Page 21 (1/2)

The ht they weren’t faults at all

Jace wrapped a towel around his waist and then reached down for her hand He held another towel in his other hand and when he pulled her to her feet and helped her step from the tub, he enveloped her in its wared the towel around her so she’d be war her into the bedroo in particular tonight?" he asked

There was a s out underwear and a change of clothes She saw he had jeans and a T-shirt Definitely casual She mentally went over the contents of her neardrobe She had a blingy pair of jeans and a gorgeous turtleneck with a cardigan and scarf that would be casual but still looked nice And boots She had a beautiful pair of fur-lined boots that would look awesoer foods," she said before thinking better of it Then she flushed Jace hardly looked the type ent for cheap finger foods He was uy Expensive steaks, expensive cuts of meat she couldn’t even pronounce and dishes with sauces she also couldn’t pronounce

But he went on like he didn’t notice her gaffe "There’s a place not too far froo It’s a pub that serves terrific appetizer-type foods The nachos are good They have burgers, wings, all the usual suspects"

Her o?"

He set dressed and I’ll take you"

Chapter eighteen

Jace sat in his office, cohts There was a pile of notes from Eleanor, the receptionist, of calls he had to return E-mails to respond to Financials to study He had a videoconference in forty-five minutes, but his concentration was shot

He hated that he’d put Bethany up in a separate apart to do He hadn’t wanted to overwhelm her He knew he had toher away Because he knew the minute she moved into his apartment, into his space, into his bed, it was all over

So here he was, having installed her into Mia’s old apart to spend any tiet his work done and fulfill his obligations But if having her own apartuise of having a choice, then he could deal Because he knew she had neither power nor choice She was his Belonged to hie because she had the appearance of independence

He was biding his ti to make his move And then she was completely and utterly his And he’d be damned if they spent any time apart

The last week had been a hell of sorts He was living out of an overnight bag, spending his nights in Mia’s old apartment because it here Bethany was He had a routine of sorts, where he left her in the s with Kaden and Trevor and then dismissed them when he arrived in the afternoons But at least she was safe and watched over Until he had her firmly ensconced in his own apartment, he wouldn’t rest easy

A soft knock sounded at his door and he looked up to see his sister standing hesitantly in the doorway, her gaze wary She was likely studying his ht, she had reason to after Jace bit her head off the last two tiirl," he said, allowing the affection he felt for her to shine through

She relaxed, relief crossing her pretty features, and walked into his office

"Thank God you’re in a better mood," she said

He chuckled but then quickly sobered as he rose and went around his desk to pull her into a crushing hug

"Ash told me what a dick I was to you Sorry, sweetheart It probably doesn’tin to see me Ash swears it happened and he also swears I was a coeyou I deserved it"

Mia’s brow crinkled with concern as Jace pulled away andall right, Jace? You haven’t been yourself And you haven’t said anything about Christmas, which is why I came to see you Gabe and I want you and Ash to spend it with us Gabe’s parents are going to co to be us Like old tiiven Christhts had been occupied by Bethany He glanced down at his desk calendar and realized it was just a few short days away

His first Christ Who likely had never had a tree, presents, had never been surrounded by faood friends Instead, Christry A time to feel even more lonely than usual

Hell, he hadn’t put up a tree in his apartment Hadn’t made certain she had one for her apart Hadn’t taken her down to Rockefeller Center, as he had with Mia so many times in the past, to see the tree

He blew out his breath and lifted his gaze to his sister, who sat staring at hi her rich brown eyes Eyes that were a an

Mia’s eyebrows shot up and she leaned forward in her chair "Whoa, wait You met a woether with?"

Jace winced "For God’s sake, Mia I’ my sex life with you What the hell do you know about Ash, anyway?"

She rolled her eyes "Oh please It’s not exactly a secret that neither of you have gone solo in a long ti he wanted his baby sister to know about was his and Ash’s propensity for threesomes

"So this wohed "He’s not now"

Mia’s lips formed an O "So he was then Aard!"

"Well, it could be At least at first Look, Mia, she’s different"

Mia nodded knowingly, a wide s brother has finally fallen This is worth the price of admission"

Jace shook his head "Just listen, please?"

As if sensing the i air and her expression beca on, Jace? Is everything okay?"

Jace ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in his chair "As I said, she’s different, Mia Way different than you and me Gabe or Ash Bethany is--was--homeless"

Sy else, his younger sister had a heart as big as the world

"How did youyour engagement party Of course, I didn’t know all of that then Tostory short, Ash and I hooked up with her even though I kneanted her to myself from the very start"

"That’s pretty screwed up," Mia muttered

"Telland I spent teeks turning the city upside down looking for her The shelter calledfor a place to sleep, and she’d been roughed up by assholes her brother owes money to"

Mia’s expression was stricken "Oh no! Jace, is she okay?"