All Good Things Exposed (28 page)

Jace glanced over at me. "You're excited."

"I am." I nodded. "You have no idea."

"And you have no idea how perfect you are."

"Why, thank you Mr. Rush." I grinned. "You're really not so bad yourself." He laughed, pulling the car up to the track. I stiffened. "Shouldn't we check in?"

"Kyle's expecting us." He stated factually.

"You don't know if there is someone else on the track." I protested.

"I do know. I had him close the track for the morning."

I blubbered. Was he serious? Of course he was serious. The man didn't joke about things like this. How much money had that cost him? Oh shit, I didn't want to know. He probably paid the tracks mortgage twice over.

"I can't believe he let you buy him." Admittedly, I was somewhat ticked at Kyle. I thought he was better than that. But I knew Jace. And I knew how ridiculously persuasive he could be when he wanted something.

Jace frowned. "I didn't buy him. I rented his facility for you for the morning. So, let's get some use out of it."

I nodded. "Let's talk to Kyle first." I pointed to Kyle as he walked across the lot toward us. He held a clipboard and he wore the same displeased look on his face as the first time Jace brought me here. Jace had definitely used his aggressive qualities to attain the track for the morning.

Jace rolled down his window and sighed as Kyle leaned down, handing the clipboard over to me. "Sign the bottom."

I didn't question. I just did it. I knew it was a waver ensuring the track was not at fault for any accidental death. But if I was to die, this wouldn't be that bad of a way. I would be doing something I loved.

"There," I handed the board back to him and he stood back from the car. I knew his eyes were on me and I knew he was judging me. But that was okay, because in all honesty, I was judging myself.

"Drive safe, Jace." He warned and a vein in Jace's throat rose. I leaned over and ran my hand along his thigh. He visibly relaxed, rolled up his window and revved the engine.

"Are you ready, Angel?"

"Always." I whispered. I brought my hand into my lap and stared straight ahead.

Rubber burned against the pavement as the car accelerated forward, propelling into the air ahead, slicing it like a blade. My back pulled into the seat and I molded to it as my surroundings blurred. On a deep breath, I closed my eyes and let my worries fly away. My stomach felt light, my body elated. This feeling was euphoric. Only one other could compare. And that was the feeling of Jace inside me. The car took a corner and my body slid in my seat, gravity pulling me with the car. The engine roared a sound that caressed my senses. I was transported to a world far away, where the day-to-day life fell away to what it really was. Nothing of consequence. Only the important remained. In the haze this rush gave me, only Jace remained.

The car revved as he shifted down the gears and I opened my eyes to find him watching me as we slowed to a stop. "You trust me." He whispered.

"I trust you with everything, Jace." I said. "I'm marrying you."

He leaned over in the seat and kissed me hard, his tongue slipping between my lips. I instantly felt my body respond to his sweet invasion. At my moan for more, he pulled away. "As much as I'd love to devour you now, we have other plans we have to show for today."

"We do?" I frowned. "I was hoping we could laze around all day. What are we doing?"

"I'm going to work." He said gently, studying my pout. "And you're going dress shopping."

"Dress shopping?"

"Yes."

"With who?"

"Trisha, Jaylah and my mom." He winced. "Is that all right?"

I beamed. "It's perfect. Exactly the way I want it."

"Good." He kissed my forehead, waved to Kyle who stared grimly at us before flooring the gas.

***

Clara, the sales lady gasped when I turned around to face her. And the mirror. This was it. This was the dress I was marrying Jace in. It was perfect. No other would do. Ivory lace clung to my breasts, molding into thick lace straps that clung to the edge of my shoulder, dipping low in my back before flowing in wispy tendrils down around my waist to the floor. It was simple and elegant. There was nothing flashy or gaudy. It was perfect and sweet. I loved it. I couldn't wait to show the three women in the waiting room.

"You look amazing in this dress." Clara said with a sigh.

"Thank you." I ran my hands over my stomach, feeling the smooth lace fabric. "I think this is the one."

Her eyes widened. "But this is only the first you've tried."

"But I'm in love." I shrugged.

She laughed. "When you know you know."

I had a feeling we were talking about more than just dresses and it was true. When you know you know. I stepped from the curtain into the room and earned three loud gasps from the women seated on the bright white leather couch.

"My God," Jaylah breathed. "You're stunning."

"Karen flipped a finger at a lose tear, "Do you love it?"

Trisha coughed away a small sob. "This is the dress."

She knew me so well. The thought made my heart feel swollen. "It is."

"It's gorgeous." Karen stated through her emotion. "He'll love watching you walk toward him in this."

Jaylah smirked, ever honestly speaking her mind. "He'll love taking it off."

"Jaylah," Karen admonished on a smile and I laughed. This was becoming so real. I was standing with Jace's mother and sister and my best friend - in a wedding dress I was madly in love with. It didn't get more real than this? Did it?

Trisha looked to Clara. "This is the dress. She'll take it."

My eyes widened. I don't have money for this. Surely I can't afford it. "How much is this one?" I asked.

Karen snapped her fingers. "Nope." She waved a black card at me. "Jace doesn't want her knowing the price. The one she loves she gets."

I glared at Clara who shrugged awkwardly. "I can't tell you and risk my commission." She joked. All right, so it was pricy. Oh well, I was marrying one of the richest men in New York. He could afford this dress, surely.

I nodded. "Very well," I couldn't refrain from smiling. My cheeks hurt. "This is the dress. I love it."

***

I walked into the lobby of Rush Industries and walked straight to the elevators after receiving a tight nod from the blond behind the desk. I still didn't know her name and figured I should probably know who works for my fiancé. I backtracked to the desk. Her shoulders stiffened as she smiled coldly at me.

"Hello, I'm sure you remember me?" I knew she did.

"Your face is familiar. But the name is hazy."

What a bitch. "It's Olivia." I dug through my wallet for the card, holding it in my left hand. I knew I was being petty, but I wanted her to see the ring. I wanted her to know Jace was taken. He was possessive of me. I had a right to do the same in return. At the sight of the ring on my finger, she gasped. I watched as she struggled to compose herself. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you quite often." I smiled sweetly. "It'd be nice to know your name."

"It's Beth." She coughed. "Bethany."

"Have a nice day, Bethany." I waved my left hand as I walked confidently to the elevator. I pressed the button and looked over my shoulder, not surprised to see a huddle of attractive women gossiping about the ring I wore. It was a lovely sight. Truly. It was.

I snickered as I walked into the elevator and pressed for the top floor. Jace's floor. I was evil. I really was. I shouldn't take pleasure from something so catty. But I did.

I rode the elevator to the top and sighed as the doors fell open. Laura spotted me and her face fell in shock. She stood, shifted and smiled awkwardly at me. "Olivia,"

"Hello Laura," I greeted with a smile. Her actions set my good mood to flames. "How are you?"

"Oh, you know," she was fretting. What was going on? "Just another day at the office."

I smiled and pointed down the hall. "I'm meeting Jace for lunch."

"Does he know?"

"Um," I paused. "No." I held up the takeout bag I had in my hand. "It's a surprise."

"Oh dear." She ran a hand over her face. "He's busy with someone right now."

"Oh. With a client?"

"I'm not sure." She shrugged. "I've never seen her before."

"Her?" I felt my stomach coil. "What did she look like?"

"Oh, you know," she was really uncomfortable. "Blond. Pretty."

I knew instantly who was in his office and I didn't bother waiting for them to be finished. I strode down the hallway and opened his door. The sight was not one I was expecting. However, the woman was exactly who I thought she would be. Lexie.

I didn't smile as I greeted the woman sitting in the chair before his desk. "Lexie,"

"Hello Olivia," she nodded. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm visiting my fiancé." I spoke harshly. I could feel Jace's eyes on me, but he didn't say anything. I knew it was because he was fully aware I was moments away from snapping like a twig under pressure.

Lexie gasped, her blue eyes finding Jace. "You're marrying her?"

He nodded. "Yes. I tried to tell you I love her."

She nodded. She looked hurt. For someone who supposedly hated him so maliciously, she certainly didn't act the part. "I see."

I held the door open. "I think it's time for you to go."

"I need to speak with Jace."

"I don't give a fuck." I pointed to the hall and was glad when for once, Jace didn't bother to admonish my language. "Out."

She shook her head. "I need to speak with him. It's important."

I huffed. "Do it then."

"I would like privacy."

"I don't give a shit what you would like." I snapped. "You almost ruined our relationship once, you won't be doing it again."

She turned her back to me. "Jace, please. I need to talk to you."

He sighed. "Give us a few minutes, Olivia." His tone was tense. "Just a few minutes."

I couldn't believe this was happening. I couldn't believe he was choosing her over me. I nodded. "Don't bother coming home tonight, Jace. I won't want to be with you." I sighed. "As a matter of fact, I'm done."

With that, I closed the door. Tears were burning in my eyes as I walked through the hall back to Laura. She jumped up from her desk and pulled me into her arms. "Sweetie, what happened?"

"That woman is his ex."

She frowned. "He wouldn't," she paused. "He wasn't…"

"No." I shook my head. "But he asked me to leave so he could talk to her. And it hurts. I don't like her."

"I know, honey." She hugged me, but I couldn't take it. I pulled away. There was no way I could go running through the lobby with a tearstained face. Not after flaunting my ring the way I had. I was so damned livid with Jace for the way he'd hurt me.

"Is Caleb here?"

Laura nodded. "He's in his office."

"I'm going to sit with him." I said, already walking toward the hall I knew would lead me to him.

I knocked when I arrived at the door and he called out from inside. "Come in,"

I opened the door with my tear stained face and his eyes widened. "What the fuck? What happened?" He was around his desk and in front of me before I knew it. That only made my sob harder.

"I didn't know where else to go."

"What happened, Olivia?" His brow was crinkled in worry.

"Jace has Lexie in his office. He asked me to leave them in private." I sobbed. "I hate her and I'm so mad at him and I can't stop crying." Jeez, damn! Why the hell was I so freaking emotional! My God!

"Fuck," he pulled me into his arms, holding me tight to his chest as he rubbed my back and let me stain his shirt with my mascara. "He's a stupid man, Olivia."

"Right now, I hate him." I cried. "I hate that I love him so much and that he can hurt me so badly with an actions so insignificant."

"I know." He cooed. He guided me to the couch and sat me down. "I'll get you a tea."

I nodded. "Thank you."

***

"What the fuck do you want, Lexie?"

Her eyes were wide on my face. I rarely lost my temper, but she'd come between Olivia and I for the last time. "Why are you marrying her?"

"Because I love her." I said flatly.

"What makes her so different from the rest of us? Why didn't you love me?"

"I don't know." It was the truth. And damn, I felt like an ass. But it was the truth. Olivia spoke to my soul. When I'd asked her to leave, I felt her pain. I felt her sorrow. It killed me.

"I don't like her, Jace." She spoke quietly.

"She doesn't like you much either." There was no emotion in my voice. I sounded cold. But in reality, I knew I was cold. Olivia was the only woman who could pull any warmth from me. Without her, I was dark and disturbed. I craved pain and whiskey. But with her, she made me feel. I wanted laughter and easy banter. I wanted to tickle her and love her and hear moans of pleasure and sighs of desire. I didn't want to hear yelps of pain and feel shivers of fear. I wanted everything with her. Everything beautiful. She brought that out in me. Not Lexie. No one else. Only Olivia.

Lexie stood and started pacing in front of my desk. Was she finished yet? "I received a letter, Jace."

My blood turned cold. "What?"

"A letter." She stopped pacing to pin me with tearful blue eyes. "I got a letter from someone I don't know."

"What was it signed." I asked and she nibbled the inside of her cheek, obviously debating on withholding the information. Fuck. I had to know. I would shake it out of her if I had to.

"Her Savior." She whispered finally. My stomach dropped to the floor. I felt as though I had been punched in the gut. What the hell was this guy doing? Damn it! When I found him, I would rip him to shreds. There was no doubt in my mind.

"Where is the letter?"

"I burned it." She said simply. "It frightened me and I thought if I burned it then it would go away."

"Are you trying to tell me the letter came back?" Maybe there was something wrong in her mind. Maybe she needed mental help.

"No Jace." She snapped. "The letter didn't come back. But the words…I keep seeing them in my mind."

"What did it say?"

"Whoever it was wanted me to come to you and tell you that you've gone too far. He wants you to know he isn't giving up and the threats still stand true. That he knows what you've done in your past. He knows the deals you've made and the lives you've ruined. He will unveil your every hidden misdemeanor to the world. If you don't let her go and walk away, you'll lose everything." With those words, she leaned over my desk, narrowing her eyes. This was not the submissive woman I remembered. Something had changed. "Are you sure you still want her? Are you sure she's worth the risk?"