All Good Things (32 page)

"What are you staring at me like that for, Jace?" She asked, breaking through my thoughts.

"You're beautiful." I grinned and she blushed. My cock jumped at the pink in her skin and I pressed the gas, focusing on the busy streets.

"How many women have you brought to meet your mother?"

"None." I answered honestly. I had never desired to bring a woman home to Karen's gentle heart. Regardless of my attempts to keep the women in my life separate from my family, one had weaseled her way into Karen's life. Without my consent or knowledge, Lexie targeted both Karen and Jaylah's pity during her efforts to ruin me. After a tiresome court battle, Lexie agreed to disappear from not only my life, but from my family's life...at a cost.

Olivia's eyes bugged. "None?" Her fingers toyed nervously with the handbag on her lap. "You've never brought a woman home to your family?"

"No." Why was she so freaked out by this?

"Oh," she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and I made a split decision to stop at the nearest Starbucks for her favorite white hot chocolate.

I pulled the car into the drive through and she sighed in obvious relief as I ordered her drink.

"You're getting me a hot chocolate?" She asked.

I raised my brows. "You looked like you needed it."

She nodded. "Oh, I do." The quick smile fell from her face and she looked into her lap. "Are you sure about this?"

I tensed. "About what?"

"About me meeting your family?" She took in a deep breath and I wanted to kiss away the worry marring her brow. "I mean, I will understand if you're not ready."

"I am ready." I drove up to the window, paid the lady and handed Olivia her drink. As I pulled back onto the busy street, I said. "If I was not ready, I would not be doing this."

"Okay." She took a long sip of the hot, sugary liquid.

"If you're not ready for this, I will understand." I said gruffly. I fucking hoped she didn't want to back out of this dinner. I could only imagine the disappointment fringing Karen's tone. After Jaylah's meeting with Olivia, Karen was dying to meet her.

Olivia thought for a moment and I held my breath. "No. I want to meet her."

"Good." I breathed a breath of release. "I did not want to cancel."

She laughed and it sounded almost easy. I smiled and her face grew serious. "What is her name?"

"Karen." I answered.

"Hum," she nodded. "Tell me a little about her."

"She remarried shortly after my father died. John is a nice guy." I shrugged. "He is good for my mother."

"Good for her." Olivia nodded. "I'm sure it took courage to allow another into her heart."

I decided not to point out my father never really had a place in Karen's heart. Karen had stayed with my father out of fear. She hadn't left him, because he had the money and power to fight to keep my sister and I. So, rather then make our lives hell, she dealt with him until he finally did us all a favor, and died. At least Karen and Jaylah were free to live their dreams without him in the picture. He still ruled my life, but the outcome was worth the restrictions for me.

"Will Jaylah be at dinner?" Olivia asked.

I glanced down at her and wondered, if maybe, she was not a fan of my sister. I hoped that was not the case. "She will."

Visible relief flooded her face and the tension in my stomach eased. "Oh, thank God."

I laughed. "You liked her, I take it."

Olivia nodded. "I won't lie, she was overwhelming." She laughed as though remembering something. "But, she was very warm hearted. Maybe a little too invasive of my personal bubble," she shrugged with a beaming grin. "But, I can deal with that."

She had Jaylah pegged. "I'm glad to hear it."

***

Jace pulled into a long, gated drive in the Hamptons. My heart thundered and my hands trembled as I thought of stepping from the comfort and safety of the car. I don't know what I was so afraid of...I had already met Jaylah and she was great. I was certain Karen would be just as amazing. I mean, she did raise both Jace and Jaylah...she had to be pretty amazing...right?

"Are you just going to sit in the car all night?" Jace teased, as I tried to pull my courage from hiding.

"I was thinking about it." I replied, smugly, and he laughed.

"Not going to happen, Angel." Jace stepped from the car and I watched him with a wildly beating heart as he walked around the car to my door. He opened it and bent down to press his lips to mine. "I'm here." He whispered the calming words against my lips and I nodded.

"I'm ready."

Jace placed his hand on my lower back as we walked up the intricate stone pathway. The door opened before we had even reached the front step and Jaylah's beaming face came into view.

"You're here." She squealed excitedly. Without giving me a chance to run in the opposite direction, she grasped my hands in hers and pulled me through the door. "Come in, come in. Take your shoes off and make yourself at home."

I couldn't help the smile from surfacing on my face. Over the course of the years, I'd begun to associate big houses and lots of money with cool, judgmental people. But Jace's family was warm and exuberant. I had a feeling, that of them all, Jace was the coolest personality.

I kicked off my shoes as Jaylah held onto my hands. "Mom is so excited to meet you. She's in the kitchen right now up to her elbows in food."

I cocked my head. My own mother wouldn't be caught dead in a kitchen. "She's cooking?"

"Yes. Mom only employs a cook when she is hosting a large gathering." Jaylah shrugged. "But, this is just family, so there was no need."

My heart flooded with heat at her words. I knew I shouldn't read anything into them, but oh, how I wanted to. I wanted to be part of this beautiful, loving family. I wanted to be with Jace...always. There was a part of me that was near certain he was the other half to my soul. Without him, I would never be complete.

A tall, burly man appeared at the top of a grand staircase. "You must be Olivia."

"I am." I nodded. "And you must be John."

"No." He growled. "Who's John?"

My eyes grew wide as I scanned my brain for the name Jace had given me...but, all I could come up with was John. I felt my entire face grow hot. Even my ears burned as I stared up at this big, gruff looking man descend the staircase.

Jace chuckled, laying his hand flat on my back. "He's joking, Olivia."

"Oh," a tense laugh escaped from between my lips. Oh, thank heavens...

Jaylah rolled her bright blue eyes and shook her head at John. "I'm telling Mom you were terrorizing her guest."

"I most certainly was not." John sounded appalled and then he turned serious brown eyes on me. "Was I terrorizing you, young lady?"

And, my ears grew hot again as I shook my head. "Of course not."

Jeez...what was going on here? I felt as though I'd stepped into another dimension. Jace did not display a sense of humor...at all. I didn't know what to make of John. I honestly didn't know if the man was serious, joking, or bipolar.

"And, there you go again," Jaylah accused. "Terrorizing her."

"I'm not." John defended himself adamantly.

"You are." Jaylah rolled her eyes affectionately. I glanced back at Jace, but he was watching me with bemused affection, making my heart skip beats erratically. "Come meet Mom. I'm sure we can leave the men to their own devices for just a moment." She looked at Jace, and then John, as though warning them with her eyes. "Can we trust you both to refrain from getting into any trouble?"

John nodded exuberantly, but Jace's eyes glittered with mischief. My steps stuttered as Jaylah pulled me toward, what I assumed, was the kitchen. I tugged on her hand. "Do you think they will actually get into anything?"

Jaylah laughed. "Without a doubt."

My eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Oh, yes." She laughed. "But, nothing serious. Most likely, they will talk cars and Jace will have booked an appointment to purchase, yet another car, to add to his collection. Or, who knows, maybe today it will be land and Jace will decide to build another hotel." Fondness flooded her tone. "John brings out a side of Jace, Mom and I rarely ever see. It's like he's a kid again. He forgets about the world around him and his responsibilities and just sort of glows."

"I would like to see him like that."

Jaylah cocked her head. "You already do."

I was taken aback. "I do?"

"Yes." She paused. "Jace has become someone completely different since you entered his life. Even Caleb stopped by one evening and was yipping on about how he is taking so much time off work and, when he is there, its obvious, he's not concentrating." She laughed at my wide eyes and nudged my shoulder. "You must see it?"

"Not really." I shrugged. "We went for ice cream today and he seemed a but more laid back than usual, but-,"

"You went for ice cream with my brother?" Jaylah looked like I'd slapped her across the face. Her shock shocked me, and I floundered for words.

"Yes,"

"Wow, he really is a changed man." She mused and then her eyes turned hard and she focused on me. She stopped walking and I followed suit. "Are you serious about him?"

I nodded. "I am."

"Good."

"Why?"

She shook her head as though I was dense. "Well, because he is obviously head over heels for you."

"Oh,"

"As if you didn't know."

"Well, I suspect he has feelings for me." I admitted. "But, I don't know how serious they are. We haven't really talked about our feelings."

Jaylah eyed me seriously. "Have you told him you're in love with him yet?"

"What?" I felt the blush return full force. "Why would you ask that?"

"Well, because you do." She shrugged. "Surely you've realized that by now?"

I shook my head in exasperation. "I haven't told him. But, I'm not exactly sure how I feel yet. We've only been a part of each others life for a few weeks. I'm not ready to jump into something so...serious." I shrugged. "I don't exactly think Jace is ready for that either."

"Great. You're both obliviously bullheaded people when it comes to love." She accused. "Just be sure you realize it before its too late."

With those words of confidence, she turned on her heel and walked away. I kicked into gear and followed behind her despite the fact that I wanted desperately to ponder her words.

I followed her into a spacious kitchen. My eyes immediately settled on a petite woman with black hair twisted up into a bun. She looked up when we entered the kitchen and I couldn't help but catch my breath at the sight of her eyes. They were just like Jace's...only hers weren't so haunted. She looked happy. I wondered if this is how Jace's eyes would look if he allowed some of the stress of the world to fall away to ash.

"Olivia," my name was a smile on her lips. She set the knife on the chopping block and moved quickly across the kitchen. "Well, aren't you a beautiful young lady." She appraised for a quick moment and then, to my surprise, she pulled me into a tight hug. It was the kind of hug I'd dreamed about for years of my own mother giving me. It was an embrace filled to the very brim with feeling. My throat closed with emotion and I hugged her back.

"Hello Mrs. Rush."

"Oh, don't you dare," she chastised. "Call me Karen...or Mom. Those are your choices."

Jaylah chuckled as she resumed chopping the potatoes Karen had been working on when we interrupted. "Just call her Mom. It's what she's hoping for."

I laughed. "I don't know how Jace would feel about that."

Karen's eyes glittered with mischief; the same mischievous look I'd seen in Jace's eyes only a few minutes ago. Suddenly, his voice rang out from behind me. I swear I jumped at least a meter.

"I would feel honored if you called her Mom." Jace moved easily, with long strides across the kitchen. He wound his arms around my waist and pulled my back into his chest. He pressed his lips against the back of my head and I felt his smile.

My heart fluttered at the look Jaylah shot me from where she stood. Maybe she was right?

"If that's how you feel, then, I guess, Mom it is." I smiled and Karen beamed a brilliant smile back at me.

"So glad you caved." She teased and Jace laughed.

"She's easy to convince." Jace added. "All you need is a white hot chocolate and your bribe is a success."

My mouth dropped. "That is, so not, all it would take."

Jace's chest shook, vibrating me with laughter. He released me and walked to the fridge. "I think I found a property in Italy I might like to purchase." He spoke as though it were an every day conversation. My eyes bugged and Jaylah laughed aloud.

"Italy?" Karen asked. "What inspired that?"

I already knew the answer. Me. When he'd asked where I wanted to travel to...I'd answered Italy.

Jace shrugged. "I think a hotel would do well there. Apparently Italy is a popular tourist destination." Jace's eyes danced as he spoke the words and I blushed. "Would you like to view the property with me, Olivia?"

I narrowed my eyes. "I'm not sure I can get away from my own project, Jace."

He cocked his head. "I'm sure Jaylah would oversee the construction."

I sighed. "Jace, I am already going to Paris with you..." I shrugged. I did not want to have this conversation here in front of his family. It was highly uncomfortable. "I can't take anymore time away. I'm sorry."

Jace shrugged, leaning into the fridge for two beers. "We will discuss this later over a white hot chocolate."

I knew he was teasing. Karen and Jaylah laughed so hard, I thought they would bust a gut. I felt my face flush and I glared hotly at Jace, daring him to continue. "You won't get anywhere with hot chocolate, Jace."

"We'll see about that, Angel." Jace leaned down to plant a kiss on my forehead, and then, he was out the door.

Karen shook her head in laughter at me and I flushed deeper. "He's your son." I accused and her laugh got louder.

"Oh Honey, but he's your man." Karen shot her retort.

***

Karen pulled me into her arms, hugging me close to her chest. My heart swelled with the feeling of belonging and I couldn't wait to see her again. I already missed her. She was so easy to talk to and laugh with. Her and Jaylah had the perfect mother daughter relationship. It was the relationship I had always wanted with my mother...the relationship I knew I would never attain.