Despite Mia’s initial exasperation with Jace’s brothers, they turned out to be good company throughout dinner. By the time plates were cleared away after the main course, she had discovered that Heath did possess a sense of humor, albeit a very dry one. And Reed was endearingly earnest when he talked about his daughter.
People had been coming by the table throughout the evening to network with the Malone family, and now all three brothers were circulating the ballroom. While most guests formed lines at the decadent dessert buffets on either side of the room, Mia stayed at the empty table with Harry, discreetly slipping off her shoes under the tablecloth and wiggling her toes. Bliss.
Harry smiled at her. “You’re kind, but you don’t have to stay and babysit me if you’d rather go socialize. I remember what it was like to be young. Vaguely.”
“Actually, this is all a bit much for me. I’m thrilled for Jace, though.” The auction had raised thousands of dollars, and she could only imagine what Val and Jace were coaxing from key donors. “You must be very proud.”
Harry’s blue eyes, so like his grandson’s, were bright with affection. “Always knew the boy had it in him.” He didn’t seem to harbor any of the misgivings Jace’s brothers had expressed.
“Here you are, sir.” Harry’s aide returned to the table, setting down an artfully arranged berry parfait.
“What in the hell is this, Kevin? I sent you to get chocolate turtle cheesecake.”
The young man sighed. “We’ve talked about this. The parfait is heart-healthy.”
“Fine. You can let the driver know we’ll be headed out as soon as I’m finished with this fruit salad.”
“Yes, sir.”
Harry took a bite, then pursed his lips grumpily.
“No good?” Mia asked.
“It’s delicious. Damn it. But it’s not what I wanted. Family patriarch, captain of industry, and I don’t even get to pick my own desserts.” His expression softened. “But I suppose it’s a small price to pay for more time to watch Brooke grow up. Who knows? If I stick around long enough, might even have other great-grandkids someday.”
Someday was a lot sooner than he expected. Mia’s hand went to her stomach. It would mean so much to Jace for Harry to meet their baby. And to me. Even after only a few hours, she’d grown fond of Jace’s grandfather.
Once he finished dessert, Harry rose slowly. Mia wanted to help him but didn’t want to hurt his pride. She moved in to hug him good-night, subtly offering support.
“It was an honor to meet you,” she told him. “Jace thinks so highly of you.”
“Make him bring you around for a Sunday supper or a family game night,” Harry told her. “Something where we don’t have to dress up fancy and spend all night trying to remember people’s names.”
She laughed. “Sounds perfect.”
Kevin returned and escorted Harry toward the exit. They were stopped twice along the way. When a third guest approached, Mia watched the aide maneuver Harry to freedom and silently cheered them on. She envied their ability to go. It had been a lovely evening, but her feet hurt and her face ached from the strain of politely smiling at everyone she’d met.
“Cocktail, ma’am?” A waiter paused with a tray of the evening’s signature beverages. Mia had been told they were delicious.
“Oh, no, thank you.” But maybe she should go to the bar and get a glass of water. It would give her the opportunity to make some small talk with people. She was the host’s date. Sitting barefoot at an empty table while stifling yawns was bad form. Getting her feet back into her shoes was a lot more difficult than removing them, but she persevered.
As Mia made her way to the bar, an elegant silver-haired woman stepped into her path with a bright smile. “Dana! Marvelous to see you again.”
“Um, sorry,” Mia said. “You must have me confused with someone else.”
The woman frowned. “Didn’t we meet at the PCF Charity Golf Tournament?”
“Afraid not.”
“Which foundations are you a member of? I’m sure our paths have crossed.”
“Actually, I’m just here tonight as Jace’s date.”
“Jace Malone?” The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh, but I thought he and Va—Never mind. Lovely to have met you, dear.” She turned in the opposite direction, departing at an impressive speed given her high heels.
“I’m sorry, did you say you were here with Jace Malone?”
Mia turned to find a slender brunette, dripping in diamonds. Her statement necklace would probably pay off Mia’s mortgage. “Y-yes.”
“I’ll bet you and I could swap some wild stories,” the woman said in a confidential tone. “I dated him in college. Not for long, of course—he wasn’t there long. But our time together was certainly memorable.”
“I’m sure.” Mia worked to conjure a smile. “I was on my way to the ladies’ room, though, so...”
“Another time, then. You tell him Bex said hi.”
“Absolutely.” Were rich, thin women his usual type? No wonder his brothers had scrutinized Mia earlier tonight as if she were a confounding specimen.
Plenty of people seemed to think he and Valencia were a couple, and Mia had no trouble picturing it. The likable lawyer would fit into Jace’s world so easily. She was glamorous and funny and probably didn’t have any anecdotes that involved sticking her arm inside a cow.
Leaving behind the buzz of party chatter, Mia made her way down thickly carpeted stairs. The anterior lounge leading to the women’s restroom was a study in old-school opulence. Heavy velvet curtains hung on either side of the archway; two mahogany-stemmed fainting couches and a leather love seat formed a triangle around a marble-topped table. There was a fireplace framed in matching marble. She was amused by the over-the-top golden phone booth in the corner.
Was the love seat as comfortable as it looked? She sat down, giving a contented sigh at the softness of the leather. It would be so nice to rest here for a few minutes. Jace was busy enough that he wouldn’t miss her.
Her eyes slid shut. Just a few minutes.
Jace was relieved when his brothers found him to say good-night, extricating him from a conversation with an ex who’d been hinting that her marriage was unhappy. Heath had removed his jacket and loosened his tie.
Reed, on the other hand, remained perfectly pressed and buttoned-up. He gestured broadly at the ballroom. “Not too shabby, little brother.”
Jace laughed. From Reed, the casual words were high praise. “Thanks. But you don’t get to use ‘little’ when I’m an inch taller than you.”
“Half an inch, tops.”
Heath rolled his eyes at them. “I settled up with the caterers. Make sure you and Valencia get me any receipts I don’t have already. Oh, and tell Mia we said goodbye.”
Reed nodded. “Sorry we didn’t get a chance to say it ourselves.”
As his brothers walked away, Jace tried to remember the last time he’d seen Mia. He could understand if she’d decided to leave early, but she wouldn’t have gone without telling him. She’d been amazingly supportive tonight, gracious about all the strangers she’d been introduced to and understanding at the constant interruptions whenever he actually found a moment to be with her. When she’d praised his efforts, was it Jace’s imagination, or had her compliments been rather pointed? She’d seemed to go out of her way to call him successful in front of his brothers.
He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. Can’t find you. Everything ok?
No response.
“Hey! You’re supposed to be charming people, not scowling at your phone,” Val chided. “We’re almost done. Don’t give out on me now.”
“Sorry.” He slid his phone back into his pocket. “I can’t find Mia.” Guilt gnawed at him. Inviting her here tonight had been arrogant. He’d wanted to impress her, had wanted to show her off to his brothers, but she’d worked on her feet all day before coming here. She was probably exhausted. Or sick.
“Maybe she’s in the ladies’ room?” Val suggested.
“Yeah. I think I’m gonna go check.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You’re going to check the ladies’ room?”
He just needed to know she was all right. “I can knock on the door.”
“Or I could go downstairs for you.”
“It looks like an opportunity to talk to the mayor just opened up.” He nodded over Val’s shoulder. “Didn’t you want to chat with her about some city business?”
“Oh! Yes, I did.”
While Valencia seized her opportunity, he went down the hall to the grand staircase. The floor below was hushed, dimly lit with wall sconces that were electric but designed to flicker like candlelight. This part of the building was enough like an ancient castle that one could forget the place had state-of-the-art Wi-Fi. The corridor led to a huge arch, and he passed through the draperies to a sitting area.
Mia wasn’t exactly sitting, though. She was slumped sideways on a love seat, her hair tumbling free of its updo, one foot dangling bare, her lips slightly parted as she slept. His chest tightened at the vulnerable picture she made. She looked adorable, but he experienced a fresh rush of guilt that he’d insisted on taking her home instead of sending her with Liam.
Resisting the urge to kiss her, he gently brushed her hair away from her face. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty.”
“Nuh-uh. Cinderella,” she mumbled without opening her eyes. “But I turned into a pumpkin.”
He laughed. “I’m not sure that’s how the story goes. You did lose a shoe, though.” He picked up her fallen sandal.
“Jace?” She blinked, sounding surprised to see him. “Thought I was dreaming.”
He liked the idea that he appeared in her dreams. She’d sure as hell starred in some of his.
“I can’t believe I fell asleep!” Now that she was fully awake, embarrassment colored her expression. She covered her face with her hands. “I’m so sorry.”
“My fault.” He sat next to her. “You warned me how easily you wear out right now, because of the baby.” Our baby. It still gave him chills. Even though he’d requested they wait to tell his family, part of him wanted to shout from the rooftops that Mia was pregnant with his child. He hadn’t expected it, hadn’t even known he wanted it, but the idea of their baby filled him with indescribable satisfaction and fierce protectiveness. “Inviting you tonight was selfish, but I wanted to impress you.”
A short laugh escaped her. “Impress me? That’s ironic.”
“How so?”
“Everyone I met tonight is so glamorous. I spend my days in scrubs. And with the pregnancy changes...” She frowned down at herself. “I know they’re normal, healthy changes, but I feel puffy. Ungainly.”
He shook his head. “Lush and voluptuous and sexy as hell. You’re the most beautiful woman here.”
“That’s nice of you to say.”
“Doc.” He waited until she met his gaze. “When I look at you, my thoughts aren’t ‘nice.’”
A rosy blush stained her cheeks. “No?” Her breathing quickened, drawing his eyes to the square neckline of her dress, to the rise and fall of her full breasts.
“I’ve wanted you since you walked through the door tonight.” His voice was ragged, gruffer than he’d intended. He’d thought about their night together so often, and now, with her this close, he felt like his edges were fraying. “No, I’ve wanted you since I walked out of your cabin that morning.”
Her eyes widened. “I thought... I thought it would be simpler if we kept things platonic.”
A brutal sense of loss gutted him, robbing him of words. His jaw clenched, but he nodded to show that he respected her decision.
“But I want you, too,” she admitted.
His gaze jerked to hers. Jace held himself still, not reaching for her until he knew they were in agreement.
“And I’m already having your baby,” she added. Her lips curved in a slow smile. “So we passed ‘simple’ a few exits ago.”
“You sure?”
She leaned toward him, and Jace gave in to temptation, tunneling his fingers through her hair and capturing her mouth in a long, thorough kiss meant to demonstrate exactly how much he craved her. When he pulled her into his lap, she purred a low mmm of encouragement. Damn, he’d missed her sexy sounds.
He only stopped kissing her because he needed to look at her, to memorize her passion-glazed expression and generous curves. He traced his index finger from her collarbone to her cleavage, outlining the swell of one breast. “Your skin is so soft. I could touch you for hours.” Even as he said it, he knew he should be back upstairs already. He had to say good-night to donors and volunteers—not to mention he and Mia could be interrupted at any moment.
But he needed his hands on her like he needed his next breath. He bunched up her skirt, which felt like miles of fabric, until he was caressing her thigh. She shifted, planting one foot on the ground and angling her leg to give him better access. The erotic contrast of touching her so intimately while they were both fully dressed had him rock-hard. He wasn’t alone in his desire. Even through the silky material of her panties, he could feel how wet she was.
Under other circumstances, he’d go to his knees in front of her and taste her earthy sweetness, taking his time to bring her closer and closer to the edge of pleasure until she shook and shuddered. Instead, he slid aside the narrow band of fabric separating her from his touch, and she gasped, melting against him. Jace held her, his chest muffling her cries, as he strummed his fingers over her, ruthlessly chasing her orgasm until she stiffened, going up on her toes as her body bowed. Then she relaxed against him with a sigh, her hair tumbling in waves around them.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I can’t leave yet, but I’ll have Liam take you home.”
She bit her lip, obviously conflicted.
“Mia, go. You’re resting for two now. I’m sorry tonight was tedious.”
Her laugh rumbled through her. “Yes, earth-shattering climaxes in castles are so tiresome.”
He stole another kiss, grinning against her mouth. “Smart-ass.”
She stood, smoothing her dress into place, then fussing with her hair. He didn’t have the heart to tell her it was a lost cause. She looked thoroughly, hopelessly debauched. He couldn’t stop smiling.
“Will you call me when you get home?” she asked.
“That defeats the purpose of my sending you off so you can get to bed.”
“Jace.” She looked up at him with wide hazel eyes, gently imploring. “I want yours to be the last voice I hear before I go to sleep.”
It was like a sucker punch to his heart. He barely refrained from rubbing his chest. He would give her anything she wanted. “Then I’ll talk to you soon.”
The boomerang of pregnancy hormones took a lot of getting used to. Mia had gone from so worn-out that she’d fallen asleep in a public place to buzzing with energy. As Liam walked her safely to her front door, she felt supercharged enough to repaint the house. The drive had given her time to question whether she’d made a mistake throwing herself at Jace, but it was hard to argue with how good she felt.
And when he called her an hour later, she couldn’t deny her giddy eagerness to hear his voice. She snuggled under her comforter with a smile. “Hey.”
“Did I wake you?” he asked.
“Nope, Buster and I were just getting ready for bed. He’s a Lab mix who’s temporarily staying with me.” Hearing his name, Buster looked up from the dog bed in the corner of her room and thumped his tail. “With any luck, we’re gonna find him a fur-ever home this weekend.”
“I’m sure you will. If not, we have plenty of space for a dog here on the Triple Pine.”
“Your heart’s in the right place, but a dog is a lifetime companion, not an impulse buy. Besides, you haven’t completed adoption screening.” It was jarring to realize she knew more about the families who took home the animals she fostered than she did about the man who would co-raise their child.
The baby’s not coming for months. She took a steadying breath and reached over to turn off the bedside lamp. There was time for her and Jace to get to know each other.
“Fair enough,” he said. “I suppose I am impulsive sometimes.”
Her cheeks heated at the memory of coming against his hand in a semipublic place. That had been pure, lust-fueled spontaneity. “Well. We all have our moments.”
“Val asked me to tell you she was sorry she missed saying good-night. She liked you a lot. She said...”
“Yeah?”
“She’s glad I didn’t meet you in Texas. She joked that if I had, I never would have come home.”
Mia didn’t know how to reply to that. It was equal parts flattering and unnerving. Did his friend really think his feelings for Mia were that strong? It was a joke. He just said that.
“So now that you’ve spent an evening with my friends and family, what about yours?” he asked. “When do you want me to meet your dad and brothers?”
Our kid’s high school graduation. She grimaced in the dark, knowing that sooner was better than later. If she waited too long, her baby bump would be unmistakable. “I don’t know. They’ve always been overprotective. I was the youngest of the family.”
Jace snorted. “So was I. I think my siblings took a different approach, though.”
“Mom got sick not long after I was born, and it’s like they took all their love for her and their frustration that they couldn’t make her well and turned it to me, constantly worried about my well-being. When I got engaged—”
“You were engaged?” Obviously that possibility had never occurred to him.
“There really is a lot we don’t know about each other.”
“I guess so.”
“His name was Andrew, and we met in vet school, although he didn’t finish. He pushed to get engaged but was in no hurry to set a wedding date.” He’d been in a hurry for access to joint banking and clinic passwords. He’d called them the perfect team—she was a brilliant doctor and he was going to handle the business end of things. Even now, Mia was still discovering new ways he’d shortchanged her in office and equipment purchases. “As much as my brothers like to scare off my dates, everyone was relieved when I accepted the proposal, like they didn’t have to worry about me so much with someone else on the job. But after... Well, it didn’t work out, and now they’re more fiercely protective than ever.”
“Didn’t work out? What happened?”
She squirmed. The truth that she’d been engaged to a crook was embarrassing and made her sound like a terrible judge of character. “He turned out to be a liar.”
“Tell me he cheated on you, and I will find the man.”
She laughed wryly. The police hadn’t had much luck, but Jace could probably afford to hire elite private investigators. “It wasn’t like that. And I don’t need anyone beating the guy up. If I did, Shari has offered.”
“I think I’d like Shari. Maybe I could start by meeting her.”
“That idea has appeal.” You’re stalling because you don’t feel like dealing with your family. Yep. That was part of the appeal.
“Let me make up for tonight,” Jace pressed. “In retrospect, asking you to stand around while I hobnob with donors was a terrible first date. We should do something fun and low-key.”
“Your grandfather said something along the same lines. He mentioned a family game night.”
“Oh, hell no.” Jace sounded horrified. “Our game nights are not low-key. His aide has banned them because of his blood pressure. Harry’s only allowed to play chess right now, but occasionally we sneak in a rogue Scrabble match. Don’t tell Kevin.”
She laughed. “Your secret is safe with me.”
There was a pause before he asked tentatively, “How do you feel about bowling?”
“Bowling?” Whatever she’d expected him to suggest, it hadn’t been that. “I’ll check with the doctor’s office to make sure it’s okay, but bowling could be fun.”
“If Shari’s seeing anyone, maybe we could make it a double date.”
“Hmm. Maybe.” Shari periodically dated a dashing but opinionated food critic. They argued passionately over seasoning and culinary preparations and whether pineapple had any place on pizza; Shari had confided they were just as impassioned when they weren’t fighting. “She normally takes Thursday night off before the weekend crowds.”
“Thursday works for me if she’s interested,” Jace said. “Just let me know. And good luck with the pet adoptions this weekend.”
“Thanks.”
“Sweet dreams, Doc.”
“You, too.”
“Count on it.” His tone was pure seduction. “I know exactly what I’ll be dreaming about.”
Her toes curled. “Good night, Jace.”
After setting her phone on the nightstand, she stared up at the ceiling and blew out a puff of air. “Buster, I may be in over my head here.”
Thump thump thump was the sympathetic reply.
What was she getting herself into? She’d never responded to a man on such a visceral level. Drew had been her most serious relationship, and even that had been because it seemed sensible. Nothing between her and Jace had been sensible.
To quell her fears, she channeled Shari. She knew her best friend well enough to imagine what she would say if she were here. Don’t spiral, Zane. Yes, everything with Jace felt unexpected and different. But given how badly her engagement had ended, different was bound to be an improvement.
Plus, Jace was obviously working to meet her in her comfort zone, which she appreciated. Tonight’s billionaires in black tie had been daunting. But a nice, normal bowling date? She could work with that.
“A private bowling alley at your house is not normal.” Mia gaped as neon lights came on around them. When Jace had texted her that he had a bowling lane, she supposed she’d pictured something more along the lines of the yard set her brothers had when they were kids. This looked like a professional establishment, albeit one with only a single lane.
“This isn’t the house,” Jace said. “It’s a converted three-car garage. Does that help?”
Actually, three-car garages weren’t most people’s norm, either. She appreciated the normalcy of his jeans and black T-shirt, though. The man had great arms.
He walked to the center of the room, looking around as if he were seeing it for the first time, too. “The staff keeps it up, but I haven’t been here in years.” His voice was low, reverent—the kind of tone one might use in a museum or church.
“You don’t like bowling?” She knew he’d lived in Texas after college, but he’d been back plenty long enough to bowl a few frames.
“It’s not that.” He hesitated, looking suddenly...vulnerable?
She had the unfathomable urge to hug him. “Jace?”
“When I was in middle school, my parents decided they needed a fun date night and joined a bowling league.” His mouth curved in a half smile, his gaze distant. “Mom was terrible. I mean, truly awful—the gutterball queen. One time she threw the ball into someone else’s lane. Dad had this installed so she could practice. We used to play in here as a family, but after they were gone...”
He shook his head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get maudlin. I don’t talk about them often.”
Which made it all the more touching that he’d shared that with her. “I’m here to listen.” She walked closer. “Anytime.”
He reached for her hand. “Thanks, Doc. It’s hard, though.”
“Because of how much you miss them?” She’d had more and more melancholy moments now that she was pregnant, wishing she could ask her mom for advice. It must be so much harder for Jace, knowing the people who’d raised him would never get to hold their grandchild.
“Yes. But also...” A storm of emotions passed over his face.
She’d never seen him look so tortured. She held her breath, wishing she knew how to help.
The door behind them opened. “Mr. Jace, your guests have arrived.”
Mia turned to see a bearded man usher in Shari and her favorite food critic, Adwin Morris, a tall man with green eyes and killer cheekbones.
Jace stepped forward to welcome them. “Shari, Adwin, I’m so glad you could make it. I’m Jace Malone. I hope you won’t judge me too harshly on our rather basic snacks of chips, dip and a veggie tray.”
“Not at all.” Shari gave him a sunny smile. “I’ll only judge you based on how you treat Mia. And remember, I own a restaurant...lots of access to professional-grade knives.”
Mia choked back a laugh. Shari’s unapologetic words were good practice for when he met Mia’s brothers and father.
Jace nodded sagely. “I understand.”
Shari beamed. “Then it’s nice to meet you.”
While the two men exchanged pleasantries that didn’t involve cutlery, Shari sidled closer to Mia. “He’s even better-looking in person. How is that possible?”
“Unnerving, right?”
“Okay, I have shoes for everyone,” Jace announced. He’d asked Mia to text him sizes; that had been when she realized this would not be the standard bowling alley experience. He went to a counter that ran the length of the back wall, bracing his arm on it to swing his legs up and over in a fluid, athletic motion that made her mouth go dry. “Hope everyone’s okay with ’70s rock—the sound system hasn’t been updated from Dad’s favorites.” He flipped a switch, and a Rolling Stones song came on overhead. Then he returned with a stack of shoeboxes. “Should we play guys versus girls or couple against couple?”
A couple. It seemed like such an official term for something Mia was still trying to emotionally navigate, but she liked how easily he said it.
Shari took the box he handed her. “Women versus men works for me. Oooh, these are surprisingly cute.”
“Full disclosure,” Mia murmured to her friend, “I am very out of practice.”
“Eh, if it’s anything like my nephew’s virtual bowling game, I’m good enough for both of us.”
Everyone laced up, and Shari volunteered to go first. As Jace typed their names into the computerized scoreboard, the rest of them selected balls from a rack on the side. Mia’s obstetric nurse had assured her that bowling should be perfectly safe as long as she was careful not to cross the foul line onto the slicker part of the lane and used a lightweight ball. Standing in front of the rack, Mia found herself wondering if Jace’s brothers ever used this alley or if they, like Jace, avoided it. She hoped they reestablished their family tradition of bowling nights. She imagined Brooke here in a few years’ time and smiled at the idea of preschool-sized bowling balls. What traditions will we establish with our own little one?
“Hey.”
She turned to find Jace at her side, looking concerned, and realized that she’d lost track of time while daydreaming.
“You okay?” he asked. “You seem a little out of it.”
“I was, but in a good way. Thank you for inviting us all here tonight.” Cupping his face in her hands, she reached up to kiss him. She traced his lips with her tongue, and his mouth parted beneath hers. He pulled her tight against him for a brief, tantalizing moment before releasing her.
His eyes sparkled with heat and humor. “Is this your way of distracting me to throw off my game?”
“Oh, like those jeans you’re wearing aren’t a major distraction?”
He laughed. “Good to know.”
Her gaze lingered as he walked away. Then, with a happy sigh, she turned to pick up the lightest ball available. She would have apologized to the others for the delay, but from the way Shari was sitting sideways across Adwin’s lap, snuggled against him as they spoke in low voices, they were enjoying themselves just fine even without the game.
When Jace asked if everyone was ready, Shari bounced up and came over to Mia’s side of the ball return. She blew a kiss to Adwin. “Sorry, but you’re the enemy now.”
Shari knocked down an admirable eight pins but was unable to pick up the split. Jace ended his turn with a spare. Mia finished with a total of seven, and Adwin knocked down a single pin on the far right before rolling a gutterball.
“He may be lousy at bowling,” Shari whispered, “but he has other wonderful talents.”
On his second turn, Adwin knocked down only the pin on the end.
“No worries,” Jace told his partner. “We’re still warming up.”
The other man shrugged. “Anyone can hurl a ball with brute force and knock down pins,” he joked, “but it takes sniper-like precision to consistently pick off one.”
Shari laughed. “Keep telling yourself that, boo.”
They all improved as the game went on and finished with a fairly close score, the men edging out the women with Jace’s final strike.
Jace went to the refrigerator in the corner and brought back sodas for everyone. Watching him drink out of an aluminum can made Mia giggle to herself. Billionaires—they’re just like us.
Truthfully, the evening had given her a chance to see him with new eyes. From the night she’d met him on the ranch, everything that had happened between them had felt separate from her day-to-day reality. A fling with a handsome stranger at a secluded location. The shock of learning she was pregnant. A grand ball ending with a hotly illicit encounter. It had all been exciting, but it had been surreal, too. Here, tonight, flirting with Jace and laughing with her friends and singing along off-key to songs she only knew the choruses of, she felt connected to him in a completely new way.
“Rematch?” Jace asked. “Or do we switch up teams?”
Shari took Adwin’s hand. “I pick you. This is where we show them your first few rounds were a clever ploy to get your opponents to underestimate you.”
Adwin kissed the side of her neck. “I like your optimism.” She whispered something, and his eyes widened. “You really know how to motivate your team, Coach.”
Whatever she said must have been effective, because they did indeed win the second match. Mia had to admit that she stopped following the game at some point. She kept getting distracted watching her teammate. Had she ever realized how mesmerizing a man’s hands could be? Watching Jace roll the ball between his fingers until he had it positioned just right was riveting.
While there was none of the rumored hostility of the Malone family game nights, Jace struck her as innately competitive. It wasn’t that he cared about their losing score, but he clearly challenged himself to do his best and exceed previous results. As soon as he stepped up to the lane, his easy, confident body language subtly shifted. His jaw would tighten in determination, a new tension in his muscles. It was sexy, but it also reminded her that he could be hard on himself.
“This was fun,” Shari said after the second game, “but we’re going to scoot.”
Mia bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. It was clear from the looks Shari and her date were exchanging that they couldn’t wait to be alone. Mia knew how they felt.
“It was great to meet you both.” Jace walked them to the door. “Shari, I’ll definitely be making a dinner reservation for next week. The summer tasting menu sounds incredible.”
“It is,” Shari said matter-of-factly. “Bring Mia with you, and I’ll even give you the friends-and-family discount.”
Jace glanced at Mia. “Think you can find a night free for dinner?”
“At Shari’s place? Always.”
The two couples waved goodbye. Then Jace and Mia were alone. Without the scrape of the balls down the lane or the crash of falling pins, the music suddenly seemed unnaturally loud. Jace went to the back to turn off the sound system.
Mia propped her elbows on the counter and flashed him a contrite smile from the other side. “I owe you an apology.”
“What? No, you don’t.”
“I let you down as my teammate.” Her smile widened. “Because I was too busy undressing you with my eyes to care about the game.”
His lips twitched. “Well, I forgive you for costing us the victory. Just this once.” He reached across the counter, kissing her as deeply as he could with the barrier between them.
She pulled back with a chuckle. Joy and desire were a fizzy, potent combination in her system. “Either I need to go back there, or you have to come over here.”
“I don’t think so, Doc.” His blue eyes glinted. “I want you in a bed this time.”
Hell, yes. “I don’t suppose you have one stashed around here somewhere?” she asked hopefully.
“Good enthusiasm, but no.” He vaulted over the counter and stole another kiss, sucking at her bottom lip. “It’s been a very long time since I snuck a girl up to my room. Years.”
“We should fix that,” Mia suggested.
“You’re as brilliant as you are beautiful.”
The distance between the bowling garage and the house was about half the length of a football field. They alternately hurried and paradoxically made the trip longer because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. They stopped several times to kiss in the dark, including against the side of a garden shed, where Jace lifted her up so she could wrap her legs around him.
He caught her earlobe between his teeth, and molten need pooled inside her. “My least favorite thing about being pregnant,” she said, “has been that everything just feels so swollen. But you...” She rocked her hips. He was so hard against her. “You make swollen a good thing.”
The sound he made was half chuckle, half groan. His grip on her tightened as he raised his head to lock eyes with her. “Do that again.”
She moved in a slow, deliberate grind, feeling erotically anchored by his gaze as much as his body. “Jace.” Were they even going to make it to a bed?
As if he’d heard the question out loud, he lowered her to her feet and took her hand. They ducked into the house. The sound of a TV came from somewhere, but all the rooms they passed through were dark. She stayed close to Jace to navigate the unfamiliar surroundings. It wasn’t until they were upstairs, with his bedroom door closed and locked, that he turned on a light, angling the desktop lamp toward the center of the room.
If any part of her felt self-conscious about that, it was outvoted by her strong desire to see him, too, to revel in him and the way he made her feel when he looked at her. She had vague impressions of her surroundings—a matching desk and bookshelf and a bed with a turquoise-and-brown comforter—but all she cared about in the room was the man in front of her.
He reached behind his head and pulled off his shirt with one hand. “I have thought about you being here so many times.”
“I’ll try to live up to the expectations.” Leaving on the blouse that fell to the tops of her thighs, she unbuttoned her shorts and let them drop. Then she lowered the pair of black lacy panties.
He followed their slow descent down her thighs and over her calves, swallowing hard. “More.”
She started to unbutton the blouse, but he was no longer content to be a bystander. He removed the top before they even made it halfway through the buttons, and he reached for the front clasp of her bra. When his hand grazed her nipple, she jolted.
He stilled suddenly. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.” Quite the opposite. “My breasts are just, um, really sensitive.”
“Oh.” His lips curled in a devious smile as he led her to the bed. “Just to be safe, I’ll be extra gentle.”
He kissed his way across the slope of one breast, stopping before he reached the tip and then switching to the other side. A brief lick of his tongue across the aching peak had her squirming beneath him, desperate for more. The trade-off for waiting was sweet, sharp anticipation that heightened everything. Even his breath on her skin made her quiver. She allowed him to tease her for long minutes until she felt nearly crazed. Then she threaded her hand through his thick hair and tugged. He chuckled darkly as he finally closed his mouth over her, sucking deep. When he grazed her with his teeth, she thought she might come from that alone, but then he positioned himself against her and surged forward, filling her.
He closed his eyes, his expression beautifully stark with arousal. “You feel so good around me.”
She couldn’t catch her breath to answer. Sensation coiled through her body, winding tighter and tighter as he slid against her in slow, smooth strokes. Ecstasy loomed closer with every shared movement of their bodies, but neither of them rushed, letting it build. Just as the line between anticipation and frustration began to thin and Mia thought she might sob with need, he rubbed his thumb over her nipple and thrusted. The building tension inside her snapped, erupting into waves of pure pleasure. Jace muffled her cries with a kiss, his body stiffening as he followed her over the edge.
While she waited for her racing pulse to slow, he rolled to his side without letting go of her. He cradled her against him as if she were precious, his deep sigh one of utter contentment.
She propped herself up on her elbow, greedy for the sight of him even though they’d been together all evening. “So?” she asked impishly. “Did that live up to your expectations?”
He took a moment to think it over carefully. “It was all right,” he deadpanned, “but there’s room for improvement if you want to try again.”
Laughing too hard to snark a comeback, she instead grabbed a pillow and lightly smacked him with it.
“Hey, no pillow fights!” he chastised in a mock whisper. He wrapped his arms around her. “Are you trying to wake everyone up? Lesson number one of sneaking into a boy’s room is to keep a low profile. Sheesh. You must’ve been busted constantly as a teenager.”
She snuggled closer, breathing in his familiar, addictive scent. “No sneaking in my teen years.” Between her brothers scaring off would-be dates and her bookish focus on grades, she hadn’t had the opportunity. “I was the quintessential good girl.”
“Then you wouldn’t have liked me,” he said ruefully.
“Don’t bet on it. Good girls can be corrupted.” She was joking, but he didn’t laugh. She poked his side. “You’re pretty hard on yourself about your past. And your brothers certainly have some judgmental moments.”
“I was not a good student. Or a particularly good grandson or brother. Or son.” His voice was gruff with emotion, the same pain she’d witnessed earlier when he mentioned his parents.
“Whatever you’ve done or been through, it’s shaped who you are now. And you’ll be a better father because of it,” she said. “Empathetic. When our kid screws up, you’ll be able to relate, to share the benefit of your wisdom, to love them despite their mistakes.”
Jace stared. “You’re pretty amazing, you know that?”
Mia blushed, ducking her gaze because the expression in his eyes felt even more intimate than the sex they’d just shared. “Um, speaking of our kid... I have a sonogram appointment next Thursday. I don’t know if you’d be interested in joining me or not, but—”
“That’s where they take pictures of the baby and tell you if it’s a boy or a girl?” The excitement in his tone warmed her.
“No, that’s still down the line. This one will show the fetal heartbeat. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m glad to be included.” He stroked her hair. “Do you have a preference? Boy or girl, I mean?”
“Not really. The answer you’re supposed to give is that you just want a healthy, happy baby, which is true. But I’ve wondered... Growing up with no mom and surrounded by brothers, my childhood was all camping and horseback riding. There were no ballet recitals or princess tiaras. I didn’t learn how to apply makeup until my college roommate taught me.”
“Not all girls like ballet,” Jace pointed out. “Or makeup.”
“Obviously not, but my niece Kimber, for instance, has always loved dance. She’s at cheerleading camp right now. What if my kid wants to be a cheerleader? I don’t even know how to French-braid hair!”
Jace didn’t laugh outright, but his eyes danced with amusement. “Um, is there any chance Kimber could help with that? Or her mom? Or an online tutorial?”
She sighed. “I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?”
“I would never tell a beautiful woman naked in my bed that she’s ridiculous.”
“That’s not a no.”
He tried unsuccessfully to hide his grin. “What you are is understandably worried about being a good parent. I worry, too. I mean, this kid’s gonna have my genes.” He paused, pressing a hand to his chest. “What if he or she is too good-looking and charming? The world may not be ready for Jace Junior.”
Laughing, Mia looked around for another pillow to smack him with.
Later, though, as she drifted into sleep, she thought that perhaps there was a grain of truth to his outrageous teasing. After all, she sure as hell hadn’t been ready for Jace Malone. He was an unexpected roller coaster of a man who’d turned her life upside down. Now she was mid loop-the-loop, screaming in exhilaration and hanging on for the ride. Mia didn’t know what was around the next curve, but she was glad they were in it together.