Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

After wiping Alyssa's body down, Jasper was worried she would overexert herself. So, he carried her to the dining room for
dinner.
His mind had been preoccupied all day long. The warmth, interwoven with his manly scent, emanated from his usually neat and
clean white shirt.
Alyssa started feeling woozy. She didn't find the smell repulsive. On the contrary, she pressed her nose against his chest and
sniffed it like an unsatisfied kitten.
"What's the matter? Do you want to eat me up?" Jasper lowered his gaze and smiled as his thin lips grazed her forehead.
"Even if I wanted to, you should take a shower. What a smelly man you are."
Alyssa was so embarrassed that she turned her face away. "You always keep yourself pretty clean. Why hadn't you showered
this time?"
"I didn't manage to. I will shower after eating with you."
Alyssa pursed her thin lips. Her heart felt fuzzy.
The table was filled with a plethora of exquisite delicacies. Rosie had prepared some of the food beforehand. The food only
required heating up, so the food preparation didn't take long.
"Whoa ... You're amazing, Mrs. Rosie!" Alyssa sat at the dining table, clapping her hands like a happy school kid.
"Please, Madam Alyssa. Your cooking is way better than mine! Have you forgotten that you taught me some of Mr. Jasper's
favorites here?"

"Did I? I've completely forgotten." Alyssa felt embarrassed and buried her head in her food.
She knew Rosie was complimenting her, but this conversation reminded her of some unhappy memories between them.
Jasper knew all too well the struggles she had faced before. His eyes filled with tears as he delicately used a napkin to wipe her
lips.
He wanted to say something, but Alyssa quickly shoved a prawn into his mouth. "Don't apologize. Didn't we say that we won't
talk about the past anymore?"
Jasper was stunned. Then, a wry smile crept across his face as he attempted to chew the prawn. He thought Alyssa's cooking
was better.
Suddenly, the entrance echoed with the creaking of a door. Three men walked in, making a dramatic entrance. The entire villa
instantly transformed into a lively scene reminiscent of a New Year's party.
"Wow! You're so selfish, Lyse, having this enormous table of food all to yourself. Don't you think you've taken it too far?"
Silas hadn't eaten the whole day as he was busy reading case files. He was famished. He stepped forward, seized a chicken
wing, and promptly stuffed it into his mouth.
Cyrus followed suit, tearing into a whole duck leg with gusto, as if he had recently battled a tiger. "My mouth is dry from a day of
interrogations. I'll eat this meat to hydrate myself."
The esteemed Taylor brothers devoured the food like a pack of hungry wolves, leaving Jasper and Xavier in shock.
"Look at them, devouring everything like a pack of wild beasts."

Alyssa, feeling helpless, rested her chin on her palm. "If Dad and Mandy saw this, they would probably strangle and disown
them."
Rosie was delighted to see how the guys enjoyed their food. She quickly asked them to sit. "Come! There is enough for
everyone! I made some pasta too. Mr. Jasper doesn't fancy pasta very much so I didn't bring it out. Would both of you like some
pasta?"
Silas and Cyrus nodded eagerly, like bobbleheads. "Yes, please! Can we have some minced beef with it too?"
Alyssa sighed and buried her face in her hand. "You should be grateful that you get to eat any of this. I can't believe you have
personal requests too."
Xavier couldn't bear to watch anymore. He cleared his throat and reminded them, "Please don't be distracted by the food.
Madam Alyssa felt from her horse. Shouldn't both of you, as her brothers, ask how she's doing?"
Silas and Cyrus looked at each other, one with a chicken wing in his mouth and the other chewing duck leg meat. They said at
the same time, "Don't you see her eating now? You don't need to panic for no reason."
Xavier was stunned. He wondered if he was creating unnecessary panic or if they lacked the heart to care.
Alyssa was in Jasper's arms, laughing hard.