Chapter 24

My stomach swam with nerves, and a cold sweat traced down my back. Kendra led the way to the door and opened it.

There stood Derek in a crisp blue button-up shirt and jeans, carrying a bouquet of red roses and wearing his usual smirk. "Jasmine, you're as gorgeous as ever." He handed me the roses, and I gripped them tightly with both hands so he couldn't kiss them.

"Uh, thanks." No one had given me roses before. Looking over my shoulder, I tossed the red roses to Kendra since I didn't really want to take them home.

She caught them, her narrowed eyes never straying from Derek. "Treat her with respect. Got it?"

He held up his hands and grinned. "I'm hurt you'd even say such a thing."

"Just know that I can dispose of your body without anyone ever finding it," she said, her voice low, and I believed her.

Derek grinned. "Is that a threat?"

She nodded. "Most definitely."

Well, damn. It was a good thing she was on my side.