Chapter 5

Jasmine stood silently as John Coleman apologized for his behavior. Of course, Austin stood close by and watched him closely. "I am sorry again. If I knew you two were a couple, I never would have asked you out," he concluded.

"Please forgive me," he added walking away. Jasmine looked up at Austin suspiciously. "Can I see you for a second?" Jasmine asked. "Of course," Austin said. After he followed her, she sat down and glared at him suspiciously. "What did you say to that man?" Jasmine asked.

"I told him if he comes near you again our company will sue him for sexual harassment and win. And I informed him that you are seeing someone," Austin explained. Jasmine was afraid to even ask the next question. "I may have stretched the truth to get him shaking in his booths," Austin admitted. Jasmine knocked him gently on the shoulder. "Why did you make that man believe we were a couple?" Jasmine said. "Why? Jasmine, he hurt you and touched you inappropriately. After how you responded last night, he is lucky I did not knock him out. I care what happens to you so he needed to believe that he was wrong and could never get away with it," Austin stated sternly. Jasmine was not used to anyone standing up for her. She could not believe she was happy and relieved he put the man in his place.

"Thank you," she said. Austin smiled happily to hear her gratitude. They both stared at each other for a while. "And if I did not say it enough, thank you for what you did last night," she said. "Well, if you want to really thank me, go out with me," he suggested. "Don't push your luck," she teased and smiled. Austin was pleased she was smiling but he still wanted to know what made her uneasy. She needed to know he would stand by her no matter what. "When will we get to talk about everything?" he asked gently. Jasmine looked away nervously. "Soon," she said avoiding his eyes. "Don't shut me out. You can trust me," Austin reassured her.

Jasmine looked up and saw the sincerity in his eyes. "You can come over for dinner tomorrow," she said surprising them both. Austin was pleasantly surprised at her finally trusting him. "What's the matter?" she teased when he was at a loss for words. "I look forward to it," he said. Jasmine watched him walk away wondering if he could handle her past.