Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
KINSLEY
Holy crap. I have a date with Jace Collins.
I run shaky fingers through my curls for the tenth time in five minutes, trying to calm my rampant nerves. I look over my favorite floral sundress and beat up white Converse before grabbing my bag. I make my way out to the living room, checking that I have everything.
“Mummy, you look so pretty!” I squat down as Cooper runs over from the sofa. He plays with the ends of my hair. “Like a princess.”
I kiss the tip of his nose. “Thank you, my handsome boy.”
“Are you ready for tonight?” Rose asks and I stand, brushing Cooper’s hair off his forehead.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I smile and look down at my boy. “Are you sure you’re okay—” my words break into a laugh when he nods frantically.
Rose wraps her arms around his shoulders, placing a kiss on top of his head. “We’re going to have fun tonight, aren’t we my wee matchmaker? Now go get your bag.”
My eyebrows furrow as he takes off towards his room. “Why is he getting his bag?”
She waves me off. “You don’t have a curfew tonight, my dear. Cooper will stay with me so that someone else can stay with you.”
“Rose,” I gasp.
“What? I saw that scrap of lace you snuck into your purchase at the shops yesterday.” My cheeks flame and she cackles.
Cooper races back into the living room, his Miller Racing bag bouncing on his shoulders and a replica of Jace’s car in his hands.
“Be good. Listen to Granny and no more than three sweets, okay?”
“Yes, Mummy.”
I bend, kissing his cheek. “I love you.”
“Love you more! Tell Mr. Jace I said thank you.”
I laugh as they walk down the stairs. “Thank you for what?”
“For making you happy, of course.”
I’m struck by his words as they disappear around the corner, my words failing me as I realize what he said is true. Jace Collins makes me unbelievably happy.
And he makes me feel wanted. Something I haven’t experienced in a really long time. One I never really thought I’d get to again.
My phone pings and I rush over to it, smiling down at the screen. Locking up, I skip down the stairs as a giddy nervousness flutters through me.
I look up through the glass door as I round the corner and stumble a step. His lips part as I slowly walk over to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open.
“Jace,” I whisper.
“Kinsley.”
And just like that, my nerves about tonight fizzle out completely, replaced with a wildfire of excitement and hope.
He holds up a bouquet of daisies and I pinch my lips closed to hold back my school girl squeal. “You remembered.”
“I haven’t forgotten anything about you, angel.”
I bite my lip as I motion to the counter. He follows me into the shop, leaning against the shelf as I put the flowers in a vase and set them on top of the pastry case.
When I turn to face him, he’s already watching me and a shot of confidence drives me as I unabashedly take in his brown leather jacket, white shirt, and dark washed jeans.
His cologne envelops me in its warmth as he shifts closer and I blush, ducking my head. Tucking his finger under my chin, he lifts my head back up. He opens his mouth, pausing as his eyes dance over my face.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispers.
My hands drift to his arms as I lean into his touch.
I feel him tense, as if he’s holding himself back and a part—bigger than I can comprehend right now—wants to yell at him to stop. To let go and take me under with him.
“Ready?” His soft question breaks through my thoughts and I hum.
Sparks ignite over my skin as he trails his hand over my shoulder and down my arm. The little—and big—girl in me squeals when he interlocks our fingers before leading me out into the cool evening air.
“Oh, pretty,” I coo when he opens the door of his blue sports car. I lean against the door, my face inches from his, and smile. “The color is very you.”
He laughs under his breath and smiles as I slide into the seat. My eyes never leave him as he rounds the hood and settles behind the wheel.
“Trying to impress me or something?”
“I’m always trying to impress you.” He smirks.
I laugh, placing my hand on his arm. “Well, you don’t really need to try . You do it effortlessly every day anyway.”
He watches me for a moment before sliding my hand into his. I suck in a breath when he lifts it to his lips and brushes his lips over my knuckles. I’m frozen in my seat even as he sets my hand back down, but a squeal bursts out of me as the engine roars to life and I giggle.
“Cooper is going to be so jealous.”
Jace chuckles, pulling away from the curb and I lean back in my seat, actively trying to keep myself from staring at how he handles the car.
On how his hand flexes on the wheel.
How his jeans hug his thighs just right so I can see the rippling muscle as he accelerates.
I’m definitely not mentally sewing my mouth shut so I don’t drool at how the passing streetlights dance across his chiseled jaw, flowing through his golden waves, accentuating his Adam’s apple as he?—
Dear lord, Rose and her ‘cute little’ romance books are a terrible influence.
“So, where are we going?” I ask, trying to get my head back from the dark side.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Can I get a hint?” He quirks a brow and I pout. “That’s a no.”
He chuckles. “How do you figure that?”
“Because I’ve seen you give that same look to the boys when they’re asking for something completely ridiculous.”
He barks out a laugh and I suck in a quiet breath when his hand slides over my thigh. He tenses, eyes flashing to mine and starts to retreat, but I whip my hand out to cover his.
My heart flutters when his fingers pulse under mine and I bite my lip.
Soft music plays over the speakers as we drive towards the city and I lean against the window when he parks the car. I glance over my shoulder at him and he smirks.
“Stay right there.”
Without another word, he hops out of the car and rounds the hood. Opening my door, electricity hums the air and up my arm the moment I slip my hand into his.
“This is so cool,” I say in awe, taking in the group of food vans and twinkling lights hanging over the open space.
“I was thinking we could order something from each spot?”
“Oh, yes. I like that plan. We could do a couple appetizers and mains. Of course some desserts, right? Then we can compile the best plan of attack so when we come back next time, we’ll know exactly what to get and from where.”
“I thought you don’t share your food?”
I wink. “I’ll make an exception for tonight.” He stops walking and I look up. “What?”
“Marry me.”
My heart stops at the glint of conviction in his voice, but then he smiles and I breathe out a laugh. Shaking my head, I pull him towards the first truck. “Come on, Romeo, let’s get through this date first.”
We end up ordering three different appetizers, two mains, and two desserts before finding a spot on the grassy area to sit.
Jace lays out a blanket before shedding his jacket and holding it up around my waist so I can get situated without fear of showing the entire park my underwear.
Ones that I definitely did not specifically buy for tonight.
Because this is only our first date… technically.
I smile at him as he drapes it over my lap. “Thank you.”
“Be right back.” He jogs off towards the lines of food vans and picks up each of our orders.
His arms are full as I help him set everything out between us. He sits down next to me, rubbing his hands together. “Okay. What’s first?”
“Oh, wait!” I dig through my bag and pull out my little notebook and pencil with pizza printed all over it. Turning to him, I nod. “Okay, now we can keep track.”
He chuckles, handing me the first container. I take a bite and my happy dance shimmers over my body at the burst of flavors. I glance over to see him watching me with a poorly contained smile.
I lift the fork up to his mouth and tilt my head. “What’s got you smiling like that?”
He chews, nodding towards me. “Cooper got that from you.”
I laugh. “He used to wait to eat so that I would take the first bite. He said he knew it wasn’t poisoned if I did my little dance.”
“Why was he worried about poison?”
“He was really into the whole kings and knights thing at the time.”
“So you were his food tester then?”
I pause with the next forkful in the air. “Huh. I guess so.”
I look down at what is possibly the most delicious looking bite of our next appetizer and raise it in offering to him. He glances at it before focusing back on me. “How will you know if it’s poisoned or not?”
“Guess you’ll just have to show me.”
He hums and my gaze drops as his lips wrap around the fork, sliding off before his tongue swipes. I blink, watching as he chews, his head tilted, eyes closed.
Looking back at me he smirks before leaning closer and shimmying his shoulders. A laugh bursts out of me when he plucks the fork out of my hand and holds up a bite for me.
“I need a dance partner for this one.”
I giggle through my nose as I slip the bite into my mouth, my eyes closing on a moan at the orgasmic balance of sweet and savory.
When I look at him, he raises his shoulders and I laugh. Slowly I move mine with his and we pick up speed until we’re both dancing around in our spots, no doubt drawing attention of those around us.
But we don’t care.
Because when we’re together, it’s just us.
And I like who we are, just the way we are. Goofy dances over amazing food and all.
“Okay. Okay. That was really good. This last one has some big taste buds to fill.”
He snorts at my cheesy—makes sense since this next bite better be cheesy—joke and hands me the next container. I make a show of selecting my bite before popping it into my mouth.
My head drops back and I fake swoon, rolling myself back up into a sitting position. Pointing to the dish with my fork, I mumble around my bite, “If you ever do anything right in your life, it’s eating this. Solid eleven out of five.”
“Oh yeah? That’s high praise.”
“It totally earned it.”
He chuckles, taking a bite of his own. “ Ohmygod .”
“Right?”
“That should be illegal.”
“But I’m so glad it isn’t.”
We polish off the rest of our appetizers and he wipes his hands before grabbing my notepad and pencil. “Okay. Which one was your favorite?”
“Let’s say it at the same time.”
He laughs under his breath. “Okay.”
“One…”
“Two…”
“Three.”
“That last one.”
“Illegal cheese.”
We say together and he bursts out laughing when he realizes what I said.
“It will forever be known as illegal cheese now, I hope you know that. We’ll just have to be careful to say the actual name when ordering it next time though. I don’t need to go down for accidentally ordering the wrong kind of high.”
“I honestly don’t even remember the real name of it.”
“Don’t worry, I got it.” He flashes his phone and I quirk a brow.
“Are you taking notes or something?” He blushes and my jaw drops. “Wait, are you really? Can I see?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Oh come on. Please?”
“That pout won’t work on me,” he says.
“It does when Beckham does it.”
“He’s a little kid, no one can say no to a cute little kid pout.”
“Is my pout not cute enough, then?” I ask.
“Your pout is adequately cute, don’t worry.”
“Great. Can I see the note now?”
I lean in patting my eyes and he sighs, holding out his phone and whispering, “I never could say no to you.” I cheer and dance around in my spot. “Code is zero two one four. Note app should already be open.”
I unlock his phone with a smile but it slowly drops as I read.
Daisies
Blue
Brownies over cake
Favorite fruit: watermelon
Loves suspense books but hates scary movies
Anything cheesy – cheesy crispers from Holloway’s food van*
“These are all of my favorite things,” I whisper as I continue to look over the seemingly never ending list.
“There’s some things you don’t like in there too,” he says sheepishly and I look up.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to make sure everything was perfect.”
Our stare doesn’t waver as people pass around us, the wind rustling through my hair. I’m frozen under his gaze, trying and failing to figure out how I got so lucky that this man cares enough to do this.
The cheers of a rowdy group breaks through our bubble and Jace clears his throat as I hand him back his phone.
“We should eat the rest of this before it gets too cold.”
We each pick up one of the entrées and dig in, switching halfway to sample the other.
“So, is Beckham with Syd tonight?” I ask.
“He’s with his mum, actually.”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Oh.”
He nods in understanding. “She just got back from some shoot she was doing and wanted a night with him before we left for the next couple weeks.”
I twist my lips before blurting out, “You two never married, right?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Never been married. To her or anyone else.”
“How did you two meet then?”
“She’s actually the granddaughter of one of the team’s investors.”
I nod. “Ah, forbidden fruit.”
“You could say that.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry. Nothing like talking about an ex on the first date.”
“No. It’s okay.”
We decide to save the desserts for later and clean up the rest of our trash. I lay down on the cozy blanket, rubbing my hand over my stomach.
He lays down next to me and I drop my arm to my side. The heat of his hand is so close that my skin prickles. Nibbling on my lip, I inch my hand closer to his.
As if sensing me, his pinky reaches out, brushing against mine before pulling my hand into his. I turn to look at him but freeze when something in the sky catches my eye.
I gasp. “A shooting star. Quick, make a wish.” I close my eyes and repeat my wish three times. When I look over at Jace, he’s already watching me. “What did you wish for?”
His eyes bounce between mine. “I’ll tell you when it happens.”
Kiss me.
As if reading my mind, he leans in and I tilt my head. His lips brush over mine softly before he pulls back, his eyes dancing between mine with hesitancy.
I smile and press my lips against his. When I pull back the weariness is gone and he breathes out a sigh of relief. Shifting onto his back, he pulls me into his side and we watch the stars twinkle in the sky.
I listen to the deep vibration of his voice as we talk and smile at the rumble of his laugh. Every so often he twists his head, brushing his lips against my hair as he holds me a little tighter.
We stay like that until the lights shut off and the small park clears. The drive back is filled with the brush of his fingers and soft smiles.
When he walks me to the door, I drag my feet a little.
I don’t want this to end.
I lean back against the side of the door.
“I don’t think I can say goodnight to you,” he whispers, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand where it lays on his chest. “You’ll have to do it for me.”
“I don’t think I can do that,” I say quietly, my fingers twisting in his shirt. “I don’t think I want to do that.”
All I feel is the racing of his heart under my palm.
All I see is the relief flooding his face.
And all I hear is his small curse before his lips are one mine.