He couldn’t save her, but he has saved so many other lives in her memory.
And now Jasper is carrying out his legacy and tainting the sentiment behind the dollar signs.
Jasper was fresh out of med school when he met my father. He worked under my father for many years and he taught Jasper everything that he knew. Jasper showed potential, so they brought him on board with the company, giving him a nice cushy seat on the board.
And now, at thirty-nine, he gets to sit at the head of that table.
Jasper never came home last night, which isn’t unusual since he spends more time working than he does here. Surprisingly, he was here first thing this morning, locked away in his office.
In typical fashion, I avoided him and stayed hidden for most of the morning. When he is home, I stay out of sight as much as possible, but a house is only so big, and you eventually run out of hiding places.
One day, I’ll get away from here, but today is not that day.
♦♦♦
Blocking out the sun with my eyes closed, my mind quiets as I begin to drift into a light sleep. I’m quickly awoken and startled with the sound of footsteps moving across the concrete floor. My body still as I keep my eyes glued shut and attempt to keep my breathing even as if I’m simply asleep.
The sound stops as I feel him come to a stop beside my lounge chair. Jasper only comes out here for me if he wants something and I have no desire to know why he’s here. Time slows and the anticipation builds inside me as I wait for him to announce his presence.
“Excuse me,” my visitor who isn’t Jasper interrupts my thoughts. His deep, raspy voice catches me off guard. The sound is unfamiliar, but it vibrates through my body.
My eyelids flash open and I’m at eye level with the bulge in his black basketball shorts that fall at his knees. Through the material, I can see his toned thighs that trail down to his equally muscular calves. Slowly sitting up, my eyes follow up his firm torso that’s visible through his beater. I take the time to admire how sculpted his body is before my gaze finds his face. His facial features are symmetrically defined, and he looks like he stepped off the cover of a GQ magazine featuring bad boys.
Drawing my bottom lip between my teeth, I bite down, letting the unfamiliar effect that he has on me take over. And then he clears his throat, drawing my attention to his eyes that are as blue as the ocean. The heat creeps up my neck and spreads across my cheeks, and it’s not from the heat of the sun. Even with a bikini on, it feels like I’m trapped in a hot sauna.
Quickly releasing my lip, I adjust how I’m sitting as his eyes slowly travel over my body and a ghost of a smile plays on his lips. “Can I help you?” My voice is hoarse as I try to shake off the feelings that have flooded my senses.
His eyes meet mine. “I’m here to see Jasper.” An unwarranted warmth spreads through my body at the sound of his husky voice.
How can my fiancé’s name on another man’s lips sound so sexy?
Pushing the thoughts from my head, I clear my throat as I attempt to regain my composure.
He’s here to see your fiancé.
“Of course you are,” I mutter in annoyance. “He’s in his office, so feel free to go in and find him.”
The mystery man glances over at our house that looks more like a palace before looking back at me. “I can wait out here for him,” he declares.
“You’ll be waiting all day.”
“I have no problem waiting here for him.”
Rolling my eyes in annoyance, I grab my phone from underneath the lounge chair and dial Jasper’s number.
“I’m fucking busy, Jaslyn,” Jasper barks through the phone. “What do you want?”
“Some guy is here to see you.”
The sound of papers rustling around comes through the phone as Jasper mutters a string of curse words under his breath.
“Make sure he doesn’t go anywhere,” he barks. “I’ll be out as soon as I’m done in here.”
Jasper ends the call without another word and leaves me sitting here with Mr. No Name.
Setting my phone back down, I look up at him as he waits with an expectant look on his face.
“Jasper should be out here soon. He just had a few things that he needed to finish up for work.”
The man nods. “I can wait.” He pauses as he sits down on the lounge chair next to mine. “What’s your name?”
I eye him suspiciously as he waits patiently, with no ill intent detected in his eyes.
Chill out… he’s just making small talk.
“Jaslyn.”
The man slowly nods his head and his eyes soften. “So, are you Jasper’s sister?”
A harsh laugh slips from my lips and his brow furrows in confusion.
“I wish,” I scoff as my face falls. “I’m his fiancée.”
A conflicted expression forms on his face and a storm brews in his eyes. His reaction throws me off guard and I match his torment with my own confusion.
“What did you say your name was?” I ask, quickly changing the subject.
“I didn’t,” he deadpans.
A smile plays at the corner of my lips, another unfamiliar thing that he brings out of me. Raising my eyebrows, I give him a look and he answers without me saying another word.
“Axel.”
The deep sound of his voice rattles throughout my body as his name rings in my head.
Axel.
“So, Axel.” I smile as his name rolls off my tongue. “Why exactly are you here to see Jasper?”
Axel cracks his knuckles subconsciously and he gives me a blank stare. “I came to talk to him about a job offer.”
My lips part as I go to question him, not remembering any job openings that we currently have, but he quickly interjects and dismisses any talk of him and Jasper.
“So, Jaslyn, tell me something about you.”
His words take me by surprise. Why would he want to know anything about me when he’s here to see Jasper?
He’s just making small talk.
I shrug indifferently and give him a small smile. “There’s not much to tell, as you can see.” I motion around the pool, to the only place I frequently visit, but I omit that confession. “I’m a fairly boring person.”
Axel looks me up and down before his eyes meet mine. “I highly doubt that.”
“Well, unfortunately, it’s the truth,” I mumble as I nervously run my hands through my wet, tangled hair. His gaze leaves me feeling exposed as he studies every inch of my body. If he could see what lies beneath the surface, his eyes would never stray my way again.
“Aren’t you here to talk to Jasper and not me?”
His jaw clenches as a storm brews within his eyes. “Right now, I don’t give two fucks about your fiancé,” he growls angrily. His unwarranted anger throws me off and confusion runs through me.
A door slams from the back of the house and I hear Jasper’s loud footsteps as he walks across the patio. “Maybe you should,” I warn him in a hushed voice.
Axel narrows his eyes at me as he mulls over my words in his head.
“Axel!” Jasper calls out with a hint of surprise laced within his words. “I see you decided to come sit down with me. A very smart move on your part.”
His eyes don’t leave mine as Jasper walks over to us. I immediately stand, knowing what’s expected of me and quickly grab the towel from my lounge chair and wrap it tightly around my body.