Beckett leans in, placing a hand on the stranger’s chest. “I was just telling Lucas here about how amazing your cupcakes are.”
“Oh, fuck,” Jasper whispers beside me. “Incoming.”
“I’ve heard amazing things about your baking skills.”
Well, fuck… pretty sure I’m supposed to hate the guy.
“Lucas is a baker I met while living out in LA,” says Beckett.
“LA… Of course, because the people you hung out with in LA were all winners,” Dom says, coming to a stop next to him.
“And here we go,” Jasper says quietly.
Beckett turns to him. “You know what? There are good people everywhere, Dom.” He scoffs. “Maybeyoujust don’tseeit.”
“Lucas, wanna share a vanilla cupcake?” The two share a look before Lucas clears his throat.
“Of course, I would love a cupcake. But I’m actually not a fan of vanilla. Can we share a chocolate one instead?”
Jasper lets out a growl. Ohh, poor choice in cupcakes, buddy.
“And maybe I see good people everywhere, but that doesn’t mean I’m one of them,” Dom says.
Beckett whips his head in his direction.
“Umm, sure. Let me just get that for you,” I say, taking one of the chocolate cupcakes out of the display case and handing it to Lucas, all while holding Jasper back.
“Dom… I didn’t mean…”
Dom turns on his heels and stalks off.
“Shit!” Beckett says, hanging his head.
“Yeah, you just fucked up, buddy.”
“Thanks for being Captain Obvious, Jasper.”
“You’re welcome. And you kinda deserved that.”
“Fuck, I know. Come on, Lucas. We have some groveling to do,” Beckett says, pulling Lucas by the arm.
“We? What’s this ‘we?’”
Beckett just rolls his eyes as they scurry away.
“Well, this explains Dom’s cranky-ass mood. He told a client to fuck off the other day. I mean, it was just Ms. Cook, but still. Jaxon made him hand deliver flowers as an apology.”
I snort. “I don’t think I want to be around when that finally comes to a head.” Wrapping my arms around Jasper, I nuzzle into his neck, not caring who sees. “You looked really cute playing with the kids.”
He just shrugs like it’s no big deal. “They’re good kids. Some of them have been a part of The Matthew House for a while now. I try to stop in whenever I can and hang out, maybe play some video games. When one kid, Charlie, found out I knew the guys who created House of Arrows, he flipped his lid.” He laughs. “I made sure Marcus brought in some swag.”
“You will forever surprise me. You’re nowhere near the person I thought you were.”
You know that old saying about peeling back the layers of an onion? That’s what it’s like to be in love with Jasper Valintine.Yep, I’m well aware I just said it, people.
Bythetimeweget the last of the stuff unloaded from the car, I’m exhausted. It was a long day, but an incredibly rewarding day.
“Everyone loved your cupcakes,” Jasper says following me into the house.
