A Mother for His Twins (11 page)

‘Jasper.’

Jasper shifted in his chair, glancing out to where he could see his mother spitting onto a napkin to wipe Lilly’s face. He
took her hand in his again, holding it tightly. ‘Let me come round tonight and we can talk. Once the girls are asleep, I’ll let Mum know I’ll be out and she can monitor them.’

Jennifer shook her head. ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea, Jasper.’

‘Why not? We need to talk.’

‘I agree with that part but…’ She shook her head again. ‘Not at my place. Just the thought of the two of us…alone…with no distractions and, well, with this…thing sizzling between us, it’s just asking for trouble and I honestly believe it’s trouble neither of us need at the moment.’

She had a point. ‘Where, then? It has to be soon because I’m having trouble functioning.’

‘I know. I know.’ She thought. ‘How about I come back to your place tonight and once the girls are in bed, we can talk? That way you don’t need to bother your mother.’

‘Good. I like that.’

‘And I can help you get the girls ready for bed.’

Jasper was a little surprised at that. ‘You really want to do that?’

‘Sure. They’re so yummy, Jasper. The more time I spend with them, the more I can pick up on their different personalities. I’m determined to be able to tell them apart.’

He nodded, pleased. ‘They may look the same but both are unique little individuals, who usually enjoy ganging up on their father.’ He smiled as he spoke and Jennifer joined in. Jasper squeezed her hand. ‘I’m glad you like them.’

‘I do, Jasper. You’ve done a brilliant job with both girls.’

‘I’ve had help.’

‘Of course, but you’re their father and it’s quite clear to see they love you and vice versa. It’s what I always wanted with my father but…’ She trailed off and shook her head. ‘Anyway, it’s nice to see.’

Jasper was now more relaxed because he was going to get to spend some time alone with her tonight. She had been right in declining to be alone at her house because he wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be able to keep himself under control. The desire to touch her, to hold her close to his body, to press his lips to hers…everything had intensified and he’d come to the realisation that fighting what existed so naturally between them was ridiculous to ignore any more.

Lola walked into the marquee and headed straight for Jennifer, climbing up onto her knee. Surprised but delighted, Jennifer let go of Jasper’s hand and put her arms around the little girl. ‘How are you enjoying yourself?’

‘Really good, but Uncle Matt said the sausages are almost ready but Aunty Sara said they had to cool before we ate them all.’ Huffing, Lola folded her arms tightly in disgust.

‘She’s right, though,’ Jennifer said as she watched Lilly come in and climb up onto Jasper’s knee. He automatically hugged her close and pressed three quick kisses to her cheek. ‘If you ate the sausage straight off the barbecue, you’d burn your tongue.’ Jennifer wrinkled her nose and Lola laughed. ‘That’s not a nice thing to do.’

‘I can blow on it,’ Lola said eagerly.

‘Now, that’s a fantastic idea. We can cut it up for you if you like, which will help it cool faster, especially if you blow on it.’

‘Will
you
cut it up for me, Jen? Please?’

‘Of course.’

‘I want to eat mine in the bread like a long sausage,’ Lilly declared.

‘So long as it’s cool enough,’ Jasper said, but knew Lilly had a little more patience than her sister.

Lola leaned back against her, snuggling in a little bit, and Jennifer’s heart turned over with love. It hadn’t taken her long
to fall in love with these two adorable girls, who were so full of life, so spirited and so accepting. Jennifer glanced at Jasper as he spoke to Lilly, smiling when he bent and blew a raspberry on Lilly’s neck, making her squirm and squeal with laughter.

How long would it be, she wondered, before she fell in love with their father?

B
Y THE
time they arrived back at Jasper’s house, both girls were starting to get grumpy. They’d all had a fantastic afternoon, with Jennifer and Jasper receiving more than one or two meaningful looks from the family and friends around them.

‘It was like being in a goldfish bowl,’ Jasper joked as he carried Lilly towards her bedroom. Jennifer followed suit, Lola’s arms firmly wrapped around her neck.

‘I know what you mean. All eyes on us.’

‘Were you wet?’ Lola asked.

‘Wet?’ Jennifer touched her nose to the little girl’s and both of them giggled. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Goldfish live in water,’ she stated, as though it was a new scientific breakthrough. ‘Were you wet?’

Both Jennifer and Jasper laughed. ‘Not quite, sweetheart,’ her father answered. ‘Right. Time for bath.’

‘No!’ the girls said in unison.

‘Jennifer’s going to bathe you tonight and then she’s going to stay for dinner and then a quick story.’ Two pairs of bright blue eyes widened with delight.

‘Will you check my teeth?’ Lola wanted to know.

Jennifer had no idea how, exactly, she was to do this but
was more than ready to agree, touched by such a request. ‘I would be delighted to check your teeth.’

‘Mine, too,’ Lilly demanded.

‘Yours too.’

‘And you can have a sleepover, too.’ Lilly had scrambled from her father’s arms and was eagerly pulling off her clothes. ‘We have a special hidey bed under my bed.’ Totally naked now and without a care in the world, Lilly shifted some toys out of the way and tried to tug out the trundle bed.

‘Why don’t we leave the bed where it is for now and get you two into the bath?’ Jasper wrapped Lilly up in a fluffy towel so she didn’t get cold.

‘
Please
will you sleep the night?’ Lola asked, pleading and fluttering her eyelashes.

‘She was born doing that,’ Jasper murmured, and the adults smiled.

‘I’d love to, Lola, but I have to be at the hospital bright and early tomorrow morning. Maybe another time.’

Lola opened her mouth to object but one quick look at her father had her closing it again.

‘Jen will be here until you’re asleep. You’ll just have to be content with that.’ Jasper went off to run their bath and Jennifer helped Lola undo the buttons on her dress.

‘I like having you here,’ Lola declared.

‘Me, too,’ Lilly added.

‘We don’t have big girls here. Sometimes Aunty Megan comes but she’s been very busy with the wedding.’

‘Your daddy must have lots of friends.’

‘Sometimes Aunty Sara comes but mostly we go to her house.’

‘You have Grandma.’

‘She’s not a big girl. She’s an old girl,’ Lola declared, little hands on her naked hips. Jennifer wrapped her in the towel
Jasper had placed at the end of her bed, trying not to smile. She was discovering that four-year-olds could be very direct and brutally honest.

‘Do you like my daddy?’ Lilly was the one to ask the question and Jasper heard it from the hallway. He stopped just outside the door, holding his breath as he waited for Jennifer’s answer.

‘I do.’

‘A lot?’ Lola questioned.

Jennifer couldn’t help but smile. ‘Yes. A lot.’

‘A lot, a lot?’

‘Yes.’ Her smile drew bigger. ‘A lot, a lot.’

‘Are you going to marry him?’

The smile vanished. ‘Uh…’ Jennifer was completely stunned at the question but obviously the girls were dead serious as they looked up at her with their expectant blue eyes. ‘Well…that’s an interesting ques—’

‘You could be our mummy.’

‘We don’t have one,’ Lilly added matter-of-factly, shaking her head slowly.

‘Uh…I know.’

‘She died when we was just babies but she was very pretty.’

‘Like us.’ Lola put her arms in the air, striking a pose and causing her towel to fall down in the process. Jennifer bent to wrap her up again.

Lilly sighed. ‘I’d like a new mummy.’

‘Me, too,’ Lola said with an equally gorgeous sigh.

‘You could live with us and have sleepovers
every
night.’ Both girls agreed this was a very good plan. Jasper was still frozen to the spot outside his daughters’ bedroom, unable to believe they’d voiced such a plan. Jennifer would no doubt think his children had no manners whatsoever or—worse—that he might have put them up to it.

Then he quickly reminded himself that four-year-olds had no filtering systems which, he was sure, Jennifer had already worked out. Besides, they’d managed to ask Jennifer how much she liked him and he’d been extremely pleased with the answer. The main problem he had now was to sneak away and pretend he was just coming out of the bathroom, rather than having Jennifer realise he’d been standing outside the door, eavesdropping.

‘Daddy! What are you doing there?’ Lilly asked as she came out of the room, almost tripping over her towel.

Jasper groaned and put a hand over his eyes. The best-laid plans…Scooping her into his arms, he decided the best thing was to just keep on moving rather than trying to explain. ‘Bathtime, princess.’ He quickly carried Lilly through and was about to go back for Lola when Jennifer carried her in.

‘Princess Lola arriving for her bath,’ she announced. After hanging up the towel and depositing her royal highness in the bath, Jennifer looked at Jasper. He could see in that one brief moment that she was well aware he’d overheard her conversation with the girls.

‘I’ll get dinner started,’ he said.

‘Need any help?’

‘No. Stay and make sure these two mischief-makers…’ He pointed to each child in turn causing them to giggle ‘…don’t make a mess.’ He gave them each a stern look before pulling a face and making them giggle once more. ‘Be good for Jennifer.’

‘Yes, Daddy,’ they replied in that perfect unison Jennifer was now getting used to. After he’d left, she took off her jumper so she didn’t get her sleeves wet and knelt down, reaching for a bath toy. Between herself and the girls they managed to make up a pretty good story, with the toys, Mr Turtle and Betsy, who was an overly large bath doll, deciding
to get married. The bath book was the minister and the two plastic mermaids were the flower girls. Fifteen minutes later Jennifer looked up, surprised to see Jasper lounging in the doorway.

‘How long have you been there?’

‘Not long,’ he answered, a large grin on his face. ‘Betsy marrying Mr Turtle again?’

‘Yes.’

‘Third time this week.’

Jennifer stood and wiped her hands. ‘You’ll be very pleased to know that the flower girls walked carefully and slowly down the aisle.’

‘Did they, now?’ He’d seen Sara and Jennifer take the girls through their paces at the barbecue and had been very pleased with the more suitable pace. So had Megan.

‘Is it time to get out, Daddy? I’m getting all wrinkly.’

‘Yes, buttercup. Dinner’s almost ready.’ Between the two of them they managed to get the girls out, dry and dressed in their matching pink nighties in record time, and soon they were all sitting at the kitchen bench, eating chicken schnitzel and vegetables. Jennifer was impressed at how well both girls ate, not quibbling about eating the food put in front of them. Afterwards, she ended up checking two sets of teeth and reading three bedtime stories. When she’d finished, Lilly beckoned her close and put both arms around her neck, giving her a big squeezy-hug before kissing her cheek.

Lola had her turn, giving Jennifer
two
kisses. ‘We like you.’ She yawned as Jasper came in to kiss them and turn on their nightlight, knowing they’d be asleep within moments.

‘Can I help you with the dishes?’ Jennifer asked as they headed out of the girls’ bedroom.

‘They’re all done and I’m just brewing a pot of tea. Join me?’

‘Sure.’ She put her jumper back on as he took her into the lounge room. He’d straightened up the cushions and done a general tidy-up since they’d first returned.

‘You’ve been busy.’

‘I’ve had time. It’s amazing. I was almost on the point of getting bored.’

Jennifer smiled as she sat down on the comfortable lounge, Jasper coming to sit next to her after placing the tea things down on the table. He reached for the teapot and poured them both a cup. ‘I guess you’re used to doing everything by yourself.’

‘It’s second nature.’ He left his cup where it was and shifted to face her, his arm running along the back of the lounge. ‘It’s been nice having someone else here.’

‘To help?’

‘Or perhaps I should clarify that by saying it’s been nice having
you
here…and not just because you’ve helped out.’ He leaned forward and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Then, leaving his hand there for a moment, he looked into her eyes. They were relaxed and filled with open desire. Not only that, they were filled with acceptance and it was that acceptance that gave Jasper the confidence to follow through on his urge.

Reaching around her, he gently pulled the band from her hair and the black strands fell in a soft, silky mass around her face and shoulders. He sucked in a breath at the pretty picture. The woman was stunning. Like a child at Christmas, Jasper sifted both of his hands through the luscious locks, unable to believe how incredible they felt.

‘You have the most beautiful hair.’ He made sure he didn’t rush, didn’t tug, but instead savoured every moment of the silken strands against his skin.

‘Thanks.’ The word was breathless and for a second he thought he felt her tremble.

‘Am I hurting you?’

‘No.’ She closed her eyes loving the way his fingers felt near her face, her scalp, in her hair.

‘Why do you tie it back?’

She smiled as she opened her eyes. ‘It gets in the way.’

‘Logical…but why? It’s perfect.’ Jasper cupped her cheek and angled her head up a little. ‘You’re perfect.’

‘No. I’m not.’

‘In this moment in time, here with just the two of us, you are perfect.’ He shifted to angle his body towards hers, moving in closer. They stared into each other’s eyes, mentally devouring and emotionally communicating their needs. ‘I want to kiss you, Jennifer.’

‘Jasper.’ His name was a caress and she put a hand on his chest, not to push him away but to draw him closer.

‘I’ve been wanting to kiss you for so very long. It feels like an eternity instead of just yesterday.’

‘Yes.’

‘You feel it too, don’t you? That amazing pull that exists between us. I know you’ve told me before but—’

Jennifer lifted her finger to his lips to silence him, the intimate touch sending her senses off into an anticipatory frenzy. ‘You’re talking far too much.’

‘Mmm.’ He kissed her fingertip, the sensual action making her gasp. ‘I am.’ He moved in closer. ‘I just want to make sure…make sure this is what you want, too.’

‘It is. I want you to kiss me, Jasper, and I wish you’d hurry up and—’

Her words were cut off as his mouth met hers, both of them sighing into the moment after that first buzz of electricity had been ignited. The tension, the build-up to that first amazing touch had been so big and so long in coming that the realisation that his mouth was actually on hers, that he could not only
hold her and kiss her but that she
wanted
him to do so, was overpowering.

Jasper slid his arms around her, gathering her close. The feel of her body next to his continued to fuel his hunger but he pulled superhuman strength from somewhere to ensure he kept himself completely under control. He knew how fragile Jennifer was, what she’d been through, how big this step was for her, and he didn’t want anything to ruin it.

Slowly…ever so slowly he moved his lips over hers, tenderly caressing and filling the emptiness she hadn’t realised had been there. For a brief moment she’d been certain of feeling raw passion surge through him but in the next instant his mouth was gently exploring, gently coaxing to ensure she was right there with him, side by side on this journey into the unknown.

On a sigh of delight Jennifer lifted her hands to his head, lacing her fingers into his hair ensuring his head stayed in place. With her eyes closed, she could concentrate on the hypnotic scent of him, the pheromones which were being generated by both, mixing together with the warmth of the fire, igniting to consume them both.

Finally, the need for air made Jasper pull his mouth from hers, both out of breath. Jennifer opened her heavy eyelids and looked at him from beneath her lashes as he placed light, feathery kisses on her cheeks, stopping in the middle to cover her lips with his as though he couldn’t get enough.

‘You’re…amazing,’ he whispered close to her ear, and she smiled.

‘You’re not so bad yourself.’

‘Perhaps it’s this…togetherness…’ he pressed a soft kiss to her waiting lips ‘…that suits us.’

‘Togetherness.’ Jennifer repeated the word as though an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Jasper eased back and looked into her eyes, smoothing his fingers through her glorious locks once more. ‘I know it’s not easy to take a step forward, Jen, but—’

‘Shh,’ she whispered, and placed her finger on his lips again. ‘I’m fine, Jasper. I wanted you to kiss me just as much as you wanted to. I wanted it last night and I wanted it now. In fact, I’ve been wanting it for so very long—even before you teased me by kissing my cheek the other week.’ She shook her finger at him. ‘And may I just say it wasn’t nice to torture me like that. Sent my imagination into overdrive.’

‘You and me both.’ He took her finger and brought it to his lips, kissing it tenderly. Jennifer closed her eyes at the mildly erotic touch and was surprised that another wave of longing flooded through her. ‘You were saying,’ he murmured.

‘Uh…’ Jennifer licked her dry lips.

‘Here. Let me do that for you.’ The line was corny, yet perfect as he pressed his mouth to hers again, running his tongue over her lower lip, causing her to shudder with delight. Jasper accepted that shudder, taking the opportunity to enjoy the sweet sunshine that surrounded her.

When he was done, Jennifer laid her head on his shoulder and waited for her breathing to calm down. ‘You’re…potent.’