His hand moves up, the clock face on his tattooed hand wrapping around his chin. He glances at the menu board. With an air of decision, he pulls out his phone and dials a number. I see the contact’s name, M&M, on the screen when he turns ittoward me. Jace sets it to speakerphone as we wait for the call to connect.
“Jay, why are you calling me?” a sweet, clear voice rings through the cookie shop, causing Jace to laugh. I can’t help but wonder if this man is a player or already married. Or both.
“My sister,” he says as if reading my mind.
I nod, waiting for him to continue and doing my best not to find the idea of a grown man calling his sister when he’s in trouble or asking out a woman quite literally adorable.
“Mina,” he says for my benefit, “I’m in Birch Borough . . .”
“Yes, you texted me ten minutes ago,” says the voice on the line. “Are you still looking for that woman you crashed into?”
My eyes widen, but I laugh with delight, the glee bubbling up as this strong man’s cheeks turn crimson.
“Funny you should mention her. I just found her again, and I think she might be an angel. Or a shooting star.”
My eyebrows lift, the blush creeping along my own skin with fresh heat. I half expect his so-called sister to laugh or ask if he’s feeling well.
“Impossible,” she says, as if this wasn’t an odd thing for him to say.
“No, no, it’s true,” he says into the phone. “I’m just as surprised as you. Anyway, I need you to vouch for me so I can buy this woman a hot chocolate. Maybe you can convince her I’m worth knowing. Do you think you can do that?”
His concentration is totally focused on his phone, unbothered by the customers moving around us, and a look that I could only describe as nervousness is creased into his brow.
“What’s her name?” Mina asks.
His eyes meet mine, a question knocking on the invisible door between us, and it feels like the moment strangers become something more.
“Ivy,” I speak into the phone, looking at Jace while I utter the word. But I find that his gaze is too intense, his eye color too rich. Instead, I have to focus on the way his phone looks like a child’s toy in the grip of his hand.
“Ivy,” the voice on the other end of the line rings out, “my brother is many things, but being smooth is not one of them. He’s more likely to be watching a romance movie or reading a book than frequenting a bar.”
Another delighted laugh escapes me as I look at Jace again. He simply shrugs.
“Jay, you should’ve brought your glasses. Did you bring your glasses?”
Jace sighs, his shoulders dropping slightly. “I did not.”
“Never mind. I think I painted enough of a picture,” Mina quips.
My heart feels light. “So you’re saying he’s worth trusting with my fate? Or whatever it is that sent me nearly colliding with your brother again?” I grin at him, willing her answer to be yes.
“Oh, he’s definitely worth trusting—if you’re into the whole tall, brooding but goofy type, that is. Also, can I just say . . . your voice sounds like a rock star, Ivy.”
I’m used to people commenting on my voice; it’s notably smoky and something that seems to stand out about me, which never really helped me in the dance world since my life has been spent in silence on the stage.
“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Mina,” Jace adds, and suddenly, tears sting my eyes. It’s not the words; it’s the sincerity with which he said them. “Golden hair. Eyes that remind me of hot chocolate. The good kind.”
There is a pause, then, “Jay, you’d better not mess this up!” Mina’s voice rings clearly between us through the phone as Jace laughs.
“I love you, M&M. Thank you for your vote of confidence.”
“M&M?” I ask.
“Her nickname. She loves the candy.” Jace sits up a little taller, watching me as if I’m the most fascinating thing in the world. The fact that he hasn’t even noticed the Rudolph knockoff dancing outside the window beside us this whole time is a testament to his ability to concentrate. His attention is solely on me, and I get the sense that his focus might be a spotlight where I could be found instead of lost.
“Okay, then, Mina,” I say into the phone. “I think he just may be worth the chance.”
Jace lifts a fist in the air, a quiet testament to his excitement, and gives me a smile I’ll think about whenever I need to remind myself there’s still magic in the world.
