Jason's Princess: A King Brothers Story (19 page)

“Because I’ve always loved you. And you are not stupid, Jujyfruit. Stubborn, yes, but not stupid. Once I confided in my brothers about what he was doing to you, we all made a pact to look after you. It was easiest for Josh because he was already your friend. The bonus was he could keep an eye on Charlie as well. That meant that Billy got caught doing a lot of shit that he shouldn’t. My friendship with him was gone and he knew it. He still had his family’s money to fall back on but people in this town were beginning to figure out that he was a bad seed. Billy got a little crazy when he didn’t have the respect that he thought he deserved.”

“But I treated you horribly after my parents died and Billy left me. I blamed you for him leaving me.”

“Why did you blame me, anyway?”

“He would come over with fresh cuts on his face and neck. He said that things had gotten bad between the two of you, that you were harassing him but he didn’t know why. He said you were bullying him. I believed him because I had seen you fight before. He said you were jealous of him. I didn’t understand.”

Oh boy, how she didn’t understand. Jason’s eyes held no blame, no judgement and that helped her to calm down a bit, but she was so overwhelmed that her mind kept spinning in circles. She’d spent the better part of her teenage and young adult life loving a man who was responsible for harassing her baby brother and possibly killing her parents, all while being disgusted with the one man who claimed to truly love her.

Just shoot me now
.

“You were under the influence of his charms. A lot of people fell for that. Hell, even I did for a time. But once he reveals himself there is no mistaking the weasel that he is.” Jason ran a hand through her hair, her scalp tingling at his touch. Her favorite emeralds turned dark as she gazed at his handsome face.

“You have no idea how frustrating it was for me.” He tightened his hand on her scalp for just a moment before he gentled his touch again. It made her more aware of him and yet it relaxed her. She didn’t say anything, afraid he would stop his confession.

“I knew if you found out his perfidy that it would kill you, and I didn’t want you hurt. When your parents died and you stepped up to take care of your brother, I fell even more in love with you because there’s nothing more important than family. I admired you when Dad tried to help you out financially and you wouldn’t take it. I thought my mom was going to have a major conniption over that one, but Dad just kept an eye on you.”

No longer calm, she questioned, “Your dad knows my finances? What the hell, Jason?” How was she supposed to react to that? She worked very hard for what she had and was proud that she made it work. Sure, she made a lot of the sacrifices for Charlie but it was worth it as long as he was able to attend a good college. She had a small nest egg that would see her through, and now with the prospect of expanding her business with Camille and Lauren, she knew that things could only get better.

“Dad was honor bound by the friendship he had with your father, Jujyfruit. They were closer than you think. Dad is listed in your parents’ Wills as a sort of silent godparent, for lack of a better term. Your parents had no way of knowing that they would die so young, leaving the two of you with virtually nothing but the small insurance benefit you received. So, Dad made sure that things went smoothly for you. Please don’t be mad,” he said quickly as she got up to stand.

“How did he make sure that things went smoothly for me?”

“When he learned you were interested in the restaurant business, he contacted the man you purchased your truck from.”

She narrowed her eyes. “And?” She could tell by the way he was cringing that there was more and he didn’t want to tell her.

“And… that’s why you got such a good deal. That’s all.” His smile was innocent and very un-Jason-like.

She sighed in frustration. “What am I supposed to do with all of this information, Jason? What do you want from me? I don’t know what to say to all of this.” She began to pace.

“You aren’t supposed to do anything. I’m telling you all of this because things have gotten out of hand and you need to know everything. I’m tired of the secrets and I can’t stand to be without you anymore. I don’t want to be with any other woman, Julie. And I certainly don’t want you with any other man. I want us to be together.”

She looked at him in shock. He stood and came to her. He touched her face with both his hands, and she held her breath. Was he going to finally kiss her again?

God, please kiss me and make me forget about everything else
.

“I have never felt this way about any other woman. Believe me because I’ve tried. No one measures up to you.” She was positive that his eyes, those magnificent green crystals, held some sort of magic power. When he looked at her like he was now, she was lost in his gaze and he owned her completely.

He brought his lips closer to hers and she held her breath. She closed her eyes when his lips finally touched hers, gentle at first but when her lips parted and his tongue slipped into her mouth, she was a goner. Her mind shut down and she let herself drown in his kiss.

She’d told him that she had dreamt about his eyes for three months after they met but that was a lie. She saw those bright green eyes every night when she closed her own to sleep, exciting and wondrous like the northern lights. Josh was her friend but Jason was like an anchor attached to her soul. He had always been there for her only she was too stubborn to admit it until now.

As Jason led her to his bed, she knew that she would never turn her back on him again. He wasn’t a frog or a toad. He had always been her Prince Charming. She had just been too blinded to see it.

∼∼∼∼∼

He didn’t sleep a wink. He watched his woman sleeping in his bed with a sort of awe… and reverence. He had made love to Julie all night long but he still didn’t want to miss a thing. She’d finally passed out on him a little before dawn. He wanted to wake her again but thought against it, as he took in her troubled, sleeping face.

He moved back the hair on her forehead to see the ugly wound from the car wreck. The stitches were still in but the bruising was going away. Even in sleep, she had dark circles under her eyes. She had been through too much the past couple of days, so he let her sleep. He needed some rest too, but his dad would have him up soon.

They were meeting in the home office in the mansion. James would have copies of the documents that had been destroyed. Work must go on and King Construction had more than one project that needed attention.

He didn’t want to leave her, damn it, even though she would be safe here. His thoughts were interrupted by the soft tone of the in-house intercom his family used in this monstrosity they called Home.

“Yeah” he answered quietly.

“Julie’s gone, Jason,” his mother said, panic dripping from each word. “I can’t find her anywhere! Why would she leave?”

He sighed. “Mom, she’s with me. Leave her alone this morning.”

“What do you mean?” Now she was playing coy. “I had a room all ready for her?”

He wasn’t in the mood for her games this morning. “MOM. Knock it off, will you?” The imp giggled on the other end.

“I just wanted to be sure, honey.” He waited a minute but before he could speak his mom became very serious. “Is she ok, dear?”

“No, but she will be. I’ll make sure of it.” He stated that as a fact.

“That’s my boy. Breakfast will be ready in an hour. Do you want me to have a tray sent to your room?”

“No, I have to meet with Dad soon.”

“No you don’t. Your father is just as exhausted as the rest of us. He’s had his team bring him what he needs for today. He said you needed rest too.”

Jason relaxed back against his pillow. “Tell Dad I said thanks and will see him in a couple of hours. And yes, could you have a tray sent?”

“Of course, darling,” He heard the smile in her voice as she put the handset back on the dock.

“What was all that about?” Julie mumbled.

He turned to face her so that he could snuggled her body with his. “That was about sleeping in a little while longer and having breakfast sent to my room.”

“You are spoiled,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist, her eyes still closed.

“Yes, I am.” He began to rub her back in a circle. He felt her relax and fall back to sleep. He closed his eyes for what felt like three seconds when he heard a knock on his door.

Groaning, he got out of bed and pulled on his jeans. He didn’t bother to snap them. He opened the door to Josh, who stood there with a huge tray in his hands and a mischievous smirk on his face.

“Good morning, Lover Boy. Breakfast is served. Where’s my favorite chef?” He was trying to walk in and sneak a peek, the pervert.

Jason took the tray with one hand and pushed his little brother back out to the hallway with the other. “Funny, asshole. Now get lost.”

Josh only smiled before his face became sober. “Jarod got called to the hospital. Candy woke up.”

“OK, keep me posted on that front. Where’s Charlie?”

“Not up yet. He’s my next stop. Dad thinks we need to keep him busy today since he’s not going to school. I agree. I know that kid, Jason. If we let him stew without giving him an outlet, he’s going to go ballistic. I’ve worked hard to help him keep his temper in check and I would hate for him to fall back on old, violent habits now.”

“Agreed. What do you have in store for him?”

“Horse barn first, then some easy chores to get him outside. If that doesn’t work we can always have a go at the heavy bag in the gym. He’s a physical kid so the more energy we can get him to burn off the better he’ll be.”

“Good plan. Now beat it. I’m hungry.” He smiled at his little brother before he shut the door in his face.

He took the food to the table and poured two cups of coffee. He made Julie’s cup and waved it in front of her face. He watched her stir a bit and then reach for the coffee without opening her eyes. He pulled the coffee just out of her reach.

She opened one eye. “Why are you messing with me at this unholy hour?”

“Because I love you?” he asked as he continued to keep the coffee out of her reach.

“More like because you’re a jackass,” she said deadpan.

He grinned and handed the cup to her.

“Dad has got everyone working from home today except the sheriff. You don’t have to get up if you don’t want to. You look very nice in my bed.” He grinned at her, rubbing her cheek.

She reached up to touch her forehead and then her hair. “Oh, I bet I look like Miss America, huh?”

Joking and a sense of humor. These were all good signs. He let her drink her coffee, not wanting to upset the goddess before him.

Smiling after she took a sip from the mug, she declared, “Perfect.”

“Yes, you are.”

Her eyes lit up for him. “I meant the coffee, silly.” She took another drink and then asked, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Yes, just waiting for you. Shall I feed you in bed or do you want to get dressed and eat at the table with me?”

He waited to see what she would do. This was all new to him. He never stayed the whole night with a woman, had never wanted to. But this was Julie and to him it seemed natural for her to be here, in his room, with him. She was a little quiet and he didn’t know what was buzzing around in that pretty head.

Was she having second thoughts?

Was it too much?

Would she leave him?

God, he couldn’t bear it if she left. He wouldn’t go back to the way things were, with her ignoring him or treating him like crap. The more he thought about it the more he started to sweat.

“I think I should eat something and then get a shower. But I’d rather you fed me in bed.” The look she gave him was so heated that he was uncomfortable in his unbuttoned jeans. She set her coffee on the nightstand and began to slide her hands up his chest. The naughty grin on her face told him everything he needed to know; she was staying and that was absolutely fine with him.

CHAPTER 18

TATTOO YOU

Jason had been summoned to his father’s home office about fifteen minutes ago. Julie shook her head in disbelief, lingering in the shower as the hot water soothed her aching muscles.

What a difference a day makes
.

She rinsed out the shampoo from her thick, long hair. Even though the water was hot she was still numb from all of the revelations of the past 24 hours. Her world was upside down, for sure, but in a good way. Well, except for the hit and run… and Jason’s house burning down… and that poor woman in the hospital.

And Charlie…God, she’d have to make it up to him somehow.

But Jason loves me
.

She smiled to herself and soaped up her loofa. That was the best part. Never, in a million years would she believe that Jason King would feel so right. She admitted that five years was a long time to be without a lover. The logical thought would be that the first time after such a drought would be like a Ritz cracker to a starving person. But that wasn’t how it felt at all. It felt like she was home.

Who would’ve thought that she and Jason would be good together? But how should she act now? She took another deep breath and rinsed off.

Shutting off the water she wrapped a towel around her head turban-style, grabbed a second fluffy towel from the rack and dried off.

As she did she remembered Jason letting her examine all of his ink. He surprised her with the fact that every single one of his tattoos meant something to him. Billy’s images had been picked out because he thought they made him look tough and held no personal meaning. Period. Every single design on Jason’s body (and oh what a body he had!) had meaning to him. They told a story of what he’d been like or what he’d been thinking at certain points in his life. Some were pretty and some were not, but they all had significance.

He was such a strong
male
. And he claimed to love her.

She put the damp towel back on the rack to dry. She smiled when she noticed that Jason had fetched her things from the room that his mother had prepared for her.

Geez! Camille and James! What would they think of her now?