so I could see it.”
Before Jasmine had a chance to savor his words, the Jeffersons appeared before them. “Jasmine,” Don said, “you have gone above and beyond this time. This masquerade is incredible.”
Marilyn Jefferson’s eyes sparkled behind her purple feathered mask. “And this house! I didn’t even realize it was being renovated.”
“For several years now,” Royce said. “In honor of my mother. She loved this place.”
“I’m sure,” Marilyn said with a soft smile. “I just hate that she didn’t see it like this. In the glory you’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
Jasmine explained, “She lived in the carriage house for a few years as the renovations began.”
“The final version that I executed is almost identical to the plans she drew up herself,” Royce said.
“Congratulations, Royce,” Don said. “Tonight will be a smashing success, I know. For you and the mission. On Monday, let’s make an appointment. To talk.”
Jasmine knew Royce wanted to smile big, but he kept it under wraps pretty well. Still, she could feel the jolt of excitement that ran through his body. “I will set that up. Thank you, sir.”
After the Jeffersons had walked away, Jasmine kissed Royce hard and long, not caring who watched. “Congratulations,” she finally murmured.
The evening was as successful as Don Jefferson had predicted. Preliminary counts said they had earned more than enough money to pay for a nice, large building with sleeping quarters on the mission’s campus and some additional upgrades, as well.
It wasn’t until after the big announcements late in the evening that Jasmine even realized Royce’s father was there.
She recognized that analytical gaze easily, despite the plain black mask he sported. Just the feel of him looking in her direction made her stomach clench and bile back up in her throat. Yet, for the next half hour, she saw him everywhere she looked, no matter what she was doing.
Finally she was able to break away from her hostessing duties and find Royce. To warn him. But she arrived only seconds before his father did.
Royce glared at the man over her shoulder. “You’re not welcome here.”
Jasmine turned to find John completely unmoved by Royce’s anger.
“I bought a ticket,” he said with a shrug.
“And I’ll happily refund your money.”
John cocked his head to the side, studying Royce as if to figure out exactly what he needed to say to get through to the man before him. “If word got around that you threw me out, that might hurt donations.”
“We don’t need any more.” Royce’s expression was undeniably proud. “But if we did, I’d make it up out of my own pocket.”
“That’s not good business, Royce. You know that.” John shook his head as if Royce were behaving childishly. “You cannot let your emotions rule over money.”
“Tonight’s not about business,” Jasmine insisted.
But the look John turned her way reminded her she wasn’t speaking for herself. “You sure?”
Suddenly she remembered Don Jefferson’s invitation to set up an appointment with Royce. The real reason he had started this venture so long ago. But before she could respond, Ivy appeared at her elbow. “Jasmine, the catering lady has a question. She’s looking for you.”
“Right,” John said, “Go on back to work now.”
Royce stepped firmly between her and his father, brushing a brief kiss over her brow. “Go ahead,” he murmured. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle dear old Dad.”
So Jasmine left, but forty-five minutes later, she realized that Royce was nowhere to be found. Oh, the party was in full swing without him, but that didn’t defuse the worry that settled in her gut.
She knew he wasn’t in the front parlor, because she’d just been through there. Everything was running smoothly and the vendors had given her very positive feedback. But there’d been no sign of Royce.
Next, she checked the ballroom as best as she could. Between the dancers and those milling around listening to the small orchestra, it was a little too crowded for an accurate reading. But she didn’t see him. The kitchen and dining rooms were also a bust.
Though he could have stepped outside to cool off, that didn’t feel right. Besides, Jasmine wasn’t familiar enough with the grounds to trust herself to go looking around in the dark.
Instead, she climbed the back stairs. Several rooms at the front of the second floor had been opened for guests to tour, including a grand sitting room and a couple of bedrooms. There were other completed rooms on this floor that weren’t open for viewing. One she knew to be an office that Royce had set up with equipment in case he needed to be reached or do something while he was out here—which he often had been during the last month or so.
As she reached the top of the stairs, muffled voices reached her. Alert that there was someone in the office, she approached the closed door with trepidation. Why would Royce have brought his father up here? Or was it just someone else he’d wanted to talk to?
She didn’t want to interrupt business. But the thought that he would be taking a business meeting in the middle of their event was upsetting.
At first she thought the door was closed, but as she reached it, she realized it was cracked. The voices filtered through enough that she recognized Royce...and his father. She should have just turned away, gone back downstairs and left Royce to handle it. Instead, she reached out and pushed the door back an inch, allowing her to see a small sliver of the scene inside.
John Nave flicked a silver lighter, then used it to light a thin cigar. He puffed a few times, causing the tip to glow red. “I, more than anyone, know how disruptive women can be,” he finally said.
Royce turned to him. The lamp nearby allowed Jasmine to read the surprise on his face. Unconcerned, his father blew out a stream of cigar smoke. “Yes, your mother wasn’t the first. But she was the only one I made the mistake of getting pregnant.”
“I wouldn’t consider myself a mistake.”
John paused in that way he had, as if he considered every word before speaking it. “I did, at the time. But I’ve checked in through the years. You’ve turned out well. Still, I felt it was best if I married after that.”
Royce scoffed. “I wouldn’t call what you have a marriage. More like a business arrangement.”
“I call it the best of both worlds. I handle the business. She handles the house and our image. And takes the edge off when I really need it. What more could I want?”
Jasmine waited for Royce to say love, but he remained silent.
“You’ve
