Page 81 of Discretion

I grabbed the handle of my suitcase, eager to escape to my room. I probably still smelled like Jasper. Like sex. And my ex was kissing my cheek, acting like this doting partner.

“I should get unpacked.” I took a few steps, but then there was a knock at the door. “Did you order room service?”

“Oh, right.” Craig bypassed me to answer it. “Kai was getting hungry, and you know I can’t cook.”

I laughed. No joke about that. But it was nice to see him admitting he wasn’t perfect for once. Nice, but also…strange.

“Plus,” Craig continued. “I figured you might be hungry when you got in, so Kai helped me pick something you might like. We added it to the order in case you wanted it.”

“Oh. Um. Thank you.” Who the hell was this considerate man, and what had he done with my ex?

“Let me just get changed, and then I’ll come eat with you and Kai,” I said, rolling my suitcase behind me.

Craig swung open the door, and I nearly tripped when I heard Jasper’s voice coming down the hall. I dropped my suitcase and spun back toward the door, trying not to panic.

Be calm. Act normal. Be…

“Who are?—”

“Jasper, hey.” I forced myself to smile, wishing I could’ve avoided this confrontation even as I inserted myself into their conversation. “Is everything okay?”

Did my voice sound weird? High-pitched and breathy?

Be calm. Act normal.

“I came to get Rosie.” Jasper smiled, charming as ever. Though his eyes kept darting between Craig and me.

“You’reJasper?” Craig asked.

Oh right. They’d never met because Craig had never attended work functions with me, even when we were still married. Despite expecting me to accompany him to his.

“Yes.” Jasper held out his hand. “And you must be Kai’s dad.”

I laughed nervously as they shook hands, sizing each other up. “That’s right. Okay. Great.” I turned back toward the living space, eager to put an end to this awkward situation. “Kai,” I called. “Jasper’s here to pick up Rosie.”

“Jasper’s here?” Kai called before bounding in, Rosie at his heels.

Jasper smiled, and this time, it was a genuine smile. “Hey, kiddo.”

Kai threw his arms around Jasper, and I could practically feel Craig’s eyebrows rise as they lifted to the ceiling. I shifted from one foot to the other, trying not to freak out. Trying not to do anything that might spark unwanted questions.

But it felt as if it didn’t matter what I did. Craig was certainly taking it all in. Jasper. Me. Kai. Rosie.Crap!

Jasper picked up Rosie and gave her a cuddle. “Thanks for taking such good care of Rosie.” Jasper opened his wallet and held out some cash to Kai.

Kai’s eyes went wide. “Whoa!”

I frowned at Jasper. “What are you doing?”

“Paying him for dog-sitting.”

“You don’t have to pay him anything. It’s a win-win situation. He got to hang out with Rosie, and you had someone to take care of her while you were gone.”

“Exactly,” Jasper said. “If Kai hadn’t volunteered to watch Rosie, I would’ve had to pay someone. He earned this money.”

This wasn’t a conversation we should be having in front of Kai, let alone my ex. But before I could say anything, room service arrived. The guy did a double take when he saw Jasper standing at my door. “Mr. Mackenzie.”

“Ethan, hi.” Jasper smiled, stepping aside so Ethan could roll the room service cart through. I’d always been impressed by Jasper’s memory for names and faces. It was part of what made him such a great leader. He made everyone feel important.