“Right, there was a suspicious looking guy hanging around a little while ago. I got distracted making sure he wasn’t up to anything—he wasn’t, just your run of the mill oddball. Anyhow, I completely forgot to tell you. One of the moms at the school, Laura something or other?”
“Delamare,” I said, not liking where this was heading.
“Right, well, she organised an impromptu football game in the park for some of the kids. Zara wanted to go so Jace took her.”
“Ah, okay, that explains it.”
“Those moms go a little crazy for our guy, right?” Dixon went on, his lips curving in amusement.
“They do?”
He nodded. “Almost trip over themselves to be the one who gets to talk with him during drop off and pick up. It’s kind of entertaining, like watching the human version of a nature show where females fight over the most desirable male.”
It was clear Dixon found it all harmlessly amusing, but personally, I wasn’t so entertained. I had no right to be jealous, but I was. Infuriatingly so. I mean, I got it. Jace was hotter than any of the other dads who dropped their kids off at school, but it bothered me to imagine them all vying for his attention, especially since most of them were married. And especially since he was supposed to be focused on winningmeback.
Ugh, I was ridiculous.
“I’ll bet,” I said, and Dixon gave me a little salute as I returned to the house.
About a half an hour later, I was in the kitchen working on dinner when Jace and Zara finally arrived back. Zara looked energised, her cheeks rosy and her uniform covered in mud after the football match. My annoyance over the mothers flirting with Jace vanished when I saw how happy she was. She’d obviously had a great time.
“Take off your muddy clothes. I’ll run you a bath,” I said, and Zara dashed up the stairs.
“I can do the bath,” Jace offered, and I finally looked his way.
“That’s okay. I imagine you’re tired.”
He shrugged. “Not really.”
“No? Dixon mentioned all the mothers at school who apparently like to flirt with you. Seems exhausting.”
I started to walk away, but his hand snatched my wrist, spinning me back around so our chests pressed together. His other hand splayed across my back, steady and warm.
“You sound jealous,” he murmured low.
“Ha! You wish,” I shot back, though my heartbeat betrayed me.
He didn’t smile, not really, just leaned in slightly, forehead almost touching mine, until all I saw was him. “I mean it, Shannon. The only one I want is you. No one else. Not them, not anyone. Not ever.Only. You.Always.”
A shiver trickled down my spine as his gaze held mine, intense and unflinching. Just then, our daughter’s shout from the stairs broke the tension, “I’m ready for my bath!”
Jace laughed, tilting his head to call back, “Just a sec, Zarzar.” He brought his attention back to me, softly caressing my cheek. “We clear?” he asked, and I wasn’t sure if my face could flush any harder. No words forthcoming, I bobbed my head before scurrying back into the kitchen to finish making dinner.
***
The next few days passed in the same routine. Jace, Dixon or Isla were with me most of the time, aside from the odd few hours where it wasn’t possible. Though that was normally when I was home with the alarm on and the doors locked. When I went out to shop for groceries or meet Margie and Ozzie for lunch, though, I had a tail. Margie spotted Dixon sitting on a benchoutside the café, pretending to scroll on his phone so as not to look too out of place.
“Who’s that?” she asked with intrigue. “Also, is he single, and can I go flirt with him pretty please?”
I laughed. “That’s Dixon. He’s part of Jace’s security team. He works for the band, but he’s watching over me at the minute.”
Both my friends wore equal expressions of curiosity so I filled them in on why I currently had a security detail. They were concerned when I told them about the car almost running me over.
I didn’t tell them about Jace sleeping on my couch, nor about his plan to win me back. Margie had been concerned the last time I’d talked to her about getting closer to Jace, and I’d already worried her enough for one day.
“So, we have Wine & Letters at Lotte’s this Friday,” Ozzie said. “Have you found something to read yet?”
“No, I haven’t had a chance, but I’ll work on it tonight.”
