Page 16 of Daddy's Bodyguard
I shove Jasper’s hand to the side as soon as Mr. Nance is out of sight. “I can handle my job on my own. I don’t need your help, got that?”
“Why are you mad when you got what you want?” he asks with a frown.
Another server interrupts my hot reply, offering dessert. Jasper turns his easygoing smile on him. “Oh no. This angel is all the sweetness I need.”
“That’s sweet. How long have you two been together?” the server asks.
“Oh, it feels like forever.” I can already feel the migraine.
“You’re so right, love.” Jasper squeezes my hand before looking at the server once more. “But really, it’s only been a week – in person, I mean. We’ve been talking on the phone for a year, and she’s been begging me for weeks to finally meet in person, how could I say no?”
Biting my lower lip, I give him a hard kick on his ankle. His grip tightens on my hand, but he doesn’t stop smiling. Asshole.
“A modern love story. Adorbs. I love it,” the server continues. “Okay, so I’ll just get your check, and you guys will be all set.”
“That was totally unnecessary,” I grumble when the server walks away.
Jasper shrugs. “But your face made it worth it. And on that point, what’s your love language?”
“No clue.”
“You’re killing my heart now, gorgeous.” He pats his chest. “All I want to do is make this relationship work. Let’s be real partners and work together.”
“We are not partners, Jasper, nor are we in a relationship. You were hired by my father to keep me safe.” I make air quotes with my fingers. “Although I think it’s a complete waste of time.”
“Whatever you say, baby girl,” he says, whipping out his credit card to pay for the meal. “I’m just doing the job your father paid me to do. And if it means pretending that we’re a couple to blend in, I don’t see the problem.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t because you get off on getting under my skin. And for the last time, I’m not your baby girl.”
But his devilish grin tells me he won’t stop. He keeps up the teasing until we get back to the office. Then, as if a switch flips, he gets serious again, his head darting left and right as we head into my office building.
“So far, so good, Sofia,” he says when we get inside. “No signs of trouble.”
“Because they’re not interested in me, just like I said before. So how about we call it a day, and you go home,” I reply.
“How about you stop fighting and let me do my job?”
After glancing around, I spot Carissa standing by the water cooler, talking to Trina, a college student who volunteers a few hours each week. Maybe I can push Jasper in her direction. They are obviously attracted to each other, and I know she’ll love his company. I wave my hands to get her attention, and she immediately scurries over to us, her gaze locked on Jasper. Again, there’s that stupid twinge in my chest, but I ignore it.
“Carissa, do you mind giving Jasper a run-through of your daily functions? I have a batch of phone calls to make.”
“Of course!” Carissa’s face lights up at once, and she slips her arm into Jasper’s. “The pleasure’s all mine.”
I ignore his frown and meet Carissa’s smile with my own. “Have fun!”
“You know what? I think I will,” Jasper replies, cutting his eyes at me. “It would be a pleasure to hang out with you, Carissa,” Jasper nearly purrs. “I’d really like to pick your brain.”
Carissa’s giggling carries down the hall as she and Jasper walk away. I’m relieved. I really am. Now, I can refocus on work and hope that he clings to her for the rest of the day, using her as a point of distraction from me and a cover for himself.
But within five minutes, he’s back at my desk. Exasperated, I rub my temple to soothe the headache that’s been plaguing me all day. “Why the hell are you back already?”
Jasper shrugs. “Carissa’s a sweet girl, but she doesn’t raise my temperature like you do. Plus, her desk is too far away. I can’t see you from all the way over there.”
Of course, I’m not going to read too much into what he just said, although my tripping pulse seems to have its own mind. My racing heart, too.
He moves his chair next to me and glances at the time. “What time are we going to tackle job two?”
“You sound a little eager, almost like my life isn’t boring.”