Page 26 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

Chapter

Sixteen

J ace got into his car, angry that he had to pick up Penelope Rossi. He had been in a foul mood all day, snapping at others for no reason. Elena had even pulled him aside, warning him to back off. He’d apologized to her and the others he’d been sharp with.

The day had started so perfectly, waking up with Darby snuggled against him. Making love to her. Then he’d had to take her to the airport, and that’s where everything went downhill.

He hadn’t wanted her to go.

He hadn’t known how to ask her to stay.

It was silly to have developed such incredibly intense feelings for her in such a short span

of time. He’d avoided the love bug, but he hadn’t just been bitten. It sank its teeth into him like a bulldog.

And wasn’t willing to let go.

Jace had gotten into the car, watching Darby enter the terminal.

Logically, he knew she had to fly back to Kansas City.

Finish out her two weeks at Cheer USA before coming back to Texas.

But he didn’t have to like it. He’d done something completely out of character by following her inside and grabbing her, kissing her goodbye a final time.

If that wasn’t the move of some lovesick sap, he didn’t know what was.

He’d driven home and changed clothes, not willing to put his shirt in the dirty clothes hamper because it still smelled like Darby.

Work had been excruciating today. To top it off, he had the obligation with Penelope to check off.

As he drove to her place, he caught a whiff of Darby’s floral perfume lingering in his car.

It made him angry, that she had encroached in every area of his life.

Immediately, he rolled down the windows and stepped on the gas, his hair flying as the wind tore through the car.

Then he heard the siren and caught a glimpse of the flashing lights in his mirror. Great. A ticket, all because he was trying to eliminate all traces of Darby before he went completely mad.

Jace pulled over and stopped the car. He placed his hands on the wheel, waiting for the policeman who approached him. The cop stopped next to him.

“May I see your license, please?”

“Yes, I’ll get it for you. It’s in my back pocket.”

He unfastened the seatbelt and pulled the wallet from his pocket and license from the wallet. Handing it over, he tried to get his out-of-control feelings under control before he said or did something foolish.

“Do you realize you were speeding, Mr. Tanner?” the policeman asked patiently.

“I do.” He sighed. “I deserve the ticket. Write away, Officer.”

The cop pulled out a pad but hesitated. “Is everything okay with you, Mr. Tanner?”

“I smelled her,” he said, out of the blue. “And I couldn’t get her—or her scent—out of my mind. I rolled the windows down and thought if I went fast enough, the smell would blow away.”

The cop looked at him sympathetically. “So, it’s woman troubles.”

“Yeah.”

The officer studied him for a moment. “If you broke up, then you need to let her go, Mr. Tanner. And if you did something dipshit foolish, you need to try and win her back,” he advised.

“She doesn’t live in Dallas,” he said morosely. “She flew back to Kansas City this morning. I took her to the airport.”

The policeman shook his head. “I did a long-distance relationship once. It about killed me.”

“What happened?” he asked.

The cop grinned. “I wound up marrying her and moving to Texas.” He slipped the pad into his back pocket.

“I’m letting you off with an unofficial warning, Mr. Tanner.

Roll your windows back up. Keep your speed in check.

And figure out a way to be in the same place as your girl.

Either move where she is or have her move here. The long-distance thing sucks.”

He’d been apart from Darby less than twelve hours. “Yeah, it does. Thank you, Officer. I’ve got it under control now.”

“You have a good night.”

“You, too.”

Jace watched the policeman return to his squad car and then placed his driver’s license back into his wallet. He put the wallet in the cupholder and buckled his seatbelt, determined to keep all thoughts of Darby at bay. He’d get through this date. No, not a date. His obligation.

Then he would think about Darby.

He might call her. He’d been swamped by the time she texted him that she’d landed and sent her a thumbs up. Thinking back, he should’ve waited instead of doing that. Sent her a real text. Or called her.

Cursing under his breath, he couldn’t believe how muddled his thinking was. He was utterly confused by Darby. Jace did know one thing, however.

He loved her. He really, really, absolutely loved her.

Ten minutes later, he pulled up at Penelope’s building and texted her to come down. Jace was not going to pretend this was anything more than dinner.

It took another ten minutes before Penelope appeared.

He was a gentleman and did get out of his car, coming around and opening the door for her.

Once inside, he asked how her day had gone.

She launched into some complicated story that had something to do with a clasp on a necklace, and it lasted until they pulled up at The Mansion.

He valeted the car and led her inside, thinking he would be nothing but bored the next two hours.

“Though I am sorry we missed the charity dinner, I am glad I have time alone with you for dinner tonight, Jace.” Penelope’s voice was husky.

Not a good sign.

He smiled tightly and nodded at the ma?tre d’, who led them to Jace’s favorite table.

“Let me know if there is anything I may do for you, Mr. Tanner.”

“I will.”

The wine list was brought, and Penelope fretted over it. He finally told her what was good and ordered a bottle for them.

“I like when a man takes charge,” she purred. “Assertive is sexy, no?”

It was time to set her straight. “Penelope, I know you agreed to accompany me to the charity event because you wanted to be seen with me. Have me introduce you to people who you hadn’t met, ones who might help you with your business, by either becoming clients or investors.

You don’t have an interest in me. I don’t have one in you.

You were simply a plus-one. Tonight is a make-up call for me having to cancel on you, but I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. ”

She smiled seductively. “Oh, I am full of wrong ideas, Jace. I’d like to show you a few of them.”

He frowned. “Any more of that and I’ll end dinner before we even order. Understood?”

She pouted prettily. “Of course.”

Penelope then proceeded to order the most expensive things on the menu. Tonight would cost him a fortune, but at least he would be rid of her for good.

He ordered a steak and baked potato, thinking Darby would have ordered the salmon. He caught himself smiling at the thought.

“What is so funny?”

“Nothing. Just thinking of something that happened today.”

Penelope sniffed. “Well, it wasn’t business. A man doesn’t get that look on his face when he is thinking of business.”

Wanting to distract her, he asked more about her jewelry designing, and she was off to the races. Jace nodded occasionally but didn’t hear a word she said. Penelope talked nonstop through the entire dinner. It was exhausting, but at least he wouldn’t have to see her again.

“So, I assume many of your clients are interested in bling?” she asked innocently.

He scowled. “If they are, it’s up to them to purchase it. I advise them to see a financial counselor and invest in things beyond jewelry.”

Jace nodded subtly to their server, who brought the check. He placed his credit card on the tray just as his cell buzzed. Pulling it from his jacket, he saw Eli’s name.

“Penelope, please excuse me. It’s a very important call that I must take. Why don’t you have another glass of wine?”

“Champagne,” she demanded.

He told the server, “Bring Miss Rossi whatever she wants.”

Excusing himself, he left the dining room, answering his phone. “Hey, Eli. What’s up?”

“I wanted to check in with you and see if you wanted to drive up to Hawthorne this weekend.”

As much as Jace wanted to, he didn’t want to be a third wheel. Eli and Autumn had just gotten married last weekend, which seemed an eon ago now.

“Thanks, but I’ve got a lot on my plate.”

“Autumn said you would say that,” Eli said, chuckling.

“She also said that you wouldn’t want to come because we just got married.

Let me tell you, little brother, that we already act like an old married couple as it is.

Seriously, I want to see you. We want to see you.

You won’t be interrupting anything. It’s just life in Hawthorne.

A slower pace. A friendly crowd. I’m not even tied up with a football game Friday night.

The Hawks play away, and the home team has to supply the physician for the game. ”

Eli paused. “Please come. Autumn and I really enjoyed the time we spent with you after the wedding. Besides, if you say no, I’m going to catch hell from my wife. She doesn’t get mad often, but I don’t want to join Atticus in the doghouse.”

“Atticus has a dog bed in your great room,” Jace said, his resolve weakening. “That would mean you sleeping on the couch. While Atticus sleeps with Autumn.” He sighed. “Okay. I’ll come. But not until Saturday. I’ve got a commitment Friday night I can’t get out of.”

He didn’t know what was on his calendar, but he was usually busy on Friday nights. This way, Eli and Autumn could unwind a little after their work week and have alone time before he showed up on Saturday.

“Okay, but don’t waltz in late in the afternoon. If you aren’t here by noon, Autumn and I will get in the car and drive down to Dallas.”

“Hey, that’s not a bad idea,” he said. “You could come stay with me. I’ve got a guest room at my condo. I could show you a little of Dallas. My office.”

“Maybe the next time,” Eli said. “Just come, Jace. Don’t make me beg. I want to see you.”

“All right,” he agreed. At least by going to Hawthorne, he wouldn’t spend all weekend moping about Darby. “I’ll be there no later than noon.”

“Thanks. We’ll see you in a couple of days.”

Jace returned to his table. Penelope pouted and took the last sip of champagne from her glass.

He summoned the server, who had prepared a new bill.

Jace saw it was not one but three glasses of champagne charged to his account.

Penelope must be sloshed, drinking that much in such a short amount of time.

He signed the bill and thanked the server before going to pull out Penelope’s chair. She was a bit wobbly on her feet, but he managed to keep her standing while his car was brought around. Getting her settled into the passenger seat, Jace even buckled her in, doubting she could do it herself.

Immediately, she leaned her head against the window and began snoring.

Loudly. He drove to her building and decided he better see her inside.

Going around to the passenger side, he opened the door and unbuckled the seatbelt.

Jace clasped her elbows and brought her to her feet, where Penelope swayed.

“Let’s get you inside,” he said, retrieving her purse from the floorboard.

Guiding her to the door, the doorman opened it for them, giving Jace a sympathetic glance. He steered Penelope to the concierge, who looked up, concern on his face.

“Miss Rossi indulged in a bit too much champagne,” he told the man, not mentioning the three glasses of wine she’d drunk during dinner. “We had a business meeting and frankly, I’m a bit uncomfortable seeing her to her apartment. Would you be willing to do so?”

“Of course, sir,” the concierge said, coming out from behind the desk and taking Jace’s place.

“Goodnight, Penelope,” he told the jewelry designer.

“It was fun,” she said blithely, giggling. “Call me.”

Jace watched as they got on the elevator and then returned to his car. Once more, he rolled the windows down to air out his car. Penelope had been wearing a heavy musk scent, and it hung in the air. This time, however, he watched his speed.

Once he arrived home, he doffed his clothes and showered, wanting to remove every trace of her.

He debated on whether or not he should call Darby and decided to give her a little space.

Today would have been a difficult one for her.

She was to meet with her boss, and she had expressed concern that Peggy would not take her leaving Cheer USA well.

He would call her tomorrow. It was Friday and the end of her work week.

He didn’t want to seem too eager. Yes, he knew he was in love with her, but he had no idea how she felt about him.

Darby had enjoyed their conversations. She had certainly enjoyed the sex.

But she seemed to have in her head that the differences between them were too great for anything serious to develop between them.

Jace reflected on what the cop had told him earlier this evening.

That he and Darby needed to be in same place for things to work between them.

The trouble was, she would soon be starting a new job in Hawthorne, while his agency was in Dallas.

Even if she finished out the school year, he doubted she would turn around and resign a job which seemed perfect for her.

He had a lot of thinking to do about her.

And hoped Darby was doing the same about him.