Chapter 143 Shipment
Chapter 143 Shipment
“You’re back,” she said, standing up and walking over to them. Her gaze immediately dropped to the single paper bag in Darcy’s hands. “Is that all you brought?”
Damien tried to keep his expression casual as he set his keys down. “Yeah, tesoro. Your favorite spaghetti. Fresh and still hot.”
Jasmine took the bag from Darcy and peered inside. Her brows furrowed when she saw only the takeout container, no other bags, no mysterious packages. She looked up at Damien, eyes narrowing.
“Just spaghetti?” she asked, her tone skeptical. She stepped closer, gently pressing the bag against his chest. “Come on, Damien. You three were acting so weird when you left. Dressed up, whispering, rushing out… What were you really doing? You’re hiding something. I can feel it.”
Richelle, who had been trying to hold it in, let out a soft snicker behind her hand. Damien shot her a quick warning glance, but it only made Richelle’s shoulders shake with silent laughter.
“Baby, it’s nothing,” Damien said, his voice soft and a little too innocent. He reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “We just went out for a bit, grabbed your food, and came straight back. Promise.”
Jasmine stared at him for a long moment, clearly not convinced, but she eventually sighed and let the subject drop. “Fine… but you’re all terrible liars,” she muttered, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward.
The tension eased as they all settled down together in the living room. They spread the spaghetti out on the coffee table, along with some garlic bread and a bottle of wine Darcy had brought from the kitchen.
Jasmine climbed into Damien’s lap without hesitation, curling comfortably against his chest. He wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her close while he occasionally twirled some pasta onto his fork and fed her bites.
At one point, a bit of creamy sauce touched the corner of her lip. Damien leaned in and kissed it away gently, his lips lingering just a second longer than necessary.
Jasmine giggled softly, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink.
Richelle immediately covered her eyes with both hands, groaning dramatically. “Oh my God, you two. Get a room.”
Darcy laughed warmly, watching them with obvious affection. “Leave them be, Richelle. I can’t wait for a granddaughter running around here someday. These two are going to give me the most beautiful grandbabies.”
Jasmine’s blush deepened instantly. She buried her face in Damien’s neck, mumbling something embarrassed against his skin. Damien chuckled and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his hand rubbing slow circles on her back.
In that quiet moment, surrounded by the soft laughter and the comforting warmth of the people she loved most, Jasmine felt an overwhelming wave of gratitude wash over her.
She looked at Damien’s strong arms holding her, at Darcy’s kind and hopeful eyes, and at Richelle’s playful grin. These three people had become her family, her safe place after so many years of pain and loneliness.
How lucky she was. Truly, deeply lucky.
She closed her eyes for a second, savoring the feeling, unaware that in just two weeks, Damien would be on one knee, ready to make their forever official with the stunning pear-shaped diamond ring and the elegant red satin gown waiting secretly in the car outside.
~
Three days later, the quiet evening felt almost normal again. Damien and Jasmine were curled up together on the large sectional couch in the living room, her head resting comfortably against his chest while a soft movie played in the background.
His arm was wrapped loosely around her waist, fingers tracing lazy patterns on her side as they enjoyed the rare moment of peace. The faint scent of her shampoo and the warmth of her body against his made the weight of the past few days feel a little lighter.
His phone suddenly vibrated on the coffee table, breaking the calm. Damien sighed and reached for it, glancing at the screen. The moment he saw the name, his jaw tightened.
Dominic.
He answered, keeping his voice low and guarded. “What is it?”
Dominic’s smooth, confident tone came through the line. “The shipment truck just pulled into your office building parking lot. It’s here now. Handle it.”
Damien cursed under his breath, the word sharp and quiet enough that Jasmine still lifted her head to look at him. “Fuck, already? Fine. I’ll take care of it.” He ended the call abruptly, tossing the phone back onto the table with more force than necessary.
Jasmine sat up slightly, her brows furrowed with concern as she searched his face. “What’s the matter? Who was that?”
Damien ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily. “It was Dominic. The truck with the textiles is already at the office. I thought we had more time, but it’s here now.”
Jasmine didn’t panic. Instead, she shifted so she could face him fully, her hand resting on his chest. “Okay, listen. You should go lead the truck back here, but don’t bring it all the way to the house. Stop a few blocks away so no one sees it near our place. Then unload the textiles and move them using one of your cars. Take two of your men with you to help make it faster and safer.”
Damien looked at her for a moment, impressed by how quickly and calmly she thought through the details. He nodded slowly, a small, grateful smile touching his lips. “That’s a good plan. Smart as always, tesoro.”
He stood up from the couch, but before he could step away, Jasmine grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him back down. She rose onto her knees and pressed her lips to his in a deep, reassuring kiss.
Damien melted into it for a few seconds, one hand cupping the back of her neck as he kissed her back. When she finally let go, he rested his forehead against hers for a brief moment.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
“I will,” he promised, pressing one last soft kiss to her forehead before straightening up.