Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Hey,” came a deep voice.
Jace was suddenly standing directly behind me as I shakily placed the teabag in a mug. I turned my head, my gaze flicking to my friends who were happily sipping wine and discussing their theories on who they believed Beethoven’s beloved was. I lifted my eyes to Jace’s, and goosebumps rose on my arms because he was closer than anticipated. His gaze tripped over my eyes, nose, and lips before he finally seemed to focus.
“Can we talk about what happened this morning?” he said, and I stared at him, drawing a complete blank. “With your neighbour?” he went on, and I let out a tired sigh.
“Oh, right. You really don’t need to worry about that.”
“But I do worry,” he insisted, towering over me as the kettle finished boiling. “If she’s hassling you or Zara—”
“She’s not,” I said, instinctively touching his arm, and his gaze lowered to where my fingers grazed his elbow. I immediately dropped my hand and cleared my throat. “I mean, Viola is annoying, but she’s harmless. She just likes to complain a lot. Honestly, I think it might be some weird sexual fetish at this point.”
Jace let out a surprised chuckle. “Oh?”
I smirked. “Maybe she likes to complain, then go back into her house and fuck her husband.” I joked quietly, and our gazes connected. My breath caught at the hot glimmer in his eyes and quickly took the opportunity to turn away. Lifting the kettle, I poured hot water into the mug, watching the steam rise.
“Seriously, though, Shannon. What’s the deal with her?” he persisted, and I tensed. Although I’d enjoyed the idea of Viola or her husband, Gary, confronting Jace directly and him giving them hell for it, I really needed to back away from anything that would make him ever more entangled in my day to day life. Having him bring Zara to school every day was difficult enough.
I gave the teabag a little jiggle with the string and told him, “Viola has taken issue with you parking outside in the mornings when you collect Zara. Apparently, your car is blocking the light to her window nook, which it definitely isn’t, and even if it were, there’s no avoiding cars parking outside our houses. There’s literally no other option. Plus, you park outside my house, not hers, so she can go and spin about it for all I care.”
The entire time I spoke, Jace watched me, his expression going from light and amused to vaguely perturbed.
He folded his arms, causing his top to stretch across his defined pecs while also making his biceps pop. I had to force myself not to stare. Seriously, this date with Rufus couldn’t come any sooner. I really needed it to go well because it had been way too long since I’d had sex. Drooling over Jace was a slippery slope that I should avoid at all costs.
“And she complains about this type of thing often?”
“Oh, yeah, there’s always something with Viola. I’ve learned to tune her out.”
“Does she ever say anything to Zara?” he went on, gaze darkening.
“No, she’s not that terrible, at least. She only bothers me. Seriously, Jace—”
“She won’t bother you again. I’ll see to it.” Something steely entered his expression.
I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I took the mug, about to hand it to him. But I was distracted from his proximity, and my hand shook, causing a few drops of hot water to burn my fingers.
“Crap, ouch!” I yelped, immediately putting the mug back down before Jace was on me.
“Let me see.” He led me over to the sink and turned on the cold tap. His thumb gently brushed over my reddened skin before he held my hand under the running water. At first, it felt practical, but then, as the icy cool water sluiced over our joined hands, something warm coiled pleasurably around me. My gaze flicked up, and I found him studying me with soft concern.
“Any better?” he asked, but my throat was too thick to reply. What was wrong with me? I’d just scalded my hand with hot tea, and now I was having lewd thoughts about my ex.
“Yes, much,” I said at last, and Jace turned off the tap before grabbing a clean dish cloth to dry my hand. He stood before me, tenderly dabbing away the wetness, his guitar-callused fingers brushing my palm several times. My breath caught when his thumb stroked the inside of my wrist, lungs constricting as his eyes focused in on me. I stared at his lip ring, entranced by the silver glint like some sparkle obsessed corvid.
“You two okay over there?” Margie asked, a knowing lilt to her words, and I immediately stepped away. I could feel Jace’s eyes on me for a prolonged beat, followed by a heavy exhale of breath before he turned and picked up his tea.