Page 7 of The Comeback Road (Leaving #2)

Lexie

“I was just explaining to Raya here that the princess should always slay her own dragons.” I shot Jace a playful smile. “Don’t you agree?” I couldn’t help the teasing grin that spread across my face as he took in my outfit, Raya still attached firmly to my hip.

“Of course. It doesn’t hurt to have help, though.” He winked at me and reached for Raya at the exact same time the little traitor reached for him, both of them sharing matching smiles.

“It seems that introductions aren’t necessary?” Looking between the two of them, I found myself wondering if I should be asking questions. But before I could speak, Raya broke out in laughter when Jace ruffled her hair as he held her in his arms.

“Uncle Jace! I haven’t seen you in fooooorever .”

“I know, kid. I’ve been busy with work, and I haven’t stopped in to visit with you much. I’ll be fixing that right away.”

“Okay, good. Don’t want you to forget about me,” she said so nonchalantly, even though we could see the frown on his face.

Raya had shrugged out of Jace’s hold, and I couldn’t help but wince at her words and reaction.

I immediately wanted to find whoever that kid’s father was and kick his ass.

Before I could gather my thoughts, Raya had already started down the hallway and back into the kitchen, where I knew Magnolia and Remi were.

They were probably trying their best not to hover—even though I thought I’d have bet my entire paycheck that they were in the kitchen, spying and possibly eating popcorn, watching us like it was their favorite show.

“Lexie, it’s been too long.” He stepped forward and placed a brief kiss on my forehead. I couldn’t help but lean into him—just one kiss, and my entire body wanted to melt into him. I need to keep my cool here…

“It’s only been a few hours.” I backed up a bit so I could lean up and look at him.

“And that’s too long.” He pulled me back to him. “Are you ready to go? Or we can stay here and hang out with everyone if you’d like.” I almost laughed at the way the last words seemed painful for him to say.

“Ouch, Casanova. You finally have the chance to get me alone, and you want to stay here?”

“Make no mistake, there’s nothing I’d rather do than have you all to myself. But if you want to stay, we stay.” The absence of nonsense in his tone about giving me what I wanted had me all but dragging him out the front door.

“Let’s go, please.” I turned around quickly and grabbed my light jacket from the banister. I had briefly forgotten the ridiculous outfit I had put on to please Raya, and I felt my cheeks turn pink. “I should go change.”

“I think you look perfect in what you’re in, but if you’d be more comfortable changing, I’ll wait right here until you’re ready to go.”

My flush trailed from my head to my toes at his words, but I knew I wouldn’t be comfortable all night.

“Is this a jeans and T-shirt kind of night, or can I really go all out and wear my nicest pair of leggings?” I asked in a sing-song voice.

Jace’s light laugh sounded through the air around us.

I swore right then and there that I would do whatever it took to get him to laugh like that as much as possible.

It was intoxicating, and I found myself lost in the sound, completely forgetting what it was I was supposed to be doing. Right, changing.

“I’d go for the nicest pair of leggings.” Jace reached out, took a strand of my hair in his hands, and curled it around his finger, twirling it around for a few seconds. Suddenly, he jerked back as if he weren’t exactly aware of what he was doing, “Sorry about that,” he said almost sheepishly.

“I’ll be right back.” I couldn’t help but lean forward and up on my toes to give him a peck. I meant to aim for his cheek, but ended up landing partially on his lips, and I heard a low growl coming from him as I backed away. I liked that— a lot .

The drive to Jace’s place went quickly— Rockland was so dang small—so we didn’t even really have the time to make proper small talk.

We pulled up to an older-style house covered in stone.

It looked almost out of place, but it also looked like it had been there for hundreds of years.

I expected to see a place like that in the foothills of Scotland.

It was a stone cottage, and it was amazing .

There was even a porch swing, and I had to actively stop myself from running toward it.

“This place is magical. It’s so…” I couldn’t stop the words tumbling from my mouth.

“I know,” Jace said, almost with reverence. I couldn’t describe it, but I understood why he felt that way, and I hadn’t even been inside yet. “I knew the second I saw it that it was mine. Come, let me show you. Stay in the car until I can get to you.”

Bossy, I mouthed at him. His grin widened, and he made his way over to my side.

Jace opened the door and offered me a hand down.

and I knew the smile I had on my face must have looked ridiculous.

I wasn’t a virgin, by any means, but relationships?

After what my dad put my mom through, I never saw much of the point.

Until Jace. Suddenly, I saw all the points. Every single point.

“Welcome to my home.”

He opened the door, and it was like something out of a magazine.

The walls were the same deep gray stone color as outside, and the trim was a deep oak color, with matching tables and end pieces throughout the space.

Upon further inspection, the kitchen was a muted forest green.

None of it should have looked good, but it all went together so well.

When I saw the stone fireplace, I was speechless.

“This is…otherworldly. I don’t have words.” It was a dream.

“Please, come sit.”

Jace ushered me into the kitchen and started to pull out containers from the diner. I couldn’t help but laugh, and I saw the blush. “I, uh…I can’t really cook,” he offered up.

“It’s okay. I love the diner, and next time, I’ll cook.”

“You can cook?” he asked in a hopeful tone.

“Yes, my mom taught me.”

“Tell me about her.”

That question started everything—started the perfect night.

And before I knew it, we had spent hours talking.

Talking about our lives growing up—though I didn’t talk about my dad, and he didn’t pry.

I told him all about my mom, about meeting Magnolia.

We discussed and argued about our favorite things, food, and people.

What our biggest icks were, and what we saw for ourselves down the road.

At some point after we had finished eating, we made our way over to the sofa and were intertwined, the fireplace going in the back. I found myself yawning. Jace looked at the watch on his wrist and frowned.

“It’s 11:47. I should probably get you home.”

I couldn’t help but grimace. Is he not attracted to me? Almost as if reading my thoughts, he put my worries to rest.

“I want to do this right, Lex. I want to get to know you first.” He kissed the top of my head, and I felt the warmth of it all throughout my body. I instantly relaxed at his words. This is a good thing, right?

“Okay, Casanova, take me home. My boss can be a dick . He might not take kindly to me yawning every five minutes at my desk.”

“You let me know if he gives you problems. I’ll kick his ass.”

Laughing, I briefly snuggled in closer before detaching myself and standing up. “If we don’t go now, we won’t.” I held my hand out to Jace and, with a reluctant look, he took it, helping himself up.

He went to grab his keys and wallet as I waited by the front door, every interaction we had screaming that Jace wouldn’t take very kindly to me heading out into the dark without him, even if he was only a few steps behind.

“You wait until I can open your door, ya hear?”

“Yes, boss .”

Jace shot me a heated look as he made his way toward me. “You’re playing with fire.”

“I’m okay with that.”

He pulled me to him and gave me a hard kiss on the mouth. “Get in the truck, trouble.”

“Yes, boss .”