If only Jace heard that, he’d probably laugh his head off.
“Yes, he’s our boyfriend,” Kayden said.
Kelly turned to pass Kayden his latte and narrowed her eyes at us. “The two of you are in a relationship with Jace? Together?”
“Yes,” I said, taking a sip of my martini to hide my face from her inevitable judgment.
Kelly laughed heartily and I felt my stomach sink. “Well, holy shit. Good for both of you.”
My surprise at her reaction must have shown.
“I’m sorry.” She covered her mouth. “I’m just impressed. That man is hot as fuck, and I spent years hoping he’d notice me the way he noticed you.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes.” She laughed and leaned on the bar. “That man had heart eyes for you. Boy, was I jealous. Not anymore though.” She smiled. “That’s why I gave my notice. My new girlfriend is moving to Chicago and I’m going with her.”
“Congratulations,” I said.
“Thank you! And congratulations to you too.” She tipped her head at Kayden. “Jace and this guy? You’re a lucky fucking lady, Liv.”
I squeezed Kayden’s hand and smiled at her. “Yeah, I really am.”
“I work day shifts. Early mornings and I’m out by two o’clock,” Kelly said as she turned toward the register where a new customer was approaching. “Call Adrian.”
Kayden turned to me as she took the customer’s order. “Would you be interested in working here?”
I pursed my lips and sipped my drink again. “I mean, it would be perfect. I only took the job with Jace to hold me over until I found the thing I wanted.”
“And is this the thing?” he asked.
I nodded. “Maybe. It feels like a whole new challenge, and I’d be doing what I really love.”
“We’ll figure out mornings, Olivia. Jace and I can do drop-off, and you can do pick-up. We’ll make it work if this is what you want.”
I sighed. “You mean, a job I like, time with my daughter, and the two of you to love me day and night? Feels like too much to hope for.”
Kayden stood and pulled me off the barstool. He kissed my head. “Not at all. That’s exactly what he and I have, and we want to give you the world too, beautiful. You’re not doing this alone anymore. Just think about it.”
I slid my unfinished drink and some cash across the bar and thanked Kelly as we made our way to the door. We needed to figure out what Jacewas going to do about Martin, and then I’d talk to Jace and Adrian. I took one last glance behind the bar at Kelly and felt a wave of certainty wash over me. I’d miss working with Jace, but I could already see myself spending my days here, before picking up Kaylee and going home to my men.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Jace
Sutton sat in oneof the seats in front of my desk and gestured for me to take the one next to her. I sat down and set my coffee on the edge of my desk, turning to face her.
“Are you okay, Jace?” she asked, looking far less like the pissed-off company owner she had every right to be and much more like the loving aunt I’d had in my life for more than fifteen years.
I swallowed. “It depends. If you’re asking about what Martin is trying to do, then no, not at all. If you’re asking about my relationship with Kayden and Olivia, then yes. I’m in love with them, Sutton.”
She took a deep breath and set her coffee down, leaning toward me. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Do you have any idea how much it hurt to hear about your relationship fromMartinof all people?”
“I’m so sorry. I should have told you, but we were trying to keep it quiet until we knew it was sustainable. That’s why I scheduled coffee for us today, to explain the situation.”
“I get it. I just wish he hadn’t found out so I could have heard it from you,” she said, putting a hand on my knee. “I also need to make sure you know I would have supported you no matter when you decided to tell me.”
“I do.” I sighed. “There are a lot of conflicts here you need to know about, Sutton.”
