Page 97 of Sweet Surrender

As the night wears on, his spark comes back bit by bit. Eventually, the mask slips off completely and we’re all treated with the Jase Gizmodo we all know and love with his sincere laugh and wide smile.

A warm hand presses against the small of my back, guiding me through the room. His touch is light, almost absentminded, but I’m well aware of it and him beside me as are all the eyes in the room.

“So you’ve met the guys. Thoughts other than how you married the wrong one?”

I chuckle. Our introductions were brief and amid others so there was a subdued greeting like we know each other. But I still noticed their assessing stares and felt their silent judgment as they wondered what kind of woman would marry a guy she’d never met before.

And while it was slightly uncomfortable, a part of me was grateful that he has friends who look out for him since it seems no one else does. There is clearly genuine closeness between the four of them that I didn’t sense he has with Nathaniel.

“You’re staring at me, Cookie,” he murmurs, his breath teasing the shell of my ear.

I stiffen, instantly defensive. “I am not.”

“You are,” he counters, his voice low, teasing. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you actually like looking at me.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

But the way his lips curve tells me he doesn’t believe me. Worse, I don’t believe myself.

“Maybe I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You know . . .”

“I’m fine. Good to go. Never better.”

“And of course when you say it like that, I’m supposed to believe it.” We walk a few more feet and I tug on his arm looped through mine. “Jase?”

He stops and sighs heavily. It takes a second for him to meet my eyes and when he does, I can see the reluctance in them. “There are times when a man needs some grace, Cookie, and today was one of those times.”

I nod, my bottom lip worrying between my teeth. “I’m worried about you is all.”

“I know. And I’m sorry that I did that to you. That I made you worry and doubt and question why the fuck you said yes to this.” His smile is a flash of apology.

“No. Yes.” I chuckle. “Maybe. My own past didn’t help the situation.”

“I’m okay. I promise you that I am.”

“What happ—” I wave a hand at him as he smiles at someone passing by. “Never mind. It’s not my business to pry.”

“Look, I had some unexpected news about a family member that threw me. It wasn’t the first time I got news like that, and I’m certain it won’t be the last. It just knocked me off my feet for a bit. I called Vince. He picked me up. We had a few drinks. Got it out of my system. It’s over and done with, tucked back away, okay?”

“Okay,” I say. I’ve had a whole day to stew on where he went and with whom, and even though I could feel hurt and angry, I’ve tried to remind myself that our lives are not intertwined forever. Down the track, even in five years’ time, today won’t matter. It’s a blip on this temporary radar. And I can deal with it.

He leans forward and brushes a kiss on my lips. I’m sure it’s for show but like most of his kisses, this one makes me melt a little. I’m wiser to what this is, but he’s still a damn good kisser. I’ve also realized I’m happy to be his friend. A real friend.

“You could have called me,” I whisper. “I would have been there for you, no questions asked.”

His eyebrows narrow ever so slightly as our eyes hold and before he can respond, a statuesque blonde in a dangerously low-cut black dress approaches us. She offers Jase a sultry smile but completely ignores my existence.

“Gizmo,” she purrs, reaching out to touch his forearm. “It’s been too long.” The look in her eyes is much more than a comment. It’s an invitation.

He smirks, his usual charm slipping into place. “Madison. Looking beautiful as usual.”

“As are you, Gizmo. We should get a drink. It’s been far too long.”

“You think?”

“Oh, I do. I know just the place too.”

“Hmm,” Jase responds, smiling.