You Had Me at Hola(89)

Chapter 40


“So.” Jasmine crossed her arms and leaned back against the railing. “First things first, I appreciate you stopping by. It meant the world to my abuela.”

She’d been so sure he wouldn’t show up. Why would he? After all the horrible things they’d said to each other? She almost texted him multiple times to beg him to come—not for her, but for her grandmother—but that was Old Jasmine behavior. She was done doing anything out of desperation, or fear, or a sense of lack.

Leading Ladies are whole and happy on their own.

Damn right.

But then he’d shown up, casually sexy in a tailored blue suit with his white shirt open at the neck, revealing a hint of that hard chest. Her heart had leaped at the sight of him. And when she realized he’d brought his family with him, she understood it for what it was—the biggest proof of trust he was capable of giving.

“Her smile was all the thanks I need,” he said quietly. “Truly, her response, and the rest of your family . . . it reminded me why we’re in this ridiculous business. I’ve missed this.”

Jasmine’s brow creased. “You miss it? But you brought your family with you. Which, I wanted to add, I also appreciate. I know how hard it is for you to expose them to the public.”

He ducked his head. “It is, but . . . I trust you.”

She was melting inside. “Thank you.”

“But I didn’t mean them. Before my mother died, most of her family still lived on the island. We did big parties like this for all the holidays, birthdays, you name it. But it’s been a long time and . . . I didn’t realize how much I missed them. Since Yadiel was born . . .” He trailed off and shrugged, looking a little helpless, so Jasmine threw him a bone.

“I’d imagine . . . it’s hard to talk about him to other people.”

The relief on his face broke her heart.

“Yes.” He said the word with a rush of gratitude, like she’d hit the nail on the head. “I wanted to tell you, Jasmine. So many times. But . . . keeping secrets becomes a habit. And I think I fell out of the habit of trusting other people. I’m a single dad, but I don’t know how to talk about it. I don’t know how to date anymore. My life . . . it’s complicated. And it might have just gotten more complicated, or less. I’m not exactly sure.”

She wanted to go to him, to hug him, touch him while he talked. This was the Ashton she’d gotten to know during their time alone—the sweet, earnest, uncertain man behind the telenovela hero. But she had to hold out, to give them both space to speak. “What do you mean?”

He let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his head. “My father is going back to Puerto Rico and Yadiel is going to live with me. Full time.”

Jasmine scrutinized his expression. “You seem pleased.”

“I am.” A grin tugged at his lips. “I know it will take some adjusting, but this is all I’ve ever wanted.”

“I’m glad.”

He opened his mouth, paused, then spoke. “Could you date a guy who already has a kid?”

A shaky laugh burst out of her, a release of the tension winding her up as she’d waited for him to speak. “Of course I could.”

“Good, because anyone I get involved with . . . it’s not just me. I’m a package deal.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “I would never expect otherwise.”

He took a deep breath. “Jasmine, I’m in love with you.”

Her heart stopped. Everything in her went still as she stared at him, slack-jawed. Her eyes searched his face, seeking out any hint that she’d misheard, or that he was joking, or . . .

Sincerity shone in his eyes. And a deep well of steadiness. She knew the curves and lines of his face, the subtleties of his expressions, the emotions radiating from his eyes. And his voice . . . He’d said the words with matter-of-fact seriousness.

“Really?” Her voice squeaked, and they both let out a nervous laugh.

“Sí, querida.”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, breathlessly, with all the love in her heart. He held her close, and in his arms, she felt . . .

The same. She felt happy, but she no longer felt the sense of completion she used to feel when she was with a guy.

No, she felt the same because . . . she was already complete.

And wasn’t that a lovely feeling?

“I don’t know how we’ll make it work,” Ashton was saying, his face pressed into her neck. “God, you smell good.”

“Make what work?” she asked, still riding the high from his kiss.

“Us. I don’t know where I’m going to live, and I’ll have Yadiel with me—”

“Yadiel is an amazing kid,” she said, pulling back to look him in the eyes. “Don’t feel like you have to hide him from me. You know I want a family. Not because it will give me value, but because I have a lot of love to give. I want to be loved, too, but I also just want to love someone. And I don’t know why, but something about that scares everyone—”

Ashton took her hands in his and looked her deep in the eyes. “I’m not them.”

She pressed her lips together, holding back the flood of emotion threatening to overwhelm her. “I know.”