Exposed (Let Me Love You #3)

Chapter 39

39

FIVE DAYS LATER

MATT

W e attended the temporary orders hearing, and my heart is broken. The next step in the custody process is a status conference, but that’s four weeks away. Until then, I have to share Simon with the Trumans. Hollie refuses to testify against her parents, and I believe it’s because she’s afraid of them.

Getting married to Jasmine did help our case, but the Trumans refuse to back down. They won’t settle for anything less than full custody. They want to take my son away from me completely, but I’ll fight to the death to stop that from happening. The judge ordered 50/50 custody for the next four weeks: one week with us, then one week with them. They live in Orlando, so we’ll be traveling halfway to meet them every time.

This is the fucking worst. Meeting them at the hearing was horrible. They reek of wealthy entitlement. Some rich people are authentic and down to earth. Heath and Nita Truman are not.

The first visit is next week, and I’m trying to figure out how to stop time so it won’t happen.

It’s Monday, so I’ve had all day with Simon and Jasmine. I want to soak up every moment I can with Simon before next weekend. With him nuzzled against my chest in his carrier, I cook dinner for Jasmine and I.

“What if we lose, and I miss all the huge milestones in Simon’s life?” I lament to Jasmine as I stir the steak and vegetable stir-fry.

“You’re not going to lose.”

“Anna said it’s a possibility that we’ll get 50/50 permanent custody. Simon shouldn’t have to be with the Trumans every other week. Hollie was afraid to even tell her parents she was pregnant. I don’t want Simon growing up in fear. I have a horrible feeling about them. I wish Hollie would testify against them.”

Anna is working to get another judge on our case, because she thinks this one is being paid off by the Trumans.

“We’re not backing down. We’ll fight with everything we have for Simon,” Jasmine assures me.

I don’t miss the way she said “we.” I want her to stay when the custody battle is over, and not just to be Simon’s nanny. I want her to be my wife forever.

“I like that you said ‘we.’ I want you to stay with me as long as you want.” I give her a little grin.

“Really?” She asks as she sets the table for her and I.

“Absolutely. Simon and I love you being here,” I reply.

“I love being with you guys.”

She didn’t say that she’ll stay forever, but it’s a start.

“We’re going to win,” she continues. “If the Trumans are ugly humans, their true colors will show.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of, that their true colors will show when they have Simon alone. I’m going to have the PI follow them like a hawk while they’ve got Simon,” I say as I plate our dinner.

After eating, we clean up, and Jasmine looks online at the latest news for the Titan Securities scandal.

Kevin was arrested a couple of days ago, but he’s asserting his complete innocence. Of course, the lying asshole is, but we’ve got proof. He’s going down. I’d like to teach him a lesson for all he put Jasmine through, but I’m leaving it up to the legal system. Assault wouldn’t look good for me in gaining full custody of Simon.

There’s a new news clip that was uploaded by a New York City news outlet, and Jasmine clicks on it.

A gray haired man in a navy blue suit stands at a podium with the name Walter Crane at the bottom of the screen. He clears his throat, then begins speaking. “We’re deeply sorry for the false allegations brought against Jasmine Lockwood, a former employee with us at Titan Securities. She was a talented accountant. If you see this, Ms. Lockwood, allow us a chance to make things right. All charges against you have been dropped.”

Next to me, Jasmine’s hand flies to her mouth as she takes a sharp breath.

“You’re free, princess,” I whisper and put an arm around her.

Simon is totally oblivious to this earth-shattering revelation, batting at my chest with his hands and kicking his feet.

I love Jasmine. I want her to choose us instead of her old life, but I know that’s selfish.

“I’m not sure where you are, Ms. Lockwood, but we invite you back to our office in New York City. We’re waiting with open arms and a place for you to call home.”

Douchebag. I want Jasmine to call me her home.

The clip ends, and Jasmine turns to me. One look on her face, and I can see she wants to go.

I nod, letting her know I understand.

“I have to go, Matt. Hearing what they have to say will help me,” she pleads.

“Of course, you need to,” I reply on autopilot. What I want to say is, “ Don’t leave us .”

“Let’s go when Simon goes to the Truman’s next week. You won’t need me to be your nanny. Traveling will help take your mind off of how miserable we’ll be without Simon.”

“We?” I ask.

“Absolutely. We’ll both feel miserable knowing Simon is with them. Please come with me?”

“I have to work, Jasmine,” I say flatly.

Maybe I’m a jerk, but I don’t want to see her return to Titan Securities. They’ll offer her a generous promotion and a huge raise to apologize for how they didn’t even hear her side of the story before throwing her under the bus.

“You work from home on Mondays. We’ll leave Sunday after we drop off Simon, then come back on Monday,” she says.

I pick up our empty plates and put them in the sink to wash.

“Matt.” Jasmine taps me on the back.

“I’ve got portfolios to edit,” I snap, refusing to turn around to face her.

“Matt, what’s wrong?”

Taking a deep breath, I hang my head and kiss the top of Simon’s head. I inhale his sweet baby scent to calm myself.

“You’re free to go home now, Jasmine. Next week, you’re already going back to your old job,” I say in a low voice. I shouldn’t have expected anything different. This isn’t her life. We aren’t her life.

“You want me to leave?” She asks softly.

“You think I want you to leave?” I turn around.

“Why are you mad at me?”

Fuck it. I grab the back of her neck and pull her mouth to mine in a rough kiss.

“I love you,” I say, even though my tone is angry. “I’ve told you that once, but you didn’t say it back. Being Simon’s nanny and marrying me may be fake and temporary for you, but it’s not to me. I want you. You’re not just Simon’s nanny or my fake wife to win the custody case. You’re mine, Jasmine. You’re my wife .” I feel my heart cracking in two.

“I’ve never been in love. I don’t know if what I’m feeling is love or not,” she confesses, and my anger melts at her vulnerability.

I swallow hard. “What do you feel for me, Pep?”

She chews on her bottom lip, thinking for a few minutes before she speaks. “A violent feeling. Like I’ve never had something I want to fight for so badly. Like I want to be in your corner. I’m a better version of myself when I’m with you. This life with you and Simon, it makes my heart want to bloom like a flower. I’ve never felt needed before you and Simon.”

At her admission, I’m momentarily stunned. Then, I cup her face and a grin spreads across my face.

“That sounds a lot like love to me. There’s no one I’d rather have in my corner than you, princess.”

She blushes at my nickname for her.

“I love you. Not for being my fake wife to help me out and not for being Simon’s nanny. Since the first time I saw you being a server, I wanted you. I see you, Jasmine. And I love you .”

Simon is wriggling between us.

“Okay, bud. We get it. Enough mushy stuff,” I murmur and run my fingers over the top of his head.

“I love you, Matt,” Jasmine whispers. The whole world tilts and I almost fall over.

“You do?” I stutter.

“I do. I love you, and I love Simon.”

“Why are you going back to your old job? Those people didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt and turned your life upside down,” I remind her.

“I’m going for closure, Matt. I’m not working for them again, but I’d like to get some answers as to why Kevin did it.”

Oh . I throw a silent prayer of thanks up to God.

“Fuck, Pep. If we weren’t already married, I’d propose to you right now,” I grin.