Page 32 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

Chapter

Twenty

J ace kissed Darby a final time, his heart singing.

A euphoria filled him, a natural high that surpassed every achievement he’d ever accomplished.

It didn’t matter how many clients he’d signed.

How many millions of dollars he had helped them to claim.

While he was peerless in business, he was a neophyte at being in a relationship.

But it’s all he wanted now. To be with Darby.

She was right. They had a tough road ahead of them. He didn’t know how it would work because of the jobs they held, but he was willing to do whatever it took, make compromises and sacrifices, all to be with this one woman.

Ending the kiss, he said, “I guess we better go back outside. I’m sure everyone is wondering about us.” He hesitated and then said, “I was jealous when I walked in.”

“Why?” she asked, clearly perplexed.

“You were laughing. You put your hand on Chance’s arm. I almost went ballistic, Darby.”

She laughed, stroking his cheek. “Chance is like a brother to me. He’s West’s best friend and has been since kindergarten. I’ve known him forever. He’s a longtime friend, Jace. Someone I trust. But nothing romantic has ever gone on between us.” She shook her head. “I can’t even imagine that.”

“I realize that now. Listening to you talk with him at dinner tonight. But I was ready to knock off his head when I first got here.”

Darby wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his.

“You don’t have any reason to be jealous of any other guy, Jace.

I’ve told you how guys treat me like another guy.

” She kissed him lightly. “I would never give you any reason to be jealous. No other man has ever caught my eye the way you have.”

“Good. Let’s keep it that way.”

“I guess I shouldn’t google you then and see all those beautiful women on your arm over the years.”

“Definitely not. Come on.”

He threaded his fingers through hers, leading her through the back door to where the others were gathered. Their laughter died as the two of them approached. His gaze met Eli’s, and his brother nodded approvingly.

They took a seat at the table, and West asked, “Do you have some room for dessert?”

“None for me,” Darby said. “The chili was enough.”

“I’ll take some,” Jace said, moving a carton of Blue Bell toward him.

Kelby pushed a bowl and spoon over to him and then handed him the ice cream scoop. He filled the bowl, suddenly ravenous. But not just for food.

For Darby.

Hopefully, the ice cream would occupy his attention and help him keep his hands off Darby because all he wanted to do was touch her.

Taking the spoon in one hand, he ate a bite while his other hand found hers under the table.

“Anything you two would like to share with us?” Kelby inquired. “Especially with me being your best friend, Darby?”

Everyone laughed, and Darby looked to him. Jace nodded encouragingly.

“We’re a couple,” she informed them. “We know it’s going to be rough, especially with me starting a new job that will be time consuming, and Jace in Dallas, busy with his client list.”

“We’ll handle it,” he said confidently. Glancing around at those seated at the table, he added, “We also hope that we have your support.”

West said, “I know the kind of guy you are, Jace. Your character speaks for itself. You’re a decent man who treats others fairly. If you and Darby want to pursue a relationship, I’m all for it.”

Kelby added, “Darby has been my best friend forever. I trust her judgment. If she is invested in your relationship, then so am I.”

Eli cleared his throat. “All I know is that this is a loving family, Jace. They’ve treated me with nothing but kindness, and I’m proud to be a part of them now.

” He paused, his eyes glimmering with tears.

“I’m also so proud of you. Of all you’ve accomplished.

I know we’re both still trying to overcome things from our past, things we had no control over, which affected us more than we’d like to admit.

With Darby by your side, though, I think you’re capable of doing whatever you want to achieve. ”

“Thanks, Eli,” Jace said, moved by his brother’s words.

“I haven’t had much of a personal life. I’ve been laser-focused on the agency I started and serving our clientele.

But I’m eager to work on having more balance in my life.

I want to spend time with you and get to know the brother I missed for all those years. ”

He glanced to Darby, bringing their joined hands up and kissing her fingers tenderly.

“And I want to be with this woman, whenever our schedules allow.”

“If you set your mind on a goal, something you really want, you’ll move heaven and earth to achieve it,” Chance said. “Darby’s worth every second you invest in her.”

Sawyer met Jace’s gaze. “I look forward to being around you more, Jace. Darby’s special. We all know that. And we’ll protect her because we love her.”

He understood Sawyer’s warning. He was her big brother, her protector, just as Eli had been his protector.

“I assure you I will always put Darby first,” he told Sawyer solemnly.

“Then we should get along just fine,” the attorney replied.

“That’s enough serious talk,” Autumn said. “I’m happy for the two of you. Let’s clear the dishes and relax. Finish your ice cream, Jace. Darby can keep you company.”

Everyone stood, picking up dishes and beer bottles and glasses, filing into the kitchen.

“Your family loves you a lot,” he said, taking another bite of ice cream. “I received the warnings, loud and clear.”

“This is as new for them as it is me,” she said. “They’re not used to seeing me in a relationship. Hey, I’m not used to it. Yes, I’ve dated here and there. I told you about the last guy I was seeing in Kansas City, we’d probably gone out three or four months.”

Darby’s fingers ran through his hair, causing tingles to dance long his spine.

“But we were better off as friends. I didn’t feel close to him the way I feel about you.”

He grinned wickedly. “And how exactly is that, Montgomery?”

She returned the grin. “Like I want to lick you all over, like you were an ice cream cone.”

His body flashed hot in an instant. “What’s good for the goose is surely good for the gander,” he said seductively. “And maybe a little chocolate sauce would add some more fun.”

“Maybe.” She leaned over and kissed him. “I like kissing you, Tanner. I’ve never been someone who initiated kisses, but I’m changing. Because of you. In a good way.”

He placed his hand on her thigh and squeezed it. “Same.”

“This is going to be awkward,” she said. “Sawyer’s house is tiny. Plus, the two bedrooms are right next to one another.”

“We could stay at Eli’s,” he suggested. “The primary bedroom is downstairs. My guestroom is upstairs.”

Darby nodded. “I like that idea better. The thought of Sawyer hearing some of the sounds I make when you touch me?” She grimaced. “Not good. Not good at all.”

“Do you feel a little weird?” he asked. “Everyone knowing about us. I mean, I wanted to share it. That we’re in a committed relationship. But with neither of us having a place here, it’s awkward.”

“I don’t care,” she told him. “I’m just so happy that you’re here this weekend. That we can spend tonight together. I know you came up to see Eli and had no idea I’d be here. I want you to spend tomorrow with him.”

He started to protest, but she placed a finger over his lips. “No. You’re just getting to know Eli. You have a lot of catching up to do. I’ll see if I can get with Kay tomorrow. I have so much to learn and figure out before I start my new teaching position.”

“When will that happen?”

“Not this week. The job is still posted. Uncle Joe told me that probably the next Wednesday would be my first day. I still need to confirm that with him. My preference would be to still have Kay come and have both of us present with the students for a couple of days before she takes off for Chicago. I know Todd is flying up tomorrow. He’s going to take a couple of days and see some of the places they’ve been looking at online, and then he starts his new job on Wednesday. ”

Jace smoothed her hair, simply needing to touch her. “Once you meet with Kay this week, what else do you have planned?”

“Other than prepping and becoming familiar with everything she gives me, nothing. I’d love to look for a place to live, but Sawyer’s already done that legwork for me. Right now, listings in Hawthorne are sparse, thanks to all the employees at Triple H moving to town.”

“Why don’t you come to Dallas and stay with me before you start at HHS?” he offered. “You could do whatever you need to during the day while I’m at work.” He smiled. “And we’d have the nights together.”

She smiled shyly at him. “I’d like that.”

He ate the last bite of his ice cream. “Let’s go inside and visit with everyone. At least for a little while. Then I want you all to myself.”

Darby pulled into the Hawthorne High School teacher’s parking lot.

A few scattered cars were present, and she realized some teachers came in even on a Sunday to catch up with work.

The thought depressed her, knowing how she would already be busy Friday nights this fall with football games, both home and away.

That would mean no driving down to Dallas to see Jace after school let out for the weekend.

That didn’t even include basketball season, much less take into account the newspaper and yearbook.

She recalled on more than one occasion, when she was top dog of the newspaper, coming up on weekends to finish laying out the pages before filling them with stories she had proofread several times, not wanting a single typo to be associated with any edition under her watch.

Her journalism teacher was always present, with regulations in place for students to always have supervision and not be in the school alone.

That meant she would most likely be putting in overtime, both nights and weekends, with the two publications’ staffs.