Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Liam

I’ve been in a shitty mood all afternoon. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. Mateo was clearly interested in Jasmine today, but I shut him down quick. And he knew it. But it was a dick move on my part. Mateo is one of my closest friends, and he’s a great guy. He’d be a fantastic boyfriend for any woman. But when he started showing interest in Jasmine, I kind of lost it.

I just can’t picture her with another guy. She needs someone amazing in her life. Someone who knows her past, but doesn’t judge her for it. Someone who’s willing to do whatever it takes to give her the life she deserves. Give her opportunities and chances to succeed. And when I picture another guy with her—physically with her, holding her, touching her—I feel sick. She needs someone who will take things slowly and give her a chance to ease into a healthy sexual relationship. She’s been used for so long, I don’t know if she even wants that with anyone.

“Hey! Earth to Liam.” Mateo’s standing in the doorway. “Mind if I come in?”

My heart shoots up into my throat. It’s like I summoned him here with my thoughts. “Hey, Mateo. Of course I don’t mind. You don’t need to ask.”

He shrugs, grinning. “I wasn’t so sure based on the way you snapped at me earlier.”

“I’m sorry about that. I guess I overreacted. I get protective when it comes to Jasmine.”

“You think?” Mateo grins as he waves off my apology. “Hey, mon, there’s no need to apologize.” His Jamaican accent becomes more prominent. “I’m here right now—as a friend—to find out what’s going on with you two. Are you guys dating? And why haven’t I heard of her before now?”

“No, we’re not dating. We’re just friends. I’m helping her get on her feet, that’s all.”

He looks skeptical. “Okay. So, where did you meet her? At work?”

“No. We met outside Tanks.”

“Oh. So just an accidental meeting?”

“Yeah. Sort of.”

“Sort of?” His dark eyes narrow. “What does that mean?”

“She was in a situation. I stepped in to assist.”

“Where does she live? Is she local?”

Shit. Here we go. “Currently, she’s living with me.”

“With you? All right, Liam. What the hell’s going on? You meet a random woman on the street, and now she’s living with you?”

“Nothing. I told you, we’re just friends. That’s all it can ever be.”

Mateo scoffs. “I don’t believe that for a second. Dude, you’re kidding yourself.”

“There are things you don’t know. Things I can’t tell you. Suffice it to say, Jasmine is under my protection. And she’s off limits. Is that clear?”

Mateo nods. “Yeah, I hear you, mon. Loud and clear. If there’s something I can do to help, just let me know.”

“I will. Thanks.”

* * *

At five, I head to Lia’s house to pick Jasmine up. I let myself into the house and head downstairs to the lower level. I find Jonah in his music studio, and the girls are in the workout room, both of them going at it hard.

So far they haven’t noticed me, so I have a moment to observe Jasmine’s capabilities. Lia’s teaching her the basics of Krav Maga—strike hard and fast, without mercy. It’s the most effective way to quickly neutralize an opponent.

They run through a set of well-practiced movements over and over, and I can’t help smiling. Jasmine’s coordination is spot on. She’s tenacious. A few times, she gives Lia a run for her money, driving my sister back a few steps before Lia gains the upper hand once more.

Then they notice me, and the drills stop.

Jasmine jogs over to me. “Hi,” she says, trying to catch her breath. “Lia said I’m ready to start learning Krav Maga.”

“I see that. You looked great just now.”

She grins. “Thanks.”

Lia joins us. “Grasshopper is coming along nicely.”

Jasmine frowns. “Who’s grasshopper?”

“Never mind,” I tell her. “It’s an old television show reference from the early seventies, long before you were born.”

Her frown deepens. “We didn’t have a TV.”

Lia reaches out and ruffles Jasmine’s hair. “It just means you’re a good student, sweetie.”

“Are you ready?” I ask Jasmine

She nods. “Just let me grab my workout bag.”

Jonah comes out of his studio at that moment and wraps Lia in his arms.

“I’m a hot mess, babe.”

Laughing, Jonah grins as he kisses the side of Lia’s neck. “That’s okay. You’re my hot mess.”

Jasmine and I leave my sister and her husband to their foreplay and head out to the Jeep. “Looks like you got a serious workout today,” I say as we hop into the vehicle.

“It was great.” Jasmine mimes striking out with the edge of her hand. “I kept envisioning plowing my hand into Tony’s face.”

I laugh. “I heartily approve.”

“Can I use your barbells at home? I want to build up muscle. Lia says I’d be more effective if I had more muscle.”

At home. My heart skips a beat. “Of course you can. You don’t need to ask.”

When she smiles at me, my chest tightens. This girl has me wrapped around her little finger.

* * *

That night, we make pasta with marinara sauce for dinner, along with garlic bread and a salad. After dinner, I show Jasmine around the workout room and show her how to use all of the equipment. She spends half-an-hour lifting barbells, while I do bench presses.

“Be careful not to overdo it, Jasmine,” I warn her. “You’re not used to weight training.”

“How much weight can you lift?” she asks me.

“Without a spotter, about one-eighty-five. With a spotter, two-fifty.”

She gasps. “Do you mean hundreds?”

I chuckle at her reaction. “Yes.”

She winces. “I can barely lift the ten-pound barbells.”

“It’s okay. Keep at it. You’ll build up muscle in no time.”

After our workout, we take turns showering and then crash on the sofa to watch TV. Halfway through an episode of Stranger Things, Jasmine conks out.

She’s asleep sitting up but listing toward me and about to topple over. I could wake her up and send her to bed, but instead I gently lower her so that she’s lying with her head in my lap.

I stare down at her profile. The bruises are fading nicely, leaving her beautiful soft brown skin unmarred. I study the delicate shape of her ear. With a sigh, she shifts and settles more deeply into sleep. When her palm comes up to rest on my thigh next to her face, my dick starts to stir.

I’m going to hell for this.

I remain in place and do some channel surfing, trying to ignore the temptation of Jasmine with her head on my thigh, finally landing on the tail end of the Monday Night football game.

Finally, just as the game is ending, Jasmine stirs. “Oh, god, I’m sorry. I fell asleep.” She sits up and straightens her hair.

“It’s okay. You had a busy day. You should probably hit the hay.” I notice a strand of her hair out of place, and on impulse, I reach out to tuck it behind her ear.

She looks at me, surprise on her face. Our gazes meet for a long moment, and I could swear she’s blushing.

Abruptly, she stands and stretches. “Yeah, I should go to bed. Goodnight, Liam.”

“Goodnight.”

After she pops into the bathroom to get ready for bed, she walks across the hall. She pauses at the bedroom door and turns to me. “Night, Liam.” She stands there for the longest moment, just looking at me. And then she disappears into the bedroom and closes the door behind her.

I sit here on the sofa wondering what the hell I’m doing. Having her living here with me is sheer torment. Spending almost all of my time with her is torture. The problem is, I don’t know how to get from where I am to where I want to be.

* * *

The next afternoon, after Jasmine leaves with Lia for her training session, I take the elevator up to the 20th floor to the executive offices.

“Hi, Diane,” I say, stopping at Shane’s assistant’s desk. “Is he in?”

“Yes, honey. Go on in. He’s alone.”

“Thanks.” I walk over to Shane’s door and knock.

“Come in!” When I open the door and he sees it’s me, Shane waves me in. “Come in and have a seat. What’s up, pal?”

I sit in the chair facing his desk and blow out a heavy breath.

“All right, spill it,” he says as he settles back in his black leather chair.

“I have a problem.”

“And what’s that?”

“Jasmine.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Care to be more specific?”

“I—shit. So, I’m trying to be a big brother to her, you know? Her protector. But the problem is… my thoughts aren’t very brotherly, if you get my drift.”

Shane grins. “You like her.”

I nod. “That’s an understatement. It’s more like I can’t stop thinking about her.”

“I don’t see the problem here. You’re single, she’s single. Does she feel the same way about you?”

“I have no idea how she feels, but I can hardly come out and ask her, right?”

“Why not?” he asks.

“Because it would be wrong. She recently escaped a life of severe mistreatment and abuse, and she’s grateful to me for rescuing her—her words, not mine. It’s wrong of me to have feelings for her. I’d be taking advantage of her.”

“Have you asked her how she feels?”

“Of course not.”

“Why not? Maybe she feels the same way you do. Have you thought about that?”

“I bet she’d be happy never to have to deal with another man for as long as she lives.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Or maybe she’s just waiting for the right man. One who will treat her as she deserves to be treated. Someone like you. How will you know until you ask her? Liam, if you really want to be with her, tell her before it’s too late. Before someone else sweeps her off her feet.”

“She feels indebted to me for helping her. Even if she did express interest in me, how could I trust that her feelings for me are legitimate, and not just some kind of gratitude?”

“Liam, I think you’re selling yourself short. You have a lot to offer a woman. Why don’t you give her the courtesy of letting her decide for herself?”