Before I had the chance to move a muscle, Jace was out and came around my side to open the door for me. I stepped out, and then suddenly, I was being pressed back against the door, Jace’s hands in my hair.
“I know I said I wouldn’t do this, but I’m finding it really fucking hard not to touch you, Shannon.”
His words made me breathless as his fingers sank into my hair. The familiar feel of them had my breath quickening, desire stirring. Was all this because I’d given him a key? No, it was more than just the giving. The key represented a new step in our journey. A trust being built upon tentative foundations.
“Jace,” I breathed, then had to close my eyes when his chest met mine, his mouth hovering an inch above my ear. “Do you have any idea how maddening it is seeing you every morning, this beautiful angel, and having to keep my hands to myself?” His voice was a husky rumble.
“What about you,” I countered. “Making breakfast with no shirt on. It’s hardly fair.”
His smirk had me clenching my thighs in need. “You been struggling, baby?”
“You’re mean.”
His lips brushed the shell of my ear. “I can be nice.”
A whoosh of air left me just as someone asked, “Shannon?”
Margie stood a few feet away, staring at Jace and me, her eyebrows almost in her hairline. A tall man with blond hair stood next to her, probably a date going by how they were arm in arm. I moved away from Jace and tried to summon some composure.
“Margie, h-hi,” I mustered a bright smile and stepped towards her. “And who’s this?” I peered at the man by her side.
“This is Dominic. We work together. He mentioned being at a loose end tonight, so I invited him along. I’ve already let Lotte know we’ll have one extra.”
“Nice to meet you, Dominic,” I said, reaching out to shake his hand.
“You, t—"
“Hey, I’m Jace. Shannon’s husband,” Jace interjected before Dominic could even finish speaking. Now it was my turn for raised eyebrows. Husband? Margie glanced at me, wide-eyed, as I corrected, “Ex-husband, and he was just leaving.”
“I’m in no hurry,” Jace countered, and I turned to face him.
“Yes, you are. It’s your sister’s birthday, and you’re going to be late if you hang around here any longer.”
I met his gaze steadily, and he stared me down a moment, his focus flickering to Dominic and then back to me. He didn’t seem happy about leaving me with a man he didn’t know, but this was just Margie’s date, a bloke she worked with, no less. He was hardly a danger. Jace’s gaze returned to mine, his jaw flickering before he swallowed down his obvious annoyance and stepped back.
“You’re right. See you later, Shannon.” He glanced to the others. “Margie. Dominic.”
I watched as Jace climbed back into his car, but he didn’t make any move to drive away. Instead, he sat watching until we were safely inside the building. Only then did I hear him start his engine. My nerves were frayed from the encounter leading up to Margie and Dominic’s interruption. I could still feel Jace’s warmth, his hands in my hair. It was difficult to focus as I tried to make friendly chit chat while we rode the lift up to Lotte’s apartment. When we arrived, Margie quickly pulled me aside in the hallway, while Lotte led Dominic into her living room.
“Shannon, I can’t believe this,” she said, visibly uncomfortable.
“I know, Jace is being a little over the top lately, but it’s only because of the possible danger right now, and—”
“No, I mean, he introduced himself as yourhusband. I know you corrected him, but it’s made things a little awkward.”
I frowned at her. “What do you mean?”
She nodded in the direction Dominic had just gone. “I brought him here foryou. We’ve worked together for a year now, and he’s a really nice guy. Too young for me, but he’s perfect for you, Shannon. He saw a picture of us together on my desk at work and said he thought you were pretty, that he’d love to meet you. I really talked you up and everything, but now he must be wondering why I even brought him since you and Jace were practically shagging against his car.”
“We were not … wait, you brought Dominic here for me? Why would you do that?” I tried to keep my voice as low and even as possible so as not to be overheard.
“Didn’t I just say? He’s perfect for you, and since you’re currently dating, I thought it was a good time to introduce you.”
On the surface, I knew she was only trying to be helpful, but I was so angry with her right then. In fact, Margie had been overstepping her boundaries for a while when it came to my dating life, but this was a step too far. She hadn’t even warned me she was bringing Dominic, and though I might’ve been going on dates, it was still my decision whether I wanted to meet someone or not.
“Okay, you need to stop with all this. I’m sorry if this offends you, Margie, but I’m asking you to back off my private life. No more pushing me to go on dates, and certainly no more bringing strangers along to set me up with without even asking my permission first.” I knew next to nothing about this guy. For all I knew, he could be Jace’s catfish who’d wheedled his way into a job with my best friend and was now slyly hinting at her setting him up with me. Margie looked crestfallen and embarrassed, so I felt the need to tack on, “I know your heart is in the right place, but it’s making me uncomfortable.”
“No, no, I get it,” she sniffed. “I can get a little carried away sometimes when I want to help people. I forget that I’m being overzealous.”
