Page 16 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

Chapter

Nine

D arby knew what she had revealed surprised Jace, yet no reaction flitted across his face.

Once again, her heart went out to the little boy who had been torn from his loving, protective brother and sent to parents who tried to use him as a replacement son, instead of loving him for exactly who he was.

The server came and refilled their water glasses, and Jace handed her his credit card.

“I’ll take care of this right away,” she promised, leaving them in awkward silence after she departed.

“Everything has gone so well between us tonight,” she finally ventured. “I don’t want for us to end on a bad note, Jace.”

For a moment, she caught a flash of anger in his eyes. “You let me talk your ear off, sharing things I’ve never told anyone, and yet you held that little bombshell.”

She could tell by how tight his voice sounded how truly upset he was, yet the control he displayed was incredible.

“I’m not supposed to tell anyone about the job.

I learned about the job opening at the game Friday night.

The current cheer coach’s husband is being transferred out of state, and she was upset because she would have to finish out her contract and remain in Hawthorne the remainder of the school year. ”

Darby leaned back, taking a deep breath before continuing.

“I’ve been ready for a change in my life, Jace.

I’ve worked for the same company for ten years now.

I’d even planned to talk to Uncle Joe this weekend and ask him for some career advice.

I had also decided to put my application on file and hopefully be considered for a teaching job next school year. ”

She tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

“This simply fell into my lap. Not only have I been a cheerleader my entire life, I’m certified to teach journalism.

Kay Timmons coaches the cheerleaders and is also in charge of the newspaper and yearbook staffs.

It’s as if a genie in a bottle gave me one wish, and I asked for a tailor-made teaching job.

I immediately applied online and interviewed with my uncle and the HHS principal over the weekend.

Because of my unique background, I’m an ideal candidate for Kay’s position.

By law, they must post the job for at least ten days.

If anyone else does apply, they’ll give them the courtesy of an interview, but they told me to put in my notice with Cheer USA. ”

Jace gazed at her for a long moment, as if he saw deep into her soul. Then he slid from the booth, and Darby thought he was going to walk out. She couldn’t blame him. She had held back when he had shared confidences with her. Instead, he slid into her side of the booth and slipped an arm about her.

His voice husky, he said, “This is a huge change for you.”

Darby nodded. “It really is. It’s exhilarating to think I’ll be starting a new career.

Working with students on a daily basis. I always thought I would make for a good teacher, but the opportunity to work at Cheer USA came along right before I graduated from college.

I decided I could always fall back on teaching at a later point in my life. ”

She swallowed. “That point has come, Jace. I’ve been feeling burned out, the same as Sawyer.

My brother was a high-profile attorney in the Dallas District Attorney’s office.

For a long time, he thrived on the pressure of the cases he tried.

The adrenaline high that came from a victory.

But he missed the slower pace of life that could be found in Hawthorne.

That’s why Sawyer moved back. Because he was teetering on the edge of burnout.

I’ve seen my brother and now two of my cousins return to our hometown, and a part of my soul was crying out to do the same. ”

Darby hesitated a moment and then turned to look him directly in the eyes.

“I didn’t mean to hide this from you. Legally, I haven’t been officially offered the job yet.

Uncle Joe and Blanche Biggerstaff knew the family would learn about it, but they asked me not to share my news with anyone else.

Other than my boss at Cheer USA, that is.

” She blew out a breath, shaking her head.

“Boy, that is a whole other conversation.”

She was aware of his arm about her shoulders, and it felt so good, having it wrapped around her protectively.

Their bodies were also pressed closely together, and he radiated that wonderful heat and masculine scent, which she was quickly becoming addicted to.

If they hadn’t been in a public place, she would have initiated another kiss between them.

But what good would that do?

Jace lived an entirely different lifestyle from the one she wanted to be a part of in Hawthorne.

He represented athletes who were millionaires and was seen in all the right places in Dallas, wearing custom suits that cost more than she earned in a month.

All she wanted was to be a part of small-town life, a far cry from anything Jace Tanner would ever want.

The server returned with their bill, and Jace scrawled his name across the receipt. She couldn’t help but see that he left the server an extremely generous tip, and that made her like him all the more.

“Let’s go somewhere we can talk some more,” he suggested.

“You aren’t angry with me?”

He smiled slowly. “I was. Not anymore.”

They returned to his expensive sports car, and he asked, “Would you be comfortable coming back to my condo?”

She appreciated that he would understand her concern, one any woman would have when asked to go back to a guy’s residence. Instinct told her she could trust this man, though.

“Yes. I’d like to see where you live.”

They didn’t speak for the next ten minutes, and Darby wondered what he was thinking about. They arrived at his building, and he parked in the garage, coming around and helping her from the car. Small gestures like that went a long way with her, and she told herself not to fall for this man.

Riding the elevator to the top floor, she figured he would have settled for no less than the penthouse. Once they entered his condo and he flipped on the lights, she glanced around and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What?” he asked.

“It’s exactly what I thought it would be. Sleek. Modern. Masculine. It’s very you.”

Darby walked about the room, running her hand over the back of the dark leather sectional. Everything was chrome and glass and leather. Sterile, in her opinion. No photographs or knickknacks were on display. Nothing personal marking the room. Anyone could live here.

And no one would learn anything about Jace if they saw this place.

Their gazes met, and he said, “I’m looking at my place with a critical eye now. I hired a top interior designer to put it together for me. I’m seeing it through your viewpoint, Darby.” He frowned. “And I don’t like what I see.”

She reached for his hand and slipped hers around it. “Why would you say that? It’s a gorgeous room. Why, it should be featured in a magazine.”

Jace gave her a rueful smile. “It has been, along with me. This past January, in case you’re interested in looking it up online. Texas Monthly .”

“I might just do that,” she said, releasing his hand and turning to move away.

He caught her wrist, his thumb slowly rubbing it sensually. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“No,” she said, her pulse jumping.

“Then let’s sit on my very expensive, chosen by a super-expensive decorator, sofa.”

She couldn’t help but laugh at his remark, and it broke some of the sexual tension building between them.

Some. Not all.

Darby slipped off her sandals and sat, tucking her feet underneath her. Jace took a seat, as well, not beside her but still fairly close. He rested his arm along the back of the sectional and faced her.

“So, tell me what you’re leaving behind in Kansas City. What you look forward to most by returning to Hawthorne.”

“I’m definitely a workaholic. I’m hoping in Hawthorne that I’ll be able to have more of a work/life balance, though. I live in the same apartment I’ve had for a decade. It’s close to my office.”

For the next few minutes, Darby explained to Jace what her job entailed at Cheer USA and why she was in Dallas.

“Fortunately, the event center manager and I were on the same wavelength. We were able to accomplish everything we wanted to do today.”

“That means you’re free tomorrow?”

The intensity of his gaze almost had her coming undone. It took everything she had to maintain her poise and answer intelligently.

“I had thought I would still be in meetings all day tomorrow. Then fly back tomorrow night or early Thursday morning. I have an afternoon meeting with my boss on Thursday to talk about the Dallas facility and the upcoming national competition.” She paused briefly.

“And the resignation which I submitted.”

“I guess that’s not going over too well with your boss.”

“It isn’t. Peggy knows I’m a true workhorse.

That I have a passion for Cheer USA and what we do there.

I’m the ideal representative for the organization.

I think she’ll try to talk me out of resigning, but I’ve submitted my two-week notice.

That clock is already ticking away, and I intend to follow through and move to Hawthorne. ”

“Will you leave behind friends? A boyfriend?” he asked casual.

“Because of all the travel I’ve done over the years, I really haven’t had a steady, serious relationship.

I had been dating a lawyer these past few months, hoping a spark would ignite between us because he’s a really nice guy.

Instead, he told me just before I flew to Texas that he’s getting back with his longtime girlfriend from college.

They were on-and-off all during his law school and her med school years.

She’s completed her residency now and is willing to move to KC to give them another try.

I’m all for it. Mitch and I are better off as friends. You can’t force chemistry.”

Their gazes met, and she saw the heat in his eyes. It caused her belly to flutter with butterflies.

Blinking, she turned away. “As far as moving to Hawthorne, I enjoyed growing up there. It’s an ideal place to raise a family.

My mom and Aunt Meg were sisters. Also close friends.

Because of that, our families got together often.

Sawyer and I have always been tight with West, Autumn, and Summer.

I’m looking forward to being able to seeing more of them in the future. ”

“What will teaching be like?”

“Busy. Probably just as busy as I have been with Cheer USA, but it’ll be a different kind of busy. Working with the cheerleading squads will be time-consuming.”

Darby explained her class schedule to him and how she would have periods to meet with both cheerleading squads, the two publication staffs, and a beginning journalism class.

Laughing, she added, “At one point, I thought I was going to light the world on fire as a journalist. Travel to far-flung places around the world and report on the news. Either writing about it or being a part of a broadcast team. That’s why I started college as a journalism major.”

“What changed your mind?” he asked, and she could see his interest was genuine.

“I just kept thinking about how my teachers had influenced my life. Prepared me for the world. Helped to mold me and my character. I decided there was plenty of adventure in my own back yard of Texas and that I could teach and make a difference in the lives of many students over the years. That’s when I switched majors to secondary ed. ”

“I think the passion you had at Cheer USA will transfer to your new career at Hawthorne High School,” Jace declared with confidence. “They’ll be lucky to have you on staff.”

“To me, it’s like one of those circle of life moments, me getting to return to the place I grew up and teach at the school I graduated from.

I know a lot of things will be new to me.

As a rookie, I’m going to make mistakes and will have to learn how to forgive myself for them.

But I’m really thankful and excited to have the opportunity to be back in Hawthorne. It’s a special place.”

Jace threaded their fingers together. “You would succeed at whatever you chose to do, Darby Montgomery.”

“Thank you. That means a lot to me. I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but I can see you’re a good judge of people. You must have to evaluate both clients and situations instantly. Tell me more about what the world of being a sports agent is like.”

His gaze pinned hers, the look in his eyes stealing her breath. “We can talk about that later. Right now, all I want to do is kiss you senseless. Will you let me do that, Darby?”

Hesitation filled her. Her attraction to Jace had been obvious from the moment they met. Even now, knowing they were two very different people with careers and lifestyles that didn’t mesh, she wanted him.

Wanted him …

The thought of his mouth on hers, his hands on her body and hers on his, was something she couldn’t pass up. Darby had always been the good girl who went for good guys.

Jace Tanner might have good in him, but she sensed he was dangerous to her.

Somehow, she didn’t care.

She placed her hand on his, the one which rested along the back of the sofa, close to her.

Boldly, Darby said, “I’m ready for whatever lies ahead tonight, Jace.”