Page 93 of Forever Fickle

“Do you really love her?”

“With everything I am,” he admitted, glancing back at her door. “She’s the best person I’ve ever met.”

“Set an alarm for five-forty-five,” Jana said quietly, looking at him and smiling. “Dad gets up at six and you need to be back in your room before he walks out. Trust me, I’ve been caught sneaking back in before and know their routine now.”

“You have?”

“Not everyone is as sweet and innocent as you, Jace,” Jana said loftily. “I was a little surprised to see you slumming… that’s all.”

“It’s not slumming if I’m only holding her.”

“True… but I also know how tempting it can be to have a little fun.”

Jace’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“What?” she said innocently. “Now, get dressed so I can have a decent conversation with you. You look like a dork dressed like that. I can’t believe Karen thinks you’re amazing.”

“We are going to finish this conversation,” Jace said bluntly.

“No, we aren’t,” Jana smiled. “Conversation is done, over, and already forgotten. Am I clear, my beloved brother? Now, I’m getting in the shower before everyone else uses up the hot water.”

As Jana walked off, Jace stared at his sister in shock.

She snuck out? She had to learn their parents’ routines because she snuck out that much? His sister wasn’t as ‘sweet and innocent’ as what she dubbed him?

Jace was quickly realizing he barely knew the young woman before him anymore… and it was alarming that they could be so very different or that she’d changed so much in the several years that he’d been in the Air Force.

Maybe having her meet or talk to one of his pilot friends could be a good thing, because he would hate for her to get in with the wrong crowd…

Shaking his head, Jace quickly disappeared into his room, lost in thought.

CHAPTER26

KAREN

She awokethat morning to hearing her alarm on her phone going off and realized that Jace had managed to sneak out of her room without her knowing. She slept so good cuddled at his side, feeling him hold her against him all night. Hitting the button on her phone, she got up and stretched, feeling amazing.

Hearing people moving around in the background, she wasn’t sure what the ‘protocol’ was here, if she was supposed to come out in her robe or if everyone got dressed, before entering the kitchen.

Taking a chance, she quickly hopped in the shower and dressed comfortably for the moment. She had something nicer to change into when people started to arrive for the Thanksgiving celebration later today.

Karen didn’t bother with makeup and blow-dried her hair with a round brush, giving it just a bit of volume, before putting on a long-sleeved thermal shirt and some jeans.

Taking a deep breath, she smelled something delicious in the distance and hoped Jace had made the coffee… not someone else. She had really taken a shine to having the deep, dark, strong brew in the mornings that was almost pungent until she added a bit of sugar and heavy cream to it. Slipping on some fuzzy socks to keep her feet warm, she slowly made her way down the hallway, feeling a little self-conscious… only to see Jace.

He was standing there in an Air Force T-shirt and jeans, holding a cup of coffee before him, and talking with his parents. Everyone was dressed casually… and she was relieved.

Part of her worried that she was expected to be in her robe, which was part of the reason she’d packed it.

That… and Jace.

He turned, looking over his shoulder in that moment, his eyes full of love and smoldering as he looked her up and down.

“Good morning,” she said easily. “Did you make the coffee?”

That slow, steady smile spoke volumes, making her realize that he was thinking back to their mornings at Flyboys together too.

“You know I did,” he replied, almost suggestively, causing her to blush as she looked away. “C’mon and I’ll make you a cup.”

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