Page 16 (1/2)

Jace reached over for her hand and squeezed "Everything okay?"

She nodded "I’ve never done that before I mean obviously, but not even on a s--if you can call it that--has been at thrift shops and Goodwill stores"

He scowled "Those days are over, Bethany I want you to forget theot over hisShe wasn’t even sure what to call his see attraction to her Whatever it ouldn’t last forever and going back to her life would be even harder afterward Before it had been all she knew but now? Jace was giving her a taste of how different things could be

They pulled up in front of a sleek, ot out, extending his hand to help her fros were brought up, he directed Bethany toward the entrance

Once inside, he introduced her to the doorman Evidently Jace had already notified hi in the apart a new situation

Then Jace gave her a tour of the facilities and the a advantage of any of the an actual apartment was a luxury she couldn’t even wrap her mind around To have all of the extra perks blew her ot on the elevator and rode up to the apartment Her nerves were shot She was frazzled by all the shopping and she desperately wanted a quiet place to decompress

Jace unlocked the door and then held it open for her "Let’s go see your apartment, baby"

Her apartiven an entire apartment It was insane Jace was insane But then she’d already covered that ground

When she walked in, her breath caught and she stopped dead in the middle of the floor And she stared Tears welled and a sob crept out of her throat

Jace wrapped an ared out the word in an aching voice that made her heart turn over in a fluttery cartwheel

"It’s beautiful, Jace," she whispered

"Yeah?"

"It’s perfect"

He smiled and kissed her on the nose "And you haven’t seen it all yet"

"I’ve seen enough to know it’s perfect"

And it was The living rooe room with an open concept she loved But the color scheme hat made it absolutely perfect Done in earth tones, the room--the entire apartment--had a ho she’d ever wanted in a place to live

And the kitchen was state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances A chef’s stove And it looked to be fully stocked with cookware and cutlery Her hands itched to get into that kitchen and cook

"Cos should be up"

They did a brief tour of the bedroorowing pile of bags being deposited inside the door A h the door followed by a slightly shorter and stockier azine Beefed-up arms They just looked like badasses

The man in the lead had shades that he flipped up and Bethany instinctively pushed in closer to Jace’s side, seeking his protection These uys who’d wanted money from Jack

"They won’t hurt you," Jace murmured

He slipped his arainst him Instantly she feltbetter More secure It didn’t matter that the men were twice Jace’s size Veritable mountains and they lookedquestionable at best She was next to Jace and he wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her

At Jace’s words, the front man pulled up short and frowned He held up his hand to halt the other guy and they both stood a short distance away, careful to maintain the space between them and where she stood

"Mr Crestwell," the frontand this is Trevor Dixon"

Jace extended his ar forward to shake each of their hands "Thank you both for co"

He turned and motioned Bethany forward Hesitantly, she stepped in Jace’s direction and eyed the tcomers with caution

Jace held out his hand for Bethany to take and she slipped her fingers into his He laced theain at his side

"This is your security team"

She couldn’t formulate a response Security team? Why on earth did she have a security team? She cast a bewildered look in Jace’s direction

"Why?"

The one word caether in a gesture of impatience Then he turned to Kaden and Trevor "Let’s sit in the living room We have a lot to talk about I want your absolute assurance that Bethany will be safe in your care when I can’t be with her"

Kaden nodded "Of course"

Jace put a hand to Bethany’s back and urged her toward the couch He sat down next to her, linking his fingers with hers They were so close that their thighs touched She leaned in closer as she cautiously eyed Kaden and Trevor They sat across from the couch in two chairs that looked far too small for their bulky frames

"You look like professional wrestlers," she blurted Then she felt like a coaze to stare at her and Jace’s linked hands