“You’re so cute when you get all nerdy.” He peppered my neck and shoulder with kisses.
“Are you gonna listen?”
“I’m trying.”
“Anyway, representatives from all three families make a speech.”
“All three?” I knew he was wondering if a member of the Walker family would be in attendance. He also knew if he asked then it would lead to more questions. He was still choosing to notdiscuss his conversation with David with me. To be fair, he didn’t know every single detail about my conversation with Eleanor. Still, it made me wonder if the love we proclaimed to feel for each other could last if we couldn’t be completely open with each other. “Jasmine?” Derek’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah,” I answered. “All three. Then the kids put on a really cute play reenacting the town’s founding, then the mayor gives a speech, then fireworks.” I mimicked tiny explosions with both hands.
“Sounds great,” Derek said. “It seems like Eleanor hit the jackpot when she found you.” He kissed my neck again. “I know how she feels.”
“Smooth.” I cut my eyes at him before continuing. “But to be honest, I really don’t think Eleanor needs me. She could throw this thing together with her eyes closed. I just think she likes having me around, and I like being around her. She told me that I remind her of her sister, and you know I’ve always wanted a sister.” Derek nodded and hugged me tighter. “Although, I did suggest that when we mention the founders of the town, we include the names of their wives as well.”
“Nice.”
“Eleanor thought so.”
My thoughts went to Eleanor and how close we’d become in such a short time. My guilt began to creep up again. I wanted to talk to Derek about feeling bad about what we were doing to the Pikes, but instead, I turned around and straddled him.
“Hey, kitten,” he whispered, his lips mere inches from mine.
“Well, hello there, sir,” I responded. His erection was nestledbetween my folds. I slowly gyrated against him, pleasuring myself while he smoothed his palms up my back before pulling my T-shirt over my head.
I grabbed both sides of his face and pulled our mouths together in a kiss. I closed my eyes and let myself get lost in Derek’s embrace until I forgot about my guilt and my feeling of impending doom, even though I knew that this bliss couldn’t last forever.
“Hey, Cassie! What’s up?” I was sitting on a bench in the park watching Tora and Derek play fetch with a tennis ball.
“‘Hey, Cassie. What’s up?’” her annoyed voice called through the speaker of my phone. “What in the entire hell is this email you sent me?”
“I need more time.” I sighed. “And why are you checking your email on a Saturday?” I tried to lighten the mood, but Cassie wasn’t having it.
“More time to do what, Jasmine? This isn’t a game. This is our jobs, our lives. Everything you’ve sent me so far is enough to blow whatever Derek Carter has out of the water.” The volume of her voice steadily increased.
“Research,” I blurted out, unable to think of anything more substantial as a response. Once again, she wasn’t fooled.
“Heifer, I’m not stupid.” Her voice dropped and her tone became almost playful. “You want more time with Derek Carter.”
“Cassie, I…” I trailed off.
“Jasmine, please. You are out there risking both of our careers;I at least need to know you had some good reasons. Maybe eight good reasons?”
“Cassie!” I scoffed.
“Six good reasons?”
“Cassie,” I repeated.
“Not four?”
“Cassie, please.” I laughed. “If I tell you what’s going on between Derek and me, will you stop trying to guess how big his penis is?”
“Then why don’t you just tell me how big it is?” She giggled then continued. “Wait. Did you just call it a penis? Girl, not an anatomically correct name. You done messed up and fell in love with this man, didn’t you?”
“Maybe.” I let out a deep sigh. “Yes. Yes, I fell in love with him! I might have always been in love with him. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated or not, I don’t know why you getting bent over a balcony in Florida is messing with your money business. Jasmine, this is not like you.”
