Chapter 37
37
T hroughout the evening, Jace danced with Margo often. He enjoyed dancing with her, and he had to admit, it was nice being off work even though he was literally at work. But it was nice being able to set aside his business head for a while and focus on his friends and his new relationship with Margo. As they danced, her phone rang. She chuckled.
Her phone was in her dress pocket. He stopped dancing as her phone continued to vibrate between them. "I'm not working tonight, so we can just let it go to voicemail."
"Are you sure?"
She smiled. "Yes, I'm sure."
He wrapped his arms around her once more and swayed to the music, but her phone continued to vibrate.
He chuckled. "Go ahead and take it. I'll just wait right here with you."
She took a deep breath as she pulled her phone from her pocket. "Margo Price."
As she listened, her expression changed. Her smile disappeared. Her brows furrowed, and he worried it was bad news. He waited near her, to be her support if she needed it.
“What kind of poison?”
Jace watched her face as the news filled her ear.
When she said, "Okay, well thank you for letting me know and yes, you have my permission."
She pocketed her phone and looked up into his eyes. He whispered, "Are you alright?"
"Miami police have arrested Sierra Stigler for murder."
"Are you kidding me?"
"No, I'm not kidding you. They have arrested her for the murder of two men in Miami. And, he said they've searched her home and believe she poisoned Logan. They are hoping the lab can get enough evidence from his remains to prove that. She used an older poison called Thallium. It’s tasteless and odorless and takes a while to build up in the system. By the time Logan went to the doctor, he was suffering organ failure."
He bent his knees and looked into her eyes. "How are you feeling? Are you alright?"
She nodded slowly and shrugged her shoulders. "It doesn't change anything in my situation, Jace. Logan had an affair with her for years. He betrayed me. He lied to me. He cheated on me. It doesn't change anything as far as that part of my life goes."
He pulled her in his arms and hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Margo. You don't deserve anything like that."
She squeezed him tightly and he could feel how fast her heart was beating. She looked up at him. "You know, even if Logan was poisoned, he's still dead. So it doesn't change anything."
"Right, of course not." He hugged her again. His hands smoothed over her back. "I'm very sorry that you still have to go through these surprises."
She looked up at him. "If you're sorry for anything, be sorry that Logan was a dumbass."
He chuckled. "Well, he was a dumbass, but I won't be sorry for that because that brought you to me. I'm not sorry for that at all."
Her eyes glistened, and he saw her swallow a few times. "I'm not sorry about that either. Should we go sit down somewhere and just have a drink?"
"Sure."
He led her to a table, and they sat down. Sid and Grace joined them soon after. Margo explained about the phone call, and both Sid and Grace looked like deer caught in the headlights.
Grace finally said, "Holy crap! What a weird, weird situation."
Margo nodded. "I know. Never dreamed I'd be going through anything like this."
"Well, that's a fact." Grace sighed. "Oh, my goodness." She reached across the table and squeezed Margo's hand. "Do you need anything?"
Margo's smile was soft. She looked around the table. She reached over and took his hand in hers. She continued to hold Grace's, and she said, "Actually, I have everything I need right here. I have great friends. My sisters are close by or here with me, and I have this man right here."
His heart grew so fast he thought it was gonna burst out of his chest. He leaned over and kissed her softly.
"Always," he whispered.
They enjoyed their drinks. Hanna and Quinn also joined them for a little while, but they had guests to speak to. Carley joined their table a little later. She smiled brightly at the group. "I just got my first listing on my own."
Margo grinned at her sister. "That's wonderful, Carley, but until the contract is signed, you don't have a listing."
Carley nodded. "I know. But I have an appointment for tomorrow morning."
Margo hugged her sister. "Congratulations."
"And..." Carley continued. "I have applied to school to get my license."
Margo stared at her a moment. "You really like the real estate business?"
Carley's smile said it all. "I love it."
Jace raised his glass for a toast. "Here's to Carley and her new career."
J ace woke with Margo's naked body snuggled next to him. He stared at the coffered ceiling for a few moments, wondering at all that had taken place in just a few short weeks. They'd partied with Quinn, Hanna, and their company until nearly two this morning. He had new staff starting soon. His expansion was in the works. Bulldozing would start Monday on the old thrift store. The architect was drawing up the building plans and within three or four months, his expansion would be complete.
But the best part of his new life was sleeping next to him. He felt calmer with Margo. More grounded. He just knew things would work out with the town council, and he credited her with that. He loved her sense of humor, and how she dealt with tragedy. She was grace and beauty personified. Witnessing her dealing with such turmoil in her life made him want to be better.
She sighed and stretched. He rolled onto her, his elbows holding him up. He grinned as he stared at her sleepy eyes.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
She mumbled, "Yes. Did you?"
"I did." He kissed her lips, her cheeks, then her jawline to her ears, down her neck, and then back up. "Do you want to play hooky today?"
She smiled. "What kind of hooky?"
"I thought we'd go boating."
"Boating? It sounds wonderful, but I didn't know you had a boat."
He chuckled. "I don't, but I have friends who do. I actually have a friend with a sailboat, and he said he'll captain for us today while we relax and enjoy the weather. Good food, great company, warm weather, quiet seas. How about that?"
"That sounds fantastic." Her hands cupped his face, and she kissed his lips a few times.
"I'll need to let Carley know and see if she is comfortable managing things today. There isn't much to do except the closing from Logan's buyer. But all she has to do for that is show up at the closing and take the check for our fee."
"Okay. I need to contact Mason and let him know I won't be around. See if he'll keep the place going in my absence."
She chuckled. "A day off for business owners isn't really a day off, is it?"
"Not in the true sense of things. And tonight, I'll need to be back because we have music, and we'll need the manpower."
"Is there anything I can do there?"
He pulled back and stared at her. "You mean work?"
"Yeah. I can help you."
"Like what? What would you want to do?"
She shrugged. "I can hostess. I used to do it back in the day."
His brows shot up. "I don't want to make you work on your time off."
"Well, what would I do? Sit here and wait for you? Carley is leaving this afternoon to pack up some of her things at the house. So, I'll be sitting home alone, or here."
"You could pack up your things and move them here."
She laughed. "I could do that, but not at night. Let me work with you."
He kissed her again. His heart was swelling. "Okay. Then, tomorrow, you and I will go and move some of your things here."
"Okay. I thought I'd let Carley live in the house, and if she wants to buy it when her house sells, I'll make her a great deal."
"I love the way that sounds."
He kissed her again. This time, it was sensual. Her lips were soft and pliable as his lips molded to them. He licked her lips, and she opened hers to let him in. Their tongues danced and swirled together. His cock thickened and hardened, and she wiggled her hips and spread her legs. Damn, she was sexy. Her hands roamed his body, sliding sensually down his back and squeezed his ass. She pulled him to her, and he wasn't going to let the moment pass.
Lifting his hips, his cock found her entrance, and he slowly slid inside of her. He'd never tire of that feeling. Her warmth wrapped around him snuggly, her wetness spoke of her desire and when he moved in and out, her body matched his rhythm, move for move. Much like they moved together on the dance floor, they moved together perfectly when they made love.
He looked into her eyes, his new favorite color of blue. She stared into his eyes, and he could see her love. It was real and sincere, and he'd never felt this level of love and passion in his entire existence. Man, he'd been missing out on this for years.
His hips continued to pull out and push in. Her hips continued their dance. Together, it was bliss. The look on her face was exquisite. That moment when the pain mixed with pleasure as her orgasm built and the urgency to reach the pinnacle was stunning. Her fingers tightened on his ass, and when she tumbled over the edge of ecstasy, she called out his name. That was the best.
He stared at her a moment, then increased his pace as his orgasm tightened his balls and thickened his cock. The moment he came he stiffened and jerked, each feeling intensified as he emptied himself into her.
This must be what heaven felt like.