I was really looking forward to an evening with my friends to take my mind off everything. And with Jace now staying at my house, I wouldn’t need to find a babysitter for Zara. I was quickly becoming fond of having him around, not least because of the way he cooked me breakfast every morning, sometimes shirtless, which I was certain was one hundred percent intentional. Jace had said he wouldn’t use sex to fog my brain, but he’d found a loophole with the no shirt thing. I refused to let him know it was getting to me. I sat and ate whatever he made, which was always delicious, and didn’t let my gaze linger on his broad shoulders, sexy tattoos, cut biceps or flat abs for more than a millisecond at a time.
To add to this, the quiet nights we shared after Zara went to bed were becoming my favourite. Jace and I had an unspoken commitment to watch episodes ofRed Dwarfuntil we were both tired enough to go to sleep.
As the weekend drew closer, I thought that the date looked familiar before I realised it was Francesca’s birthday. She was turning twenty-one, and Matilda had mentioned that she was planning a small night out to celebrate. I needed to get her a gift.
“It’s your sister’s birthday this weekend, right?” I said to Jace during breakfast.
“Yep, the big 2-1 on Friday. She’ll be coming home from college, and Mam’s planned a special night, even roped in me, Kami, and the boys. You coming?”
“I don’t think I can. I have Wine & Letters at Lotte’s.” I felt bad because it was an important birthday, and I adored Jace’s little sister.
“Just come afterwards,” Jace said. “I’ll have Isla or Dixon drop by and collect you. Roan already agreed to watch Zara. We’re doing a board games café first, followed by a live karaoke thing. Roan hates both singing and strategy games, so he’s happy to sit this one out.”
“Ah, so I take it you two are good now? After what happened with your dad and all?”
“Yeah, we’re good. Talked it all out and cleared the air.”
“That’s nice to hear. Any updates on the catfish?”
“Nothing substantial yet.”
I slumped in my seat, feeling deflated. Even though I’d become fond of Jace being around, I was also eager for the catfish to be caught. Who knew what they were plotting to do next. Every time I left the house, I had this terrible feeling of being watched, like someone could pounce on me at any moment. Not to mention I was on edge whenever Zara was at school. What if they tried to approach her there? Security was tight, and they didn’t let anyone onto the grounds without confirming their identity as a parent or guardian first, but there was always a chance something could happen.
My stress kept building, like a ball of yarn that had started out small but was now a giant, fluffy monstrosity that had grown out of control. It was affecting my sleep, too. I’d barely gotten more than three or four hours a night all week because I kept waking up with a feeling of panic.
I was running on fumes, exhausted and wound up tight, in desperate need of some kind of release. When Jace got back from dropping Zara at Roan’s on Friday night, I almost asked him if the offer he’d made me all those weeks ago still stood. The one where he’d said he’d take care of me sexually. That I couldusehim. That had been before his other declaration, so he’d obviously changed his mind. Not that I could see myself ever doing something like that. I just wasn’t built that way. Maybe there were people out there who could remove emotion from sex, but I wasn’t one of them.
“You look nice,” I said, noting his dark shirt and black pants. Jace was the king of casual dressing, and he rarely wore anything fancy, but when he did, well, let’s just say he scrubbed up well.
He grinned, pleased. “And you look beautiful, as always.”
My cheeks heated. I wore a high necked black silk blouse and a black velvet skirt, my hair down in loose waves. “Thanks.” My gaze lingered on his lip ring, my mind conjuring a memory of how it felt sliding against my tongue … and other places. I really didn’t need to be having such thoughts when I felt this charged.
Jace just stood there, watching me with a hooded gaze. I felt like he was having sexy thoughts, too, and trying hard to suppress them. Goosebumps pimpled my skin as I cleared my throat.
“Well, I’d better get going.”
Jace stepped forward. “I’ll drive you.”
“That’s okay. You should head over to your parents’ house. I’m sure they’ll be leaving soon with Fran.”
He moved even closer, his hand coming to rest on the small of my back. “I know where they’re going. I’ll catch up.”
His voice washed over me like liquid silk, and I felt the heat of his hand burn through the fabric of my clothing. How was it possible to want someone this badly? Unable to form much more of a protest, I let him lead me out to his car.
“Here,” he said, handing me his phone. “Type your friend’s address in there.” I watched as he tapped in the pin, not even caring that I saw it and leaving me with complete access to his phone. I wondered if he’d done it naturally, or if he were trying to show me he had nothing to hide. That I could look through his phone if I wanted. I quietly programmed Lotte’s address in, and when I was done, I was tempted to look through his pictures. I knew it was a mistake as soon as I opened the folder and saw the adorable selfies he’d taken with Zara, alongside a couple candid shots of me I hadn’t even realised he’d taken. My chest swelled with butterflies as I set the phone in the holder near the dashboard. Jace drove the short journey to her apartment building and parked on the street outside.
“Oh, before I forget,” I said, rummaging through my handbag. “I got you this.”
I held out the key I’d had cut earlier in the week, and Jace took it, his fingers brushing mine and leaving tingles in their wake. “It’s for the house, so you can come and go more easily.”
Jace stared at the key, a shine in his eyes. He swallowed thickly, as though pushing down whatever emotion had seized him. “Thank you,” he said. “I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” My eyes flicked to his, finding them hot and focused on my mouth.
I was locked under his stare before at last he looked away, his voice gravelly when he said, “Isla will be here at about nine-thirty to bring you to the karaoke place.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you later, then.”
