Page 97 of Already Callin’ You Mine

“Jace—”

“Me first,” he cuts me off. Making sure the front door is shut, he closes the gap between us. “I’m sorry.”

Errrr…come again?

I don’t think I heard him correctly. Did he…no. He didn’t just apologize. I’m hearing things. Making this all up in my head. The audio hallucinations have returned. This time without the orgasm.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t listen when you told me what you needed,” he continues without prompting.

There’s those two words again. So I’m not hallucinating. Sweet mercy…

But wait…when did I tell him what I needed that he didn’t listen?

“I’m sorry I tried to solve a problem that you didn’t have. I’m sorry I didn’t ask how I could help.”

I am so confused. I couldn’t have any less of an idea of what he’s talking about if you paid me. Although, I could use the money, so I’d at least try to fake it.

Jace must register my confusion, because he pauses, a single chuckle escaping as he shakes his head. Two more steps and he all but erases any space left between us, lightly placing his hands on my hips.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel like I was adding things to your plate, rather than taking them off.”

Five. Jace has said sorry five times since walking through that door. All of which have been heartfelt.

Five heartfelt apologies that I don’t know how to react to.

Other than melt.

There’s no time for melting though.

“Jace, you have nothing to be sorry for. But I meant what I said—I’m not what you want. My life is messy. It’s not wild and free, or fun, or anything like that. It’s chores, and responsibilities, and a child who still doesn’t grasp that stranger danger means not just whipping open the front door, and⁠—”

Yanking me into him, Jace cuts me off with a kiss. A hot, wet, punishing kiss that is still somehow gentle and reassuring. One that I feel all the way to my tippy toes, as if lightning were shooting out of each one. It steals my thoughts—and my breath—making everything else fade away.

“I know.” His whisper is quiet, gruff, and echoes down into me. Resting his forehead against mine, he tightens his grip on my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh. “But I also meant it when I said I got you. Because Pres, I got you. And Otis too.”

I got you…and Otis too…

Well, fuck me. Oh, wait, he’s done that. Rather well too.

I should tell him to go. I should start rebuilding the wall that he’s managing to tear down brick by brick. But something inside me is screaming that I should trust him. A little voice way down in the bottom of my gut.

“I got you something.” Jace steps back, just enough for cool air to whoosh in between us, making me shiver.

Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out a book. He looks at it for a split second, a smile tugging at his lips, before he hands it to me. Against A Wall, by Cate C. Wells. I’ve never heard of it. Then again, I haven’t had a ton of time for reading recently, so I’m sure there are lots of books in this world I’ve never heard of.

“It’s one of my favorites.” Jace clears his throat. “They hated each other in high school because he was a jackass and well…you have to read it to see what happens.”

Tears prick the corner of my eyes and my heart squeezes. On top of apologizing, he’s handing me a piece of himself via one of his favorite books. Holy shit.

Maybe he really is in this.

“I went through and made some notes in the margins at all the good parts.” He laughs, running his hand through his hair. “And no, I don’t just mean the sexy bits. Although, those got notes too. But it’s not just them.”

“Thank you. This means a lot. I’ll try to make some time to read it.”

Jace whips his head up to look me in the eye, his face suddenly as stone-cold serious as I’ve ever seen it.

“Well, that’s where you’re wrong, Mama. You don’t need to try. Because you have all day today to get it done.”