“It’s your funeral, brother. At least you only decided to give her fifty mil and only that. I’ll be in touch later.” Xavier disconnected the call. Jasper knew his brother well, and this wasn’t the end of the conversation with him. But then, he was a few thousand miles away, and he could avoid him until after the wedding.
“I think there was mention of buying her a house anywhere in the world she wanted, but it’s none of my business.” Finn shrugged.
“You’re one to talk when you’ve all but turned into a monk, Finn.”
Finn held his hands up. “Backing out of the conversation right the fuck now, not trying to cast stones or offend anyone.”
“Then stop casting them. Let’s go. Last one out, shut the damn door.” Jasper led them upstairs.
He’d be more pissed if he didn’t understand that their hearts were in the right place. He found his girls in the living room. Freya and Maddie were sprawled on the floor, playing with blocks.
The moment Maddie spied him, her eyes lit up. With a block in her hand, Maddie left her mom on the floor and raced over to him.
“There’s my little lassie.” He scooped her up. It felt natural the way she fit. She held up the block. “I see that. You like the blocks.”
“Uh huh,” Maddie said with a mile-wide smile.
His idiot cousins then hammed it up for Maddie. Unbelievable. If only the subs at Eros could see the Ryan brothers and their brother-in-law acting like idiots to make her laugh. He noticed Freya rise from her spot on the floor and watch them with her kid. Like she was ready to snatch her back if they displayed even the faintest hint of hurting her.
This was why Freya needed him. And Maddie did too. She laughed at his cousins’ antics but clung to him for protection, like she already knew she was safe with him.
That’s the thing that his cousins didn’t understand. This was more than him helping her out of a tight spot and getting his mum off his back. He was helping them because Freya had awakened something within him. And it was something he needed to explore and draw out fully. He did not know what it was or where it would lead. He didn’t know what to do with his fascination other than to continue pursuing her.
Because it felt as if fate had interceded and brought them together.
15
Jasper grilled steaks that night while Freya swam with Maddie. And he didn’t know whether to thank Sage for the bikini she selected for Freya or curse her. She’d chosen a sapphire blue number that was little more than skimpy triangles over her tits and pussy, leaving the rest of her golden skin bare and making him salivate. He’d fought a hard-on since the moment he spied her in the thing.
Maddie loved the water. Her laughs filled the backyard. And it helped his soul, listening to her sweet joy.
A part of him wanted to adopt her and give her his name. Jasper had never been a man who thought much about kids. He always figured he would eventually have them with the woman he married one day. He never imagined meeting a little girl who stole his heart from the first.
And her mother was making it difficult for him to remain indifferent. Almost like she’d used sorcery to lure him in.
But he kept his attention split between them and the steaks.
“Are you sure I can’t help you cook dinner?” Freya asked, standing in the shallow end of the pool, her nipples hard beneath her bikini top.
“Aye, lass, that I am. The potatoes will be done when the steaks are, and we’ve got a salad. It’s a perfect meal for us.”
“I should go in and make some noodles for Maddie. Come on, baby, let’s get you out and dry you off. Then I’ll make you some noodles.” She carried Maddie out of the pool and wrapped her up in a towel before putting her on one of the chairs so she could grab her towel.
“Has she ever had steak?”
Her mouth dropped open, and she sputtered, “Are you kidding me right now? Did you see where we were living? In what universe could I have afforded steak?”
“Fair point, lass. If you want to make her noodles, that’s fine. But I think we should have her try a piece of steak. I read that it’s good to introduce new foods every week to toddlers.”
“Wait, you’ve been reading about raising a toddler?” That got her undivided attention.
“Of course I have. You and Maddie are my responsibility now. I can’t do my job properly when I don’t know the first thing about raising a kid, let alone help you and know what to do. So, I read a parenting ebook or two over the past week.” A surfeit of expressions filtered over her face until she settled on pleased.
“Hmm,” was all she said as she picked Maddie up and her towel fell from her waist.
It gave him an unobstructed view of her killer ass. The blue material on the back end was little more than a strip of material covering her crease while leaving the bulk of her ass on display. He bit back a groan.
The woman was killing him here. If they were alone, he’d bend her over the table or maybe use one of the lounge chairs to lay her down and fuck her brains out.
On that note, “I think we should have dinner out here. It’s such a nice night. The fresh air will be good for all of us.”
“Okay. Give me a minute to get Maddie changed out of her suit and put the noodles on, then I can set the table out here.”
“I’ve got the table handled. You take care of Maddie,” he ordered, trying to drive home the fact that she didn’t have to do everything anymore. It was the reason he decided to cook tonight. Because he wanted to take a load off her shoulders.
“Okay, thanks. We’ll be fast. Those steaks smell amazing.”
“They’ll taste even better, lass,” he murmured, his gaze wandering over her body, and he knew the moment Maddie was asleep, he’d be putting the moves on his future bride.
Freya didn’t know what to think or feel after the last twenty-four hours. Jasper had eaten her out at the kitchen table and made her come harder than she ever had before. And she’d thought that maybe she could divulge the truth. That they might have a real future together, even if Jasper never loved her.
But then today, all his cousins appeared on their doorstep, including the FBI Agent. She’d almost had a heart attack. She’d thought for sure he would know the truth and kick them to the curb.
Instead, Jasper had been the soul of propriety. Announcing he’d handle dinner tonight. And early in the day, he helped her cart in all her new purchases when they arrived.
Freya had never owned this many clothes in her entire life. And designer? Forget about it. She had taken the hour Maddie had napped to put away all her new things. There was more than what she had tried on the other day. Significantly more.
There was a full selection of panties and bras in silky, soft material. There were nightgowns, slippers, garter belts, and pantyhose. And shoes. So many shoes in various colors, from flats to heels to sandals and tennis shoes. She didn’t know where she would ever wear them all. Especially since they were housebound for now, and she preferred to be barefoot.
Hey, at least she wasn’t pregnant.
And then there were the purses and the jewelry. Just how many functions would she be expected to attend with him this next year? She couldn’t possibly use everything he’d bought her. But then, she could take it all with her.