Formula for Passion

by Yahrah St. John

  Tea leaned back, smiling with satisfaction. She’d known for a long time that Courtney was in love with Jasper, but it was nice to hear her best friend admit it. “Glad you’re finally able to say it.”

  Courtney ran her fingers through her short crop of hair. “Near-death experiences can make you see things more clearly.”

  “Speaking of the accident,” Tea said as she took a pinch of the blueberry muffin that Courtney had ordered but hadn’t touched. “Do you really think someone meant to harm you?”

  Courtney leaned forward in her chair and whispered, so no one could hear them, “You mean Andrew?” She suppressed a sigh. “I’m not sure. My family, Jasper, they all think he’s capable, but sabotage has always been Andrew’s style. He’s never done anything this drastic before.”

  “He’s never lost a son before.”

  “But he’d already lost Jasper,” Courtney responded. “Jasper hasn’t been a part of his life since he was a teenager.”

  “Which is why it was probably easy for Andrew to think he would get a second chance, but once Jasper made it clear that was no longer a possibility, he might have lost it.” She snapped her fingers. “People do crazy things in the name of love.”

  “But how far would Andrew go to get me out of Jasper’s life and back under his control?”

  “That’s the question of the hour.”

  Chapter 17

  “I don’t think you should do this,” Abigail Jackson told Jasper at the hospital. He’d requested to be moved to the ICU to help with his plan. “Not only is Andrew dangerous when crossed, but what if he finds out what we’re up to?” She’d been uneasy about calling Andrew and telling him Jasper had been hurt last night, but Jasper had been insistent.

  “This is the only way, Mama. Andrew needs to know I’ve been seriously injured instead of Courtney. If he thinks I’m worse off than I am, it’ll set the stage for me to get the truth out of him.”

  His mother sighed heavily. He knew she was against this, but this was his best defense. She hadn’t left his side since last night, and as much as he wanted her to take care of him, she was going to mother him to death. She’d already fluffed his pillows half a dozen times. “Enough, Mama,” he said. “They are fluffy enough.”

  Reluctantly, she sat down and watched him. She knew him well enough to know he was scheming. And she was right. He had business to take care of, namely putting a nail in Andrew’s coffin. Nothing was going to give him greater pleasure than to stick it to the old man and catch him red-handed. His father had always covered his tracks well with his underhanded dealings. Only once had he been upstaged and that was when Jasper had overheard and taped a conversation with one of his lackeys and had gained the upper hand to secure his departure from Jackson Manor to live with his mother. Now lightning just needed to strike twice.

  In the hospital, he’d had time to hatch his plan. He would wear a wire and get Andrew to admit the truth. He knew him well enough to know that if he believed Jasper was gravely injured, he might reveal his scheme to get rid of Courtney out of guilt. Then Jasper would have him right where he wanted him and could turn him into the authorities. Some might consider him heartless for what he was about to do, but Andrew had gone too far this time. He’d hurt Courtney, the woman Jasper loved.

  And yes, he did love her. Love had sneaked up on him. He sure hadn’t been planning or looking for it. But she’d had his heart from the moment she broke down on the side of the road in Punta Cana. Now that he knew, he wanted to shout his feelings from the rooftop and had just about done that last night with her entire family in the room.

  He knew Courtney had heard him, but given the situation, they hadn’t been able to have a private conversation. He was eager to hear her feelings. Could she love him as much he did her? He hoped so, because he knew with absolute certainty that she was the woman for him. He wanted to marry her.

  Her family’s blessing didn’t seem as though it would be hard to come by anymore. The fact that Byron had come to his hospital room to thank him for saving his daughter told Jasper that it might be possible after all. Of course, he didn’t have a ring yet, but he would. He just had to deal with Andrew first.

  His mother’s voice jolted him out of his reverie. “Please tell me you will not do something stupid.”

  Jasper could feel her fear from the bed. “Mama, I won’t take any unnecessary risks, but even you must see that this plan is brilliant.”

  She nodded. “I realize he might feel guilty if he thought he hurt you and this could open a window.”

  “That I could use to my advantage.”

  “I still don’t like it.”

  “So you’re okay!” Courtney said from the doorway.

  When she’d gone to the hospital to visit him, she’d been shocked to find an empty bed. Her mind had immediately rushed to the worst possible conclusion. Did he have some sort of brain bleed they hadn’t caught last night? She’d rushed to the nurses’ station for details on Jasper’s condition only to discover he’d been moved to ICU. Stone-cold fear had flooded through her. Why had no one called? When she felt inside her designer purse for her cell phone, she’d seen that it was off. Dead. In the midst of the ruckus from last night, she’d forgotten to charge it.

  All Courtney could think about as she rode the elevator up to the eighth floor was that the doctor had been wrong last night and Jasper had been hurt trying to save her. If he died, she would never be able to live with the guilt. But when she arrived, she’d been shaking with joy and relief at seeing his handsome form sitting up in the bed looking healthy and strong.

  Courtney quickly walked forward and hurled herself into Jasper’s arms. “You scared me half to death!” She lightly hit him on his good arm.

  “It’s okay, baby,” Jasper crooned in her ear.

  “When I didn’t see you in your room, I freaked out,” she said against his chest.

  “I’m sorry about that. I did leave a message on your cell phone, but it went straight to voice mail.”

  Courtney inhaled Jasper’s strong masculine scent. She was home. She looked up at him and couldn’t resist stealing a kiss. She drew his face to hers, meaning the kiss to be light and quick, but his lips were warm and moist and when he deepened the kiss, he roused her passion.

  “Uh...” Abigail coughed from behind them. “I...I’ll just give the two of you some time alone.” She quickly scuttled out of the room to give the lovebirds some privacy.

  Courtney barely noticed her leave because she was so transfixed on the feel of Jasper’s mouth on hers, strong and hard, and on the taste of his tongue. It was sweet as if he’d been nibbling on some cookies. When she finally lifted her head, she noticed a cup of tea and biscuits sitting on his nightstand.

  “Wow, you must have really needed that,” Jasper said, smiling broadly at Courtney’s welcome.

  She brought her hand up to her mouth to stifle a giggle. “I think I embarrassed your mother.”

  Jasper glanced at the doorway. “Oh, she’ll be fine.”

  Courtney touched his cheek. “You’re looking much better today, if not a little tattered and bruised.” She fingered a scar above his brow and the black-and-blue marks on his face.

  “Yeah, it takes a lot to keep me down.”

  “So, why did they move you to ICU?” Courtney asked.

  “I spoke with the police and hospital administrator and I have a plan to address the Andrew situation. They agreed to help set up this sting in the hopes that my father will confess.”

  Courtney jumped up. “Jasper, there will be time for that later. Your health is more important than catching Andrew.”

  Jasper shook his head fervently. “I beg to differ. Now is exactly the time, because trust me, if Andrew felt like the job didn’t get done the first time, he will try again. And he will be kicking himself that I got hurt.
”

  Courtney shuddered. “You think he would send someone to come after me again?” The thought sent cold shivers up and down her spine.

  “It’s possible,” Jasper answered honestly. “And I don’t want to take that chance. I need to cut him off at the knees.”

  “I just don’t want anything to happen to you,” she cried, returning to the bed and the safety of his arms. “I couldn’t bear it.”

  Jasper stroked her cheek. “I know. And don’t think I don’t know that we’re overdue for a conversation when this is all over.”

  She smiled knowingly. He clearly hadn’t been too groggy to remember he’d said he loved her.

  “But I don’t want any distractions when we talk,” Jasper continued. “I just want it to be about you and me. No family. No feuds. Just us.”

  “I agree.” And when the time came, Courtney wouldn’t be afraid. Somehow she would find the courage to finally say the three words she’d never said to another man: I love you.

  * * *

  “How is Jasper doing?” her father asked when Courtney returned home later that evening. Jasper had requested she stay away, as he was sure Andrew would come to the hospital later that evening. She hated to leave him, but Jasper had insisted and told her the police would be nearby.

  She was surprised to find the entire family assembled in the drawing room having cocktails. Kayla and Ethan were snuggled on a love seat, playing with Alexander. Shane and Gabby were standing in the corner kissing while her mother sat in a nearby chair. They all seemed surprised to see her.

  Kayla inquired, “How’s Jasper?”

  “He’s doing well, thanks,” she said, taking a seat next to her on the couch.

  “We didn’t expect you tonight,” her mother said. “We assumed you would be staying with Jasper in the hospital.”

  “Ummm...” Courtney replied, “his mother’s with him, so I didn’t want to intrude.” Jasper had asked her not to reveal his plan to her parents until he had something concrete to tell them.

  “I’m sure she appreciated that.” Her mother reached across and patted Courtney’s thigh.

  “Well, I have to say that’s a brave young man,” her father said, straightening from the mantel he was leaning against. “Not many men would have stepped in the way of an oncoming car.”

  Courtney’s face broke into an open smile. “Does that mean that you’ve changed your opinion about Jasper?”

  Her father was silent for a moment and then he said, “I may have misjudged the young man. Clearly he’s nothing like his father.” A smile ruffled the corners of his mouth.

  “Glad to hear that, Daddy.” Courtney rose and walked over to give him a gentle squeeze. When she did, her father returned the hug. It had been tough being at odds with him over Jasper. She hadn’t liked it one bit, so she was happy they were finding some common ground. Her father kissed her forehead the way he used to.

  “Ah, peace and harmony in the family,” her mother commented from the chair. “That’s what I like to see.”

  “Almost, Mama,” Shane said. “We still have the matter of Andrew to deal with.”

  “Why do we have to?” Gabrielle said. “Can’t we just let it go? Perhaps the incident was an accident after all. We don’t know for sure that Andrew sent someone after you.”

  “Do you forget what he did to you?” Shane asked.

  Gabrielle turned to glare at her fiancé. “Blackmail and attempted murder are on total opposite ends of the spectrum. I’m just saying that we shouldn’t rush to judgment.” When Gabrielle said the words, Courtney noticed she looked directly at Byron.

  “There’s only one way to find out,” Ethan said. “Jasper’s going to have to talk to Andrew.”

  “Do you think Andrew would say anything incriminating?” Kayla wondered aloud. “He’s been so clever in the past, with Noelle, the leak, the thefts. I don’t know...”

  “I guess that will depend on how good of an actor Jasper is,” Shane said.

  “But what if it backfires and Andrew is onto Jasper?” Courtney asked. Jasper had already set the plan in motion and there was no turning back.

  “I think Andrew is desperate enough to have his son back in the fold that he won’t realize he’s being set up,” her mother said.

  “True,” Ethan said. “Or Andrew may need a little incentive to believe Jasper has suddenly changed his mind.”

  “What are you thinking, Ethan?” Kayla asked.

  “That we give Andrew a fake tip,” Ethan said, “about an upcoming product. He’ll be more likely to believe Jasper if he comes bearing gifts.”

  Byron nodded. “That’s a brilliant strategy, Ethan.” He turned to Courtney. “When does Jasper go to see Andrew?”

  “Soon,” Courtney fibbed. She just prayed that when all was said and done, Jasper was standing and victorious in the end. And that Andrew would be out of their lives for good.

  Chapter 18

  “Abigail.” Andrew nodded at her when he arrived at the ICU later that evening. She was sitting in a chair next to the bed where Jasper’s still, motionless body lay. When she’d called Andrew that afternoon, he’d been shocked to hear her voice since he hadn’t spoken to her in years. But that didn’t matter because the moment she told him Jasper had been injured in a car accident, his heart had stopped.

  Jasper? That couldn’t be right. He’d set it in motion for Courtney Adams to have an accident. With her out of the way, whispering in his son’s ear, he could finally get through to Jasper. He wanted his son back. He hadn’t wanted him hurt.

  Andrew walked forward into the room, his towering presence filling the tiny quarters. Jasper was hooked up to a lot of machines, and his face was battered and bruised. Had he done this? Had he done this to his own son? “How bad is it?” he asked, tears filling his eyes as he looked at his ex-wife.

  “He sustained a severe blow to the head and ruptured his spleen. He had surgery late last night to repair some of the damage, but the swelling in his brain...” Abigail paused for effect and then reached for her handkerchief in her lap. “He...he hasn’t woken up.”

  “Dear God!” Andrew’s knees gave out and he sank to the floor, grasping hold of the bars on the hospital bed. “This can’t be happening.”

  Abigail delivered the final blow. “And if he doesn’t come out of in the next twenty-four hours...”

  Andrew looked up at Abigail. “He will absolutely come through this. Our son is a fighter, Abigail. He’s strong and resilient, like me. He will come through this.”

  Abigail didn’t know if he was saying it more for her or himself. She rose from the chair. “I’m going to get some coffee. Would you like some?”

  Andrew shook his head. “No. But thank you for the time alone with him.”

  Abigail patted Andrew’s shoulder on her way out.

  “I’m so sorry, son,” Andrew whispered, leaning down to stroke Jasper’s forehead. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. You weren’t supposed to be here.” He rose to his feet. “Damn those Adamses. They must have some guardian angel. Every time I try... How did she escape that car? And why were you there?”

  Andrew paced the floor of the room. “I don’t understand this. But you can rest assured that I will take care of this, son. Once and for all. I will finish those Adamses if it’s the last thing I do. It’s their fault you’re in this bed, and they will pay.”

  That threat caused Jasper to open his eyes and Andrew looked down at him. “Son!” He bent over and hugged Jasper. “Thank God!” He rushed out of the room to the nurses’ station. “Call the doctor. My son is awake.” He quickly walked back to the room. “I’m so happy to see you awake.”

  “Dad?” Jasper croaked. He knew calling him “dad” would tug at Andrew’s heartstrings because he hadn’t called him that in years. “Where...where am I?”<
br />
  “You’re in the hospital,” Andrew said softly. “You were in a car accident, but you’ll be all better before you know it. I promise you.”

  A doctor and several nurses came inside the room, ushering Andrew out of the room and into the hallway. “We need to examine him.”

  Jasper could see Andrew staring at him through the glass window of the ICU room.

  “Don’t worry, son,” he heard his father say on the way out. “I’m here for you. I’m here for you always.”

  * * *

  “It’s not enough,” the police detective told Jasper and Abigail when they came into the room after Andrew had gone.

  “What do you mean?” Jasper said. “He all but admitted that he tried to hurt Courtney.”

  “I agree with my son,” his mother stated. “Andrew is dangerous.”

  “It’s still not enough,” the detective said. “We certainly have reason to suspect Mr. Jackson is behind the accident, but that’s all we have. We have no evidence of payoff, we don’t have the driver of the car and he didn’t fully admit to you that he’d done it.”

  “What else is it going to take?” Courtney said from the doorway. She’d waited as long as she could at the estate, and now she couldn’t wait any longer. She’d had to know what was happening, so she’d driven back to the hospital. “Does Andrew have to make another attempt on my life before you do something?”

  “Not at all, Ms. Adams,” the detective said. “Your safety is our utmost concern. We can put a tail on you to ensure that you’re looked after.”

  “For how long?” Jasper said. “Because trust me, my father won’t stop coming after them.”

  “Then get me proof,” the detective responded, “something I can take to the D.A. to make a case.”

  “Fine!” Jasper said. “I’ll get you your proof.”

  * * *

  “Are you okay?” Kayla asked Courtney several days later when she found her staring out of her office window. “You look so far away.”