Page 43 of Forever Fickle

Less than an hour later, they were walking out to the car together, laughing, and she easily slipped her arm around his without even thinking about it – and Jace didn’t skip a beat.

They crossed the parking lot and got to the car, walking her to the driver’s side before hesitating.

“Thank you for this,” he smiled, looking down at her. “This was the best way to start the morning… great food and incredible company.”

“This was wonderful, wasn’t it?” and Karen hesitated.

“What?”

“Can you indulge me for a second?” she began nervously, feeling so relaxed from the carbohydrate coma and warm coffee, combined with the joy she just felt in her soul… that an idea hit her.

“Of course,” he grinned. “Indulge away… what do you need from me?”

“Just stand there for two seconds, okay?” she hesitated. “And no comments, alright?”

“Yes ma’am. I’m staying put right now.”

Karen leaned up and kissed him softly on the cheek.

She felt him tense against her and hated the way she paused to breathe in his scent, but couldn’t help herself. She was so inexplicably happy, content, and just thrilled right now that they were going to keep plodding along with whatever this was beginning between them… that she wanted to say, ‘thank you’.

“What was that for…” Jace breathed softly, stunned, as she pulled away from him, looking into those caramel-colored eyes and seeing the warmth in them.

“Because I felt like saying ‘thank you’ and that I appreciate how different this is for both of us – and the fact that we are both willing to try this no matter how unfamiliar a territory it is…” she whispered. “I’m not very good with relationships either.”

“I guess this means we might be serious,” he asked quietly, watching her.

“We might be,” she replied. “We are certainly talking like we are dating now – aren’t we?”

“I’m glad.”

“Me too,” she admitted, reaching up to lay a hand on his shoulder. “But we are going to need to get going.”

“I was trying to get in the car when you started kissing all over me,” Jace replied playfully, grinning widely, and winking at her as her mouth dropped open in mortification – only to realize he was teasing her.

It was barely one peck on the cheek – and it spoke volumes between them. Not just the fact that she’d reached out to him, but because he didn’t press her for more or try anything funny when she was within reach.

He could have kissed her – and if he was the playboy that they all assumed he was, he could have certainly touched more than just her hand… except he was a perfect gentleman to her.

As they got in the car, she started it up and turned to smile at him – just as he laced his fingers with hers.

* * *

Karen had this dreamy,silly smile on her face all day long and kept blushing every time Jace made eye contact with her. The other pilots must have suspected something was up, because each time Jace started to sit down in the office… one of them walked in for no reason at all.

Once, Alpo asked for staples… and then tape.

Firefly needed paperclips.

Armadillo asked where the toilet paper was stored – and then Alpo was back again asking if they had Windex to wipe down the desks in the classroom.

“I’ll get it for you,” Karen offered, getting to her feet when Jace stepped in and sighed.

“The desks are clean – or I can clean them. Guys? Do you need any other office supplies, toiletries, or anything else while I am sitting here with Karen for the next five minutes - alone?” Jace said bluntly.

A grumbling chorus of ‘no’s echoed in the hallway – as Jace closed the office door.

“You meant it when you said protective, didn’t you?” he smiled.

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