That was as surprising as anything else, that he could see his hometown through completely new eyes.Was she to blame for part of that?
Still, he could no sooner explain his relief that she didn’t seem to be romantically involved than he could explain his compulsion to take his dad’s place off the market.He took Aurelie’s hand in his.She flinched before relaxing her fingers in his.God, he hoped that would pass, that she wouldn’t be afraid of him forever.Because that same compulsion that brought him back to Banberry shoved him at Aurelie.
“I’ve definitely felt something for this place I haven’t felt before, not even as a kid,” he told her.The way Aurelie looked at him just then, like he’d actually said something right for once, was such a stretch from their first few interactions that it disarmed him and turned him on in equal measure.
A small cough broke the trance that had Jace locked in.He turned his head to see a small boy alongside their table.He couldn’t have been more than six.Jace cleared his throat, nodded toward the kid.
“They let ’em into bars younger and younger, don’t they?”he teased.
Aurelie just smiled, a knowing grin that belied mischief.She shrugged her shoulders and nodded toward the boy, who stared deadpan at Jace.
“I know who you are,” the boy told Jace, his hands on his hips.Figured that his first fan was a mop-head who wasn’t even old enough for braces and had probably snuck in here from the restaurant side.Still, Jace smiled.
“Yep, that’s me, little buddy.Do ya got a piece of paper I can use?I think I have a pen around here somewhere,” Jace said, fumbling around in his pockets for something he could use to sign an autograph for the little champ.
He was amused when the kid scowled at Jace.
“Okay,” Jace said, putting his hands up in resignation, “I’ll just use this napkin here.”
“I don’t want your autograph,” the kid spat.“Don’t think you can come in here with your money and your good looks and steal her from me.”The boy turned to Aurelie and gazed up at her with the widest eyes Jace had ever seen.
A small laugh escaped his lips as the whole situation became crystal clear.This young fella was in love with Aurelie and didn’t give a rat’s ass about Jace.It was kinda cute, even if it did sting a little.
“It’s not funny, mister.I met her first, and I gave her flowers when she helped my sister get here safe.Flowers.Do you know what that means?”The poor kid was as red as the worn Jordan hoodie he wore.
Jace put his million-dollar smile away.He was an actor, dammit.He could pretend for a few minutes that he didn’t find this situation as downright hilarious and adorable as he did.
“I sure, do, fella.What’s your name?”he asked.
“Billy Watson.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what, Billy.When a man brings a woman flowers, it’s about as serious as it gets.I respect that you got here first, but you know it isn’t up to us to decide, right?What do you say we let the lady make the decision for herself?”He glanced over at Aurelie, and instead of winking, gave her a subtle, honest smile.
She grinned broadly, and the striking way it highlighted her cheekbones, set off by the white of her teeth, made a puddle out of Jace’s heart.
“Well,” she said, clearing her throat and trying like hell to wipe the smile off her face, “it seems we have a problem here.”
Billy grinned, nodded.It almost snapped what was left of Jace’s resolve right then and there.
“No matter how great you are, Billy, you’re still a little too young.In fact, does your mom know you’re not on that side of the restaurant?You could get in trouble being over here.”
“I’m s’posed to be in the bathroom.”
“Ah, I see.Well, by the time you’re old enough, I’ll be wrinkly and not attractive in the least.You don’t want to marry someone who’s all wrinkly, do you?”
This time Billy made a face like his mom had snuck some Brussels sprouts in his mac ’n cheese, and shook his head no.
“I didn’t think so.But you’ll always be my guy, okay?”
“Okay, Ms.Aurelie.”Billy turned to face Jace, who was one beat away from losing his composure.This entire situation was too damn cute.“But you’d better treat her right.And bring her flowers.She likes lilies.”
“Thanks for the tip, scout.It was really nice meeting a gentleman like you.”
“Yeah, you’re all right, I guess.My mom thinks you’re handsomer than my dad, by the way.”
With that, Billy ran away.Jace laughed and asked Aurelie to wait up for a second.He followed Billy back to his booth, where a thoroughly red-faced young woman who couldn’t have been over thirty-five listened in as her son recounted his fight for Aurelie’s honor, including the way her son had thrown her under the bus with his last statement.Jace cleared his throat, and the mom looked up, giggled nervously.
“Sorry about him.He said some stranger was with Ms.Aurelie when we came in.Aurelie is the nurse that delivered his sister.”Ah, that made a helluva lot more sense.“I didn’t know the stranger he meant wasyou.”She looked down at her half-eaten hamburger, her fingers tapping on the table like an SOS.
