All Good Things Exposed (26 page)

"Oh, go…greet your mother." I fumbled for a retort.

Jace shook his head. "We do that together, Angel." He swatted my butt on his way out of the closet. "Hurry that sexy ass."

***

I stood in the kitchen toying with the stem of my wine glass as I watched Jace in the living room with the boys. Trey looked uncomfortable for obvious reasons. With Jace, Caleb and John talking about properties and cars, he didn't really have much to add being that his interests and talents lay in construction. And from what I could see, Gabe was grilling Trey about how he knew me.

After a lovely dinner, courtesy of Karen's talented culinary skills, the men and women separated. The men congregated to the living room, a natural instinct to flee the kitchen as soon as their bellies are full to leave the women to clean.

Trisha nudged me. "This is such a nice place. You totally need to give me a tour."

I scoffed. "I haven't even seen every room. Go ask Jace for a tour."

Jaylah laughed, obviously listening in on the conversation. "You haven't seen the place because you two can't even be in the same room long enough to do anything but stare at each other. Never mind what your hands are doing."

My eyes bugged and I shot a glare at Jaylah. Trisha laughed. "I like her."

Jaylah grinned. "You're not so bad yourself."

"Guys!" I barked, but it was a joyous bark. I was having a lovely evening. "Shush!"

They both laughed and Karen turned around just in time from pouring the last two glasses of wine, handing one to Jaylah and keeping one for herself. The wine was a treat for a sparkling clean kitchen to us women. "I heard it all." She looked to me and I was certain I looked like a ripe tomato. "But I love seeing Jace with you."

Again, my eyes flickered across the room to Jace. Instantly, they met blue eyes that were already looking at me. The corners of his lips quirked in a smile and he winked. My heart fluttered. Without thinking, I said. "I love him."

All three girls gasped. But Karen spoke. "I knew it. I could see it the first time I met you. You're the one for him."

"Thank you," They were the only words I could find. My system was shocked.

I wanted more than anything to close the distance between Jace and myself. I craved him. I almost felt homesick if that was even possible. As though reading the look on my face, or simply feeling the same thing himself Jace strode across the room. He didn't bother excusing himself from the conversation, he just moved, like a stalking panther toward me until he gathered me in his arms. His lips pressed against my temple before moving down to my ear.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

I nodded. "I'm better than all right."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "I love you."

"I know."

"You do?"

"Yes." I smiled. "And I love you."

I was happy no one could hear our hushed conversation. I could however, feel the eyes of every man and woman in the room on us. My face heated for the billionth time tonight and Jace grinned.

He pulled away from me, weaving his fingers with mine. "Come," he commanded and I followed, allowing him to lead me into the living room. The woman followed close behind. As soon as Jace had me standing in front of the fireplace, I felt warm and comfortable. The only thing missing was his arms around me. I was about curl into his side when he moved in front of me, dropping down to his knees.

My heart stopped. Oh. My. God.

"Olivia," Jace began, ignoring the collective gasp from the women and the 'holy shit' from the men. As soon as it grew stiflingly quiet again, he continued. I could swear my heart could be heard a mile away. His thumb ran over the hand he held, my left hand, as he took in a deep breath, his piercing blue eyes on mine. "I knew it from the moment I first saw you - you were the one for me. I fought it at first, but it didn't stop the inevitable. I love you with my entire heart. I need you with all my soul. In all the darkness I'd built around my life, you shone through. You touched a place in me I didn't even know existed. You breathed life back into my soul and found a way to shatter my defenses. There is nothing this world can throw at me that I can't face with you by my side. There is nothing I'm not strong enough to build, so long as I'm building toward a future with you. There is no nightmare I can't face so long as I'm waking to your face each morning. I love you with every fiber of my being and I will continue loving you for the rest of eternity." He reached into his pocket with his free hand, produced a ring and slipped it onto my finger. "Marry me." This was not a question. It was a command I would forever be happy to oblige.

With tears streaming down my face and a giggle erupting from my mouth, I dove at him to hug him. Tight. He fell back on his butt, wrapping me in his arms as I kissed him hard. Jace kissed me back for a moment before pulling away.

"Angel, say yes." He commanded. As the silence grew heavy, I realized I hadn't said yes.

"Yes." I laughed. "Yes a thousand times! Yes!"

Jace crushed his lips against mine as the room erupted in high-pitched cheers and laughter. His hands weaved into my hair and he held me tighter to him as I pressed my body closer to his.

Caleb was the first to speak. "Save some for the honeymoon."

Jace grinned. "There'll be plenty for the honeymoon."

"Eww," Jaylah scrunched her nose playfully before she dove for my hand. "Let me see that thing!"

"Oh, me too." Trisha and Jaylah pried me from Jace, picking me up off the floor. He happily let go of me, allowing me to show off the ring on my hand. It was perfect. There was only one diamond sitting on a thin platinum band. It wasn't too large and it wasn't too small. There was nothing gaudy about the ring. It was classy.

"It's beautiful!" Jaylah oohed.

Trisha took my hand in hers, staring at the ring with misted eyes. "It's so…you." She looked up at Jace. "You did good."

"So," he shifted almost awkwardly. "I have your blessing then?"

Trisha started, staring at him with wide eyes. "My blessing?"

"Well," he ran a hand through his hair. "You're all the family she has."

Trisha nodded as though honored. "I am." She beamed. "You have my blessing." She focused her eyes on me. "You better not plan on making me walk you down the aisle, because I totally have a vision of taking on the roll of maid of honor."

I laughed. "No. No plans yet." I flashed my ring. "This only just happened." I looked to Jace, shooting him a sheepish smile. It was a lie. A white lie. Although I hadn't expected this…beautiful engagement - technically, we were already engaged. He asked yesterday.

"I don't care if it just happened." Trisha started. "You should know who your maid of honor is!"

Oh, I knew who it would be. It would most definitely be her. But, I could make her sweat. Trisha pouted, obviously oblivious to my eye roll as her lip hung. She folded her arms and plopped onto the couch, wallowing for her official title. I laughed as Karen pulled me into her arms. She hugged me tight, tears streaming down her eyes.

"I never thought I'd see the day my son proposed." Her voice shook. "I never thought I would ever see him on his knees. But you do that to him. You bring my beautiful, magnificent son to his knees. He loves you so much. I'm so happy he found you."

Her words sparked a torrent of tears I knew would ruin my mascara. But for once I didn't mind. They were happy tears. I was so completely and deliriously happy. And it was all because of the obsessive, neurotic, possessive man who stood with the silly smile and sparkling blue eyes. I cannot imagine my life without him. It's simply unfathomable.

As though he knew I yearned for his arms around me, Jace pulled away from the group of men congratulating him with manly slaps on the shoulder. He closed the distance between us, pulling me into his arms. I sighed a breath of release. As I nuzzled into his chest, I couldn't help but think this is my most favorite place in the entire world. There is no safer place than Jace's arms. There is no warmer place. In his arms, I am surrounded by everything dreams are made of.

"I love you, Miss LeRoux."

"You won't get to call me that for long." I smiled.

"I know." His voice was gruff. "I can't wait for the day."

"Me either." And I couldn't. Yesterday, and even this morning the thought of marrying him in only two months set me into a panic. But not anymore. No, I wanted to marry Jace. I would marry him tomorrow if I could. I didn't care when it happened, but the sooner the better.

"Do we have a date in mind?" Karen asked with twinkling eyes. Oh, this woman knew her son well. I could see her eyes penetrating through him, waiting for the obvious answer. Of course Jace had a date in mind. He was the control freak of the century.

"I'm thinking the end of November."

"I'm assuming you mean this November?" Karen clarified for those who didn't know Jace well enough to know he was the most unreasonable, unrealistic man on the earth. I however, loved his unreasonableness.

"Yes." I said with a grin. "This November." I felt Jace stiffen in my arms and I knew it was because I sounded completely and blubberingly excited. But I was. "I can't wait to marry you." I looked up at Jace and he grinned down at me. It was the shit-grin. I loved that grin.

"You won't have to wait for long." He promised.

Trisha obviously had enough silence to last her a lifetime. "Well, since you're signing away your rights to this man in a little over two months, I suppose we should get started on the bachelorette party?"

I frowned. Hum…did I really want one? I mean…I highly doubted Jace would be okay with me traipsing through the nightclubs in a skimpy white dress with a mock veil on my head.

Jace's tone cut through the silence. "I was thinking you could go dress shopping, pick a cake, colors, flowers or anything else really." His eyes were hot on Trisha. He was mad and I was right. He wasn't okay with me gallivanting though New York, drinking up a storm.

Trisha stood. "This girl means the world to me. If she's getting married to your stern ass then she's doing it right."

"Oh. My. God." Jaylah's mouth dropped at Trisha's tone as she looked between the two of them, her face a mask of awe.

"Trisha, Olivia is not getting shitfaced drunk ever again. Do you understand?"

Seriously! He was bringing up the time he had to pick me up from the club? How humiliating. "Jace, that's wasn't normal. I was trying,"

Stern blue eyes cast down on me. "I don't care what you were doing. I care about what could have happened to you. You're not going out to a club without me."

"Fine," Trisha grinned. "You can come."

Jace sighed heavily. "We will discuss this later."

Caleb chuckled. "Oh, man." he straightened from his position on the arm of the couch. "And I never thought I'd see the day you were getting married to one woman…much less two." He pointed from me to Trisha. "You've got your hands full."

"I'm marrying one woman, Caleb." Jace said sternly. "The other one comes as luggage."

Trisha gasped and I lodged my elbow into Jace's stomach. That was rude. "You did not just say that!" Trisha said coldly. "You know this luggage can get real heavy and hard to deal with real fast."

I raised my hands. "Enough." I looked at Trisha. "You were the one who called Jace back into my life. You gave him the key to our apartment and made deals I knew nothing about with him. So don't go making threats." Her mouth dropped and I looked at Jace, who was grinning rather smugly. "And you," I poked his chest. "Stop harassing my best friend. As you said, she's the only family I've got."

His face darkened. "I'm your family."

"You are." I agreed tiredly. On a yawn, Karen clapped her hands.

"I think my newly engaged son and his fiancée are exhausted." She announced. "Let's be on our way."

I watched in awe as people shuffled toward the door. Caleb pulled Jace into a tight, brotherly hug. He looked so damned proud. I saw him lean in and say something that made Jace's eyes roll, but I didn't hear the words. I made a mental note to ask Jace later as John shoved his way between the two boys. He told him how proud he was of him and his choice but I lost the rest as Caleb waltzed over to me.

"Do I get a hug?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Maybe. How tight are you going to squeeze?"

Caleb laughed loudly. "Only as tight as you can handle."

I shook my head, grinning. "In that case." I stepped forward and he pulled me into a hg, dipping his head down to my ear.

"I believe I told you not even two days ago that you would soon become Mrs. Rush." He sounded mighty cocky.

"Did you know?"

"He didn't tell me. But I knew." He pulled away with twinkling eyes. "He couldn't have picked a better woman to start forever with."

"Thank you, Caleb." My voice croaked with emotion and I blushed. I gave Jace's family a hug and kiss, thanking them for their congratulations as they filed through the door. When only Trisha, Trey and Gabe were left, I turned to them.

"Want to see my new place?"

"I can't believe it's in the same building." I shook my head. "But I think I'm going to pass for tonight. I'm really very tired."

Trisha pouted but pulled me into her arms none-the-less. "Oh, honey. I can't believe you're getting married."

"I am." I could hear the nerves in my tone but they weren't from fear. They were from excitement.

"Congratulations." She gave one last squeeze before she released me.

I looked to Trey. "Get over here."

He chuckled, closing the distance between us without touching me. He knew Jace was watching us. And I knew he felt uneasy. Hell, even I felt uneasy. "Congratulations."

"Thanks."

"I'd really like to talk to you," he shrugged to the hall. "If you don't mind."

"Not at all."

Jace stepped forward with Gabe at his side. "I mind."

"Jace,"

"No, Olivia. You can talk in here where I can see you."

"I'm not a child. Trey is my friend and I'll talk to him when and if I want to. I don't need your permission." With that, I walked to the hallway with Trey following awkwardly on my heel. Damn that man could piss me off. But I still loved him. I'd always love him.