Jasper Vale (The Edens)

Jasper stood on the deck, coffee cup in hand. He was in jeans and a T-shirt, his feet bare. He stared at the trees.

I stared at him.

In the past two days, I’d seen more of his back than I had in all of our time together.

Whenever I came into the room, he left. At night, he’d sleep facing one wall while I stared at the other.

My entire body felt heavy. My muscles were nearly as weary as my heart. Never in my life had I felt this tired. Two sleepless nights. Two days spent fighting tears, and the battle had drained me entirely.

Jasper lifted his mug, taking a sip of coffee. He didn’t so much as glance into the house.

Was this how it would end? In silence?

The lump in my throat was as hard as a rock, but I swallowed it down. It landed in my empty stomach like a sledgehammer. With my purse slung over a shoulder, I swiped my keys from the kitchen counter and walked out of the A-frame.

My fake marriage was falling apart.

But at least I had The Eloise. My marriage to that hotel was as real as the morning sun, and for yet another day, she’d be my salvation. So I climbed in my car and drove into town.

My mental to-do list had exploded the past two days with nothing but yuck.

Search for a new rental.

Call my lawyer.

And at the top of the list, Fire Blaze.

I hated my to-do list. Couldn’t I rewind time a couple days?

On Sunday, Jasper and I had been exploring Paris. It had been, without contest, the best day of my life. As we’d walked, hand in hand, I’d actually convinced myself he cared. That he might love me.

Maybe he did. At least, maybe he loved a part of me.

Except, for better or worse, my family was the other part. My parents, my brothers and sisters, were a piece of my heart. The Edens came as a packaged deal.

Jasper couldn’t care for me and despise them.

He’d made his point on the drive home. It wasn’t fair for me to voice my dislike for his parents and expect him to keep quiet. And he’d made another point about Mom and Dad supporting me.

Yes, I was scared to lose the hotel.

But at the end of the day, I trusted them. I had faith that they loved me, that they wanted the best for my life. If they decided that I didn’t have what it took to own The Eloise Inn, I knew that decision would be painful for them to make. They’d only do it because it was the best decision. Because they knew, if that hotel failed under my control, it would be devastating.

It wasn’t a black-and-white situation. But I didn’t know how to explain that to Jasper. Not when his parents had been so . . . cold.

The only way Jasper was going to see the beauty of my family was by living it. By putting up with my brothers. By getting to know my sisters. By seeing the love my parents gave us unconditionally.

How was I ever going to show him what a family should look like when he locked them out? When he walked away?

It was over, wasn’t it?

We’d end on this horrible, heart-wrenching fight. And I hadn’t even had the chance to show Jasper why he was so wonderful. Why he deserved love.

My eyes flooded. I brushed the skin beneath my lashes. It was practically raw from how many tears I’d swept away in the past two days. Then I pulled into the alley behind The Eloise, parking beside Knox’s truck, and headed inside.

The morning was a blur of activity. Not only was I playing catch-up from being gone, but we were prepping for one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year.

Independence Day weekend in Quincy was a roller coaster, a carnival of amusement and chaos. Tourists flocked to enjoy the local festivities—a parade along Main and the county rodeo. Fireworks at dark. Dancing and ruckuses at the local bars.

The hotel was booked solid.

It would be all hands on deck this weekend for every Eden business. Talia would take the weekend off from the hospital to help Lyla at the coffee shop. Griffin and Dad would be on call to run errands to the hardware store or the grocery store for whatever anyone needed. Mom would likely bounce between Eden Coffee or Knuckles to help Knox.

And whoever wasn’t busy would be helping at the hotel.

But no matter how busy we were, we all made it a point to congregate at the fairgrounds to watch the rodeo. It was tradition.

Had Jasper ever been to a rodeo?

He’d shown me Paris, the city of my dreams. And all I wanted was to sit beside him, drink a beer and teach him the difference between saddle and bareback bronc riding.

Would he even stick around until then? Or was he packing up the A-frame? Had he accepted that job in Vegas?

The thought of Jasper leaving made my entire body ache, so I shoved it aside and focused on work, biding my time until an angry kid with black hair and thick glasses walked through the front doors.

Blaze crossed the lobby, his eyes on the floor and his shoulders curled in. He was in those awful jeans again. The Fuck You Moms had been touched up at the thighs and knees.

This kid. He needed more than a job.

“Hi, Blaze.”

He blinked.

“Thanks for coming in today,” I said. “Give me one minute.”

Mateo had come in earlier to help out. He’d been installing a shelf I’d bought for the break room, so I shot him a text, asking if he could watch the front desk for a few minutes.

He came striding down the hallway minutes later, giving Blaze a flat look.

“We’ll be in the office,” I told him.

“Take your time.” The look he sent Blaze was full of warning.

Jasper wasn’t the only man in my life not keen on this kid and me being alone.

But despite everyone else’s opinions, this was my mess. Not my mother’s, mine. I should have told her no. Since I hadn’t, then I’d fix this mistake.

So I escorted Blaze to my office, taking the chair behind the desk I rarely sat at while he sat on the opposite side. My heart thumped as I faced him, my palms clammy. God, I hated firing people, even strange kids who creeped out my desk clerks. But I kept my shoulders straight, my chin held high. And I crisply delivered the lines I’d practiced over and over last night when I hadn’t been able to sleep.

“Blaze, I’m going to have to let you go. I appreciate your time here. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been a fit for our housekeeping department.” I held my breath, waiting for his reaction.

There was no outburst or argument. Blaze simply shrugged. “Fine. This was my mom’s fucking idea anyway. When do I get my money?”

“Your final paycheck will be sent to your address on record when we process payroll on the first.”

He stood from the chair and let himself out of the office.

Huh. That’s it? Well, at least one thing had gone right today.

I stood from my own chair, then flipped off the light as I left the room, rejoining Mateo at the desk.

“How’d that go?” he asked.

I lifted a shoulder. “Could have been worse.”

Mateo glanced past me toward the fireplace.

Blaze stood staring up at the hearth’s column of stone that towered to the rafters.

I did a double take. Damn it. “He’s still here?”

Just when I’d thought this had been easy.

I sucked in a fortifying breath, then walked toward the couches. “Blaze, was there something else you needed?”

He kept his gaze fixed to the ceiling. “Taylor is working today, right?”

“Um . . .” How the hell did he know that? I’d just called her a couple hours ago to see if she wanted a few more hours. She’d agreed to sit at the desk while I finished the next schedule and documented Blaze’s termination. How did he know she was coming in? “Did she tell you that?”

Maybe they were friends?

“I saw her walking. She was in her work clothes.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

Taylor drove her Honda Civic to work because her family lived out of town a few miles. Sure, she could have come downtown early. Maybe she’d stopped by the coffee shop or another store on Main and that’s when he’d spotted her. But regardless, when she walked through these doors, I didn’t want him here to greet her.

“Why do you need to see Taylor?”

He dropped his chin, and for the first time, he looked me in the eyes.

A chill raced down my spine.

Yeah, this kid had to go.

“I want to tell her I got fired,” he said.

Because he thought it was her fault? I couldn’t tell with that flat tone.

“I’ll be sure to let her know.” I held a hand out toward the door. “Thanks again for coming in today. I’m sure I’ll see you around town.”

He cocked his head to the side and a swoop of that black hair fell into his face. But otherwise, he didn’t move.

“Blaze, you need to leave. You can’t stay here.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.” And apparently, I’d just become my mother.

And it was the wrong thing to say. If Blaze’s gaze had been cold before, it was arctic now.

Goose bumps broke out on my forearms, and suddenly, I saw the kid who’d brought an injured bird inside this building and broken its neck.

“I want to talk to Taylor,” he said.

“Well, she won’t be here today after all.” I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent her a quick text.

Change of plan. Don’t come to the hotel. I’ll call you later.

If Blaze had an unhealthy obsession with Taylor, the last place I wanted her was in this lobby.

With my phone tucked away, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Time to go home, Blaze.”

He stared at me. Unmoving.

Ugh. I didn’t have time for teenagers today.

The lobby door opened.

Shit. Taylor. My heart climbed into my throat as we both looked toward the door.

But it was Jasper.

He strode into the lobby, dressed like he’d come from the gym. His black shorts accentuated the strength in his thighs and displayed the definition in his calves. That white T-shirt stretched across his broad chest and hugged his roped arms.

A body refined to perfection. A body honed from time spent throwing punches and kicks.

Jasper’s hair was trapped beneath a faded baseball hat. Combined with that clench of his jaw, it gave him a menacing, intimidating edge.

Any normal kid probably would have cowered with Jasper stalking his way, stopping behind the nearest couch, arms crossed.

Not Blaze. Though his glare withered, just enough.

“Blaze,” I snapped. “Goodbye.”

His lip curled. “Bitch.”

“Watch it,” Jasper rumbled. “That’s my wife.”

For a fraction of a second, I let myself believe that statement. I let it lighten the weight on my shoulders.

That’s my wife.

Then the sadness came whirling in like a winter storm, coating everything with ice. The heaviness in my bones returned.

No, I wasn’t his wife. Not the way it mattered.

That sting in my nose threatened tears I couldn’t cry, not yet. I’d save them for later, after I ushered this kid out of my hotel.

“This is public property,” Blaze sneered. “I can be here.”

“Correction,” I said. “We’re open to the public, but make no mistake, this is my building. And I get to say who stays and who goes. Consider yourself no longer welcome.”

“Fuck you, lady.”

I pointed to the door. “Now you’ve got a tagline for your next pair of jeans.”

He glanced back and forth between Jasper and me for a long moment. Then finally, Blaze huffed and stormed for the door, ripping it open as he walked outside. He lifted a hand, flipping us off as he crossed the front windows. Then he rounded the corner and disappeared.

“Well, that went great.” The air rushed from my lungs. “He’s going to egg my hotel, isn’t he? Do kids even egg buildings anymore? Or do they go straight for the spray paint?”

I was joking. Sort of. Right now, with Jasper staring at me, I needed to make a joke, even if neither of us laughed.

Jasper planted his hands on his hips. “What did I say about meeting with that kid alone?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I know.”

“Hey.” Mateo’s hand landed on my shoulder. When had he walked over? “You okay?”

“I need to talk to Taylor and call her mother. And then call Mom and tell her to talk to Lydia.” Though I doubted Blaze’s mother had much control over that boy.

I pulled my phone from my pocket. Taylor had replied okay. “Would you make sure he’s really gone?” I asked Mateo.

He nodded. “You did good.”

“Thanks.” My eyes flooded. Pride from my brother shouldn’t have been the tipping point, but it was all too much. There were no empty spaces to absorb it. No extra strength to carry it.

Mateo squeezed my shoulder, then walked outside, following Blaze’s path past the windows.

Closing my eyes, I dragged in a calming breath. It didn’t help. Not even a little.

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.”

More tears welled, so fast he became a blur. “It’s jet lag.”

“Eloise.”

“Don’t.” A sob broke free. “Don’t say my name like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m your wife.” My voice cracked with my heart. Too much. It was just too much.

The tides of battle had turned, and I was about to get slaughtered by my own goddamn emotions.

So I buried my face in my hands to muffle the cries, to catch the tears, as the breakdown I’d been fighting for two days finally won its war.

“Hey.” Jasper hauled me against his chest, his arms wrapping me tight.

There wasn’t enough strength in my heart to push him away, so I burrowed deep, soaking his shirt with my tears and letting the words in my heart flow free.

“I know this is the end. I just didn’t expect it to feel like this. And I don’t want to end it fighting.”

I didn’t want it to end. Period.

“It’s not the end.”

I wanted this so badly, I could have sworn he’d said it wasn’t the end. My imagination was just plain mean some days and it only made me cry harder.

“Eloise, look at me.” Jasper unwrapped his arms, taking my face in his hands. He gave me a moment to get myself together and listen. “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.”

“But you won’t even wear your ring,” I blurted, then a rush of emotion hit again. Confusion. Joy.

Too much. So I buried my face in Jasper’s shirt and let him hold me while I cried. Hard.

Was this happening? When the tears slowed, when the sobs turned to hiccups, I drew in a long inhale of his cologne and unburied my face from his chest. “Are you sure?”

“That you’re my wife?” His lips pressed against my hair. “I’m sure.”

The relief nearly sent me to my knees. But I clung to his shirt, fisting it in my hands like I was wrapping my fingers around his heart. If he ever tried to leave, I’d drag his ass back to Quincy.

Back to me.

“It’s not the end,” I repeated.

“It’s not the end.”

A laugh bubbled free. I unpeeled myself from his chest, searching those dark eyes.

They had the crinkles at the sides.

He kissed me, dragging his tongue across my bottom lip, slow and savoring. It only lasted a moment before he slanted his mouth over mine and delved, claiming every corner of my mouth.

I let that kiss sink into my weary soul, to calm some of the storm.

His shirt was soaked and wrinkled when I finally let it go.

“Sorry.”

Jasper cupped my jaw, wiping my damp cheeks with his thumbs. “You good with this?”

I nodded. Very good.

“In the car, when we were fighting, you said something.”

“I don’t want to talk about that.” Not today. Not after this.

“This, we have to talk about. Now.” He gave me a sad smile. “You said that I love Samantha.”

“Oh.” That was what he wanted to talk about? Really? Today?

I’d said a lot on Monday that I really didn’t want to relive. It had all been true, brutal honesty. But I still didn’t want to rehash it. There was no fight left in my bones.

“I don’t love Samantha.” He framed my face again, making sure my eyes were locked on his. “I don’t know if I ever really loved her. Not the way it should be.”

My breath hitched.

Did that mean . . .

Before I could even finish that thought, the lobby door opened and Mateo walked inside.

“Blaze is sitting on the hood of his car parked out front.”

Ugh. Major mood killer.

“Okay.” I sighed. “Hopefully he’ll give up and leave.”

“I don’t like that kid,” Jasper said, letting go of my face to haul me against his chest again. “No complaining when I’m your shadow for the next few days.”

“Sir, yes, sir.” My arms were trapped so I couldn’t give him my usual mock salute.

His chest shook with a quiet laugh.

I smiled, sagging against him. Then, because I was happy, I started crying again. “Sorry. I’m just . . . overwhelmed.”

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

You. “A nap.”

Jasper let me go, snagging my hand. Then he led me to a couch, sitting against one armrest before smacking his thigh. “Come on.”

“I need to work.”

“Take five,” Mateo said. “I’ve got the desk.”

“Are you sure?”

He winked, then left Jasper and me alone.

I stared down at Jasper, at that lap I loved to curl into so much. Five minutes wouldn’t hurt, right? So I sat down, snuggling into his chest, letting the warmth from his body wrap around me like a blanket.

“Five minutes.”

He kissed my forehead. “Five minutes.”

I was asleep in seconds.

He held me for an hour instead, knowing I needed more than minutes. When I woke, Mateo was still at the desk.

And Blaze was nowhere to be found.