Page 17 of Burning Love (Looking For Love #7)
TALKING TO YOU
“ T ell me about this guy you’re dating,” her sister, Laken, said on Friday night after she came to Talia’s hotel room.
Her mother, Phoebe, her Aunt Carolina and her youngest cousin, Raleigh, from her mother’s side, Aunt Amber, her cousin Eliza from her father’s side, all landed a few hours ago at JFK.
It was more than she thought would fly in. Two of her older cousins on her mother’s side, Paris and London, were in town this week for work anyway, so they’d be at the baby shower also.
The rest were her brothers’ significant others that lived here in New York. Braylon’s wife, Lily, and Foster’s fiancée, Charlotte.
“When did Mom tell you I was dating someone?” Talia asked. It was the only way her sister could have found out.
“She mentioned it yesterday when we talked. I think she wants me to find out what I can about him.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Her mother hadn’t said one word about her going out on Wednesday. She thought they had an understanding that her mother would give her space.
She should have known better.
“She feels this might be important to you.”
“It’s important that I do this on my own.”
“Sounds serious,” Laken said. “Is it because you found out the last guy was only interested in who you were related to? If anyone understands that, it’s me. You can trust me if you want to talk.”
With Laken nine years older than her, Talia never had this growing up with her sister. “I wish I could have talked to you more.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you,” Laken said.
“We were too far apart. I know. Even now, we are. And we are different people.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t confide in me. I won’t tell Mom, don’t worry. I mean it.”
She believed her sister. That she’d proven to her siblings she could be trusted also.
Talia didn’t tell anyone about Phoebe when she and Elias started dating. Her mother found out from one of her brothers instead.
“I’m not so sure many will be happy with Jace. Mom met him.”
“Okay, I need to know now. How can Mom not know who you are dating if she met him?”
“It’s the fire captain that came to the house a few weeks ago.”
Laken burst out laughing. “Mom suspects that.”
“Really?” she said, her shoulders dropping.
“Yeah. You might as well admit it. She put it together you’re hiding that because she might not approve because she’d made a comment that he was too old. Is that it?”
“That’s part of it.”
“How old is he?” Laken asked.
“Thirty-seven,” she said, wincing.
Laken mirrored the look. “That’s a year younger than West.”
“I know. But he doesn’t act like West. He’s mature, but not a dad about it.”
“West was a dad to you because you needed one,” Laken said. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but what you said to me a while ago sunk in. You have no memories of Dad. I do. You missed that. West tried to make up for that. He didn’t always do the best job, but he tried.”
“I know he did. So there is the age thing with Jace. And something else.”
“What’s that?”
“He’s never had a serious relationship. He was very clear he’s never looked for one.”
“Yet you’re spending time with him? This is a friends-with-benefits thing?”
“It’s not that for me,” she said. “I told him that when it turns into more for me, he’ll be the first to know and he can decide to stay or go.”
“That’s pretty bold.”
“He’s been upfront with me so I’m being it with him.”
“Upfront about what?” Laken asked.
“Nothing I feel right sharing.”
“Once West finds out, he’s going to look into Jace. You know that, don’t you?”
Her jaw dropped. “Has he done that with everyone I’ve dated?”
“No. Not that I’m aware of. But Mom is worked up about this. It’s sending red flags. That’s why I’m talking to you.”
“I guess I played my cards wrong on this one. The more I don’t say, the more she wants to know.”
“You absolutely didn’t play them wrong. I would have done the same thing at your age with Mom. She put it out there and judged him so you don’t want to hear anymore. That’s on her for speaking before she should have.”
“He’s a stand-up guy. He really is. He works hard at the fire department. His father owns a successful construction company he worked at before he was a fireman. He still helps his father on days off, but he’s rehabbing a house for himself. It’s beautiful. He’s done such a great job.”
“You’ve been to his house?” Laken asked.
“A few times.”
“Have you had sex yet?”
“I didn’t know we were getting this personal. I never asked when you had sex with Jamie the first time.”
And her sister wouldn’t have told her either.
“I am getting personal. You’re my baby sister. I know you don’t want to hear it, but it’s the truth. Maybe I’m concerned too by what you said.”
“What did I say that concerned you?”
She’d have to watch her words more carefully.
“That you told him once you start to feel more you’d tell him. That means you think it will happen and want him to decide before you get any deeper.”
Talia shrugged. “No one knows a few weeks in. I’ve dated a lot of people for months and realized they weren’t the one. I don’t want to not try. If it starts to turn for me, he’ll be honest with his feelings. I know it.”
“Did you ever stop to think you might be setting yourself up to be hurt?”
“Sometimes life hurts, Laken. I’d rather feel hurt than feel nothing at all.”
“God,” Laken said, her eyes getting misty. “You grew up before my eyes. You’re right. I won’t say anything to Mom.”
“Should I?”
“At some point you’re going to have to tell her. She’ll give you space because you all but threatened her with it.”
Talia laughed. “So much for that heartfelt conversation with Mom. I thought she was sincere and now she thinks I’m blackmailing her or something.”
“Mom needs to be put in her place at times too. We all know that,” Laken said, winking.
She grinned. “I’m glad other people think that.”
“You didn’t tell me about whether you had sex with Jace or not. Think of it as a sisters’ conversation we’ve never had. Have fun with it.”
Her head went back and forth.
She’d been dying to tell someone and it wasn’t as if she was going to admit it to her friends.
None of them knew she was seeing Jace. She’d never kept a secret this long before when it came to a man.
There was a huge part of her that wanted to avoid being judged.
“We did on Wednesday for the first time. It was wonderful. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt like that before. Oh...the control he had.”
Laken laughed. “There is something to be said about a guy with experience as long as he’s not a selfish lover.”
“Jace isn’t. Not in the least.”
“What’s his last name?”
Her sister could figure it out if she didn’t tell her. She all but handed her the information anyway saying who he was and where he worked.
“Rigby. Do you want to see a picture of him?”
“Absolutely.”
She pulled her phone out and showed her sister a picture she’d taken of Jace secretly when he was grilling. He had no clue, but she needed something she could gaze at when she wanted to smile.
“Hot damn,” Laken said. “Okay. Now I get it.”
“Get what?”
“The rugged appeal.”
“He’s not your type, I know.”
“My type and your type are different.” Laken rubbed her arm. “He’s a little like Dad.”
“What?” she screeched.
“Dad had this look to him that he could do anything. Nothing could stop him. He’d find a way to tackle it. Dad was a big guy too, muscular.”
“I don’t remember any of that,” Talia said. Her eyes filled some. “I’ve only seen old pictures of him, but my memory is dim.”
“I know,” Laken said gently. “You sound like you’ve got as good of a handle on this as you can. I’m here if you need to talk.”
She hugged her sister. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. Normally you’re busting on me or joining in with the rest of them to gang up.”
“I’ll do that too when the time is right. But it’s not now.”
“What are you two talking about in here?” her mother asked, coming into Talia’s hotel room. Her mother had gone to talk with one of her aunts.
“Just girl talk,” she said. “Nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
“Nope, Mom,” Laken said. “Girl talk between sisters.”
Her mother looked back and forth between them. “The way it should be.”
Maybe her mother wasn’t so bad after all.