All Good Things Absolved (8 page)

Jaylah set stubborn eyes on me and I felt my face heat. I wanted to sink down in my chair and quite possibly disappear into a puff of smoky air. "Olivia, would you like juice or wine?"

I glanced at Karen who looked mildly annoyed, but I could feel Jace's eyes on me. I didn't need to look at him to know he was warning me with his eyes. "I'm fine with juice."

"Really?" Jaylah sighed. "I thought
you
would at least agree with me. After the day I've had, wine sounds like a good way to end it."

"That bad?" Jace asked darkly.

Her eyes flickered to his. "Yeah, it was that bad."

"Just drink the juice." Jace ordered and she frowned.

"All right, all right." She shook her head and I shoved my mouth with the lemon and herb chicken. "I'll have juice."

Jace nodded before looking back down at his plate. John cleared his throat. "When are you planning on travelling to Italy to view the property?"

Jace shifted. "I was planning for after the wedding, but something's come up and I'm not sure we'll be able to make it anymore."

I frowned. What had come up? I didn't know this, but I decided to wait until we were alone to question him.

John however, was not so kind. "What's come up?"

"We're planning on travelling to British Columbia for two weeks in the beginning of December and I cannot be away from Rush Industries for so long. We'll just have to reschedule."

"I see," John mused. "Well, who's going to view the property before you start building?"

"I'm thinking of sending Caleb, if he'll go." Jace replied almost tightly. "He did most of the Paris trip himself so I don't know if he'll agree."

"Did you book the flights?" John asked.

Jace nodded, his eyes settling on John. "Are you offering yourself for the job?"

John looked to Karen who rolled twinkling eyes. "I think I'm offering myself and your mother." He waggled his brows at Karen. "What do you think, Karen?"

She sighed. "I suppose we could go."

Jaylah grinned. "Two weeks in the house alone. I can't wait."

Karen raised a brow. "Are you trying to test me tonight?"

"Nope," Jaylah grinned a large beaming smile and I laughed. It was just so cute. I loved their relationship. It was inspiring. The mother Karen was to her children was inspiring.

Jace chuckled at me before he turned his attention on John. "I would really appreciate it if you could go. You know what you're looking for because you've done this for me before."

"We'd be happy to go." John grinned.

"Sounds good to me." Jace sipped some of the squeezed fruit. "You'll leave the day after our wedding."

Karen clapped her hands. "Ohh, we're getting a little honeymoon too!"

John winked. "We just might be."

Jace grimaced and Jaylah rolled her eyes. But I found it refreshing - that they were still so in love. I hoped that would be Jace and I later on down the road. I didn't see our love ever dimming, but I hoped it only grew stronger. I looked up to find Jace's brilliant blue eyes on me and my heart stuttered on a beat as it always did when I found him watching me with those piercing eyes. The corners of his lips lifted in the beginnings of a knowing smile as he watched me and I grinned right back at him. I was happy. I was completely and deliriously happy with this man. There was no place on earth I'd rather be then at his side. And thankfully for me that was exactly where I was.

Chapter 7

I stepped onto the back porch with Jace and hugged my sweater tighter around myself. The misty breeze was cooler at dusk, but it was still beautiful out here I couldn't find it within myself to go back inside. His brows furrowed, a frown marring his face as he realized I was chilled. Quickly, he pulled me into his arms.

"Did you want to go back inside?" He asked as I nuzzled myself into his chest.

"Not at all." I breathed in a deep breath of salty air. "This is perfect." I loved the peace. The beach was beautiful and it wasn't crowded. It felt like it was just Jace and I in the world without another soul.

"Come for a walk with me?"

"Where?" I asked.

"Along the beach?" Jace proposed. His voice sounded husky and nervous and that made my heart race.

"Okay,"

Jace released me from his hold only to tuck me into his side, his arm around my waist. We walked down the porch steps and onto the grassy back yard. In the distance, the green of the grass faded to creamy pale sands. I could hear the waves climbing against the smooth surface before falling back into the body it belonged to. We walked for long minutes in silence, just breathing - and being.

I felt soothed. Being in Jace's arms was the perfect kind of therapy. When he stopped walking, I thought he was turning around, but he didn't. Instead, he turned me to face a large property before pulling me into his chest. "Do you like it here, Olivia?"

I nodded. "I do."

"Do you think you would like to raise our child here?"

I froze. "As in here? Right here?"

He laughed. The sound rumbled from his chest to vibrate my back where it rested against him. "As in this property, yes."

"It's next door to your parent's." I pointed out.

"I know." His voice turned down a notch. "Would that bother you?"

"Me?" I shook my head. "No, I don't think so."

"Good."

I tilted my head back and to the side so I could see him. "Good?" I frowned. "Why is that good?"

He smiled down at me. "Because this property is ours."

I looked back at the magnificent house. I saw it in a new light now. It was stunning with high peaked roofs and floor to ceiling windows. It was the perfect blend of old and new and I completely adored it already. It looked much more child-friendly than his penthouse.

"This is ours?" I finally gasped when I found my voice. "Really?"

"Really." He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "I convinced the current owners to sell when you informed me you always wanted a garden."

My mind worked the calculations and I stiffened. "That was before you knew I was pregnant."

"It was." He nodded. "Do you think this is better for our child?"

I beamed. Was he blind? It was perfect. "It's perfect." I felt my eyes welling with tears. "Does your mom know?"

"Yes," he chuckled. "She knows and she's excited."

"I think she knows I'm pregnant too." I murmured into the silence.

Jace's body shook and I knew he was nodding again. "I think she knows that too."

I turned in his arms. "Did you tell her?"

He shook his head. "No. I promised you I wouldn't do that without you. I'll never break a promise to you."

I tucked myself back into his front and he took me eagerly, his arms winding tightly around my waist. "You know you're definitely going to have to get an assistant."

"I'll start interviewing when we get back from British Columbia." he chuckled. "I promise."

"Are you keeping the penthouse?"

"Yes." He sighed. "I'll have to when I can't make it home."

I froze. "You're planning on spending nights away from me and the baby?"

"No." he said immediately. "You and the baby will be coming with me. When I work, we'll have to stay in the penthouse. I promise I'll get the softest rung put into the babies room."

I smiled. "Okay, so long as we don't have to spend our nights apart. I'm not okay with that and I never will be."

"Neither will I." Jace replied gruffly. I knew he wasn't. I don't even know why I thought that was what he meant. The man couldn't even handle the thought of me spending the night in my own apartment - when I'd had my own place.

"When do we move in?"

"Our possession date is just after the wedding."

I gasped. "That's why we can't go to Italy?"

"You're catching on." I could hear the lovable shit-grin in his tone and I couldn't help the smile that found its way to my face.

"Thank you, Jace." I whispered into the air.

"For what, Angel?"

"For making all my dreams come true."

He nuzzled my neck. "How cold are you?"

"I'm not bad." I grinned, twisting to face him in his arms. "Why?"

"How do you feel about going swimming?"

"I don't have a bathing suit." I pouted. "And won't the water be too cold?"

"We can strip down to our underwear," he proposed with hopeful eyes. "And this will be the last time the weather is even remotely nice enough to get into the water. It'll be chilly, but I'll warm you up."

I fluttered my lashes at him. "In that case," I laughed, already pulling at my sweater. "How can I refuse?"

Jace grinned, eagerly shedding his clothing from his body. When we were standing clad in out underwear, he took my hand and led me into the water. It lapped around my ankles and I sighed. It wasn't nearly as cold as I thought it would be. I wiggled my toes, reveling in the soft warmth of the sand that had been baked by the sun all day long and giggled. Jace smiled his shit-grin as he watched me tug him deeper into the water. The waves rocked our bodies gently and the setting sun cast hues of oranges, pinks and reds over the water. As I looked out into the grand vastness of glimmering water, I thought for the very first time in my life that I was living in paradise. Jace's hands rested against my waist, his thumbs rubbing against my skin.

"You're so beautiful." Jace breathed and I pulled my eyes from the water to look at him.

"You're not so bad yourself." I teased, but as he lifted me, urging me to wrap my legs around his waist before turning in the water so the sun was sitting just behind him, he looked like an angel. The golden orb haloed his ebony hair and my breath caught. He looked like a Seraph. A loving warrior angel. My angel. I dipped my head to his, letting my lips fall against his. "I am so in love with you."

***

There was only a week before the wedding and I was a frantic mess. I honestly didn't know why, because everything was done. I had my dress...and it still fit! The invitations were sent out and we had exactly seventy-seven confirmations. Trisha said that was a good sign - she was superstitious and apparently seventy-seven was a lucky number. We had the cake, the meal plan and the music picked out. I even asked Trey to walk me down the aisle - he said yes! I asked him because he was my only real male friend in New York. And he seemed to genuinely care for me. The thought of him waking me down the aisle to Jace made me feel giddy. Trey had gotten over his little crush on me and now I viewed him like a brother. I hoped he viewed me like a sister and not just his friend. I wanted the close-knit family and I was so close to acquiring everything I had ever dreamed of. I couldn't wait for the end of the week so I could finally call myself Mrs. Jace Rush.

I grinned like a buffoon. It had such a lovely ring to it.

On a stretch, I opened my eyes to stare up at the ceiling. I realized then as my muscles adjusted to the morning that there was no body next to mine. Abruptly, I sat up to find a note on Jace's pillow. I snatched it up and focused on the writing.

Angel,

You were too gorgeous to disturb so I let you sleep. Call me when you wake up. I'll be at the office, waiting to hear from you.

I love you.

Xoxo,

Jace.

I smiled to myself as I reached for my phone on the nightstand. Not a moment after my hand made contact, it started ringing. I looked down at the screen and frowned. I didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?" My voice sounded weary.

"Olivia, how are you?" A familiar male voice spoke through the line. My bones felt heavy.

"Andrew?" I spoke his name on a shaky breath. "Why are you calling me?"

"I'm your brother, Olivia." He sounded annoyed. "Why shouldn't I call you?"

"You haven't called me in a year, Andrew." I reminded. I tried to keep my tone gentle but it was hard. I was annoyed. Why the hell was he calling me?

"I know." Nothing followed. He said nothing else. Just 'I know'. What the hell was that even supposed to mean? My beautiful morning just spiraled. Thanks to my idiotic brother.

"So why are you calling me now?"

"I'm in New York." He said bluntly. "I'd like to meet you."

"Andrew, I'm,"

"Please don't make excuses, Olivia." He barked tiredly.

"Don't tell me what to do, Andrew." I snapped. After years of following his orders and hoping for some semblance of a relationship like the one we had before I dated Bryce, I was so not going to start doing it again. "If you want to meet me, you can meet me in central part in one hour. If you're not there when I get there, then I'll leave. You've got one shot."

"I'll be there."

"Bye." I snapped as I hung up my phone. I thought once about throwing my phone before I cast the desire away. That would accomplish nothing.

Feeling heavy and not nearly as elated as before, I dragged my butt from the bed to the shower.

***

An hour later, I was standing in Central Park waiting for my brother. The fall air was comfortably warm and I only wore a light black blazer over a long sleeved cream-colored shirt. I wore dark jeans and black suede boots. I chewed my bottom lip in annoyance as I thought about my family and how I had wanted more than anything to leave them behind. But here my brother was, appearing in my new life and making demands. It shouldn't have surprised me, but it did. I knew it was bound to happen at some point in time - especially now that I was dating Jace, but I hadn't expected to see him a week before my wedding.

I could see Gabe watching me from the road where he'd parked. That was the deal - if he drove me here instead of to Jace's office, I had to remain within eyesight. I didn't mind though. Because I didn't trust my brother.

"Olivia," Andrew said from behind me.

I spun around with a scowl painted on my face. "You're late."

He handed me a Starbucks cup. "Don't act so thrilled. I got you your favorite."

I scowled down at the cup. "You know I own a café bookstore now right?"

He shrugged. "I'd heard. But I still like Starbucks."

The jackass! He was trying to offend me even now. Had I accomplished nothing since getting out from beneath my father's iron fist? "What are you doing in New York?"