Jace laughed. “I’m not stupid. But let me ask you one thing.” He took the wine from her hands and set it on the table.
“What?” His eyes were so clear and beautiful it was hard not to get lost in him.
“Do you think…?” He tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned his forehead against hers. “That maybe the reason you love him, or think you love him, is because he never returned your feelings? Maybe what you really need is closure.”
Char trembled beneath his touch. “Is that what you’re offering, closure?”
Jace’s hands cupped her face as his thumbs ran over her bottom lip. “I don’t like being second, Char. But I’d be willing to be your second. That is, if you would have me. I’d love to take you out on dates, wine and dine you, make you feel deserving, because honestly, as a man, that’s my job. To make you see you how I see you. And I don’t think you see yourself clearly. I think your whole life can be summed up into one word.”
She tried to pull back from him but he held her firm. “Yeah, Dr. Phil, what’s that?”
He smiled sadly. “Almost. That’s how you define yourself. Almost. And it makes me sad, because you’re not an Almost sort of girl.”
“And you’re the expert on what type of girl I am?”
“Absolutely.”
“Well then, what am I?”
Jace tilted his head to the side and gently ran his left hand down the side of her throat. “Forever. You’re the forever girl.”
His mouth met hers softly before he pulled back. “The question is, do you want to forget him? Do you want to move on? Maybe with me? Or would it be enough? Would my words, my money, everything about what a relationship with me would mean, would it be enough to permanently abolish him from your memory?”
Char’s lower lip trembled. With a small gasp she shook her head. “No, Jace. I’m sorry, but no.”
With a brilliant smile he pulled back. “I’m glad.”
“Huh?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I took acting class for fun in high school. I have to admit, this has been the best time I’ve had in years.”
Confused, Char could only stare at him. “You jackass! You pretended to like me?”
“Hell no.” Jace took her hand in his. “I would gladly and happily take you off that ass’s hands, but you don’t want to be taken anywhere. Am I right?”
“I don’t understand.” Char massaged her temples.
“One word.” Jace nodded. “Grandma.”
“No!” Char gasped. “She’s paying you?”
“Don’t need the money, just needed to get over a bad break-up. That woman has been trying to set me up for the past year. She introduced me to Travis, and the rest is kind of history. I was already planning on being at the wedding; it was all too easy. Travis wanted me to meet you. Grandma had other plans. And here I am. Drinking wine while everyone plots our impending nuptials.”
“Holy crap!” Char paced in front of him. “That woman is insane.”
“Insane genius.” Jace lifted his glass. “Admit it. She’s helped more than hurt.”
“She bought me a wedding dress.”
“Isn’t that bad luck?” Jace tilted his head. “Just curious.”
“So you’re not really a pompous ass.”
He seemed to think about it, then said, “No, I don’t think so. But if you ask my ex she’d say that I am and more. I’m just trying to get through the wedding without having your grandmother kill me and bury my body. You know she bought a shock collar, right?”
Laughing, Char threw her arms around Jace’s neck. “I don’t know whether to thank you or slap you for kissing me.”
“Hey.” Jace pulled back and kissed her cheek. “My offer still stands. Your incredible, manipulating Grandmother aside, I would have wanted your number regardless.”
“Thank you.” Char kissed him briefly on the lips.
But apparently it wasn’t brief enough.
Because the next thing she knew, Jake was charging down the stairs, his eyes wild with anger.
Chapter Forty-six
All Jake saw was red.
Jace was holding her. His girl, his woman, his future—in Jace’s grimy politician hands! With a war cry that would have done any fan of Braveheart proud—Jake charged toward Jace and slammed him into the countertop.
His fist flew toward Jace’s face and landed a blow along his jaw, causing the other man’s head to snap back and hit the table.
In the back of his fuzzy mind he heard Char yelling for him to stop, but it was too late. Jace crumpled to the ground.
“Holy crap!” Char covered her face. “You just knocked out a state senator!”
“Well,” Jake cursed. “He was touching you!”
“Great!” Char began pacing. “Be sure to tell that to the judge when they ask you why you shouldn’t go to prison!” She swatted him across the stomach and swore.
“I’m sorry. I just… I panicked. I was protecting your honor!”
“Easy, Pot,” Char said. “You’re getting black on your kettle.”
Jake glared. “Very funny.”