“What do you plan on doing with my house, Jasper?” his mother asked. “I would like to know that she is not living in my home.”
“As if anyone wants to live around this gaudy crap,” Zeva muttered.
“I have an even better idea.” Jasper grinned wickedly. He took Zeva’s hand. “Honey, you wanted a place for people to be safe from domestic violence, women, families who need help. You wanted to give them a place to live until they are back on their feet. I’ll donate this mansion to the cause, convert it into small apartments and a safe home for those in need. Mother, you have thirty days to vacate the premises and get the hell out of our lives.”
“No!” Cornelia cried out.
Zeva laughed. “That’s fucking awesome. I accept this generous donation.”
His mother screeched in rage as Zeva wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a noisy smack on the lips. She was safe, and he felt the rage dissipate in her arms. If she had been hurt, his mother’s fate would’ve been way worse, but it all worked out in the end. Uncle Brewster was leaving and getting help, his mother would be out of their lives, and he could finally live a normal, happy life with his wife. He could already picture the warmth of his home and the amazing things his wife would do for the community he cherished. He’d picked the perfect woman to be his bride, his duchess. Uncaring of his mother or whoever was around them, Jasper kissed her deeply, sealing the promise of the future they would build.
* * * *
Two days later, Zeva lay in bed wiping her running nose after another bout of sneezing. Her little adventure in the moors in the middle of the rainstorm that hit courtesy of one of the bitch twins had left her with a cold, or the flu or death, she wasn’t quite sure. On principle, she wanted to find Patrice and infect her with her cold, but she was too exhausted to move. In between the fever, then the chills, Jasper took excellent care of her, and the doctor had come to the house to see her.
“Wow, doctors make house calls here, cool,” she recalled mumbling as he checked her over.
After that the cough syrup the doctor prescribed kept her knocked out, and Jasper woke her for soup and then hot tea with biscuits. He made sure she had a hot bath with eucalyptus oil, and while it made her feel better Zeva was still down and out. He knocked and came into the room looking at her with concern.
“How are you sweetheart?” he asked gently.
“Miserable.” She could hear her nasally voice and hated it. “I’m missing work and it’s putting the center behind with me sick.”
“It will all be fine. Until you get better, I’ve just been putting invoices on the desk in the office like you said,” Jasper said with a smile. “Are you up to eating a bit of soup?”
“I want a steak,” she muttered. “With all the trimmings, including the baked potato.”
“While I would love to give you that, the last time you threw up after eating a heavy meal. The doctor said keep it light until you make a turn for the better.” Jasper caressed her face. “I’m sorry you feel terrible, my love.”
“Not your fault, it’s the three witches of Northumberland that caused this.” Zeva wiped her nose.
“You’ll be happy to know that Uncle Brewster left today. He was going to pop around, but I told him you were sick so he sends his regards,” Jasper said.
“Haile said that my mother has begun packing up to leave. So very soon you can start reconstruction of the mansion.”
“I’m thinking I will name it the Lady Susanna House, after your grandmother,” Zeva said. “I came up with the idea in one of my fever hazes.”
Jasper grinned. “I love the idea, even with your melodramatic statement.”
“Are you saying, Jasper McTavish, that I am not completely miserable right now?” Zeva folded her arms and demanded.
“I’m sure you are, luv, forgive my statement,” he said solemnly, but amusement made his lips twitch.
“Meanie,” she muttered but smiled at her husband.
“You love me,” he retorted.
“Yes I do, very much,” she said softly.
“You know I was terrified when you didn’t come home, and to find out what they did...” Jasper swallowed thickly. “If I had lost you, I would have been lost forever, nothing in my life would’ve been right.”
“Honey, there was no way I was going to let them keep me from coming home to you,” Zeva said gently. “And you forget one thing.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“You made one badass, army-strong woman your duchess,” she reminded him.
“You’re right, and I love you for it.” Jasper moved forward to kiss her.
Zeva put her hand on his chest to stop him. “Hey, you’ll get sick if you kiss me.”
He cupped her cheek. “Through sickness and in health, my love. I’ll have my kiss now.”
Zeva let him take his kiss, because if he ended up in the bed next to her sick they’d make it work. They’d proven they could maneuver life and the chaos that it could bring together as a couple. The Duke may have taken a wife, but when she met Jasper he’d completely stolen her heart.
The End
Also by Dahlia Rose
Army Beasts
Army Beasts Resurrection
Embrace The Beast
Cajun Mate Series
Christmas Three
Masquerade
Tempest
Tempest The Wolf
Calender Men
April's Fool
August Rush
Cowboys of January
Fireworks and Mr. July
Holidays With You
Marines of May
Mr. February
Mr. June
My Calendar Men Box Set
Spank Me Mr. March
Thrill Me Mr. October
Together In November
When September Ends
Desire De Jour Series
Bun In The Oven
My daddy Is A Hero
My Daddy Is a Hero 1 (Master Chief Marrone)
My Daddy Is a Hero 2 (First Lieutenant Cutter)
My Daddy Is a Hero 3 (Gunny Sergeant Aidan Brooks)
My Daddy Is a Hero 4 (Captain Simon Brevard)
My Daddy Is A Hero 5 (LCDR Chase Latos)
Swat Chronicles
Don't Deny Me
S.W.A.T Chronicles
My Kryptonite
Castle In The Sky
SWAT Chronicles
One Tough Cop
Swat Chronicles 'Wicked'
The Collettes Saga
The Collettes: Luna
The Cowboy Way Series
The Heiress and The Cowboy
The Cowboy In New York
The Paladin Dragons
A Dragon's Hope
A Dragon's Choice
Wolfe Corp Series
When Wolfe Calls
Wolfe's Kin
Standalone
Sweet Christmas Surrender
Gypsy Moon
Taken By Storm
Army Beast 2042
Christmas with a Scoundrel
Helping Kismet
Say Yes
Some Kind Of Wonderful
Text In The City
Hawke's Nest
Stalemate
All I Want For Christmas Is You
Forever Yours
Love and Lights
Melting A Frozen Heart
Seducing Santa
Substitute Daddy
The Right Christmas
Yuletide Mischief
A Taste of Remy
Our Lovely Baby Bump
The Billionaire's Baby
The Preacher's Son
Handle With Care
Angel Mine
A Pirate's Sacrifice
Chance Of A Lifetime
Flights of Fancy
Outlaw's Delight
Paradise Found
Private Dancer
Scaredy Kat
Take me Higher
The Rookie
The Soulmates Curse
Uh-Oh It's Magic
Under The Big Top
Velvet, Leather And Roses
Captain On Deck
Night and Day
Operation Daddy
Wrapped in Red, White and Blue
At Last
Father Figure
Skirting The Law
Time After Time
That Sexy Talk
Stay
Irish King
Hot as Ice
Caribbean Blue
When Love Commands
The Duke Takes A Wife
Fall From Grace
About the Author
Dahlia Rose is the best-selling author of contemporary, military and paranormal romance with a hint of Caribbean spice. She was born and raised on a Caribbean island and now currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her five kids, who she affectionately nicknamed “The Children of the Corn,” and her biggest supporter and longtime love. She has a love of erotica, dark fantasy, sci-fi, and the things that go bump in the night. With over six dozen books published Dahlia has become a reader favorite. Not only because of her writing but her vivacious attitude in talking to her fans online and at various events. Books and writing are her biggest passions, and she hopes to open your imagination to the unknown between the pages of her books.
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