The Charmer

Chapter 24

Keilor stepped back while he still had the will. It took strength to straighten her bodice, tucking her away from his sight. His hand fell away, and for a tortured moment, neither could move.

“Your hair is loose,” Jasmine observed from where she sagged against the wall.

He gave her a rakish smile and ran both his hands through it, smoothing it back. “So is yours.”

“Yeah, but mine started out that way.” A corner of her mouth tugged up, and she looked down shyly, uneasy with this thing between them. Somehow, with their second kiss, a wall had shivered and collapsed, and she was afraid to look beyond the swirling dust to see what the darkness might conceal.

Jayems and his lady walked around the corner. Jayems’ eyebrow shot up as he surveyed the pair; Keilor with a gleam in his eye and reeking of possessive dominance, Jasmine leaning against the wall as if afraid her knees would fail her. It didn’t take much imagination to figure out what had been going on. “Should we expect you at dinner?” He addressed the comment to this cousin with some amusement.

Rihlia jabbed him in the ribs and scowled at Keilor as she looped her arm protectively through Jasmine’s. “She’s coming to dinner, and I’m escorting her.” She shot Keilor a look of disgust. “At least that way I’ll know she’ll get there.”

Lady Rhapsody smiled when they entered the room. Her eyes rested first, as always, on her daughter, and then settled on Jasmine with kindness. Taking her hands, she asked with concern, “You must be in better spirits to be joining us this night, Jasmine. I am glad to see it.” Her eyes rested with love on Rihlia. “My daughter’s face casts a shadow whenever you aren’t near.”

Jasmine smiled wryly. “Thank you. I’ll try to behave myself this evening.”

Lady Portae huffed and waved a perfumed hand. Jasmine tried not to stare at the soft flesh that oozed around her many rings. “I certainly hope not, my dear. You livened things up the other night. I can see why our Rihlia adores you.”

As they moved towards the table to begin the blessing, Jasmine was a little surprised when Fallon moved to stand behind her.

He gave her a charming smile, lifting her hand for a gallant kiss. “I was unaware of your unique...gift last evening, dear lady, but I’m quite certain I would have been equally devastated without it. May I have the pleasure of sharing this blessing with you?” He took her smile for assent and placed his strong hands on her shoulders while Jayems blessed the meal.

She did her best to ignore Keilor as he stood across the table, sheltering Urseya.

***

“You can do better, you know.”

Mildly startled, Keilor dragged his eyes back to his dinner companion, who was frowning at the remaining curry on her plate, absently poking it with her chopsticks. He didn’t pretend not to know what Urseya was talking about. This was the third time he’d lost the thread of her bright chatter and let his eyes rove across the table. “Could I?” No one was listening to them; all were caught up in a boyhood anecdote Fallon was sharing.

Urseya set down her chopsticks, laying them across her plate to signal that she was finished. A servant immediately collected her plate, and Urseya waited until she was done to continue. “The charmers I have heard tales of are not known for their fidelity. Why take only one lover when one can have the adoration of hundreds...as well as the gifts.”

He answered carefully, being certain to keep his voice low. Jasmine would certainly never hear it. “And you fear she would betray me?”

She shrugged. “One cannot say. Frankly, I’m a little surprised at our cousin allowing the charmer around Jayems. I’m not certain I would trust her around my man.”

Keilor felt a stab of impatience at her thinly veiled jealousy, and was about to reply when Rihlia suddenly said, “Hey, Jasmine! You never did tell me what happened on your date with Chris. How did it go?” When Jasmine just blinked at her in confusion, Rihlia prompted teasingly, “You know, the hot date you had Friday night. I wasn’t there to hear a report, and in the confusion, I forgot to ask. How was it?”

Her friend shrugged. “It was dead on arrival. I should have known better.”

“No way!” Rihlia paused to thank the servant who brought her dessert before turning her attention back to Jasmine. “He was such a sweet guy. Cute, too. What happened?” She took a bite of coconut mousse, watching Jasmine from the corner of her eye.

Jasmine squirmed under the family’s scrutiny. She had never liked the hot seat. Deciding that a short answer might turn away curiosity, she said succinctly, “He was thirty-five and he still lived with his mother.”

“So? She was ill,” Rihlia replied, indignant. “I think it’s great that he took care of her in her old age. Lots of people would have packed her off to a nursing home.”

Jasmine drummed her fingers on the tablecloth in irritation. It wasn’t like Wiley to play devil’s advocate. “The man just couldn’t cut the cord, Wi...” She glanced at Keilor’s raised brow and scowled. “Rihlia. He wouldn’t even buy a car without consulting her.”

Portae frowned at her. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with consulting one’s elders before making important decisions, young woman.” She lifted a brow at her son Fallon, who rolled his eyes. “Frankly, I wish more young people would have the wisdom to do so.”

Jasmine continued on as if there had been no interruptions, feeling rather like the subject of an inquisition. “Actually, he told me he was afraid of offending her because she might cut him out of her will and give everything to his sister.” She paused for effect. “Apparently his mother is loaded.”

Portae had no reply for that.

“This was after he told me that he couldn’t consider marrying someone his mother disapproved of,” she said indignantly. “I mean, the guy hadn’t even made it to first base yet, and here he is talking about marriage! Not only that, but when dinner arrived, he didn’t like the way they’d cooked his steak. But does he do anything about it? No. Instead he spends the rest of the meal whining about the poor service and the lousy food.” She made a face. “By the time the jerk stiffed the waitress for the tip and walked me to my car, I was more than happy to see the end of him.”

Fallon gave her a lazy smile and let his eyes drift down to her mouth. “I don’t suppose this was the slug kisser, was it?”

Jasmine grimaced. “This guy didn’t rate a kiss.”