Page 41 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

Chapter

Twenty-Five

J ace disembarked from his plane, having been gone ten days. He’d visited five cities, meeting with three current clients and four potential new ones. The trip had also included attending two different college games and two NFL ones. He was bone tired.

And liked it that way.

He had found that keeping busy was the only remedy for missing Darby, knowing he was patching a bullet hole with a Band-Aid.

Consequently, he doubled down, working even longer hours than usual.

When he left work, it was to attend meetings related to business or social affairs where he could talk business.

No one had accompanied him as a plus-one.

His interest in women had come to a standstill.

The thought of sex with anyone other than Darby had kept him celibate.

The driver dropped him at his office, and Jace carried his suitcase and briefcase to his office.

No one greeted him when he entered. He would like to think it was because everyone was too busy to even realize he was passing through.

Instead, he knew it was because he had bitten off heads left and right after Darby abandoned him.

Pride had kept him from apologizing to anyone.

Darby would’ve been angry at him for that.

Hell, he was angry at himself. All the time.

But he didn’t have a clue how to fix things.

She’d been right. Though their sexual chemistry was off the charts, their lifestyles and professions were utterly incompatible.

Her life revolved around the small town of Hawthorne, while his was continually on the go, a fast pace that thrived in a big city.

Compromise was out of the question. Neither of them would budge from what they did or where they lived. Jace just needed to get past it.

But damn, his heart was heavy.

He blamed himself for having gotten involved with her.

He should have known not to do so. Work was his drug, and he was addicted to it.

Being personable around clients and at high society affairs while keeping an emotional distance was his trademark.

It was only when he veered from that and let Darby into his heart that all the trouble had erupted.

Jace had learned his lesson, all too well. In the future, he would not become emotionally involved with a woman. Enjoy being seen with her. Enjoy the sex. And then move on.

The fact that the moving on from Darby was causing him trouble stuck in his craw.

Elena wasn’t at her desk as he went inside his office. He closed the door, and that would be indication enough to her that he had arrived since it always remained open while he was gone.

Rolling his suitcase into a corner, he took his briefcase to his desk and found several neat piles atop it.

Phone messages. Documents which needed his review.

A list of items every employee had been working on during his absence from the office.

While he’d checked in a few times a day with Elena, it was nice to get an overall picture of what had happened while he’d been on the road.

A light tap sounded, and Mark came in. “Good to have you back. I think.”

He sighed. “Good to be back. It’s nice to be in the office and become grounded again.”

Mark crossed the room and handed Jace a few file folders, saying, “Contracts for you to review.” He named the clients involved, and Jace nodded.

“I’ll look them over tomorrow,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “I haven’t gotten much sleep lately. I’ll put fresh eyes on them tomorrow.”

“That’s fine,” his partner assured him. “Anything you’d like to talk about?”

While they had known one another in college and Mark was the closest thing to a friend Jace had, he never spoke of personal matters with Mark.

His partner had married five years ago and was the father to a three-year-old and a baby.

Mark came to work and did a fantastic job, and then he went home and devoted himself to his family.

He let Jace attend the bevy of social events, saying he was now a homebody.

Now wasn’t the time to dump his sorrows. Jace would keep his heartache to himself. No one knew he had loved Darby, much less that he still did.

And always would.

“No, I’m good. I’ve got an art auction to attend in Deep Ellum tonight.”

“Why don’t you give the social scene a break and just go home and get some sleep?” Mark suggested.

Giving his partner a devilish smile, he said, “That ain’t me.”

Mark shook his head. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Half an hour later, Jace decided to leave the office. It was almost six anyway. He could go home and relax an hour before he headed back out.

Elena was at her desk again, furiously tapping at her computer’s keys. She glanced up and nodded to him, saying, “You see everything I left for you?”

“I did. Anything else I need to be filled in on?”

She paused, looking as if she were contemplating telling him something. Then she began typing again. “Nope. You’ve got the art auction tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Her tone was dismissive, and it bothered him.

Jace was used to enjoying being around Elena.

She didn’t let him get away with anything, and she kept the office and his life running smoothly.

He probably should give her another bonus.

Or a raise. Darby would approve of that.

He winced as he headed to the elevator, telling himself to stop thinking about her, knowing it was impossible.

They said time healed all wounds, and he wondered how much time it would take to get Darby Montgomery out of his head and heart.

He drove home and dumped everything from his suitcase in a pile for his housekeeper to deal with.

She came in on Tuesdays and Fridays, doing his laundry and cleaning the condo until it sparkled, as well as running errands for him.

She dropped off clothes at the cleaners and picked them up.

Kept his fridge and liquor cabinet stocked.

Even collected his mail, something he usually forget to pick up in the lobby.

Since tomorrow was Friday, she could deal with the dirty clothes then.

It didn’t feel right, though. He returned to the pile, separating the clothes which could be washed from those needing to go to the cleaners.

He placed the dirty clothes in his hamper and draped the rest over the chair in his bedroom.

Jace had found himself doing little things such as this, and he knew Darby’s influence on him would last for a long time.

Going downstairs to his Porsche, he drove to the Deep Ellum art gallery where the auction would take place.

It would display works in numerous mediums and was featuring up and coming artists on the Dallas scene.

He snagged a glass of champagne and quickly downed it, then picked up a few canapés.

The last time he’d eaten had been on the plane hours ago, and he realized he was hungry.

He moved through the art gallery, speaking to a few people but mostly avoiding the crowd, pretending to study the various pieces of art without conversation.

Paintings hanging on the wall were part of the auction, as well as pottery, sculptures, and even jewelry.

He paused in front of a display of turquoise jewelry, his mind, wandering, when he heard his name.

Coming out of his reverie, he saw Penelope Rossi had joined him.

She was the last person he wished to see this evening.

“Ah, Jace Tanner. Our paths cross again,” she said, smiling mischievously. “It must be fate.”

Shrugging, he said, “We attend some of the same events.” Glancing at the card next to the jewelry, he said, “I see this is your work. Nice.”

Her brows arched. “Are you saying that to be kind, or do you really like it?”

Jace remained silent. Actually, he didn’t like it at all, finding it too clunky. Darby never would have worn anything so bold and in your face. She was petite. He could see her wearing a delicate necklace on a thin chain. Simple diamond studs.

“Jace?”

He looked at Penelope, realizing he’d gone off on another tangent. “I was thinking of the type of woman who might wear a design this bold.”

“I noticed you aren’t here with anyone tonight. I haven’t seen you with any woman in a while.” Pausing, she studied him. “Not since you brought that short, average-looking woman to the casino party.”

Jace knew she was trying to provoke a response from him, so he kept his temper under control.

“I don’t think Darby is average-looking at all. She’s striking.”

Again, Penelope assessed him. “Then why isn’t she here with you if you are so enamored with her?”

“She doesn’t live in Dallas,” he said coolly, ready to end their conversation and move on.

“I knew she was just another woman passing through your life,” Penelope said. “I told her so.”

Shock filled him. Jace clasped Penelope’s elbow. “What did you tell her?” he asked, his words quiet but filled with rage.

Penelope tossed her hair and leaned into him, her heavy musk perfume overwhelming him.

“I believe my exact words were that she was your latest flavor of the week. I told her that I knew all about that because I had been your choice the week before. That you had wined and dined me at Dallas’ most exclusive restaurant, only to drop me without warning.”

Sudden clarity filled Jace. Darby had already struggled with doubts about how their lives might mesh.

With Penelope telling Darby about the dinner he had shared with her at The Mansion, Jace could only imagine the spin Penelope had put upon it.

He feared Darby would have totally misinterpreted what Penelope had shared.

After all, the optics didn’t look good, with him spending a few days in Darby’s company, only to escort Penelope to dinner the very same day Darby had left town.

Had that been the catalyst which had caused Darby to reevaluate their relationship? Did she believe he had been unfaithful to her the moment she had left Dallas?

His gut told him that’s exactly what Darby had thought. Out of context, it did sound bad. Jace knew he had only fulfilled an obligation to Penelope, since he had been the one to cancel their date so that he could take Darby to dinner and spend time with her.

He released Penelope’s arm. “You deliberately tried to poison what I had with Darby,” he accused.

Her satisfied smile told him all he needed to know, but she said, “If I couldn’t have you, why should she?”

“You are vile, Penelope. You knew when we arranged to go to the charity event together that it was a one-time situation. I felt bad that I had to cancel, and that was the only reason I took you to dinner. Do not speak to me again. Do not even come within my field of vision.”

“Are you threatening me, Jace?” she asked indignantly.

“No. I’m making it clear that I want nothing to do with you. Ever.”

He walked out of the art gallery without purchasing anything or even saying goodbye to the host. Jace walked the streets of Deep Ellum for over an hour, turning everything over in his mind.

He knew now that Darby had been spooked by whatever Penelope Rossi had said to her.

She had been enjoying herself at the casino party, and then she’d done an about-face.

Whether they made it or not as a couple should have been between them, without Penelope’s intervention.

Jace was ready to do something about that now.

He looked around, trying to figure out where he was, and then headed back to where he’d parked his car. Driving home, he decided to call Eli.

“Hey,” his brother said. “How was your road trip?”

He’d shared with Eli about his upcoming trip but hadn’t called him during it.

“Productive,” he replied. “What have you been up to?”

“Autumn and I went to the high school’s homecoming parade tonight. They hold one every year the night before the big game. This year they’re playing the Eagles, and I’ve learned that that’s their longtime rival. Hawthorne leads the series by two games now.”

“What was the parade like?” Jace asked. “I’ve never been to one.”

Eli described some of the floats to him, including the one Triple H’s staff had put together.

He explained how the building had been documented on their Instagram page.

As they spoke, Jace pulled up the account and was surprised at how elaborate the float was.

Guilt filled him. Eli was always asking about his work.

He should reciprocate more. Follow this account. Be a better brother.

Be a better man.

“How’s Darby doing?” he asked, softly.

“Whoa. Outta left field question.” Eli went silent a moment. “Do you really want to know?”

“Yes.”

“She’s doing okay. Busy with teaching and the activities she’s sponsoring. Her cheerleaders won first place among the school floats tonight. You could probably see it on the HHS website or on Instagram.”

Jace was already typing into his phone, pulling up the Hawthorne Hawks’ account and seeing floats and other pictures from the parade this evening. Darby was in one, and his heart skipped a beat catching sight of her.

“I miss her,” he admitted. “I screwed up, Eli. Royally.”

“I gathered you did. Darby hasn’t said a word to me about what went down between the two of you. She’s not a person who would badmouth someone. She’s kept details of your breakup to herself. Maybe Kelby knows the truth. Or at least some of it. They’re tight.”

“My question is, what are you going to do about it, Jace? Are you going to make things right?”

He thought for a minute—and decided that life with Darby was better than life without her. Whatever he had to do. Whatever it took.

“I’m coming to Hawthorne to see if she’ll take me back,” Jace declared.