Playing Jasper (Genoa Mafia Series Book 4)

by Ginger Ring

  “Hard to tell.” Arlo raised his hands off the wheel as he shrugged his shoulders.

  The rest of the morning went just as easy. Each person paid, and it looked like Dominic would be having the afternoon off.

  It was almost one o’clock when Jasper strolled into the winery. Ricky’s wife still weighed heavy on his mind, but there was nothing he could do. Maybe she really had fallen and he was mistaken that the injuries had been caused by Rick, but it was doubtful.

  “Hey, Angel.” Jasper wandered into Jackie’s office and set a cup and bag from the Java Shop on her desk. “I stopped in for coffee and thought you’d like one too.”

  “Wow.” Her eyes widened, and she dropped the pen on the desk. “Ah. Thank you. That was really nice of you.” She peeked in the bag. “My favorite. You should play the lottery. You guessed spot on.”

  “No, I didn’t.” He lowered himself into the chair in front of her desk. “I asked if they knew you. They told me which drink and pastry you liked the best.” Jasper shrugged. “The many joys of living in a small town. Everyone knows your business.”

  “Yes.” She took a sip of the cappuccino. “Caramel mocha with vanilla. Thanks again, but you really didn’t need to do that.” Her smile made it all worthwhile.

  “Yeah, well, I had an ulterior motive.”

  “Really?” Her pretty eyes looked up over the top of the mug.

  “I was wondering if you might be free tomorrow night.” He flashed her a grin.

  “Why?” She focused on her laptop again before glancing back his way. Her brown eyes were a soft hazel, and there were a few freckles on her nose and cheeks.

  “I’d like to take you to dinner.” He smiled, lowered his chin, and glanced up. That move always seemed to work on the ladies, for some reason. The kind of puppy dog look they loved. Her cheeks pinkened, and the freckles drew his eyes. Talk about puppy dog. He was the lovesick one. First, he noticed her fingers. Now, he was checking out her freckles.

  Jackie coughed and dabbed her lips with a napkin. She had the prettiest lips, and they’d look great working their way across his body. And that thick dark red hair. It looked so shiny and smooth. His hands itched to reach out and touch the silky strands.

  “I can’t.” Her voice interrupted his daydream.

  “Other plans?” Jasper flicked at a piece of lint that had worked under his fingernail. “Are you seeing anyone?”

  “No and no.” She took a bite of the pastry.

  Jasper almost groaned when she licked the powdered sugar from her mouth. “So, why not go out?”

  “Because I’ve heard you’re a major player.” Jackie narrowed her eyes. “I don’t do one-night stands.”

  He placed a hand on his heart and raised his eyebrows. “Me? Where did you hear something like that?”

  “From everyone. Like you just said, ‘the many joys of living in a small town.’ Your reputation is well known. Is there anyone in this county you haven’t gone out with?” Her eyes were wide and her cheeks an even brighter pink.

  “Yeah, you.” Jasper leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

  “Well, I’m sorry, but like I said, I have no interest in casual hookups.”

  “And you think that’s all I’m looking for?”

  She lifted one eyebrow. “Isn’t it?”

  “No. I’ve matured.” He winked, and she rolled her eyes. “Everyone has a past, but I see you in my future.”

  Her mouth opened, but she paused before speaking. “You’re quite the charmer, Jasper, but I’m looking for a man who will treat me like my father did my mother. She was his world. They loved each other more than anything. I won’t settle for anything else.”

  “Me too.”

  “Oh, please.” She laughed but not in a condescending way.

  “No. Hear me out. Isn’t everyone looking for a love like that? Come on. Just give me a chance.” He straightened back in his seat. “Maybe I’m the man for you.”

  “I doubt it.” Jackie smiled and picked up her phone. “But thanks again for the snack.”

  “It’s okay.” He was being dismissed, and Jasper rose to his feet. “So, there’s really no way you will go out with me?”

  “Nope. Not ever.” She said it, but did she really mean it?

  “Ouch. That hurt.” He leaned against the doorway.

  “Sorry, but you’re just not my type.”

  And what was her type? Jackie still hadn’t looked up from her phone.

  “I’ll make you a bet.” He wasn’t giving up.

  “What? A bet?” That seemed to get her attention, and she met his gaze. “Why?”

  “Because I don’t give up, and I think we’d be good together.” Jackie still didn’t look convinced. “I bet in one week you’ll go on a date with me.” He would need Madison’s help with that one.

  “No, I won’t.” She smiled.

  “No, you won’t go out, or no, you won’t take the bet?”

  “Both.” Jackie leaned back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other.

  “Well, I guess you’re not the woman I thought you were. I thought you were more adventurous.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Makes me think you don’t want to take the bet because you know you’ll cave.”

  “What? Never.” Jackie put her cell down and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She was wearing a sleeveless green sweater that made her light skin appear golden.

  “Then it’s a bet.” He held out his hand to seal the deal. “If you agree to go on a date with me, you have to go on a second one.”

  She wrinkled up her nose. “Ah, sure. I’m not going to, so what do I win?”

  “Free coffee and pastry from the Java Shop every day for a month.”

  “This is crazy.” Jackie laughed. “I’ll get fat if I eat there every day.”

  “Okay, any day you want for two months.” He smiled. The woman didn’t know who she was up against. “Deal?”

  She finally got to her feet and took his hand. “Deal.”

  Jasper bent at the waist and kissed the top of her hand. “I like a deal that’s sealed with a kiss. Next time, it’ll be on the lips.”

  The look on her face was priceless. It was a mixture of surprise and attraction, but he knew she’d never admit it. Her skin was flushed. She pulled her hand back and stuck it in her pocket.

  “I look forward to our date. Both of them.” He turned to leave but then stopped. “See you later, Angel.”

  ***

  Jackie

  “If I’m an angel, then he’s the devil.” A demon with a breathtaking smile and tons of charisma. Jasper had caught her eye last year at the book signing. A coworker noticed her staring and was quick to share his reputation with the ladies. Jackie couldn’t blame the women that lined up to date him. Date? From what she’d heard, it was usually only one night, yet there was never a bad comment said about the man. There were no scorned ex-girlfriends, that she’d heard about anyway. That didn’t excuse the fact that the guy was obviously involved in illegal activities if he worked for the Caponellis.

  Heck, she worked for a mob boss’s wife. Something Jackie said she never would do. Ever. The woman had bodyguards, for goodness sake. And yet, here she was, an employee of one of their businesses, and loving every minute of her new job.

  “Jackie?” Madison just buzzed her.

  “Yes?”

  “Can you find Jasper? I need him to help me with something, but I’m waiting for a call. I just saw him head toward the storage room.”

  “Sure, I’ll go there right now.” Jackie took one more drink from her coffee cup. It was a thoughtful thing for him to do, but she still wasn’t going to let it persuade her.

  Jackie wore heels today, as she knew they would be working inside. Her heels clicked on the tile as she went in search of Jasper. The lights were on in the large room, but he was nowhere in sight. “Huh.” She called out his name, but the place was empty.

  Madison must have been mistaken because this was the only way out
and he was nowhere in sight.

  Chapter Six

  Jasper

  The next day, he was back at the winery. Their secret store room had filled up nicely. Jewelry, furs, and guns. They’d just returned from loading a van with merchandise amounting to over $1 million. This new venture was on a trial basis, but so far, the numbers were good.

  His phone rang. It was Arlo. “Hey.”

  “The garage in forty-five minutes.”

  “Gotcha.” He didn’t need to ask which one. They had just talked about Ricky earlier at their morning meeting. The guy needed cash again. The forty-five-minute agreed upon time was actually thirty, and Arlo picked him up on the way.

  They stopped at the man’s place of employment with the excuse of their SUV making an odd noise. Ricky came out and looked under the hood.

  “I need more cash.” He clutched a wrench in his hand.

  “You could barely make it last time.” Arlo handled the negotiations, and it took everything Jasper had in him not to punch the mechanic in the face.

  “I got things under control. Just need enough to get by until the weekend.” Ricky checked a few things to make it appear he was looking the vehicle over.

  “How much?” Arlo questioned.

  Jasper circled around but remained within ear shot.

  “Ten thousand,” Ricky muttered.

  It was on the tip of his tongue to ask what the cash was for, but it didn’t matter. That was not their business; lending and making money was.

  “You know where to go. It’ll be waiting for you.” Arlo stepped back. Ricky shut the hood and strutted back to the garage, his step lighter than when they’d arrived.

  “You got that, Jasp?” Arlo was in a mood. Ever since he got back from Chicago, the man had been a bitch to work with. Rumor had it, the guy had the hots for Layla, Madison’s half-sister.

  “Yeah.” Jasper was already typing the info in code into the phone. There was a pickup spot for the money, and when Richard Harrison got off work, the money would be waiting for him. “Let’s go. I can’t stand the sight of that guy.” It wasn’t like they dealt with Boy Scouts in their line of work, but some people rubbed him worse than others. The types they dealt with were usually the dregs of society, but he just couldn’t abide men that hit women.

  After finishing, they drove through town. Tourism was starting to pick up, and the lake homes were being opened up for the season.

  “Hey, pull over there.” Jasper pointed.

  “You see something?” Arlo did as he was told.

  “Yeah.” He was out of the car before it was in park. The woman sitting on the park bench had drawn his attention. It was Ricky’s wife. Jasper approached slowly. Her head was down, and her hands were on her lap. “Mrs. Harrison?”

  Her gaze turned up at him. The bruise on her face had darkened. “Yes?”

  “Do you remember who I am?”

  She nodded.

  “Do you mind if I sit?” Jasper motioned toward the spot next to her.

  She picked up the purse by her side and put it on her lap.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Connie.”

  “I’m Jasper.” He kept his distance on the bench and noticed Arlo watching him from the car.

  “You’re the loan sharks who came to the house.” It was said as a statement and not as a question.

  “I do collections,” he corrected her.

  “You should have come earlier in the day. He didn’t have the money then.” Connie let out a loud sigh.

  “And you know what happens if people don’t pay, right?” Did she really want him dead?

  “Yes.” Connie twisted his way. “I was going to leave him. Been planning for months. He found the money I’d saved up and did this.” She pointed to her face. “The rest of the marks you can’t see.” Her voice shook.

  “Has he hit you before?” The anger toward the woman’s husband was growing by leaps and bounds.

  “I’ve lived with the abuse for some time.” Connie sniffled. “A person never plans on living like this, but sometimes, things happen, and you just can’t escape.”

  “Is there anywhere you can go? Someone you can stay with?”

  “I don’t want temporary. I want out.” She wiped away a tear.

  “He just borrowed more money again.” Jasper exhaled.

  “I know. The guy thinks he’s going to make big money betting on a game tonight. He thinks he can’t lose because he’s selling my car on Monday.”

  “You’re getting a new car?” That seemed surprising.

  “No, he takes everything, and I never get anything but abuse. This time, he’s getting his.” She met his gaze. “I made a fake profile agreeing to buy the car. If he loses the money, that’ll be it. There’s no one coming to pay, and we don’t have any more cash.”

  “I see.” Jasper looked at Arlo again. “Are you going to be okay? We have to make three attempts to make him pay.”

  “He can’t pay. You only need to come once.” She placed a hand on his arm.

  There was nothing he’d rather do than put an end to this guy, but he worried about her safety until they could get the job done. “I’ll talk to the boss.” He couldn’t take things into his hands and go against the family, but he had a feeling that, in this case, Roman would agree.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” he promised.

  “Thank you.” Connie winced as she smiled.

  After they left the park, Jasper had Arlo stop at the flower shop.

  “Now what are you doing?” Arlo complained. “I’m not your fucking chauffeur.”

  “Just wait here.” He hurried in and came out with a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

  “Seriously.” His driver just shook his head. Again, the pissed-off mood for no reason.

  “Yes, I am. I want this woman.”

  “You want all women.” Arlo put the vehicle into drive.

  “Not anymore.” Now only a certain redhead held his attention.

  “Who’s the unlucky lady?” he ribbed.

  “Jackie.” Just saying her name made him smile. “She’s my angel, and I’m determined to make her mine.”

  “Yeah, she seems really into you.” They pulled into a fast food drive-thru.

  “She is. She just doesn’t know it yet.” Jasper’s heart ached. He’d never been in this position before, and he didn’t like it one bit.

  ***

  Jackie

  Madison had ordered lunch from one of the many great sandwich places in town. They’d discussed more of the details about the charity event while they ate. It still seemed weird that it was a bachelor auction, but after the great response they were having, it was the talk of the town.

  While returning from the break room, the aroma of flowers hit her before they stepped into her office. “What the?” There, on Jackie’s desk, was a gorgeous crystal vase filled with purple roses. She’d never been a flower person, but then, no one had even given her any. They were amazing. Stunning, actually. But who would have sent them?

  “Wow.” Madison peeked in the doorway. “Those are the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen, and I used to do weddings.” She came in and lowered her nose to the petals. “And they smell wonderful.”

  “I think they must be for you. They probably dropped them in here by mistake.” It would be amazing to be the benefactor of such a thoughtful gift.

  “Why do you say that?” Her boss frowned at her.

  “I, ah, I’m not dating anyone, so I’m not sure who would be sending me flowers.” Jackie wrung her hands.

  “I think someone wants to date you.” Maddy pointed to a box that had been overshadowed by the bouquet. “You do know what purple roses stand for, don’t you?”

  Jackie shook her head. “I’m afraid I haven’t a clue.”

  “It means love at first sight.”

  “What?” Jackie hadn’t noticed it before, but she picked up the gift and looked it over. It was a small rectangular package. There was
no one in love with her and certainly not at first sight. The box was wrapped in silver paper and again accented with a purple ribbon and bow.

  “What’s inside?” Madison sat on one of the chairs. “I’m guessing something sweet.”

  Jackie removed the cover and was greeted with the delicious scent of dark chocolate. “You were right.” She showed her the goodies.

  “Oh, my. Gunther’s Chocolates. Those are my favorite.”

  “Want one?” Jackie held them across the desk.

  Madison leaned closer but shook her head. “I’d love to, but I’d better not. Those are for you, not me.”

  “But who would send this? I still think it’s a mistake.” Jackie put the box down, took a seat, and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

  “Did they send a card?” Madison stood and studied the roses.

  “Ha! Never thought of that. You can tell I’m not used to getting gifts.”

  “Ah ha! Here it is.” She handed the small card to Jackie.

  “I’m afraid to look. Maybe I have a stalker.” Stranger things had happened. She heard about that stuff all the time.

  “Only one way to find out.” Madison leaned against the doorway. “Do you want to open it in private? I can leave, if you want.”

  “No, that’s okay.” She finally opened the card. “I just nervous with all the attention.” And dreaming that it was from someone that really cared about her. The note read:

  Angel,

  I’m looking forward to our date.

  Her heartrate kicked up a notch. It was signed “Jasper.” A girl could get used to this, but what did it mean? Was it all just a ploy to get her into bed and on to the next conquest?

  “Well, are you going to tell me? I’m dying over here,” her boss teased. “Unless you don’t want to share.”

  Jackie handed her the card, and Madison’s eyes widened. “Are you two going out?”

  “He asked me, but I said no. Jasper bet me that I couldn’t resist going on a date with him. Looks like he’s going all out.” She was briefly overcome with the romance of it all, but now it seemed like he was just playing to win the game.