I replay that kiss in my mind over and over again. My concentration is shit today, and it’s all because of those lips.
I never thought of myself as a lip man, but Jasper’s are at the forefront of my brain, replaying their smooth glide across mine. The need to dart my tongue out and lick into his mouth was a force of nature I fought hard to hold back, too afraid to make a move.
My dick twitches and I roll my eyes. I’ve spent the day battling the stupid thing, trying to keep it in check. Knowing we’ll be breathing the same air tonight at family dinner isn’t helping.
I know he acts like it was nothing, but the spark that ignited up my spine says differently. I know he felt it, too. He had to, right?
I startle when Darcy’s floating head pops in my open doorway.
“Hey hun, I’m just gonna take the trash out.”
“Here, let me. It’s dark out and I haven’t fixed the lights out by the dumpsters.”
Empty bottles clink against the floor as Darcy drops the bag. “Good, I didn’t want to do it, anyway.” She snickers. “Are you about to head out to dinner? Where is it this week?”
“Dragonfly.” We have been holding dinner there more times than not lately.
“Oh, they have the best BLTs.”
I laugh. “Rumor has it that it’s something with the bacon.”
“You better give me the scoop when you find out.”
“Please, Beckett has that on lockdown. I don’t think he’ll give it up that easily,” I holler back as she walks away with a laugh.
I get up from my chair, stretching, my back crackling and popping, like the old man I feel I am, before picking up the trash bag and out the back door.
Dark shadows play with my eyes as I step outside. “I really need to fix the lights out here,” I mutter to myself. It’s too dark and not safe for my employees. I can barely see anything.
I make a metal note to fix the light when I come back from the Farmers Market tomorrow morning.
The lid to the metal dumpster screeches as I lift it and toss the bag inside before slamming it back down again. The sound piercing my ears makes me wince.
I’m about to open the back door when I hear it. Or I think I hear it. It’s hard to tell when my ears could be bleeding.
A small, tiny cry.
I spin on my heels. That can’t be.
As I make my way back toward the dumpster, the sound gets louder.
I suck in a sharp breath. Tucked next to the side of the dumpster is a car seat with a baby blanket draped over it.
My eyes dart around, desperately hoping to see someone, anyone. My gut sinks. No one. There has to be a reason this baby was left here.
Bending down, I slowly peel back the blanket and my heart breaks at the sight of a small baby crying; cold and alone.
Not knowing how long the baby has been outside, I snatch the car seat and hurry inside.
“Darcy, can you come here, please?” I yell down the hall as I enter the back door before slipping into my office. I try to hide the panic in my voice, but I don’t think it worked.
“What’s wrong? Was it the bear? Did it attack you?” Darcy enters my office, stopping in her tracks, her eyes practically bugging out of her head.
“Someone left a baby out back by the dumpsters.”
“Oh my God, that’s terrible,” she gasps, eyes wide.
“Can you call Jerry?”
