“I think I need a bit of help,” he said.
It was then that Jasmine noticed Sarah Middleton standing at Luke’s side. She beamed up at him and opened her mouth to respond, but it was as if Luke didn’t notice as he spoke again.
“Miss Rose,” he said, “do you mind getting a little dirty today?”
A profusion of heat flooded Jasmine’s skin, crawling down her body like a raging tsunami. He’s talking about digging in the dirt, Jasmine. Pull it together.
A bounty of whistling wind pushed Jasmine forward, practically uplifting her feet to encourage her toward him. When she realized she was moving, a swarm of nervousness fell over her, but it was too late to pause and change her mind. The entire crowd was watching her now, including the TV cameras. As she sauntered closer to him, Jasmine didn’t miss the cut of Sarah’s eyes and the disingenuous way she smiled when Jasmine glanced to her before returning her focus on Luke. She was inches from him now, and Luke reached out to pull her closer.
“I’m not sure if this is a good idea,” Jasmine said.
“Don’t worry, we’re going to do this, together,” his baritone voice beat.
His words meant more than he could ever know, or maybe he was aware of their significance. A vaguely sensuous light passed between them just as Luke’s warm palm clamped down around her soft skin. Jasmine had wrestled herself to death on whether to cross the line with Luke, even up to this very moment. But as a spiraling buzz crept through her core from his very touch, Jasmine knew she would do whatever he wanted.
“Okay,” she said, carried away by her own response.
Satisfied, Luke gave her body a raking gaze just as Sarah Middleton cleared her throat. He blinked once then licked his lips and reached for the single button that shielded her behind the Burberry cape coat. Jasmine froze as he unclasped it then slipped the fabric off her shoulders and down her arms along with her handbag. His gaze traveled over the silk blouse that lay arrestingly against her skin. Her breasts were at attention and her nipples protruding. Luke’s throat tightened, and his gut clenched. He mindlessly turned to Sarah.
“Would you mind holding on to this for a moment, Miss Middleton?” he asked.
Jasmine pulled her vision from his mouth to glance at Sarah. The brunette’s cheeks were filled with heat from embarrassment. The last thing she wanted was to be Jasmine’s coat rack. Jasmine tried to hold back her smirk, but it pushed through anyway.
“Oh, no problem,” Sarah lied.
“Thank you,” Luke returned.
His fingers took Jasmine’s arm with gentle authority, twirling her around so that her back met his front. Retrieving the shovel, Luke positioned the tool between them and coached her.
“Open your hands.”
Jasmine obeyed, and Luke placed the shovel’s rod in her palms. He covered her soft fingers with his strong fist, and together, they dug the next three holes that would solidify the mark of the community center’s grand opening. The crowd around them buzzed and cheered, and photographers snapped pictures from all angles. Taking the shovel out of her grasp with one massive hand, Luke stabbed it into the ground next to them without moving an inch. The heat from his colossal frame continued to correlate around her back, and she turned around to face him.
“Congratulations.” Jasmine smiled. “Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your moment.”
His sharp gaze delved into the rapture of her eyes.
“It’s our moment now,” he said. “One of many, I hope.”
On an intake of breath, Jasmine’s smile widened. “Certainly.”
Her response revved his engine. She was ready, finally. Luke had never felt such relief in all of his thirty years of existence.
“Congratulations,” Sarah Middleton intervened.
Luke nodded in her direction, unable to take his eyes off of Jasmine.
“I, too, am glad to be a part of your moment,” Sarah continued. “You will no doubt become our next mayor, and I’ll get to gloat that I was a part of history. I can only imagine how the team surrounding Barak Obama’s presidential campaigns must feel being a part of that period in the books,” she gushed.
Luke offered Sarah a glance and a wry grin.
“You’re too kind, Sarah,” he said. “Comparing this moment to the legacy of Barak Obama is a bit of a reach, don’t you think?”
“Not at all.” It was Jasmine who responded, effectively bringing Luke’s attention right back to her. “Miss Middleton is right,” Jasmine heard herself say. “I’m sure those on President Obama’s team along with the president himself didn’t know the kind of history they would make when the campaign was in its early stages. Though I’m sure there was plenty of optimism. You are certainly presidential yourself. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t mind joining your campaign if there is still room.”
Luke’s face brightened as his thick brows lifted, and his mouth spread into a charming smile.
“Don’t play with me, woman,” he said, dark and hungrily.
“Have I ever played games with you before?”
Luke thought about Jasmine’s ducking and dodging the last couple of months and was tempted to point that out as “games,” but he let it dissolve into the air.
“Oh, Miss Rose, I’m sure your way too busy to join Luke’s campaign, with all that you do,” Sarah interjected.
Jasmine turned to Sarah, giving her the attention, she was looking for.
“Excuse me, but when did he become Luke to you?”
Sarah stuttered, “Wha-what?”
“His name is Mr. Steele. You’re working on his campaign, so you should address him properly. You wouldn’t call your professor by his first name in class, would you?”
Sarah stuttered again. “I … I—”
Jasmine turned back to Luke. “She is one of your students at the University of Chicago, right?”
A lingering smirk on Luke’s face grew at the corner of his mouth. Could Jasmine be jealous? Luke considered it for a moment while tracing the abstract of her nose and succulent lips. Luke would never want her to feel as if she had competition. It was the furthest thing from the truth, and even though he couldn’t be sure if that’s what was happening here, Luke decided to give it a rest just in case.
“She is,” he responded. “Cancel your plans tonight. I’m taking you out for dinner,” he commanded, showing Jasmine just how serious he was about her, and her alone.
Jasmine’s head spun at his order but effectually shifted her train of thought and the entire conversation.
“I’ve already canceled my plans,” she said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“What was the occasion?”
“I wanted to be here,” she stumbled, “with you.”
Luke toured the sultry outline of her eyes, sleek nose, and again, her engaging mouth.
“Mr. Steele,” a reporter intervened.
Luke glanced at the newcomer. “How can I help you?” he said.
“I’m Allison Sullivan with WTZB. Do you mind if I get a few words from you today?”
“Allison Sullivan?” Luke repeated. “You’re not the reporter I normally see from WTZB, are you?”
Allison smiled. “No, sir. I’m actually the assignment editor, but as I’m sure you’re aware, we are currently looking for our next top of the line reporter and news anchor.”
“Ah yes, short on staff, how does that seem to be working out for you?”
“We’re actually getting closer to picking someone.”
“Sounds like you’re looking forward to it,” Luke said, slipping his hands inside his pockets.
Jasmine grinned and forced herself not to laugh at Luke giving Allison her own interview. She wanted to chastise him, but she landed a hand on his forearm, and that touch alone gave him his warning.
Luke glanced over at Jasmine and smirked then winked. Heat filled Jasmine’s cheeks as she held on to a blush.
“What is your question, Miss Sullivan?”
&
nbsp; “Excuse me,” Jasmine said. “I’m going to step aside for a moment.”
“Don’t leave,” Luke uttered.
The two held each other’s attention, and Jasmine nodded.
“I won’t.”
Her blush was sharp, and her cheeks now were as tight as they’d ever been. She moved off to the side, making her way back across the field. In a daze, her feet glided while her security detail moved in synchronization to clear a path before her.
“Miss Rose!” Someone to her left shouted.
Jasmine acknowledged them with a turn of her head and an easy smile.
“I love you on Love Without Limits!” the woman shouted. “Sheila got what she deserved!” she continued, referencing the soap opera character who’d just been kill that week by Jasmine’s character.
Jasmine’s smile widened, and she blew the woman a friendly air kiss.
“It’s either going to be you or me …” Jasmine said, “and I’ve got a newsflash for you, it’s definitely NOT going to be me.”
The woman squealed louder when she recognized the words Jasmine’s character had said before winning the fight with Sheila.
“You’re a wonderful actress. Do you think I can get your autograph?”
Jasmine stopped walking then glanced back at Luke who was still being interviewed. “What is your name?” Jasmine asked.
“Gina!”
“Gina, normally, I wouldn’t have a problem, but today we’re all here to support Professor Luke Steele’s achievement. If I give you an autograph, I’d have to give everyone else one also, and I don’t want to steal his thunder.”
Gina’s face sagged, and she nodded.
“You understand, don’t you?” Jasmine continued.
“Yes, ma’am. Maybe some other time.”
“Any other time for sure,” Jasmine responded.
“What did I miss?” Luke said, jogging up to Jasmine.
Jasmine’s jaw dropped. How had he made it to her so fast?
“I, um, was just telling Miss Gina that I would give her an autograph some other time.”
Luke frowned. “Why?”
“This is your occasion.”
His face warmed over, and a grin trudged across his enticing lips. “Nonsense, you have fans all over, and I would love to share the spotlight anytime with you.”
Jasmine stared off at the genuine expression in Luke’s eyes. What was that she saw? Compassion? Longing? Love? A tremor rode the length of her skin, shaking up her spirit. Thoroughly roused now, Jasmine drug her gaze from his long enough to glance at Gina and the ever-growing crowd around them.
Looking hopeful again, Gina had already pulled out a pen and paper that Jasmine hadn’t noticed before. The woman gushed as Jasmine approached, taking the items out of her hand. As she scribbled, Gina shrieked, thrilled that she would get to gift it to her daughter who also loved the show.
Jasmine handed it back over.
“Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome.”
“Um, how about a picture?” Gina removed her cell phone and moved swiftly to her camera. As the crowd closed in, Jasmine knew what this would turn into. Everyone would end up wanting a signature and a picture. Her eyes skipped over the mass.
“I’ve got an idea,” Jasmine said.
Gina glanced up at Jasmine.
“How about a group picture with me, Professor Steele, and all of these lovely people out here?”
Gina’s head bobbled, and her golden cheeks lifted with her smile.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Jasmine spoke up. “If you would like to take a picture with us, gather around!”
The crowd rushed forward, and Jasmine turned to Luke. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you if you’d mind taking this picture.”
“That’s because you know you don’t have to.”
Luke slipped an arm around her shoulder, and Jasmine tried not to get too comfortable in his embrace. It wasn’t easy. Luke was warm-blooded, and the possession in the way his arm tightened around her waist sent Jasmine’s nerves into a frenzy.
“Donovan, do you mind?” Jasmine said, speaking to one of her security guards.
Donovan glanced around and snapped his fingers. The remaining guards rotated, getting in a position that would allow Jasmine to take her picture and not be crushed by the crowd that spread around her.
“On three,” Donovan said.
He counted down, and everyone smiled wide. Jasmine glanced over at Luke just as Donovan snapped his picture. To the side of them, the remaining camera crews and photographers also took pictures. Feeling her eyes on him, Luke glanced down at her. With his free arm, Luke lifted his hand to her face and swept a few strands of hair out of her eyes to rest behind her ear. They stared at each other, and then Luke pushed a kiss against her forehead. Jasmine’s eyes closed as his warm mouth sizzled her flesh. Neither of them cared that tomorrow’s newspaper would likely have a thousand frames of them in this sudden rapture, at least not now.
Chapter Four
“Let’s talk about Chicago’s next elite wedding,” the news anchor said with eagerness.
“We will definitely get into Phoebe Alexandria Rose and Quentin Davidson’s wedding but first!” the co-anchor paused for dramatic effect, “let’s discuss the kiss we all witnessed live this morning from Jasmine Alexandria Rose and mayoral candidate Luke Steele.”
Both of the women smiled with a conspiratorial nod.
“Do you think we have a romance brewing between the two?”
The co-anchor perked even further with a beam so wide it brightened her eyes.
“I don’t know. If you ask me, they sure looked comfortable.”
“I think so, too. How fairy-taleish would it be for Jasmine and Luke to fall in love right behind their sister and friend?”
“Is fairy-taleish a word?”
The co-anchor dropped her head and laughed then glanced back at the camera. “No folks, for all of you grammar Nazis out there, I just made that up.”
The other woman laughed, and Jasmine shook her head as she stood in the living room that she shared with Phoebe and Eden, watching the broadcast on the high definition television.
“It wasn’t even a kiss,” Jasmine mumbled.
“Well, the case can be made that it wasn’t a direct mouth to mouth kiss,” the co-anchor added.
“Thank you!” Jasmine said, tossing her hand up and speaking as if the women could hear her.
“But it was the forehead kiss. You remember in that movie, which was it?” the woman thought for a moment. “The Best Man!” she shouted as if she’d won a prize. “The forehead kiss is everything. It’s like a profound admittance of love in every aspect that makes up a person.”
The co-anchor listened intently, and she continued to have Jasmine’s full attention.
“It symbolizes love, appreciation, respect, adoration for everything the receiver is. It’s that type of love that can’t be replaced with another. It’s an end of time type of love, the kind that never breaks even if you and that person are a million miles away.”
The co-anchor crooned, and Jasmine’s heart leapt in her chest. It hadn’t taken the next morning to see their display of affection called into question, and truthfully, if Luke had asked for a kiss, Jasmine would’ve obliged. It was something about him that tempted her to no end, even now as she stood dressed to the nines in a fire engine red V-neck Jovani cocktail dress. Her smooth brown shoulders were bare as the V in the dress was leveled with her breasts, exposing her skin in a straight line all the way down to the peak of her navel. Though her bosom was covered, a hint of side cleavage was also exposed from the deep V, and the satin material of the racy dress was puffed just enough to keep her bodacious hips and thighs hidden. Jasmine sauntered to the full-length mirror in the hallway and second-guessed her look. The cocktail dress was beautiful against her mahogany brown skin. It paused right at the top of her knees, and her silky legs ran the distance to her feet that poured into a pair
of Christian Louboutin’s. Jasmine’s eye fluttered up to the chain of diamonds that raced around her neck, matching the studs that sat in her earlobes.
It was her first official date with Luke, and she wanted to make an impression. There wasn’t a need to question herself about it. Jasmine knew this day was inevitable, and she also knew why she’d waited so long to accept that it would happen. However, Jasmine could no longer run. It was beating her soul every time she escaped. If this were a mistake, she would know soon enough. Jasmine let out a long sigh and teased her hair, bouncing the curls in the palms of her hands.
The news anchors continued to chat about what was going on between she and Luke when the doorbell rang. Jasmine took in a rushing breath and walked to the door then opened it. A waft of Japanese honeysuckle flew across her nose, and the scent caused Jasmine’s mouth to water instantly as her eyes fell to a close. When she reopened them, her gaze rested against the confidence of Luke’s strong shoulders and the thick pillar that was his neck. Jasmine had an instant thought to sink her teeth into his throat, but the urge shifted when her eyes met his, and suddenly, Jasmine became transported in the lock of his smoldering gaze.
She opened her mouth to speak and smile at the same time, but it just revealed the nervousness she felt.
“Good evening, Princess,” Luke’s dark voice drummed. His eyes explored her length, and Jasmine shivered under his close analysis. She witnessed the thick lump of his Adam’s apple glide up then down his masculine throat as Luke’s gaze continued to simmer and study her exposed flesh.
Just like that, Jasmine’s mouth dried completely as she was momentarily swept up by the piercing claim of his eyes. His tongue left the shelter of his mouth to taste the corner of his magnificence lips, and Jasmine wished for a half a second it was her skin his tongue explored. She cleared her throat and tried to swallow the sand that had become her tongue.
“Good evening,” she responded, her voice unrecognizable through the deep sensuality of the trembling tone. She hadn’t missed that he’d referenced her as Princess, something he’d been doing since her sixteenth birthday. Originally, Jasmine had wanted to believe that Luke only did that to show her the importance of her womanhood. When they were younger, Jasmine’s brothers had made a pact with each other. While they knew they were not the perfect role models because of their lady-killer ways even as youngsters, the Rose men wanted their sisters to understand how important they were as women and how they should be respected as such.
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