Taste Of Love

CHAPTER 2

Jason found himself unconsciously pushing open the gate, striding across the uneven lawn, and settling down beside her without a second thought. Her cheek dimpled with another radiant smile as she continued her story. Within moments, Jason was leaning forward once again, completely captivated by the tale, just like the children.

Magic and fairy tales seemed almost believable as Jason gazed into Lisa Brooks's cobalt eyes. Despite knowing it was superficial, there was a certain radiance about her, an innocent sweetness in her smile, and a genuine sincerity in her lovely eyes.

Being seated next to her in this manner made him feel as if he had just stepped into a cozy, warm room after being outside on a bitterly cold winter day.

In reality, dark storm clouds loomed overhead, and the biting wind cut through his jacket. It was absurd to be sitting here on the damp grass in his expensive, custom-made attire. Absurd, yet undeniably irresistible.

In all honesty, Lisa Brooks was the most charming being he had ever encountered. Her luscious sable locks were tied up with a vibrant red ribbon, which contrasted with her otherwise dull clothing. A flashy paste brooch, with its fake gems lacking luster and the gold-colored setting worn away in places, rested just below her prim collar. Despite this, the girl herself seemed to radiate.

Endearing. It was a term he had never used to describe a woman, but Lisa appeared to be just that and more. She reminded him of a box of brightly wrapped sweets, each aspect of her a mystery, yet promising to be delectable.

As soon as she finished the tale, the children began to clamor for another.

"Not today. Remember, you have chores to do at the convent. I promised Sister Rachel that I wouldn't keep you out here past four." John grumbled, "Oh, bother."

Lisa tousled his dark hair. "Off you go. All of you. I'll be back tomorrow, and I'll tell you another story then." She rose to her feet and bent down to brush off bits of grass from her lengthy skirt. As the children scampered away, she turned a sparkling gaze on Jason, her expression inquisitive. "I hope you'll come again, Mr. Vaccaro. I think the children enjoyed having you with us."

Jason rose to his feet next to her, taken aback by the fact that she barely reached his shoulder. However, as he looked down at her, he couldn't deny that he no longer considered her height to be a hindrance to her attractiveness. Lisa Brooks, as a whole, possessed a unique beauty that couldn't be compared to conventional standards.

And what about you, Lisa? Did you also enjoy my company?

A blush colored her cheeks, and her eyes grew dark. She glanced away, fidgeting with the brooch, her nervousness evident in the fluttering of her fingertips.

Jason recognized the signs. Despite her angelic demeanor, she was not unaffected by him. "Um...," she began, before meeting his gaze again. "Yes, I truly enjoyed your company."

Jason gently took her hand and leaned over it in a chivalrous manner. As his lips lightly brushed against the back of her wrist, a sensation akin to hunger stirred within him, and he had to exert all his self-control to prevent the polite gesture from turning into a passionate kiss.

If he were to taste that flawless skin even once, he feared he would be consumed by an insatiable desire, much like Speedy had devoured the potato earlier.

In that instance, Miss Brooks, I may consider accepting your invitation and visiting again at some point.

I hope you will.

As she uttered those words, Jason observed a sudden caution in her eyes. Was she able to perceive his thoughts or his intense longing?

What was he yearning for? Jason pondered as he let go of her hand.

The question swirled like a dark whirlpool within him. He offered a slight smile as he turned away and confidently walked back towards the entrance. Miss Brooks' instincts were astute.

Less than sixty minutes ago, he had been mentally reviewing his list of female acquaintances, searching for just one woman who could potentially be suitable as his paid companion.

Someone visually appealing to the male gaze, yet still exuding an air of innocence. Someone whose company he would find enjoyable. Lisa Brooks was precisely what he had been seeking.

Oh, indeed! She had every reason to be cautious of him. Jason Vaccaro had just discovered his live-in mistress.

Once Jason had set his mind on a goal, he never wavered. Despite his original plan to head straight home after leaving the church, he retraced his steps to his company. As he walked briskly through the familiar streets, he felt a shift in his mood from despondent to hopeful. He began to formulate a plan in his head.

Knowing that the workers at his company changed shifts at six every evening, Jason decided to intercept Alan Brooks, who worked during the day, as he got off work in just over an hour. He had a proposition for the older man, one that he was sure he wouldn't be able to refuse.

To pass the time until six, Jason decided to play some high-stakes poker. He was known for his impeccable decision-making skills, which had helped him amass a great fortune and wield considerable power. However, his thoughts kept drifting to Lisa Brooks, whom he had met briefly in the churchyard. He couldn't get her out of his mind, and instead of focusing on the game, he kept picturing her as a beautiful angel with tousled hair and a seductive body.

As he sat at the bar, he watched Henry, the barkeep, measure out gold dust as payment for his customers' evening festivities. Jason's gaze settled thoughtfully on a group of men gathered around a set of scales, lost in thought as he waited for Alan to finish work.

Jason's attention was divided as he gazed into the distance, his mind wandering. Suddenly, an image of Lisa's face materialized in his thoughts. She possessed an undeniable beauty and radiated an aura of purity, exactly the type of woman he had been contemplating hiring as a paid companion. His imagination ran wild, envisioning her presence in his bed, her captivating cobalt eyes filled with an irresistible allure.

"Hey, Mr. Vaccaro, are you joining the game?" a voice interrupted his reverie.

Jason absentmindedly caressed the Liberty head on a ten-dollar gold piece, commonly referred to as an eagle due to the bird engraved on its reverse side. He tossed the coin onto the table, signaling his participation.

"Apologies, gentlemen. I'm a bit preoccupied tonight," he confessed with a faint smile. "I stumbled upon something today that took me by surprise – a young woman who exuded an air of innocence."

The diverse group of well-groomed businessmen surrounding the table paused their activities, their curiosity piqued. Tony, a rugged individual with a scruffy beard, let out a boisterous snort.

"Was she barely a child?" he scoffed.

Jason considered the question before responding, "I would estimate her age to be somewhere between eighteen and twenty."

One of the gentlemen chuckled. Mr. Vaccaro, please forgive me for any offense, but perhaps you require eyeglasses. There is not a single girl under the age of twelve in the entire town of Wondertown who remains innocent. Almost every morning when I arrive from the company, I encounter a few young ladies who eagerly await our arrival at the far end of Company's row. They are more than willing to lift their skirts to remove any specks of dust from our shirtsleeves.

Jason raised an eyebrow in surprise. I must confess, this young lady's appearance has left me perplexed. She seemed to, well, he hesitated, not wanting to appear foolish. There was a certain radiance about her.

"Perhaps it's because she's been covered in gold dust," another man chuckled. "If you can find a girl under twelve with her innocence intact in Wondertown, I'll give you a hundred dollars just to be the first."

Regardless of her innocence, Jason had no intention of revealing Lisa's identity. Setting his cards down, he concluded that these men were likely correct; he needed to have his eyesight examined.

No young woman of her age could have grown up in Wondertown without resorting to lifting her skirts to provide for her family on occasion.

Having reaffirmed this fact, Jason felt more certain than ever that Lisa was a viable target. "I must excuse myself, gentlemen. I have an appointment," he declared, leaving the Golden Slipper with lighter pockets but an unwavering determination to make Lisa Brooks his mistress.

As he approached his workplace, Jason was filled with unwavering confidence that he would ultimately achieve his latest objective. While Lisa may initially hesitate, he firmly believed that she would eventually accept his proposition.

In Jason's mind, there had yet to be a woman who couldn't be swayed with the right price. The question that lingered was not whether he could buy Lisa Brooks, but rather how much it would cost him.

However, Jason anticipated one potential obstacle: Lisa's father. Alan Brooks, a short and stocky Greek man with twinkling blue eyes, seemed like the type who took his role as a father seriously. If Alan was as protective of Lisa as Jason suspected, he might not take kindly to their conversation. It was one thing for a man to turn a blind eye to his daughter's discreet affairs, but it was an entirely different matter for her to become a wealthy man's plaything, with the entire town aware of the situation.

Nevertheless, due to Lisa not yet reaching the age of majority, Jason desired to obtain Alan's approval. This was not because he was afraid of any legal consequences, as he held a position of authority in this town, but rather because it would be the most straightforward approach.

Even though Jason disliked resorting to aggressive tactics, he would not hesitate to do so if Brooks became uncooperative.

However, deep down, he did not anticipate encountering any obstacles that he couldn't overcome. There was a time when he had a strong desire for wealth and influence. He understood the pull of desperate necessity and the extreme measures a person would take to fulfill that need.

Brooks was a financially disadvantaged individual. Although his needs might differ from Jason's past desires, they would be equally urgent. Unless Brooks proved to be an exceptionally rare individual, he would be easily swayed and effortlessly bought.