Kayden’s cheeks pinked just a little bit. It was adorable. “I was thinking I’d be least anxious feeding her soup for my first attempt at this. Something that I’m certain will go down safely.”
I laughed and Kaylee looked at him with zero judgment. “I like chicken noodle soup. I know how to chew noodles.”
Kayden tightened his arm around her. “Sold, kid.” He looked up at us. “We’re ordering soup. Go out and have fun.”
Jace turned to face me as Kayden and Kaylee started looking at the book together.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked, taking my hand in his.
“Somewhere quiet where we can be alone.”
He looked at me earnestly. “Liv, I need to be clear about one thing. Is this a date?”
I chuckled. “It kind of feels like a first date. Doesn’t it?
“Sweetheart, I’ve thought about our first date for years. If this is it, I need you to trust me and give me ten minutes.”
I laughed. “Do your thing.”
Jace ran down to the bedroom and I circled the MAGNA-TILE castle while he was gone, beyond impressed. I snapped a picture of it and then I turned my camera on Kayden and Kaylee and snapped a quick oneof them snuggled together. I looked at it on my phone screen for a few seconds before texting it to Kayden.
I was still looking at it when I felt Jace come up behind me. “Kind of melts your heart into a puddle, huh?” he said, looking over my shoulder.
“Yeah, the same way it melted the first time she crawled into your lap with a book.” I turned around to face him and looked him up and down.What the hell?
“Jace, did you just changeoutof jeans andintosweatpants for our first date?”
He grinned, looking extremely confident for a man taking me out in a pair of sweatpants and a white T-shirt that allowed me to take in all the tattoos on his chest. The glitter was gone, though his beard still sparkled in a few places.I mean, he does look hot as sin.
“You said you’d trust me,” he chided playfully.
Kayden eyed him skeptically. “I’m not sure you’re headed in the right direction with this, babe.”
Jace took my hand. “Olivia, I know how to plan the perfect first date with you. Let’s go.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Fine,” I said.
We said goodbye to Kaylee and Kayden and once we were in Jace’s car it didn’t take long for me to realize he was driving in the direction of my apartment. “Where exactly are we going?” I asked when we were only a block away.
“We’re going to your place. I ordered a pizza and a bottle of wine, both of which should be delivered soon.” He pulled up to the curb outside my apartment building. “We’re going upstairs, you’re going to change into your favorite yoga pants and a comfortable shirt, not something fancy like you’re trying to impress me on a dinner date. I’m already in love with you, so there’s no need for any of that showmanship.”
I laughed. “Okay, and then what?”
“We’re going to cuddle on the couch, talk about anything you want, and then watch a rom-com while we drink wine and eat pizza. For once, we’re going to be doing this the way we really wanted to all along. If you’re interested in sex on the first date, you don’t even have to put a bra on.”
I smacked his shoulder and grinned at his flirty smile. “You really do know me.” I swooned. This man who I’d known for four years and who I thought I couldn’t fall anymore in love with, literally just made me fall face first in love with him again.
Jace cupped my cheek. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to show you that.”
I leaned into his hand, nuzzling into him. “Don’t be sorry. We’re here now. Maybe this is how it was always supposed to be for us.”
His eyes lingered on my lips before he slowly let go of my face. “Let’s go upstairs before I ruin our first kiss with my lack of restraint.”
We went up to my apartment and I heard Jace talking to the delivery guy as I changed into a pair of fancy panties, yoga leggings, and a loose, white crop-top with no bra. I wanted Jace on top of me, finally making my fantasies a reality, and I was not above throwing temptation in his face to make sure some gentlemanly gesture on his part didn’t ruin my chance of getting laid this afternoon.He asked for it, after all.
When I stepped out into the living room I saw Jace sitting on my couch like he’d done so many other nights while Kaylee was asleep in the room next to us. Still, my heart leaped into my throat at the sight of him. He was so effortlessly gorgeous and laidback, the artistic side of him pouring out of his soul like his only purpose in life was to create beauty.
Having seen him at the office for the last few weeks, it was obvious he took his job seriously, and it was also clear that it was the artist inhim that made him successful. He was the visionary, the one imaging the concepts and the spaces he commissioned. People did what he asked because he was inspiring and collaborative. He let people achieve his vision in their own way and he gave them space when they needed it. Just like he’d done with me.
