They talked some about the city. Raine gave Jasmine the lowdown on an awesome hairdresser in the vicinity. Heavenly shared what she knew about a good doctor near the hospital. And before they knew it, lunch had arrived. Lots of laughter went along with it. It was a nice interlude from worrying whether Seth would soon rip her heart out.
Thirty minutes later, they’d finished eating, exchanged phone numbers, and made plans to get pedicures in a few days. Then Jasmine’s phone beeped.
She lifted it and read with a grimace. “I’ve been gone longer than I told Jane and Arthur I would be.”
“Who?” Raine asked.
“The older couple she cares for,” Heavenly explained.
Jasmine nodded and stood. “They live a few doors down from Cullen. I have to pick up a prescription for Arthur, and Jane can’t remember how to work the microwave in this new place, so I need to help them with lunch. This has been so much fun. I’m looking forward to seeing you two soon.”
“I can’t wait,” Heavenly said. And she genuinely meant it. During lunch, Jasmine had proven she was funny, witty, interesting, a good sport, and someone who rolled with the punches.
“Same, girl.” Raine smiled. “Last call—at least for today. Anything more you want to know about Pike or my brother?”
Jasmine texted Pike for a ride, then looked up with a shrug. “I think Cullen is a pretty open book.”
Raine raised a brow. “Is he?”
“Isn’t he?”
Heavenly didn’t answer. If Jasmine didn’t know about Pike’s proclivities, then she didn’t know her “friend” as well as she thought. Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that revelation…
“Hmm,” Raine hummed. “And River?”
Jasmine bit her lip as she plucked up her purse. “Is he angry with me?”
Heavenly hadn’t expected that question. Clearly, Jasmine cared about him more than she wanted to.
“I don’t think angry is the right word,” Raine answered carefully. “Miffed, yes. Confused, for sure. And surprised as hell at the impact you made on him, which he’s still trying to deny.”
Heavenly would have said obsessed, too, but she kept that to herself.
“Please don’t tell him you ran into me,” Jasmine implored.
As Heavenly set her napkin on her plate, she wondered why the redhead seemed so upset.
“I can do that, at least for now.” Raine paused. “You know my brother is a private investigator, right?”
Jasmine paled. “I didn’t.”
Raine nodded. “It probably won’t take him much longer to figure you out. So you’ve got a choice. Do you want to wait until he catches up with you and let the chips fall? Or do you want to manage this and do what damage control you can? Up to you. If you choose the latter, I’m happy to help.”
“You seriously think he’s looking for me?”
“I know he is.” Heavenly hated to distress Jasmine, but she deserved the truth.
“And pissed every day he can’t find you. River isn’t a patient man. And he can be unpredictable. It’s the former soldier in him. So when he finally catches up with you…”
Jasmine let out a breath. “Damn it. You give a guy your virginity and he thinks he owns you.”
“Is that how it went down?” Raine asked, looking almost gleeful.
“Yeah. It wasn’t planned or anything. It just…happened.”
“Take it from me,” Heavenly cut in. “It can be a lot like that. You give guys your virginity, and yes. Suddenly, you find yourself tangled in a relationship you never expected.”
Clearly, that wasn’t the answer Jasmine wanted to hear. “Then…I guess I should let you arrange a conversation between me and your brother. I’ll let you know when I’m free.”
“Probably your best choice.” Raine rounded the table to hug her. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t get out of line.”
Heavenly rose and hugged her, too. “Raine is right. I’ll help.”
“So…I guess I’ll be in touch about a time and place.” Jasmine already looked nervous.
The smile that spread across Raine’s face was full of mischief. “Great. I’ve already got ideas…”