Jasmine nodded.
"So then we just have to find a way to make it work. I want to give it a try, Jaz," he said earnestly. "I want to give us a try."
Her lips tugged upwards. "I want that too," she breathed.
His face split into a grin. He moved towards her and captured her lips.
Jasmine returned his kiss enthusiastically and he revelled in the heady feel of their tongues caressing each other. His body tingled and his hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they explored the side of her body, inching closer and closer to her breasts.
Jasmine leaned back abruptly and held his face between her hands. "Just kisses until you've officially broken up with Hannah, right?"
He stared at her while he collected his thoughts that got scattered while they were kissing.
Right, they had to think about Hannah.
He smiled at her. "Yeah. That was my plan all along but you almost made me forget. I have to admit, though, right now I'm hoping you'll come up with some good excuse that would make it all right for me to seduce you," he teased.
"I don't want Hannah hunting me down to throw water in my face and call me a cock-sucking, fiancé-stealing, slut-whore," Jasmine said in a serious tone.
He gaped at her in shock. "I can't believe what you just said, Jaz."
"I mean it, Kane. I don't want to be called that … again."
"Again?"
She took a deep breath. "When I went out with Tim's friend George, I didn't know he was engaged. One day, the fiancée I didn't know about confronted me at a coffee shop and called me just that. It was the most humiliating moment of my life. Not only that, I think George made Tim believe I'm someone who sleeps around—a slut, even. That's why Tim won't leave me alone. He wants his turn."
"What? Well, he's not gonna fucking get it," he said angrily. "Those two sound like fucking whackos. Did you say your dad works with Tim's dad?"
"Yes. His dad seems like a nice man, though."
"You never know. Now I'm more worried about what will happen when you go back home. I want to be there when you talk to your dad."
Jasmine rubbed her eyes. "Can we not think about that until much later?"
"Okay," he said softly, planting a quick kiss on her lips before standing up. "How about we go out to lunch? I'm starving."
Jasmine nodded in agreement and got up from her seat.
He placed his arms around her and pulled her for a comforting embrace while he prayed that his imminent breakup with Hannah wouldn't be as explosive as he feared it would be.
CHAPTER FIVE
Jasmine watched as Kane stood by the threshold of Rob and Jessa's house. His body was tense as he surveyed the cars parked on the street. Finally, he swivelled and closed the door.
"He's not out there," he said.
'That's good," she answered. "Maybe he got sick of sitting around and waiting."
"Or maybe he'll be back tonight," Kane warned.
She shivered at thought. Maybe she should have stayed over at Will and Clarise's. What was she thinking?
Kane was swiftly by her side. "Hey, I don't want you to worry, okay?" he said as he rubbed her arms soothingly. "I think I should sleep here with you."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
He grinned. "I'm your bodyguard, remember? I can sleep in the other spare bedroom. That is, if you don't want me watching over you in your bedroom," he added huskily.
Her body clenched deliciously at the mental image of the two of them in bed together. She pushed it aside and focused on the more critical matter. "Kane, you can't just follow me around for two weeks. What about your work?"
"I know. I was thinking that for the days you're not out in a public place and I couldn't be with you, you could stay at Clarise's or Faye's until I pick you up and bring you back here. You'll be safer in places he doesn't know about."
She hated how Tim had turned all her plans upside down, as well as other people's. Well, at least she could bring her laptop with her and write. As long as she had that, she could be anywhere.
"What about your place?" she asked him. Jessa's friends were also her friends but she wasn't close enough to them to feel okay about disrupting their lives because of her little drama. Kane, on the other hand, was her boyfriend—almost. She'd feel more relaxed in his place.
"Uh, I wouldn't mind but you might mind," he replied, his discomfort obvious.
"Why would I mind?"
"Hannah's stuff is all over the place."
She took a huge intake of breath. Of course. How stupid of her not to have thought he was living with Hannah. They were engaged. Which meant they shared the same bed.
"You're right. Sorry," she said as she hurriedly went to her room, her emotions in a riot.