Say You’ll Stay

Chapter 12 – West

Chapter Twelve

WEST

I see them walking up my drive before they reach the porch. It’s sunny out, and I lift my hand to shade my eyes, welcoming them with a broad smile.

“Here for breakfast? I’ve got pancakes, bacon, eggs…” My litany of food stock trails off at the grim look on Vasey’s face. I bite back a “what’s wrong” and stoop down to Jasmine’s level. “Or cereal. Your pick.”

“I like pancakes,” she says.

“With blueberries inside or strawberries on top?”

“Blueberries.”

“Awesome. I love blueberry pancakes.” I ruffle the top of Jasmine’s hair and lead the two inside.

“This place is actually pretty nice,” Vasey observes as we walk down the carpeted hall to the sunny breakfast nook at the back of the house that overlooks an expansive lawn, a pool, and a stable. “I guess we got the water on our side and you have the riding trails on yours.”

“No horses,” I say quickly. “It’s for show.” At Jasmine’s crestfallen face, I hurry to add, “But we can get horses. It’s just that the previous owner didn’t have any.”

“That’s okay.” Jasmine’s words are polite, but her tone is one of disappointment. It makes me want to run out and buy an entire stud farm.

“I’ll have horses here next week.”

“Really?”

“West…” Vasey drawls warningly.

I ignore her. “Really. What color do you like?”

“I don’t know. Brown?”

“I’ll bring in an assortment. Do you know how to ride or do you need a tutor?”

“I know how to ride. I even have boots and a helmet! I went to horse camp last summer!” Jasmine jumps up and down.

“Great. You’ve grown some since last summer, I bet. We’ll need a new helmet and boots along with the new horses. Let’s go make some pancakes.”

“You can make your own pancakes?” Jasmine is wide-eyed.

“I can make a whole shi—slew of stuff. I was in the Army for years. You have to learn to take care of yourself there.”

I take the batter I pre-mixed out of the fridge and set it down beside Jasmine. “Want to mix in the berries?”

She nods eagerly. Together we mix the batter while Vasey heats up the pan. I make the cakes, and the girls set the table. It’s very domestic, very homey, and it makes me want to throw Vasey onto the counter and impregnate her with my kid. Doing this activity together makes me realize that I want nothing more in life than to have a family with Vasey.

“Jasmine, why don’t you take the iPad and watch a couple cartoons while I help West wash the dishes?” Vasey takes the girl over to the window seat. After the little one is settled in with a blanket, a pillow, and a pair of headphones, Vasey joins me at the sink.

“Gideon showed up outside her bedroom this morning. Made an advance on me”

I clench my teeth and my hands. “That little shit.”

Vasey covers my fist. “He’s a minor, West, and I don’t want to visit you in prison. Plus, Thomas would ruin anyone who tried to smear the Ware name.”

“I don’t care if I’m ruined. I made money in the market to support the two of us and the family we’d have together. I bought that school for you. You and I don’t have any family but each other, Vasey. I’d rather have you than any of this shit.” I wave my hand around the big kitchen. “Plus, what about the girl? Gideon’s not going to stop at making kissy faces with you in the morning.”

“Roberta was there, too. She took a photo, and I’m sure she’s going to use it to accuse me of sexual impropriety with him.”

If that ass stain was anywhere near me, I would grind him into a piece of dust. “Roberta’s not a minor, so let me go take care of her right now.”

“How? Do you really think it’s possible for even you to take on Thomas Ware’s wife?” Vasey sounds distraught.

“Yeah, babe, I do. First, Thomas Ware does not care about that woman. I don’t know why he married her, but it’s not because he loves her. Second, as long as his reputation isn’t harmed, I don’t think he’s going to care what I do to her. He’ll probably be grateful I got rid of an expense on his balance sheet that was dragging him down.” I cup her head with my wet, sudsy hand and pull her face next to mine. “Let me worry about this. I’m going to take care of it. Do you trust me?”

Our faces are so close together I can almost feel the flutter of her eyelashes when she blinks. “Yes, I do.”

“Good.” I give her a quick kiss. Well, it is supposed to be quick, but the moment our lips meet, I can’t stop. I push my tongue between her lips and sweep inside, tasting the blueberries and cream and her sweetness. The dishes are forgotten, the problems across the street drop out of my mind. The only thing I’m able to focus on is her. I angle her head to the side for deeper access. My cock pulses with need. I slide my hands to her ass and lift her off the ground so that the notch of her legs rubs against my cock. I hate the clothes that are between us, the lack of a bed nearby. I spin around toward the island and stride over. Any horizontal surface will do. It’s been too long.

“Are you going to take Vasey away from me?”

I freeze in my tracks. Vasey scrambles out of my arms. We both turn to see Jasmine standing about ten feet away with her headphones around her neck and the iPad in her hand. Her mouth is turned down into a huge frown. She does not approve. Vasey takes a huge step to the side to put space between us. I close the distance and slide my arm around Vasey’s waist. I didn’t anticipate I’d have to fight a jealous twelve-year-old for Vasey’s heart, but a man’s gotta do what he’s gotta do, and I’m not giving up my woman.

“Yeah. I am, but I’m not going to keep her from you. You can visit all you want. Vasey can still take you to school and classes, but she’s going to be living with me from now on.”

“No.” Jasmine shakes her head. “Vasey lives with me. You can visit, but she’s mine.”

“Now, Jasmine. I don’t belong to anyone. Just like you are your own person, I am my own person, too. West and I have been apart for a long time, and we need to have time together.”

I start to smile, but it fades when Vasey turns to me. “You know the situation with Gideon and Roberta. I’m not leaving until that’s resolved.”

I have my orders. Fix the Gideon and Roberta problem or Jasmine gets to keep Vasey. “Fine. We’ll all move into Ware’s place. I’ll go pack.”

“What?” the two girls shout as one.

I grin. “We’re all going to be roomies, I guess. Let me know which room is mine.”