Amy shook her head as the information sank in. The man had connections, didn’t he? He just bought whatever he wanted.Whoeverhe wanted. She turned the notepad over and started at the top of the page as the eroding panic began to spread.The studio has no idea who this guy even is, and look at him manipulate us all like puppets.
Jace reached over, ran the tips of his fingers through her hair. “It’s crazy,” he mouthed. He leveled a look at her, and added to it soundlessly. “But we’re onto him, okay?”
Amy wrote down her reply.But they were onto you first. Doesn’t that scare you?
A crease took over his brow as he shook his head and grabbed the pencil.No, because you were already on their list, Amy. Now we can keep you safe… and best of all, as bad as all this might be, it led me to you.
Amy stared at those words for a long time, let them sink into her heart. It led me to you. She looked at his face, at the warm, colorful flames reflecting in his blue eyes. Fire and ice.
“Why don’t you put that magazine down and give me a little attention,” Jace said, creating a cover for their comfortable silence. He moved in, grazed his nose over hers, then pressed a gentle, lingering kiss to her lips. “Come here,” he said, encouraging her to turn on her side and spoon him. He secured a throw pillow and tucked it beneath Amy’s head as she nudged her back against his chest. “We were talking about percentages a while ago. So now it’s your turn,” he whispered beside her ear. “Chances you’ll show up to yourAverage Amyshoot tomorrow in a turtleneck.”
“A turtleneck? I’m shooting a segment for synchronized swimming.”
“I know.”
Amy grinned. “Zero percent.”
The sound of Jace’s deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Sheesh, that was final. Chances of you coming with me to the beach BBQ party on Saturday?”
“Thirty percent.”
“Come on,” he said, “it’s for Leo and Kip’s birthday. And I really want you to meet my parents.”
She wanted that too. “Sixty-five percent.”
He gave her waist a squeeze. “And don’t forget that we already invited Kassy and Daren, and the twins have their heart set on it too. If we don’t show up it’d be pretty awkward.”
“Okay.” She smiled. “One hundred percent.”
“That’s my girl.” Jace pulled her in tight, offering all the comfort and warmth she could hope for. And promise. He really did seem to love her. Perhaps it was all an act to get what he wanted, but if it was, Amy didn’t want to know that now. She’d put their Tuesday mission on the back burner, and enjoy the time she had with him, the best she could. Yet one lingering question remained in her mind: What were the chances Jace would stick around after all of this was done?
