Chapter 17
“I’m glad to hear you’re back behind the wheel, Rodney.” Jace walked slowly down the beach, his cell phone pressed to his ear. “I guess you didn’t let the surgeon’s knife keep you down for long.”
“No, especially not these days. They slice you open and want to throw you right back out into the world. It’s fine for me, though.
I could only lay around in a hospital bed for so long, and then I could only watch TV for so long.
I think my wife was about ready to kick me out of the house after listening to me grumble so much.
Serves me right for bursting my appendix.
” Rodney let out his signature hoarse laugh that Jace had come to know over the years.
“Well, you have to get back on a boat for your own good, then. You wouldn’t want to lose a girl like her,” Jace replied.
“No, sir. Got a beautiful woman who puts up with me, and that’s more than most men can say.”
That was what every man wanted, Jace figured, himself included.
He glanced back at his house. He’d been spending the past day putting all sorts of plans together, catching dreams and trying to weave them into a future that might work.
Some sacrifices would have to be made, but that was fine.
That was life. “Um, listen, Rodney. I hate to ask you about anything regarding myself when you’ve got so much going on, but I thought I’d check and see if you heard anything about that favor I asked. ”
“Oh, yeah! Yeah, I sure did. Sorry, I’m still getting my mind back to sorts after vegging out for a couple of weeks. Anyway, it’s all taken care of. You’re in.”
Relief settled over Jace’s shoulder, and excitement surged up from his stomach and into his chest. He’d been hoping for a quick answer, but he hadn’t actually anticipated that it would come so easily. “Really?”
“Sure thing.”
“Wow. Thank you, Rodney. I really appreciate it. You don’t know what a difference this makes for me.”
That whistling laugh came through the line again.
“I have an idea, considering what you told me earlier. But it was no problem at all. Besides, I owe you a favor after you took that job for me. I’m sure sorry it went down like that.
I know Hugo Bradford was a pompous rich guy like any of them, but I didn’t know he’d be that much of an ass. ”
“You knew, and that’s why you decided to have surgery instead of dealing with him,” Jace joked. He lifted a hand to wave at Rick, who was out for a jog on the beach.
“Sounds like surgery saved me a lot of hassle,” Rodney returned. “You shouldn’t have had to put up with that.”
“No, it’s okay. I still got plenty out of that trip.
” Jace wondered if fate would’ve found some other way for him and Erin to meet if he’d happened to turn Rodney down.
He hoped so, because he’d already been waiting for so long.
“I just hope you didn’t have too much crap to put up with.
I did tell Hugo that there were no refunds. ”
“Oh, I’m sure you did. You know how these fatcats are, though. They act like they have all the money in the world until they think someone else took it from them. My boss has it all sorted out, though. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Okay. Well, thanks again, Rodney.” Jace hung up right as he reached Dylan’s house.
“Hey,” Stacey said with a smile when she answered the door. “Dylan is in his study getting some paperwork done. You can go right in.”
“Thanks.” He made his way through the house, a place he’d known well ever since he was a child. He turned down the hall and found the door to the den standing open. Dylan was there behind his desk, frowning at his computer. “Is Solitaire still giving you that much hell?”
“I wish,” Dylan grunted. “There’s a lot I like about being Alpha, but the financial side of things is kind of a pain in the ass.”
“I’m sure,” Jace murmured. He took in the comfy room, which had served as the Alpha’s den for a long time now.
“I remember when Dad used to hole up in here for hours at a time. Back in those days, he was frowning over papers and account books. You know, back when paperwork still involved actual paper.”
Dylan raised a dark brow. “Feeling wistful?”
“I guess you could say that.” A lot was about to change. Jace knew it would all be good, but that didn’t mean it was easy. “I’ve just been thinking too much lately.”
“I know. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of making a formal appointment with me,” Dylan noted. He picked up a pencil and twirled it casually between his fingers. “You know I’m always here if you need something, so what’s up?”
“I’m just getting antsy as I’m trying to put all of this together,” Jace admitted. “I haven’t given myself a very spacious timeline.”
Dylan chuckled, a sparkle in his dark eye. “Not really much of a chance to do that, all things considered.”
“No, and I think everything is coming together. I just wanted to check in with you about the discussion we had earlier and see if that would work.”
His older brother shook his head. “There was never really any question, you know. It’s your house.”
“But it’s also in clan territory,” Jace reminded him. “I’m not going to make a decision like that without checking in, both with you and everyone else by proxy.”
“It’s fine with me, and it’s fine with everyone else,” Dylan assured him. “Just let us know what help you need when the time comes.”
“Thanks, man. I will.” Jace stood.
“One question.”
“Hm?”
Dylan tipped his head slightly. “What does she think about all of this?”
Jace rubbed the back of his neck. “She doesn’t know yet. It’s a surprise.”
“Just this part or all of it?”
“All of it,” Jace clarified.
“So, you’ve been running around like crazy, checking in with everyone and making arrangements, and you don’t even know if she’s going to go for it?” Dylan asked.
Jace shrugged. “What can I do? I need answers. I need a plan. If Erin isn’t wild about the idea, we can come up with something else. But I want to go to her with at least most of the loose strings tied up.”
“You’re a noble man, Jace. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Dylan stood and came around the desk. He put an arm around his brother and pounded his back. “I wish you all the luck in the world, but I don’t think you’ll need it.”
“Thanks.” As Jace said his goodbyes and left, he knew his brother was right. He’d already used up all his luck in meeting Erin. The rest was going to work out one way or another. He’d promised her it would, and he’d meant it.
The short walk back to his house was just enough time to make another phone call. “Hey, Ian. Have you had a little time to think?”
“I didn’t really need it, Dad,” Ian reminded him.
“Yeah, but big decisions always need time. Even if you’re excited about it, even if you think it’s perfect, it’s good to think about it,” Jace reminded him.
Ian laughed. “As if you’re taking so much time!”
“I’m older and more experienced,” Jace retorted with a smile.
“Okay, Dad. Whatever. I’m completely cool with it. In fact, I’m so happy that I feel a little bad about it. I really just want to make sure that you’re okay with it.”
“It was my idea, wasn’t it?” Jace had raised his boy right. Ian had plenty to be excited about, but he was still pausing to consider everyone else involved.
“Fair enough. I just want you to be sure.”
“I am,” Jace confirmed. There were plenty of times in his life when he hadn’t been sure, when he’d only been making his best guess.
This time, he knew it was right. Yes, he still wanted Erin to be happy, but it felt good.
It felt like the direction he was supposed to have been going his entire life, but he hadn’t known it until now. “I definitely am.”
“All right, then. I’m going to share the news with Bailey. I’ll talk to you later, Dad. Love you.”
“I love you too, son.” Jace hung up and blinked back the tears that threatened to emerge. Yes, he’d raised Ian right. Now, if all went the way he hoped, he’d have the chance to do that all over again.
Jace stepped through the back doorway of his house.
He paused to look at the kitchen and living room and paid attention to how the rail felt under his hand as he climbed the stairs.
The carpet on the second floor was soft under his feet.
When he reached the bedroom, he remembered how much he liked the way the light angled in the windows from the beach.
What he liked most about this room, however, was right in the middle of it, fussing with a suitcase.
“I think the zipper is stuck again,” Erin said with a frown.
“Can I take a look?” Jace fiddled with the zipper for a moment, freeing the bit of fabric it’d managed to get caught in. “There.”
“Thanks. Just when I had everything about ready to go, my luggage decided to fail on me once again.” Erin had folded her clothes and put them in neat stacks on the bed next to her toiletries.
Her vacation was over, and it was time for her to go home. It felt like so much time had passed since she’d first stepped onto the yacht, yet it’d only been a week. “Your failed luggage has some interesting memories for me,” he cracked.
“Oh, no.” Erin had a folded shirt in her hands, and now she put it over her face. “You know, I’d almost forgotten about that entire incident.”
“I won’t forget about it anytime soon.” He moved around the bed to be behind his mate and wrapped his arms around her. Jace nuzzled her neck. “From what I can tell, though, you haven’t had to use that vibrator since you’ve met me.”
Her laugh was muffled by the shirt. “No, I haven’t! But I’m still embarrassed as hell about it!”
“Speaking of things you like to pack when you take a long trip, we’re going to have to talk about this suitcase,” he mumbled into her neck.
“What?” She pulled the shirt away from her face and looked down at the socks and pants she’d already tucked in there. “What do you mean?”