All Good Things(94)

"And, there you go again," Jaylah accused. "Terrorizing her."

"I'm not." John defended himself adamantly.

"You are." Jaylah rolled her eyes affectionately. I glanced back at Jace, but he was watching me with bemused affection, making my heart skip beats erratically. "Come meet Mom. I'm sure we can leave the men to their own devices for just a moment." She looked at Jace, and then John, as though warning them with her eyes. "Can we trust you both to refrain from getting into any trouble?"

John nodded exuberantly, but Jace's eyes glittered with mischief. My steps stuttered as Jaylah pulled me toward, what I assumed, was the kitchen. I tugged on her hand. "Do you think they will actually get into anything?"

Jaylah laughed. "Without a doubt."

My eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Oh, yes." She laughed. "But, nothing serious. Most likely, they will talk cars and Jace will have booked an appointment to purchase, yet another car, to add to his collection. Or, who knows, maybe today it will be land and Jace will decide to build another hotel." Fondness flooded her tone. "John brings out a side of Jace, Mom and I rarely ever see. It's like he's a kid again. He forgets about the world around him and his responsibilities and just sort of glows."

"I would like to see him like that."

Jaylah cocked her head. "You already do."

I was taken aback. "I do?"

"Yes." She paused. "Jace has become someone completely different since you entered his life. Even Caleb stopped by one evening and was yipping on about how he is taking so much time off work and, when he is there, its obvious, he's not concentrating." She laughed at my wide eyes and nudged my shoulder. "You must see it?"

"Not really." I shrugged. "We went for ice cream today and he seemed a but more laid back than usual, but-,"

"You went for ice cream with my brother?" Jaylah looked like I'd slapped her across the face. Her shock shocked me, and I floundered for words.

"Yes,"

"Wow, he really is a changed man." She mused and then her eyes turned hard and she focused on me. She stopped walking and I followed suit. "Are you serious about him?"

I nodded. "I am."

"Good."

"Why?"

She shook her head as though I was dense. "Well, because he is obviously head over heels for you."

"Oh,"

"As if you didn't know."

"Well, I suspect he has feelings for me." I admitted. "But, I don't know how serious they are. We haven't really talked about our feelings."

Jaylah eyed me seriously. "Have you told him you're in love with him yet?"

"What?" I felt the blush return full force. "Why would you ask that?"

"Well, because you do." She shrugged. "Surely you've realized that by now?"

I shook my head in exasperation. "I haven't told him. But, I'm not exactly sure how I feel yet. We've only been a part of each others life for a few weeks. I'm not ready to jump into something so...serious." I shrugged. "I don't exactly think Jace is ready for that either."

"Great. You're both obliviously bullheaded people when it comes to love." She accused. "Just be sure you realize it before its too late."

With those words of confidence, she turned on her heel and walked away. I kicked into gear and followed behind her despite the fact that I wanted desperately to ponder her words.

I followed her into a spacious kitchen. My eyes immediately settled on a petite woman with black hair twisted up into a bun. She looked up when we entered the kitchen and I couldn't help but catch my breath at the sight of her eyes. They were just like Jace's...only hers weren't so haunted. She looked happy. I wondered if this is how Jace's eyes would look if he allowed some of the stress of the world to fall away to ash.

"Olivia," my name was a smile on her lips. She set the knife on the chopping block and moved quickly across the kitchen. "Well, aren't you a beautiful young lady." She appraised for a quick moment and then, to my surprise, she pulled me into a tight hug. It was the kind of hug I'd dreamed about for years of my own mother giving me. It was an embrace filled to the very brim with feeling. My throat closed with emotion and I hugged her back.

"Hello Mrs. Rush."

"Oh, don't you dare," she chastised. "Call me Karen...or Mom. Those are your choices."

Jaylah chuckled as she resumed chopping the potatoes Karen had been working on when we interrupted. "Just call her Mom. It's what she's hoping for."

I laughed. "I don't know how Jace would feel about that."

Karen's eyes glittered with mischief; the same mischievous look I'd seen in Jace's eyes only a few minutes ago. Suddenly, his voice rang out from behind me. I swear I jumped at least a meter.