He sighed heavily. “Sorry.” He glanced past me. “Your son is heading this way.”
I studied Jace’s hard expression before I pivoted on my heel. I didn’t want to start a relationship with secrets or vagueness. I wouldn’t go through that again.
“Mom.” Ethan said then regarded Jace. “Thanks for coming. Sabrina talks about you a lot. Says you’re one of the best pilots.”
Jace brushed off his comment with a shrug. “I hear you’re good at football.”
Ethan lit up, his brown eyes gleaming. “I’m getting there. I move up to varsity next year.”
The two jabbered about football as if they’d known each other a long time. I watched my son in awe as he nodded and grinned at advice Jace was giving him about the game. Ethan was growing into a tall and handsome young man, and I couldn’t be prouder of him. The divorce had thrown Ethan into a tailspin, but he had risen above the ashes, so to speak, better than I expected.
Finally, one of the players called to Ethan, ending the convo with Jace. “You coming or what?”
“We can chat more when you have time,” Jace said to him.
“I would like that, Jace.” Then Ethan kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll be at the party. Brad’s mom will bring me home.”
“Curfew is midnight,” I called as he joined his friends.
Then Jace wrapped his arm around me. “I hate to leave, but I have an early morning tomorrow. I’m showing the class of airmen and women the F-15.”
“How do you like teaching?” I asked as we walked to the parking lot.
“It’s growing on me,” he said, sounding as though he wasn’t really present.
I got the feeling that something was bothering him all of a sudden.
I came to an abrupt halt as we reached the parking lot.
He whipped his gaze at me like an expert marksman. “What is it?”
“Did the temperature change between us?”
Chuckling, he moved a strand of hair off my face. “Sunshine, the only temp we have is hot as fuck.” His blue eyes glinted beneath the light pole as he feathered his lips over mine, short-circuiting every logical part of my brain.
I poked him playfully. “I’m serious. You changed the instant G-LOC was mentioned.”
“It was a scary incident and not one I’m ready to talk about.”
A G-LOC could’ve killed him. “You know you can talk to me.” I took a breath. “If we’re building a relationship… I mean, that is what we’re doing, right?”
He grinned, slow and wicked, melting any frost between us. “I’m all in. But is that what you want?”
I guessed I’d never come out and told him how I felt about him or us. “One hundred percent. But Jace, if this is going to work, no secrets.”
“Agreed. How about you and me alone next Friday after the game,” he offered. “And I will tell you all about my G-LOC.”
“Why, Captain Callahan, are you asking me out on a real date?”
“I want to take you on a thousand dates.”
Hope fluttered in my chest where doubt had lived a moment ago. “I accept. The team has an away game, so I’m all yours.”
He pulled me to him, hands settling on my waist, forehead touching mine. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go. You’re mine, Monroe. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Then he kissed me, and as our tongues fought for control, doubt took root deep in my subconscious. I wasn’t sure why, but time would tell.
13
