Cruel Love (Privilege 6)

He took both her hands and tugged her out the door. “Just follow me.”

HEAVEN AND HELL

“Are we going to the boathouse?” Ariana whispered breathlessly. The cold wind caught her words and whipped them away almost before she said them. Overhead, the moon glowed full and bright, its luminous reflection rippling in the icy surface of the Potomac as she and Jasper raced down the bank toward the water.

“Not exactly,” he replied with a grin.

Together they lit upon the wooden patio surrounding the huge, gleaming oak boathouse where the crew team lifted weights, socialized, and worked on their racing shells. But instead of heading for the back door, Jasper turned his steps, crunching through the gravel that surrounded the building. Ariana followed, keeping an eye on her feet in the dim light. At the edge of the water, Jasper started along a broken, overgrown concrete path, heading north toward the glowing lights of Washington, D. C.

“Okay, where are we going?” Ariana whispered again, her heart pounding from both exertion and excitement.

Jasper looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes teasing. “Are you really going to make me say it?”

“Say what?” she asked, her brow crinkling.

“That ‘that’s for me to know and you to find out’?” he said. Then he rolled his eyes. “Good Lord, you did make me say it.”

He took her hand in his and Ariana giggled. His fingers were cold and dry, but she didn’t mind in the least. Jasper tugged her around a bend and suddenly another boathouse loomed into view. This one was clearly much older. The wood planks of its walls were weathered and cracked, and the shutters around the upper windows tilted at dangerous angles. Faded orange signs reading KEEP OUT! hung on the garagelike doors on the water, and one lower windowpane was cracked and had been taped over with cardboard. Altogether, it wasn’t the most welcoming place.

“Let me guess,” Ariana said. “The old boathouse.”

“Very astute, Madame President,” he replied, leading the way over to a side door.

Ariana giggled. “Stop calling me that.”

“You love it,” Jasper teased. He paused with his hand on the door handle. “See? You’re blushing!”

Ariana lifted her fingers to her cheeks. “Oh, God. I am. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s endearing

,” Jasper said. He leaned in and gave her a lingering kiss on the lips. “And now, for your surprise party.”

With a flourish and a loud creak, Jasper opened the door. Light poured out from inside, and Ariana took a hesitant step forward. What she saw took her breath away. Jasper had decorated the boathouse from floor to ceiling, corner to corner, with dozens of multicolored balloons. Strands of twinkling lights lined the walls, illuminating the entire space. In the center of the huge, airy room was a table, laden with tiered trays of sweets—chocolates and pastries and mini cakes and tarts. A banner across the far wall read CONGRATULATIONS, ANA! in big block letters.

“Jasper!” Ariana took a step into the room and twirled in a circle, taking it all in from every angle. “This is spectacular! When did you have time to do all this?”

Jasper closed the door behind him and unbuttoned his wool jacket. “I have my ways.”

“Yes, I suppose you do,” she said.

Jasper flung his jacket over one of the chairs at the table and spread his arms wide. “Voilà.”

Ariana grinned. “What would you have done if I hadn’t won?”

He crossed over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His blond hair was wind-tossed and his nose was red from the cold, but he was still the handsomest guy she’d ever seen. “Not possible.”

She tilted her head. “Come on.”

“All right.” Jasper raised his hands. He walked over to the banner, tugged it down, and turned it around, holding it up by the ends so she could see. She held her hand over her mouth to cover a laugh. On the opposite side the banner read BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR!

“You are ridiculously sweet,” Ariana said, leaning forward to kiss his cheek.

Jasper lifted one shoulder. “I do what I can.” He tossed the banner aside and pulled out a chair for her. “So? What’s your pleasure?”

“Hmmm …” Ariana was so giddy as she took her seat, she could barely keep herself from laughing out loud. She tapped her chin with her fingertips as she considered her dessert options, then plucked a raspberry tart from the top tier of one of the displays and took a bite. Her whole mouth filled with juicy, ripe sweetness. “Omigod, Jasper. This is so good.”

“Interesting choice,” he replied as he sat across from her. “I always thought you were a chocolate lover.”