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Ash smiled warmly at her and then reached down to squeeze her hand He leaned forward as if to kiss her other cheek in greeting and whispered so only she could hear
"It’ll be fine, Bethany Don’t be nervous"
With that siesture, Bethany relaxed and allowed herself to fully breathe for the first tienuine and she squeezed Ash’s hand back in thanks
Jace shot Ash a look of gratitude and the tension that perhaps she’d iin with dissipated Jace curled his ar
"Not es around here," an older woent and it was obvious that she regarded Ash and Jace with affection "You boys still act like you did as teenagers"
Jace smiled and pulled her into his arms "Hello, Mama H" He kissed her temple and then turned to Bethany "Bethany, I’d like you to meet Gabe’s mom Mrs H, this is Bethany Willis"
Enfolded in another war around the infectious charm of Jace’s family
"It’s wonderful to meet you, dear"
"Oh hey, here’s Mr H now," Jace said
Bethany looked beyond Mrs Hamilton to see an olderlady," he said in a gruff voice "Jace is very fortunate"
Bethany blushed and extended her hand Ignoring it, Mr Haed her Bethany had never been around such a spontaneous, huggy bunch of people It eird and yetnice
"So did you cook, Mia? Or did you cheat and have it catered?" Jace said in a teasing voice
Mia shot him a dirty look "Gabe’s mom and I cooked I’ll have you know it’s pretty awesome, if I have to say so myself"
"It smells wonderful," Bethany said quickly
Mia sood Pro uys, out of the kitchen You’re in the way Go in the living roouys do I need half an hour and then we can eat" She glanced at Bethany "Want to hang out with us in the kitchen? You can always go with Jace but we don’t bite"
Bethany found herself sirl’s open warmth "I’ll stay"
Jace embarrassed her when he leaned down to brush his lips across her mouth "I won’t be far," he murmured
She blushed because everyone had seen hirinned and exchanged conspiratorial glances with Mrs Hahted
Thethe women
"Okay, sit, Bethany," Mia ordered "You too, Mrs H This won’t take ravy Rest is all done"
"You sure you don’t need help?" Bethany asked hesitantly
Mia shook her head "Sit, sit We’ll have girl ti of, I’ve already told Jace this, but knowing hio out to the club with irlfriends You’d love theo out every once in a while, have a blast and then let Gabe get us ho a cab home alone once Let’s just say Gabe wasn’t very pleased with me"
Bethany’s eyes widened both by the invitation and the fact that Gabe had been angry with Mia
Mia laughed "He pitched a fit but he got over it To keep the peace, I let him have his way and noe take a car home Gabe’s happy so it works out"
"I don’t drink, but I’d love to go"
Mia’s expression became sympathetic and she reached over to squeeze Bethany’s hand "You and I can drink water I don’t tolerate alcohol very well I had the hangover last ti in Mia’s expression that bothered Bethany Almost as if Mia knewOf course Jace would have told her Bethany’s face arm as a flush crept up her neck Shaaze and folded her shoulders inward in an instinctive, protective gesture
"Bethany?"
Mia’s soft voice filled the silence
"I’ I said?" Mia asked
Bethany lifted her gaze,the concern in Mia’s eyes "It was your expression It said it all"
"Jace told you aboutso bold and putting it out there It wasn’t typical of her She avoided conflict at all costs She certainly never instigated one
It was then Bethany noticed that Mrs Hamilton had quietly left the kitchen Mia walked around the bar and climbed onto the stool next to Bethany
"Yes, he told me," Mia said in a calested you going to the club with us, he warned irls and I are e go out He didn’t want us to push you into anything But Bethany, you have to understand, what he told me doesn’tat all other than my brother has found a woman he cares deeply about and thatto like you no ainst the knot for in her throat "I hope I do ive hi to give ahe could possibly want or need? He seems to just wantJace is the same way"