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Forcing my eyes away from Jace, I rest my head back down on his chest, and continue, “I didn’t mean to become engaged to him, it just happened. One minute we were talking, and between coffee and dessert, I somehow ended up wearing his ring. He didn’t ask me and I never agreed. I was still numb with shock and went along with him because I needed him.” I sigh. “It was wrong of me to do that, to encourage him, but in all honesty, at the time, it never entered my head until it was too late. He was good to me Jace, I need you to know that. He made sure that I had everything I needed and he helped bring me out of the depression that I’d slipped into. The truth is, if I loved him I wouldn’t be here with you, I’d be with him.”
I kiss his chest. “I’m going to talk to him within the next couple of days and tell him that I can’t marry him. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure he wants to marry me anymore, either. It’s just a vibe I’ve been getting.”
Now that my words are spoken, I let them sit between us and wait to see if he has anything to add. Jace has my heart and every time we meet, the love that started to grow for him last year grows stronger. Those words will stay unsaid until I feel he’s ready to hear them, and accept them.
“I can’t hide what you make me feel, Savannah, but please, don’t make a decision based on me.”
What is he saying? I thought—
“Hey, I didn’t mean what you’re thinking. Look at me.”
I lift my face again and nuzzle into the palm of his hand.
“I want you. I’ve told you before, and I’ll keep telling you until you don’t doubt my words. Do you hear me?” He smiles.
I nod slowly and close my eyes to savor his warmth and scent. This is all that I will allow myself until I talk to Richard.
“Good girl.” He kisses me on the forehead. “What I meant was, that I want you to think long and hard before you make a decision that will change your life. I don’t want to be the one responsible if, two months down the line, you decide that you really did love him.”
“Jace,” I whisper, close to tears, “I don’t love Richard, and I never have. I feel affection for him for everything that he’s done for me in the past. Really, I think of him as a friend now…and sometimes not even that. I promise you that my feelings for you are a lot stronger than those for him.”
He smiles and, leaning forward, kisses each of my eyelids, followed by my nose. He pauses at my lips and meets my gaze.
“I want to kiss you so badly…but, until you’re free, I can’t do that.”
“I know.” I sit up, and miss his strength that was surrounding me.
After finishing my lukewarm latte, I change the subject, “Would you be interested in volunteering maybe an hour or so each week to Golden Circle? I was thinking you could teach the kids softball and maybe help them burn off some of their energy.”
He sits forward. “I’d love to. I’m arranging a charity game between the academy and the sheriff’s department to help raise money for them, so this would be a great opportunity to get to know the kids.”
“I knew you’d say yes.” I reach over and I’m about to plant a kiss to his cheek when he turns his head. I miss and kiss him on the lips instead.
We both freeze.
The heat in his eyes as I meet them is hot enough to incinerate me, but when he licks along his lips, I find that I’m clenching my thighs as lust hits me straight between them.
Hearing a throat being cleared, we turn and see one the girls from the coffee shop smirking as she leans over to clear away our empty cups. She also makes sure her chest is on display for Jace to get a good look.
My eyes shoot daggers at her while Jace’s gaze never wavers from me.
“I didn’t notice,” he comments as soon as she moves away.
“How did you know there was something not to notice?”
He chuckles. “Okay, you have me there. But if it helps, I only caught sight from the corner of my eyes because I was facing you.”
I roll my eyes as the heat creeps up my neck when he refuses to look away.
“I love the flush you have going on.” He dips his head and whispers into my ear, “It makes me wonder how far it goes,” before nibbling on my lobe.
My breath catches in my throat with what he’s doing to me. He knows it as well.
“You cause me too many sleepless nights, you know that?” I admit.
“I do now,” he gloats.
“Hmm.”
