Page 10 of The Comeback Road
“You have no idea, Starlight, no idea. Best night I’ve ever had.”
“Starlight?” I questioned
“Yeah, when I first met you, your hair was so bright. But it fails in comparison toyou. You’re like starlight.”
When he said things like that, I debated if waiting was worth all the sexual frustration and hassle. I also found myself fighting back tears.No one has ever said something like that to me. Ever.
“Jace…”
He pressed his lips softly to my forehead, then my right eye, my nose, my left eye, and finished with the softest kiss on my lips. I found myself whimpering at the sweetness of the moment.
“Let’s get you inside before I change my mind, yeah?”
He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, and as much as I didn’t want the evening to end, I knew it was time for me to go. In some maneuver I wasn’t sure how he pulled off, Jace opened the driver’s side door and scooted out while simultaneously holding me up, and then helped me out of the truck without breaking a sweat or a leg. I was impressed.
He walked me to the door. “When can I see you again?”
I couldn’t help the happiness that was threatening to burst out of me at his question. “I think in about seven hours at work,boss.”
“Are you free for dinner?” There wasn’t a hint of humor in Jace’s words, and his eyes were heavy with want.
“Yes.”
“It’s a date. Get inside, lock the door. I’m not leaving until I hear it lock.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Yes,boss.”
Chuckling at his growl, I opened the front door, closed it behind me, and locked it. Only then did I hear his footsteps leave the porch.
A cough sounded from behind me. I was pretty sure I let out a scream that would have woken the dead as I whirled around and came face to face with Magnolia as she turned on the hallway light, giving me a no-nonsense look.
“My god, Magnolia, are you trying to kill me? You are, aren’t you?” I held my hand to my chest as I willed my heart rate to go back down. I was briefly thankful she hadn’t snuck up any further behind me and caused me to punch her in the throat in self-defense.
“I’m obviously waiting for you.”
“I can see that, but why are you creeping around in the dark like a serial killer?”
“Because Sloan fell asleep waiting for you, and I didn’t want to wake him up.”
With the light on and me no longer fearing I was at risk of a heart attack, I realized that I heard someone snoring, and I followed my ears to a passed-out Sloan on the sofa. I was a bit shocked he hadn’t woken up to my scream, andcompletelyamused he was on the sofa, snoring and drooling.
“Man, he’s pretty when he sleeps,” I teased Magnolia. She held her hand over her mouth to stop her giggle from turning into full-blown laughter. “He’s something.”
“Yeah, but he’s my something.” She got that dreamy look in her eyes, and I couldn’t help but soften at the look on her face. Magnolia was completely and utterlysmittenwith the man in front of me, and I couldn’t have been happier for her.
“Come to the kitchen. Let’s talk about your date before you go to bed.”
“It’s like 1:00 a.m., babes, I’d really just like—” Before I could finish my sentence, Magnolia interrupted me.
“You should have gotten home sooner, then.” She turned and made her way from me without giving me even a second to rebut.
“I have to work tomorrow.”
“Don’t care. Let’s go.”
I sighed, but also couldn’t help but feel giddy. Magnolia was my best friend, but it wasn’t like either of us had reallydateddated anyone before. I guess I didn’t want to jinx it by speaking about it too soon, but I found the giddiness overriding all rational thoughts. I was ready to spill my guts out, and she could tell.
“Sit, sit. Tell me everything.”
