* * *
Amy could hardly believeher ears. Not only had Jace fessed up to knowing exactly what she meant, he’d admitted that he didn’t have a solution. Yet his warm arms were all around her, and they were everything to her in that moment.
Peace and protection. Comfort and kindness. His heat, his smell, his strength.
Regret crashed in on her like a lightning bolt. Amy couldn’t believe she’d really just done that—gone frombest date evertolet’s just be friends for now.She hadn’t even meant to voice the idea. It was just that, when Jace had drifted off earlier, his silence had triggered the fear Amy had been dreading since he came into her life— the idea that he was only cozying up to her in order to catch the trafficking ring. Using her the way Clay had. For a noble cause, perhaps, but using her just the same.
From there it was like dominos, each fall further disrupting an insecurity she’d battled for years: that men didn’t find her—therealher—very appealing. That she’d never be more than average in any man’s eyes.
The fact was, plenty of guys had taken aninitialinterest in Amy over the years; there’d never been an issue in that department. Long-lasting relationships were different. She feared that the longer she dated a guy, the more disenchanted he would become. As if they’d be waiting for her to shed her cocoon and turn into a new, composed creation. Instead, they’d be stuck with a woman who was exactly as she portrayed herself to be on her show: Goofy, naïve, and boringly average.
Having Jace live with her would only accelerate the process; he’d be over her by next week.
She pulled back to look at him, watched the way he searched her face before locking his gaze on hers. Her stomach lurched. He’d saidyesto putting things on pause without a second thought. It had taken her off guard, made her think he’d been looking for a way out.
“Amy…”
She lifted her brow, willing him to undo it.Please, Jace. Just tell me that you’re really interested in me. That you’re not using me. That you’re not growing tired of me already.But he didn’t say any of that. Instead, he cupped her hand, gave it a squeeze, and then headed back into the dining area. “Get a good night’s rest.”
Without another word, Amy darted down the hallway, glad he couldn’t see the tears rushing down her cheeks.Goodnight, Jace.
