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Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

J umper paced his apartment living room. It was the middle of the night. His brother, Pirate, was asleep in his bedroom, completely oblivious to the turmoil raging in their shared living room. Jumper's service dog, Aerial, was his only audience.

One of his club brothers, Bear, had gotten married earlier that day. Jumper had officiated, even though the wedding had only been a formality because Bear and his bride Tessa had already had a courthouse wedding the month before. The couple had wanted to get hitched before their baby was born.

The wedding itself—or re-wedding, as the couple was calling it—had been nice. Jumper was always cautious around club parties, but he had his brothers to help keep an eye on him. Only a few of them knew about his former addiction. Jumper had been sober for eight years, five months, and twenty-two days. He'd been ready to refuse when Steel had first approached him about joining the VDMC, assuming that a motorcycle club would be all about booze and drugs. However, Steel had been quick to assure him that it wasn't. The club was about brotherhood and finding a safe place in civilian society. Since that was exactly what Jumper had needed at the time he'd met Steel, he'd readily agreed.

The party itself hadn't bothered him. He'd enjoyed watching his giant bear of a brother twirl his petite bride around the dance floor. Jumper had even held their one-month-old daughter, Maggie, before she'd been stolen away by one of the many women the club suddenly had around now.

For years, Jenna had been the only ol' lady. Bulldog's mom, Louisa, was around a lot and had taken many of the club brothers under her wing, but she wasn't an ol' lady. Lucky had a daughter, Sissy, who had been almost seventeen when the club had been formed six years ago and, even though she was an adult now, she was still classified as a club kid.

Then Lucky had met Harper last April. Harper had become his ol' lady, was already pregnant, was adopting Lucky's sixteen-year-old son, Scotty, and was planning their wedding for this upcoming May. Scotty had a special place in the club's hearts. He had Down Syndrome with a goofy personality that could bring cheer to anyone. Harper had also brought her mom, Cindy, into the fold.

With Bear meeting, knocking up, and marrying Tessa, his mom, DeeDee, was around a lot more too.

The number of club kids had grown by two in recent months as well and was about to grow by one more in about four more months. Angel had adopted Bree, a foster teen with a tragic backstory. She'd been abducted when she was twelve and forced into sexual slavery for two years before being sold and eventually left for dead. If Bear hadn't found her on the side of the road, Bree wouldn't have survived. Little Maggie was Bear and Tessa's one-month-old. Harper had announced her own pregnancy last September. She was due in early June and was having a boy. They were naming him Conner in honor of the prospect the club had lost last August. He'd died saving Harper's life.

Jumper was happy for his brothers. They all deserved happiness and peace.

Which was why Jumper was up pacing his apartment living room at one in the morning. They deserved happiness and peace. Jumper wasn't so sure he did too.

He knew what his therapist, Dr. Rutenberg, would say. "You deserve as much happiness as you're willing to give yourself. The only person keeping you from happiness is yourself, Marshall."

And Dr. Rutenberg was right. Jumper's demons were keeping him from happiness. He knew that. It had been over eight years since the incident with the dump truck, his mom's injury, and the bridge. Jumper wasn't suicidal. To this day, he was convinced he hadn't been on that bridge with the intention to die. He'd been drawn to the water and his brain had been flooded with the neurochemicals from his flashback.

Jumper hadn't wanted to die that night. He'd only wanted to sleep. Intentions aside, though, Jumper had almost taken his own life. There was the possibility that he'd been trying to subconsciously make amends for hurting his mom.

He didn't recall pushing her. But he did recall looking down at the living room carpet and seeing the blood stains as well as the sight of crimson mixed with her blonde curls. His mom claimed she forgave him. His dad, whom he owed his life to, said that he forgave him too. His brother reminded him almost daily that it wasn't his fault.

Words. None of it would alleviate the guilt he felt. It was why he didn't deserve the happiness two of his brothers had found.

His phone rang, startling Jumper out of his pacing. Both Aerial and Jumper eyed the device on the coffee table. Who would be calling him at one in the morning?

Looking at the screen, he saw it was Bear. Why would Bear be calling him on his wedding night? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"Yes?" Jumper answered.

A door opened behind him and he saw Gus leave his bedroom. While his brother's legal and road names were interchangeable in Jumper's mind, he was always careful to refer to Gus as ‘Pirate' when around their club brothers. After prospecting for a year, Gus had earned his rockers and the respect of his road name. After all his brother had done for him over the years, it was the least Jumper could do for him.

The brothers were very similar in height and build, though Gus's hair had a darker tint to it than Jumper's rust-colored locks. Gus kept his face clean-shaven whereas Jumper generally had a scruff.

His brother was walking out using his crutch and without his prosthetic leg. While advancements in prosthetics had come a long way, the use of the fake leg didn't change the fact that he had nerve damage. The prosthetic was heavy and could cause irritation at the connection socket. As a security guard at Mount Grove High School, Pirate was on his feet for many hours. When Pirate was home, he used his crutch to give his stump a rest.

At Gus's questioning look, Jumper mouthed, "Bear."

Gus looked just as confused as Jumper felt about why the man was calling Jumper at one in the morning on his wedding night.

"Hey, brother, sorry to wake you."

"I was awake," Jumper admitted. A glance at his brother told him Gus was not happy to hear that news. He was aware that Jumper would likely not sleep this night if he hadn't already been. Jumper had a strict bed routine. On the nights that he was unable to fall asleep right away, it was very unlikely he would fall asleep at all.

"We've had a bit of a situation, and I don't have time to explain it all. We need you to call Dr. Sharpe and see if we can use her clinic."—Jumper's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the town's curvy veterinarian.—"We'll pay obviously, but we need help and we can't go to a regular hospital or clinic."

While Jumper did not need more of an explanation than that, he knew that Dr. Jasmine Sharpe would. "I assume you need to use her equipment for a person?"

"Yes. Pregnant female, early thirties. Tessa's worried about internal bleeding and a skull fracture."

Fuck, that wasn't good. For anyone, person or animal. "You'll meet me there?"

"It'll be Bulldog and Tessa, but yeah. He'll meet you there once we're sorted here. I'll text you when they're on their way."

"I don't know if she's going to say yes."

Bear paused before saying, "Do your best to convince her please. We're trying to keep this one off the books."

Jumper was definitely going to need to know more. He wasn't sure if he was looking forward to calling the cell phone number he'd had burning a hole in his phone for nearly two years.

Dr. Jasmine Sharpe. Jazz. She'd asked him numerous times to call her ‘Jazz', but Jumper couldn't make himself do it. It was too personal, too intimate. It was hard enough that he saw her on a regular schedule every six weeks for Aerial's cortisone shots.

Jumper had things in his life that made him happy. He loved his club and his brothers. Gus had moved in with him when he'd first moved to Mount Grove. He loved having his little brother around. He had Aerial, whom he thought of as more than just a service animal and coping mechanism. Most of all, he had his Indian Chief motorcycle.

But he knew the one thing in this small Pennsylvanian town that would make him the happiest would be making Jasmine Sharpe his .

The first time he'd met Jasmine, he'd just picked up Aerial from the service dog training center in Pittsburgh. Aerial was a former police dog. At only four years old, she was young to be retired from the force. A bullet in her hip had ended her career. Her handler, though, hadn't wanted Aerial to sit around all day or to be put down when she was adopted out to a family who didn't understand her training. So Aerial had been given to a service dog center for retraining.

Jumper had lucked out at being paired with Aerial. She'd come into his life at one of his lowest points of his struggle with PTSD and sobriety. He'd been contemplating having himself committed when Dr. Rutenberg had called with the news that a service dog fitting his requirements had been found.

Due to the damage the bullet had caused her hip, Aerial had severe arthritis. Per the vet at the service dog center, she needed to have cortisone injections every six to eight weeks. Jumper was not prepared to allow her to suffer just so he could save a couple of bucks by pushing her injections off by a couple of weeks. Therefore, he wanted to ensure he was on Mount Grove's animal clinic's schedule without fail.

He'd been on the floor in the exam room, petting Aerial and getting her used to his touches outside the training center, when Jasmine had walked into the room—and Jumper thought his heart had stopped beating.

She wasn't overly tall at five-four with blonde curls held back in a ponytail, bright blue eyes that reminded him of the ocean, and curves. Fuck, did she have curves. Jumper was aware that Jasmine's body type wasn't what most women wanted or tried for, but she was beautiful. She had a round face that was accentuated by her round glasses. Her belly had a softness to it that he craved to get his hands on.

He loved that she was a bit of a klutz too. She'd joked more than once that her feet could find things to trip over on a smooth, flat surface.

Jasmine had encouraged him to call her by her first name, but Jumper never had. She had to remain as Dr. Sharpe to him, or his mind and heart would take them to places Jumper wasn't sure he was ready for.

Or deserved.

She'd also given him her personal cell phone number. She'd said it was so he could call her if Aerial needed anything or if he had any questions regarding her treatment. Jumper could read between the lines. He'd known she was using Aerial as a ruse to give him her personal number.

He'd nearly called her a hundred times over the past two years, but he'd never been able to get himself to do it. He still had a generic hey written unsent in his text messages to her.

He'd started asking one of his brothers to accompany him to the vet clinic to keep himself from openly staring at her the entire time Aerial was getting her treatment. Fuck, he was hopeless.

But she was better off without someone like him in her life. The demons in his past were very much still in his present.

"Jumper?" Bear's voice brought him back to the conversation.

"I'll call her," Jumper answered. "Text you when I have an answer." He hung up the phone.

Gus stepped closer. "What's going on?"

"Not sure, but Tessa needs to commandeer the vet clinic's equipment." Jumper pulled up Jasmine's number. He even had her listed under Dr. J. Sharpe in his phone. He'd gotten her picture from the vet's website. He'd spent many hours staring at it. Too many hours, if he was being honest. Like a creepy number of hours.

Gus hobbled forward. "See the little button that looks like a phone? You need to actually hit that to call her."

Jumper glared at him. "I know that." Yet his thumb still hovered over the call button.

Gus reached over and tapped Jumper's thumb down on the screen. He gave Jumper a shit-eating grin before heading back into his bedroom.

The ringing continued. It wasn't until Jasmine's second, "Hello?" that Jumper realized she'd answered.

"Dr. Sharpe." Shit, his voice sounded so rough. Like he was pissed off.

"Jumper? Are you okay?" Her voice in comparison was soft and a little groggy. He'd obviously woken her up. "Is it Aerial?"

"Aerial's fine." Jumper tried to shake the image of what she must look like in bed, her hair sleep ruffled. "I'm sorry I woke you so late, but I need to ask a favor and part of that favor is for you to not ask questions."

Jasmine wasn't sure she wasn't making a mistake. When her phone had rung earlier and she'd seen Hottie McHot on her screen, she thought she'd still been dreaming. Sophia, her wild best friend, had rewritten over Jumper's name in Jazz's phone when she'd realized how big of a crush Jasmine had on the sexy motorcyclist. But, despite Sophia's encouragement for Jasmine to make the first move, she knew the reality of her situation. Jasmine was not the type of woman a man like Jumper went after.

She was not a size zero or a size two or even a size ten. She'd gone on a crazy diet several years ago that had dropped her to a size twelve, but that was as low as she'd ever gotten since hitting puberty.

Jasmine wasn't ashamed of being overweight. Did she wish she was bikini material or that guys would look at her twice or even notice her? Sure. What woman didn't? But Jasmine was tired of spending money on diets that didn't work and gym memberships that she never went to and clothes she'll never fit into. It had taken her most of her adult life, but Jasmine was finally coming to terms with the fact that she was never going to be a skinny woman. She had curves and rolls and flab.

It was what it was. She ate her veggies. She just also happened to have an outrageous sweet tooth.

She'd been crushing on Jumper for about two years. He was… Well, the best way to describe him was ruggedly handsome. He had a roughness about him that Jasmine craved, but it was the sorrow behind his milk chocolate eyes that tugged at her heart.

She knew some of his history due to his explanation of why he had Aerial at their first meeting. She was aware he was former military with a severe case of PTSD. Jasmine didn't know the specifics, but she wasn't surprised. Many heroic professions led to cases of people having some form of post-traumatic stress. While it broke Jasmine's heart every time she had to put a beloved family pet down or someone brought in an abused animal, she didn't suffer for it. Not like Jumper did, and she was sure others of his motorcycle club did too.

Other than college, Jasmine had lived in Mount Grove her entire life. She loved small-town life. She loved that she knew each of her patients' owners personally and they weren't just a name in a chart that she billed. She loved that she could walk from work to her apartment, and she knew she was safe even if it was after dark. But most of all, she loved that her future kids would grow up with the same memories she had.

Jasmine had been one of the residents who'd been nervous about a motorcycle club purchasing the old distillery. Sheriff Longhill, their former sheriff, had assured everyone that the Via Daemonia , despite the translation of their Latin name, were here to help the town. Jasmine had still been skeptical. She knew one of the members by association. José Santiago, now known as Bulldog, was the older brother of Carlos Santiago, the town's deputy sheriff and a friend of Jasmine's from high school. She'd seen one other member around town, Russell "Lucky" McCoy, who owned an art studio on Main that Sophia loved to go into. Her best friend had said that if all the MC members were as hot as Lucky, they could commit all the crimes they wanted to around town as long as they were shirtless while doing it and she would never complain.

Six years later, and Jasmine knew several of the members very well. She'd never been to any of their parties, always too tired from work, but she'd been to Demon on the Rocks , the bar that the club owned, for drinks on girls' nights. Ghost and Ranger were the two members who managed the bar. They always kept an eye on the women and escorted them to their cars at night. She was pretty sure Sophia had said Ghost used to be a Navy SEAL, which was, like, totally awesome!

The one member Jasmine always kept a distance from was Scar. He was the bouncer at Demon's and had a real danger-vibe going on. Sophia had told her more than once to stay away from him. If Sophia was wary, then Jasmine definitely knew to be.

Sophia was that crazy friend that was beyond loyal. When Jasmine's last boyfriend, Todd, had dumped her on Valentine's Day in the middle of a fancy restaurant, Sophia had left her date to come to Jazz's rescue. She'd also broken into Todd's car the next day and peed on his driver's seat, egged his house, and signed him up for subscriptions to various gay magazines. If Carlos wasn't such good friends with them, Sophia would have been arrested long ago for one of her ridiculous stunts.

Jasmine didn't mind though. She loved Sophia for how reckless she was because she got Jasmine out of her shell and to experience life. If it wasn't for Sophia, Jasmine wouldn't have had the guts to go to veterinarian school. And she sure as hell wouldn't have finished after freaking out over a failed exam. Sophia was her rock, and Jasmine wouldn't change a single crazy thing about her.

So it was very out of character for Jasmine to agree so readily to meet Jumper, and at least one other of his club brothers, at her veterinary clinic in the middle of the night so they could "borrow" her equipment. She also knew that if it had been anyone else other than Jumper who'd asked, she would have said no.

Her phone buzzed.

Sophia: They there yet?

Jazz: No.

Then Jumper's name came across her screen.

Jumper: Almost there. Do not stand outside the clinic waiting for me. Get inside and lock the door. I'll knock when I get there.

Jasmine rolled her eyes upon reading the message, and then thought that perhaps he had a good point. It was after one in the morning and cold outside. February in mountainous Pennsylvania could get bitter. She wasn't even sure why she had been waiting outside instead of inside. Did she really want to see Jumper that badly that she was willing to risk frostbite to see him a few minutes earlier?

Shaking her head at her own stupidity, Jazz went inside and locked the door. She turned on the outside lights and then the lights in the back.

Sophia: He there yet?

Jazz let out a sigh. She should not have texted Sophia that Jumper had called her. Despite the mysteriousness of his favor, Jasmine had been beyond thrilled that Jumper had finally called.

She was about to reply to Sophia's text when there was a knock on the glass front door. Since she didn't keep animals here overnight, unless it was following surgery, she didn't have a night tech or offer kennel services. Maybe one day she could expand, but not today. She had too much debt as it was already.

Jasmine hurried to the door when she saw it was Jumper. As soon as she unlocked the latch, he pulled the door open and then closed it behind him. He relocked it and rounded on her.

"Why don't I see your cage outside?"

Jumper was generally of the quiet type. She considered it a good appointment if he said anything to her other than the customary greetings of "hello" and "goodbye". Although she always got a "thank you, Dr. Sharpe" too, which grated on her because he used her title instead of her name. She'd given up hoping that he'd call her ‘Jazz' and be openly friendly with her.

Not that he wasn't friendly . He pretty much ignored her. Whichever club brother came with him was usually the one who held up the conversation during the appointment.

"My apartment's right down the road. I?—"

"It's the middle of the night. I don't care if your apartment is across the street. I never should have—" Suddenly he cut off. His slammed his eyes closed and started counting backwards. It was soft, but she heard the "ten…nine…eight…" under his breath.

When he opened his eyes, he was definitely calmer. He cleared his throat. "Forgive me. I was just concerned for your safety. I'll drive you home when we're done here."

Jasmine opened her mouth to reply that she was a big girl who could get herself home, but her inner voice that sounded suspiciously like Sophia told her to accept the offer. She closed her mouth and then nodded. She had to wet her lips before she could say, "Thank you."

"I'm the one who should be thanking you. I'm aware this is unconventional. I hope you won't get in trouble for this."

Jasmine shook her head. "I'm the only one with access to the security cameras. No one else would be looking at them. As long as nothing drastic happens, no one will know you've been here." Then she added quickly, "And we have a deal, right? Just the machines? No drugs?"

Jumper nodded. "Of course. Tessa hopefully has what she needs."

"Other than a hospital?"

Jumper was silent. Jasmine knew she'd agreed to not asking questions, but damn it was going to be harder than she thought.

Her phone buzzed.

Sophia: I assume you're not answering because you're making out with Mr. Hotty McHotterson and are too busy to reply. If I find out you've been murdered, though, tell him I'll rain hell down on him. He won't live to see tomorrow.

Jasmine replied before her best friend got any more crazy theories in her head.

Jazz: He just got here. We're only talking. Go back to sleep.

"Who's that?"

Jasmine's head popped up at the question. "What? Oh, Sophia. I told her I was coming here for an emergency but not what kind. She thinks it has to do with Aerial."

Rather than being upset that she'd told her best friend that she was meeting him, Jumper nodded once. "Good." He hesitated and then asked, "Did you tell…anyone else?"

Her eyes narrowed in confusion. "No. Just Sophia. Why?"

He shook his head quickly but didn't answer. Odd.

Jazz wanted to ask further, but a car came speeding up to the door. It parked crooked across the two handicap parking spots in her parking lot. Jumper held her back and went to answer the door himself.

Tessa and Bulldog left minutes ago with Abby, Bulldog's proverbial the one who got away . Based on x-rays and the ultrasound, Tessa was able to confirm that the baby was alive and Abby herself did not have a fractured skull or internal bleeding. Everyone, including Jasmine, was thrilled about this news. She had gone out of her way to help them, and she had kept her promise not to ask too many questions. After Tessa and Bulldog left, Jumper kept his word to drive Jasmine back to her apartment.

Jasmine's apartment was two blocks from her clinic. It was the longest two blocks of Jumper's life. His truck felt like it had shrunk three sizes with her sitting in the passenger seat. Her lilac scent was intoxicating. Jumper had to concentrate on driving like he was fifteen with his permit again.

He hoped she didn't wonder how he knew where her apartment was without having to ask. He'd realized too late that he'd just started driving without asking for directions. Fuck.

Suddenly Jasmine looked into the backseat of his truck and then forward again. "Where's Aerial?"

"At home with Pirate," Jumper answered evenly. He was amused that she only just realized Aerial's absence.

"Jumper, Pirate, Lucky, Bear, Bulldog… You guys have some weird names. I've wanted to ask for years what your name means. I assume it has something to do with parachuting since you spell Aerial's name like aviation-aerial and not Ariel, the Little Mermaid."

"I kept the name Aerial's former handler had used when she was with the police force. I don't know why it's spelled the way it is." He knew his answer was clipped, but he wasn't prepared to talk about why he'd shed his former call sign and renamed himself Jumper upon joining the VDMC. Ghost and Gus were probably the only ones who knew he'd had a former moniker. Most of his brothers, like Jasmine, assumed the name ‘Jumper' had to do with parachuting.

His hand automatically went to his bicep where a specific tattoo rested.

He pulled up in front of her apartment building. When he put the cage into park, he saw she had her hand on the door handle. "Wait for me," he ordered. He climbed out and walked around to her door. She looked absolutely dumbfounded, like no one had ever opened a door for her before.

Fucking idiots.

Jumper had been worried he'd pulled her from a lover's bed. He wasn't entirely sure how he would have handled that knowledge, and yet he couldn't help but ask. If she'd left someone in her bed or someone else's bed, she would have had to have told them where she was going. With her assurance that Sophia was the only person she'd told, Jumper concluded that she hadn't had company that night.

Which was good. Really good.

Jasmine did a slide and hop to get out of his truck. She'd laughed upon walking up to it before, claiming she had to do a running jump to get in. Instead, she done little hippity-hop like a bunny. It was fucking adorable.

Jumper would have preferred to lift her in and out of the cage himself, but he didn't dare. He wasn't sure he'd be able to remove his hands from her luscious body if he ever touched her. As she closed the truck door, it took all of Jumper's willpower not to back her up against it.

Fuck. He knew driving her home was the right thing to do, but damn. He wished he'd asked Bulldog to take her or that Gus had come with him. Anything except being alone with her.

Jasmine stood before him, staring up at him. Her eyes darted around a little nervously. "Um, my apartment is that way." She pointed behind him.

Jumper leapt out of the way like she'd stuck him. "Sorry."

She gave him a cute little smile before starting forward. Jumper knew he should see her to her door, but behind her door was her bed. So fucking close.

He hadn't been with a woman since Molly, his ex-wife. He hadn't exactly been in a good mental state to engage in sexual activities. But fuck, Jasmine tempted him like no other woman, including Molly, ever had. It was the way she bobbed her head as she worked, like she was internally dancing to a song. The way she smiled, like she'd never seen anything evil in her life.

Pure. Whole. Happy.

Jumper took a step back towards his cage. He didn't want to touch her light with his darkness. She was too good for the likes of him.

She was nearly to the outside door of the building when she turned back around towards him. The first time he'd followed her home, he'd been glad to see she lived inside a secure apartment building. And, yes, he was aware of how creepy it was that he followed her home. It wasn't often. He'd found seeing her quieted the noise in his head, and sometimes the picture on his phone just didn't cut it.

"Hey, Jumper?"

He lifted his head to meet her eyes. Her beautiful ocean eyes. She looked nervous, and Jumper immediately stood up straight to search for the threat. Was there someone in her apartment she didn't want to see when she returned? If he hurt her, Jumper would?—

"I was wondering if you'd like to get a drink some time."

A drink? His automatic response shot out of his mouth before he comprehended what it was she was really asking. "No."

Her face fell, nervousness replaced with embarrassment. Fuck! Her eyes cast downward at his rejection and a flush appeared on her cheeks.

"I mean, I don't drink," he corrected. "Alcohol." Fuck, why was he so fucking awkward around her? When he'd been dating Molly, he'd been smooth and confident. He certainly wasn't that man anymore. In so many ways.

She glanced up uncertainly. "It doesn't have to be alcohol. There's coffee or iced coffee, or tea. Sweet tea's good too. I like soda. Or there's juice and smoothies. Or, you know, water, of course. Any of those work for me too."

Her long list of drinks promulgated her eagerness to find a drink that would make him say yes. It was fucking adorable. And oh-so tempting.

He wanted to say yes. The word was on the tip of his tongue. He hadn't desired something so badly in years. To get to know Jasmine. To touch her, kiss her, and make love to her. It was all he wanted.

But that would mean she would want to get to know him in return. She'd learn about his darkness. She'd turn away from him when she learned all of it. Jumper wouldn't be able to handle that. He knew his limits. If he opened himself up to Jasmine, and she rejected him? No, he couldn't take that risk.

Jumper pointed to the door behind her. "Get inside, Dr. Sharpe. It's late."

Her face fell again. He couldn't stand the sight, knowing he was the cause. Jumper turned away and started around the front of the truck to get to the driver's door.

"Wait!" she called out and, like a fool, he stopped walking. He was frozen by the hood. "I just… I don't understand. I get I'm not your usual type, but I'm a good person and?—"

Jumper spun around and closed in on her fast. In the span of seconds, he had her pressed up against the glass door of her apartment building. He heard her breath hitch as he caged her between his arms. "Shut the fuck up. Don't you dare say anything against yourself like that. You are beautiful, Jasmine Sharpe. You are smart, funny, and positively wonderful."

Now that he was so close to her, breathing in her lilac scent, Jumper found himself entranced. He should stop himself. He really should.

But it was one kiss. He was selfish enough to want that, regardless of the consequences. Just one kiss so he'd know what she tasted like.

Jumper lowered his head. Her eyes fluttered closed, cutting off the oceans from him. Jasmine tipped her head upward, her plump lips pursed. She wanted his kiss.

His lips were nearly touching hers when he saw their reflection in the glass door. He caught his reflection in the glass door.

Jumper was six feet tall. He'd lost muscle since his SEAL days but was in good shape. Exercise helped keep his mind from wandering. He had reddish-brown hair that he tended to throw up into a man-bun. Since he no longer had to keep his hair at regulation length, he rarely cut it. He also tended to skip shaving every few days, which resulted in a near permanent scruff on his face. He was aware that his physique was what women tended to find attractive.

But all Jumper saw when he looked at his reflection was darkness. He could not allow the horrors of his past to touch her. Jasmine was too good for the likes of him.

He knew he was being a coward. Dr. Rutenberg would encourage him to make a connection with Jasmine, to use her light to shine on his darkness, but Jumper refused to do that. He would not taint Jasmine that way.

So while she stood there with her eyes closed and lips tilted upwards at him, waiting for the kiss he'd initiated, Jumper ran.

He got in his truck and drove away.

Coward .

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