All Good Things Exposed(27)

I know. I love you too.

So…?

So…what? I asked. If she thought she was getting the goods on Jace, she was terribly mistaken.

How's Jace?

Do you care? I asked.

Of course.

Amazing. As always.

When will you be home? She asked, bringing me back to the reality of my life.

In a couple hours. Will you go 2 the café for me?

Already here.

Thx. I replied and threw my phone into my bag. I would go find Jace and be on my way home. I wondered for a moment if he had the clothing he'd bought me before we broke it off the first time. Since he'd cut up my slutty dress, I assumed he did.

I wandered into his closet and found a dress shirt. I slipped into it ignoring the housecoat he'd given me the night before and padded to the door. As I walked down the stairs, I noticed an older woman working around the kitchen. My heart pounded as I walked into the kitchen and when she caught sight of me, she jumped.

"You gave me a scare, girl." She shook her head and looked me up and down.

"I'm sorry." I smiled unsurely as I sat on a stool. "I'm Olivia."

"I've heard." She grinned with her hands on her hips. "I'm Gail."

"It's nice to meet you. Sorry about my state of dress," I gestured to my clothing - or lack thereof. I was about to tell her Jace cut up my dress, but I decided it was better to keep that bit of information to myself.

Her eyes twinkled as she stared at me and I thought for a moment she was trying to keep herself from laughing. "It's not a problem." She waved her hand. "Are you hungry?"

I shook my head. "Um, no. I actually need to get going."

"The hell you do." Jace barked from behind me. I spun around to see him marching like a mad man through the living room. "We'll take pancakes for breakfast."

I raised a brow. "Those take forever."

"Exactly." Jace grinned the shit-grin that made me want to laugh and fight him at the same time.

"I have to go, Jace."

"Too bad you don't have any clothes to leave in."

Gail chuckled. "What happened to the clothes she came in?"

I threw a glare at Jace. "He cut my dress up."

A full belly laugh sounded from Gail as she shook her head. "Pancakes it is."

I grit my teeth as I stared at Jace. "Where are the clothes you bought for me the last time I was here?"

"I got rid of them." Jace shrugged.

"You didn't." I gasped.

"I did." He nodded. His voice turned quiet. "I didn't think you were coming back."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Gail stare at Jace as though shocked by his words and tone. Who did she know the man I loved to be? He had so many faces - so many sides. It was a wonder my senses weren't ruined, because since meeting Jace they had been on constant overdrive.

"Well," I sighed. "I guess I'll have to wear your shirt then."

Abhorrence flashed in his eyes and his jaw locked. "You're not walking out the door with no clothes on, Olivia."

"You're telling me what to do?" I asked pointedly.

He glared. "You want to have this discussion here?"

I knew he was talking about my agreement to being his submissive. And damn it, of course I didn't want to have this conversation in front of Gail. But I had to play it right and I wouldn't be blackmailed. "If you want to, then by all means."

A vein in his neck bulged and I knew I'd won this round. Jace wasn't about to divulge the terms of our relationship to his housekeeper. "Don't argue with me, Olivia."

"Don't argue with me, Jace." I replied. I noticed Gail watching us with interest as she mixed the pancake batter.

"You're not leaving. If I have to tie you to my bed, I will." His threat was nothing to take lightly. I was playing with fire and I knew it.

"I have responsibilities, Jace." I tried another rout. "I have to work. The café just opened and it already looks bad that I'm not there. I can't ditch out on the whole day."

"Why not?" Jace asked.

I frowned. Was he serious? No, he couldn't be. "Because I need to make a living."

"I have plenty of money." I saw Gail raise her brows and I bristled. Great now she's going to think I want him for his bank account. That's just what I need.

I drew in a long even breath. "All right - I want to work. I want to be at the café."

"Olivia,"

"Jace, you're pissing me off." I said bluntly. "I'm going whether you like it or not."

He ground his teeth and fisted his hands. "I'm driving you."

I nodded. I figured I would relent on the details that didn't really matter all that much rather than fighting and losing. "That's fair. We'll need to stop at my house for clothes first."