"Hey Jasper, did you hear all of this?" he didn't take his eyes away from Asters.

"Yeah." I nodded my head.

Max scooted his chair back, placing his hands on the tabletop as he slowly stood. He walked over to Aster and kneeled beside her chair, hovering his hand over hers.

"May I?" he waited for her to respond. When she nodded her head once, he placed his hand on top of hers, where it rested on her knee. She followed his every move with her eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice heavy with concern.

Her eyes widened at the gentle tone he used. Max may play around and tease a lot, but if there is one thing he firmly believes in, its fucking consent. Neither of us tolerate any bullshit when it comes to women being manipulated, or taken advantage of.

Aster hesitated and quickly glanced at Harper. Harper shrugged her shoulders and offered a small smile.

"Yes, just worried," she whispered, staring at Max with something in her eyes that I couldn't quite explain. It's the same way Harper looked at me the night Hector brought her home. If it's any sign of what's in their future, I'd say Max is about to have his hands full.

"Don't worry, Buttercup, I'll do everything in my power to get that video, destroy it, and that Prestyn piece of shit, while I'm at it." He said confidently.

He gently raised the back of his hand to Aster's cheek, caressing it softly with his knuckles. I watched, amazed; my mouth open. Max, known for his playboy ways, was never this gentle.

Aster noticed the extra eyes on her and quickly broke through, whatever the hell the two of them had going on at that moment. She cleared her throat and swatted Max's hand away, fidgeting in her chair.

"Cool, uh thanks, Max. I appreciate it. I mean, you owe me anyway. As mean as you are to me all the time," she teased and flipped her hair over her shoulder, barely missing Max's face during her swift movements.

… and she was back.

He chuckled, got off his knees, and then went to sit in his chair. He still had that glint in his eyes though, I caught him stealing glances at Aster through the night.

Shit, I'm going to have to talk to him about that.

* * *

We were sitting on the couch, cuddling and watching some girly rom-com Aster chose, I was ready to end the night, hoping for some alone time with Harper, but she suggested we make popcorn and play a board game, or watch a movie. We settled on the latter. I'm not a board game kind of guy.

"Oh my God, why are all the guys always so ugly in these kinds of movies? I feel bad for the female leads," Aster announced, sipping her wine.

"Not all men can look like me. It took me a long time to fill this body like I have," Max bragged.

"Get over yourself, Max." Aster snorted and reached over for a handful of popcorn. She threw a kernel, and hit Max in the cheek, smirking. He playfully glared at her.

I heard a low buzzing sound coming from the entryway.

My phone bounced off the porcelain bowl Harper insisted I use for my trinkets and spare change.

I looked over at Max. He pulled his phone from his front pocket checking it first, then shrugged. Harper jumped up grabbed my phone, and brought it to me.

"It could be important," she offered a smile. A rush of redness flushed her face. The way she blushes at the slightest thing… I fucking love it.

I looked at my phone and saw three missed calls from Chester. I haven't heard from him since I sent him the signed paperwork on my father's estate. I let out a noticeable sigh and stood. I leaned down and kissed Harper's forehead.

"I'll be right back, Doll, I got to return that phone call. Tell me what I miss."

She chuckled because she knew I wasn't interested in that movie. I walked into my office and closed the door behind me.

* * *

"How the heck are you, son?" I heard the annoying whine in Chester's voice as he answered my call on the first ring. I have always hated how high-pitched he sounded when he used his fake I give a fuck voice.

"You know I'm not one for pleasantries. What do you want?" I snapped, hoping he would take the hint, and hurry his interruption of my evening.

"The Whitlock mansion has sold, as you requested, but the cleaners said they found some interesting items that seemed sentimental," he paused.

"Your mother's journals and some things in the attic"

"Is it something you can mail to me?" I don't want to go anywhere near that place if I don't have to."

haven't stepped foot on that property since I left, the day I turned eighteen, despite my father's many requests for me to visit.

"I thought maybe you'd like to come retrieve them and see if there was anything else you wanted to keep. There are so many memories in that house Jasper, not all of them bad from what I could tell." His voice was soft and seemed genuine, but I wasn't lost from the fact that I fucking knew he had something to do with my mother's death, but he was right. Not all my memories before she died were bad. She did her best to hide what was happening between her and my father from me. I was completely blind to it until he got careless.

The annoying sound of Chester's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Well, the movers won't be there for the furniture until next Tuesday, if you decide to make the trip, I'd do it before then."

"Fine," I snapped, ending the call. I tossed my phone onto the desk and ran my hands through my hair. Throwing my head back against the headrest, I sighed loudly.

"Fuck!"

The last thing I wanted to do was visit the house I was held captive after my mother's death. Trapped under one roof with whom, I knew to be her killer.

A light knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

The door opened slowly with Harper peeking into the office, her face immediately took away all the dread I felt only moments before.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, in the softest tone. When my eyes met hers, I raised two fingers and gestured for her to come to me. She did so without hesitation. When she got close enough, I reached out, wrapped my arms around her waist, and buried my face into her stomach. Her hands, instinctively run through my hair.

"I have to go to Atlanta this weekend."

I felt her tense under my hold at just the mention of her hometown.

I pulled her down onto my lap and tilted her head to look me in the eyes.

"Harper, you know you are safe with me, right?" She nodded, her tears threatening to escape.

"I know, it's just hard to forget," her voice trailed off.

"I will always protect you, no matter what," I said firmly, feeling a sense of rage bubble in my gut remembering what those assholes did to her.

They were lucky that they were already dead, or I'd kill them for having such an effect on my girl. Their death was too quick. They deserved a slow painful death. Given the time Max and I could have gotten quite creative, I'm certain.

"I know you will, Jasper. I love you so much."

"I know you do, Doll, and I will ensure you always have a reason to continue." She leaned forward and kissed the tip of my nose.

I used to hate that type of affection. I'm not typically affectionate, but Harper has completely captivated me and transformed my soul. I'd be whatever she asked me to be, and fucking love every minute of it.

"What for?" she asked, catching me off guard. I looked at her with questioning eyes. "You said you're going to Atlanta this weekend," she reminded me.

"I have to go to my family home, it sold, and there are some things there that belonged to my mother." She nodded while kissing my collarbone.

"When will you be back?" she asked with a sad look about her.

"When will we be back?" I corrected her. There was no way I was leaving her here alone. I have enough security to keep her safe, but I want her with me.

"Are you asking me to go away with you Jasper Whitlock?" She cooed, and I could feel her smile on my neck.

"Fuck yes."