Page 8 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

Jace stood a moment, overwhelmed by the request. Summer nodded encouragingly at him, and Jace beamed at Eli. “I’d be happy to, Big Brother.”

Taking the boutonniere Eli handed to him, Jace fastened it to his lapel. Then his brother also gave him a small ring box, which Jace placed into his pocket.

The judge officiating the ceremony had them take their places, and Autumn and her father appeared.

The ceremony was brief, the judge’s comments full of good humor.

Jace studied Autumn’s face as she looked up at Eli and spoke her vows.

Without a doubt, the bride loved her groom very much.

It was obvious Eli also was over the moon about Autumn.

He said his vows with love on his face and in his tone.

Jace felt privileged to witness their union.

And could only hope that someday he might also live this kind of love story.

After the ceremony ended, Meg Sutherland asked Jace to stay for dinner.

“We’ve got plenty of barbeque and even a small wedding cake, along with Blue Bell ice cream.”

He laughed. “You are talking my love language, Meg. My knees go weak at the mention of Blue Bell.”

“Well, I was able to find Bride’s Cake. It’s Autumn’s favorite flavor, and they only produce it for a few months each summer.

Fortunately, I have a large freezer in the garage, and Joe picks up a new half-gallon of Blue Bell anytime it goes on sale.

I’m not embarrassed to admit that I have no less than six different flavors in my freezer right now. ”

“It’s too bad you’re already married, Meg,” he teased. “Else I would try to sweep you off your feet.”

Darby joined them. “I overheard you mentioning Blue Bell. I couldn’t help but hope we’re having some after dinner, Aunt Meg.”

“We are. In fact, why don’t you and Jace go bring two or three flavors in from the garage and put them in the kitchen freezer?”

“Will do,” Darby said, eyeing him. “Come on, Jace. I’ll pick the flavors. You can be the muscle and cart them in.”

He playfully flexed his biceps. “I knew all those gym workouts would come in handy.”

She led him into the house and out a door leading to the garage. Opening the large freezer, she said, “You can always count on Uncle Joe and Aunt Meg to have ice cream on hand. I think that’s why they bought this freezer years ago.”

“Your aunt said Autumn’s favorite is Bride’s Cake.”

Spying it, Darby reached in and handed it to him. “Done. Ooh, Blackberry Cobbler. Definitely this one.” She stacked it on top of the carton he already held. “One more. I wish I knew what Eli liked.”

A sudden ache of sadness filled him. They’d barely had enough to eat when he and Eli were children.

Having access to ice cream was out of the question.

Jace could still recall the first time he’d been given the frozen treat on the day the Tanners brought him home.

His new mother had asked if he liked vanilla ice cream.

Jace hadn’t known what she referred to. Still, he was always hungry and figured it must be something to eat, so he’d told her he loved it.

One bite—and his love affair with Blue Bell ice cream had begun.

That day he’d been given Vanilla Bean. As a treat, his mother had squeezed chocolate syrup atop it.

In his entire life, Jace had never eaten anything as good as that first bowl of Blue Bell ice cream when he was three years old.

“Go with vanilla,” he suggested. “Everyone likes that.”

“Aunt Meg has a carton of that, but it’s too boring. Let’s go with Mint Chocolate Chip instead. This is a household of chocoholics.”

Darby removed the half-gallon container and closed the freezer. Jace led them back into the house, opening the door to the kitchen freezer and placing his two flavors inside. Darby set hers inside, as well, and closed the door.

“I’m glad you showed up today, Jace. Autumn has shared how Eli really has been trying to find you. You showing up is the best gift imaginable.”

“I almost didn’t come,” he admitted. “Something compelled me to drive here. I didn’t have a clue how Eli would receive me. I merely wanted to wish him good luck with his wedding and hoped that he might want to get together sometime in the near future.”

“Where do you live?” she asked. “Dallas? I know West said you were his agent, so I assume your offices are there since he played for the Cowboys.”

“They are. I live and work in downtown. I started Touchdown Talent Management five years ago. I was lucky to land West as a client my very first week in business. He’d been with another agent and was unhappy with the representation he’d received.

I was one of several agencies which pitched to him, and he said TTM checked all his boxes.

” He paused. “What do you do for a living?”

He saw an odd look cross her face. It was so brief, for a moment he thought he was mistaken about seeing it because she smiled brightly.

“I’ve been with Cheer USA for over ten years now. Kelby and I cheered together at UT. During our summers in college, we started working for Cheer USA, traveling the country and teaching cheers and dances at clinics. The summer job became my full-time employment after I graduated.”

“You continued to teach?”

“I did. I became a choreographer, creating dances at first, and then also moving into coming up with cheers and chants and their motions. I would teach what I’d created to everyone on staff in Kansas City, and then I’d travel the country, leading the choreography.

Recently, I’ve moved more into the corporate end of work.

In fact, next week I’ll be in Dallas, finalizing plans at the arena Cheer USA will use to hold its national competitions in early February next year. ”

“How long will you be in town?” he asked, his heart suddenly beating fast.

“My meetings are Tuesday and Wednesday. Depends upon how fast I can finish up as to whether or not I fly back to Kansas City on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.”

“Have dinner with me,” he urged.

She looked startled at the idea. “Why?”

Jace gave her a smile, one which usually melted any woman’s heart. “Because I asked?”

Darby just snorted. “I need more than that.”

No woman ever challenged him. No woman ever said no.

It was actually refreshing to hear it.

“Because I think you’re interesting. Beautiful.” Flashing another smile, he added, “And because we’re family now, with the wedding and all. I need to get to know my cousin-in-law? Is that what you are?”

She laughed, a musical sound which he could quickly become addicted to. “I really don’t think there’s a name for our new relationship.”

“Then let’s strike up a friendship,” he ventured.

And see where it leads.

“Sure. We can have dinner together on Tuesday. It’ll give me an excuse not to continue with business after hours. After being with the same people all day, I hate when business spills over into drinks. Dinner. Or both. I like to get away from business, don’t you?”

Jace laughed. “I rarely get away from it. I own the company, and there’s always something to be done. Then again, I have a superb assistant. Everyone should have an Elena Arturo in their lives. She makes running TTM easy with her help.”

“She sounds like my kind of person,” Darby said, a teasing look entering her eyes. “Maybe I should have dinner with Elena instead of you.”

“Have dinner with me Tuesday,” he pressed. “Then if you’re still here Wednesday, I can see if Elena is available.”

Darby laughed again. “You’re on. Let’s go grab some barbeque now. While Kansas City is known for their barbeque, I can’t help but be partial to the version Texas has.”

“I’ve never been to Kansas City,” Jace said as they returned to the backyard.

But if things went well with Darby at dinner Tuesday night, he could picture himself flying up to see her. Jace felt the pull toward her, and from the look in Darby’s eyes, she also could sense something between them.

They flirted lightly as dinner went on, and by the time the ice cream was brought out, Jace knew that he wanted to spend time alone with Darby Montgomery.

Today had been a revelation. He’d discovered the brother he’d longed to be reunited with.

And maybe he’d finally found the woman who could hold his attention.

For good.