Shaking his head, Cameron touched the pad of his thumb to the attractive beauty mark on her right cheek. “Now that we’ve determined you’re the boss in this relationship, when you do plan to move into the other suite?”
“The day before Tonya’s wedding.” She’d said that because St. John was scheduled to return home that weekend. “If we’re going to perpetuate the lie that we’re engaged, then we should shop for a ring as soon as possible.”
“Are you free tomorrow?”
Jasmine’s eyes focused on his firm mouth. Despite his arrogance, there was something so charming about Cameron that drew her to him like a moth to a flame. “I believe I am.”
Cameron glanced at his watch. “You better eat now. We have less than a half hour before we have to be downstairs.” He took her hand, led her over to the table, and seated her. “Excuse me, sweets. I’m going into the bedroom to call my assistant. I need to know if she’s scheduled any appointments for tomorrow, and if she has then I need her to reschedule them for later in the week.”
Picking up a fork, Jasmine speared a strawberry and popped it into her mouth. It was sweet and juicy.So this is how my life is going to unfold,she thought. She would move into a hotel with room service and everything she’d need would be at her disposal. She would also become involved with a man who’d earned the reputation of being seen with a revolving door of different women.
What ifscame at her like pelting sleet. What if she hadn’t been downsized from Wakefield Hamilton? What if she hadn’t accepted Hannah’s invitation to commiserate at her apartment? What if she hadn’t agreed to become an attendant in Hannah’s wedding to St. John McNair? And what if she hadn’t given Cameron Singleton her phone number when he’d come on to her at the wedding reception. And she had to blame the final what if on Nydia, who’d urged her to accept Cameron’s invitation to dinner.
If all of the past events hadn’t occurred she wouldn’t be sitting in a hotel suite with the man whose child was growing inside her, while she agreed to become his pretend fiancée. She had waited to reach the age of forty-three for her life to become a plot for a made-for-television movie.
Jasmine had eaten a small portion of the fruit plate and drunk a glass of water when Cameron returned. “I can’t eat any more now.”
Cameron covered the plate. “I’m going to put this in the fridge. You may want it later or I can have it packed up for you to take back to Hannah’s.”
“I’ll probably take it back. I’ve been drinking fruit smoothies.”
She picked up her jacket and slipped it on while Cameron went into the kitchen. Jasmine had to admit the luxurious suite offered amenities that exceeded her expectations. All she had to do was pick up the phone and whatever she requested would be delivered—all because of the man with whom she found herself falling in love. But that was her secret. She’d sworn never to let her heart rule her head and she had to be very careful never to let Cameron know of her love for him.
Chapter 16
Jasmine sat at a round table in the small dining room with Cameron, architect Bram Reynard, and engineer Lamar Pierce. When Cameron introduced her as his fiancée and personal interior decorator both men appeared visibly surprised by the announcement but managed to recover and congratulate her and Cameron.
She looked up through her lashes at the architect who reminded her of a younger, slimmer version of Santa Claus. Perhaps she was mistaken, but she suspected he wasn’t too pleased with her suggestions when she posed them to the engineer.
Jasmine gave Lamar her full attention. She estimated he was between thirty-five and forty. His mahogany complexion seemed incongruent to a pair of shimmering hazel eyes that reminded her of Nydia’s jewel-like orbs. “After closely looking at the plans, I noticed the rear of the property is large enough for a garden and an area for al fresco dining. Is it possible to extend the back hallway and erect a loggia with a cross-beamed ceiling supported by brick columns? Slate or terracotta flooring will be in keeping with the rustic appearance.”
Lamar nodded. “That’s doable, Ms. Washington.”
“Jasmine,” she corrected with a smile.
Lamar smiled, displaying a mouth filled with large white teeth, making him appear rather boyish. “How much of the rear do you want the loggia to take up?”
“What do you suggest?”
Lamar opened his laptop, and within minutes created a sample of what she’d suggested. He showed the drawing to Bram. “What do you think?”
Bram angled his head. “Make it wider and add another column. That looks good,” he said when Lamar followed his instructions.
Lamar turned the laptop so Jasmine and Cameron could see his drawing. “Is this what you want?”
Jasmine met Cameron’s eyes. Although she’d revealed to him that she wanted to suggest changes, she hadn’t told him what they were. “What do you think?”
Cameron rested a hand on her back. “I like it.” His gaze shifted to Bram. “I’d like you to add it to your plans.”
Bram ran a hand over his brushy, snow-white beard. “Is there anything else your lady wants before I revise the plans?”
Cameron’s expression became a mask of stone. “Why don’t you ask Jasmine directly?” He ground out the query between clenched teeth.
Jasmine froze, sensing the rising tension between Cameron and Bram, and wondering if there had been enmity between the two men in the past, or if she was the result of the undercurrent of discord. She rested her hand over Cameron’s fist. “Cameron and I will be doing quite a bit of entertaining and we both agreed we want a chef’s kitchen with double appliances.” She paused, allowing Bram to jot down her suggestion on a spiral pad. “We also don’t want to cover the brick on the first floor.”
“Is there anything else, Jasmine?”
She smiled. “I don’t believe there is.”
