He was still trying to make the call when the music stopped and Chase and Ginny thanked the crowd before leaving the stage. Ace knew this time would come, when he’d have to let go of Stephanie, but that didn’t mean he was ready for it. His arms dropped and they both began cheering with the rest of the crowd.
“Steph?”
Both Ace and Stephanie turned at the sound of her name. When they did, she stiffened beside Ace. Gone was the girl that had been dancing, laughing and enjoying herself. On pure instinct he returned his hand to her lower back. He told himself that it was for support, and that was part of it. But the other part was he didn’t like this guy or how he was looking at Stephanie like he owned her.
“Mason. Hello.” Ace noticed that she swallowed hard before making introductions. “Ace this is Mason. Mason, Ace.”
“Hey, man.” Ace intentionally kept his voice casual knowing it would piss Mason off.
He recognized this guy immediately. Not him specifically but his type. Growing up, he’d been surrounded by “Masons.” Privileged assholes that thought the world should bow to their every whim because their parents had money.
Mason didn’t disappoint, he ignored the greeting completely, meaning it got under his skin. His focus remained on Stephanie. He scanned her from head to toe before asking with disdain. “Is that new?”
Ace was two seconds away from asking this guy to come talk to him outside where they could discuss how to treat a lady. The only thing stopping him was Stephanie. He had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate him introducing his fist to Mason’s face.
Instead of her posture growing more rigid at the asshole’s comment, she actually relaxed. Flashing a smile that didn’t come close to reaching her eyes, Stephanie ran her hand down the front of her dress. “No it’s not. I’ve had it for years, you’ve just never seen it. Thanks for noticing.”
He waited for Stephanie to add a “bless your heart,” which was basically the Southern way of saying “fuck off.” But even without it the sentiment was clear.
Mason’s expression remained unchanged. His stare was fixed on Stephanie.
It was obvious to Ace that the two of them shared history. Logically, Ace knew that whatever had happened between them had nothing to do with him. It was none of his business. He’d only known Stephanie for a month and only really talked to her tonight. Never before had he been territorial or possessive. In fact, he’d felt sorry for guys he’d served with that would go crazy thinking about their partners back home and what they might be doing. The green-eyed monster had always been one of those things that he’d thought you chose to invite into your emotional world or not. He’d been wrong. Because the way Mason was staring at Stephanie was definitely inciting some jealousy. It was that or blind rage, and since he’d never experienced either he couldn’t really tell. And he didn’t really care because what he was feeling didn’t matter.
All that mattered was the girl standing beside him. Which should scare the shit out of him, but instead it just felt right.
* * *
Stephanie’s mind was flipping back and forth between being relieved that she’d run into Mason with Ace at her side and being completely mortified for the same reason. As much as she prided herself on being totally independent, she couldn’t help feeling a small thrill that raced through her when Ace placed his hand on her back.
It was a subtle move, but one she was sure Mason hadn’t missed. Her ex didn’t miss anything. From the look on his face she was pretty sure he’d seen her dancing with Ace and he wasn’t happy about it. Not because he still cared about her…that would imply that he’d ever cared about her. He simply didn’t like her going on with her life because in his twisted reality that meant someone could actually get over the great Mason Augustus Chatsworth III. His parting shot to her four years ago had been, “You’ll regret this. Mark my words, you’re nothing without me.”
“We need to talk, Steph.” Mason reached for her arm.
She moved it away. “No, we don’t.”
“Steph.” Mason’s voice dropped several octaves. That was his not-so-subtle I’m-serious voice. The one she no longer had to listen to.
“It was nice seeing you. Have a good night, Mason.” She knew that her dismissal wouldn’t go over well, but at this point she just wanted him to leave.
“I’m going to be in town for the next couple of weeks. I’ll see you soon.”
With that unwelcome promise he moved off the dance floor and headed towards the bar.
“Sorry about that.” She glanced up at Ace and found him still staring at Mason’s retreating back. His expression was cold and hard.
Earlier tonight they had chatted about his years in Special Forces and also the work he did now. At the time it was difficult for her to think of him in that role, but seeing his expression now, it wasn’t.
“Is he Mr. Fresh and Healthy?”
“What?” Stephanie knew that guys liked to give each other nicknames but this was way out of left field.
His stare left Mason and shifted to her. The second their eyes met, she found it hard to breathe. She’d never heard of eye contact causing the wind to be knocked out of someone, but that was exactly what she was experiencing. Thankfully, he spoke and gave her some time to figure out how to get oxygen in and out of her lungs like a normal human being again.
“You said that since it was just you now, you don’t cook because you don’t like to do dishes and so you order Fresh and Healthy meals. So is he the reason it’s just you now?”
“Oh!” Stephanie was in shock. “You remembered that?”
“Of course,” he replied like that was a given.
It wasn’t. She talked all the time and people didn’t listen. Simone didn’t listen. Her patients didn’t listen. Her co-workers didn’t listen.
“I think I’m in love.” Dax wedged himself between them and draped his arm over Ace’s shoulder.
“I’m flattered, but you’re not really my type,” Ace shot back without skipping a beat.
“Not you, although if I swung that way, I’d turn you.” Dax winked before pointing across the bar to where Virginia Valentine was signing autographs. “Her. She’s…”
“She’s amazing,” Stephanie interjected.
“I was going to say perfect, but amazing works.” As Dax stared across the room, Stephanie could practically see cartoon hearts floating around his head. “I’m gonna marry that girl.”
She started to laugh, but she stopped herself when she couldn’t tell if Dax was serious or not. Just in case he was, she thought she should point out, “Oh, um, I think she’s actually dating Derek St. Vincent.”
Dax’s confidence didn’t waver. “You can’t believe everything you read.”
As if on cue, Virginia and a man in a suit with a slick haircut began walking straight towards them. Stephanie noticed that Dax stood a little taller and she was pretty sure his chest puffed out a little.
As she looked back and forth between the country singer and Dax she had to admit, they would make a cute couple in a very all-American way. Virginia had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was petite, probably only around five foot two and absolutely stunning. Dax was over six feet of chiseled, lean muscle. She was the quintessential cheerleader to his football player. Stephanie couldn’t help but smile at the two of them.
That smile fell however when she watched Virginia wave at Dax but hug Ace. It shouldn’t bother her that the singer had her arms around him, but it did. She didn’t like it. Not one bit. Their embrace probably only lasted a few seconds but it felt like forever.
As they separated she noticed that Dax didn’t look too happy about it either.
“Do you two know each other?” He asked the question Stephanie was wondering herself.
When she’d asked Ace earlier he’d said no, not really. But that didn’t seem like a no, not really hug.
“We met earlier tonight and chatted.” Virginia smiled as she turned towards Stephanie. “Hi, I’m Ginny.”
“Hi, I’m Stephanie. You were amazing tonight. ‘Crossing Hearts’ is one of my all-time favorite songs and the acoustic version you did tonight was…amazing. And you and Chase singing ‘Head Over Heels’ was…so amazing.” Stephanie could hear herself starting to ramble and repeat words so she shut up.
It was unnerving how quickly catty jealousy had switched to creepy fangirl.
“Thanks.” Virginia leaned in closer to her and spoke lower. “We’re actually thinking of re-recording it as a duet, but we haven’t announced it yet.”
“The car’s here.” The man in the suit with the slicked back hair interrupted, never looking up from his phone.
Stephanie saw a flash of disappointment in Virginia’s eyes, but she quickly masked it with a bright smile. “Thank you so much for having me. It was great meeting y’all.”
She hugged Ace. Again. But this time she also hugged Dax and then Stephanie as well.
When she did she whispered into Stephanie’s ear, “I saw you and Ace dancing. You have a good one there. You’re a lucky girl.”
“Oh…no…we’re not…” Stephanie tried to correct her wrong assumption but the hug was over before she could and Virginia was getting whisked down the back stairwell.
Ace, Dax and Stephanie all watched her go. When she was no longer in sight Dax cursed under his breath.
“Why didn’t I say anything?” he asked Ace and Stephanie.
“You mean to your future wife?” Ace teased.
Dax ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know what the hell happened. I have game. I never choke.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” Ace patted his friend on the shoulder.
“I need a drink. You guys coming?” Dax inclined his head towards the bar.
Ace looked at Stephanie. As much as she didn’t want this night to end, she was exhausted. But she didn’t want to keep Ace from his big night. She was just about to tell Ace to go ahead and she would find a ride home when he turned to Dax. “If you and Riley are good I think we’re going to head out.”
“Yeah man, we got this. See you when you get back.” Dax and Ace did the one-arm man hug.
“And just because this one is bouncing out,” Dax slapped Ace on the back as he turned to Stephanie. “Doesn’t mean you can be a stranger. Come back in soon.”
What did he mean? Was Ace leaving?
“I will.” Stephanie hoped that she was hiding her confusion. “I love what you guys have done. I’ll be back soon.”
When Dax left, Ace placed his hand on Stephanie’s lower back. “Ice cream and sweats?”
“Ice cream and sweats.” She nodded, ignoring the questions that were flashing in her mind like a strobe light.
Where was Ace going? When was he leaving? How long would he be gone?
As Ace led her down the back stairwell, she told herself it didn’t matter. She wanted a night where she didn’t think about the future; where nothing mattered except where she was in the here and now. And it looked like the clock hadn’t quite struck midnight yet. She wanted to enjoy every second before her coach turned into a pumpkin.
Chapter 8
Ace scooped ice cream into two large bowls and looked around the condo while he waited for Stephanie to change into sweats. The layout was the mirror image of his place but this space felt so much more like a home. Partly because of the plants, pictures, and personal touches that he saw as he looked around. But more than that, it was something intangible, something not visible to the human eye. It was a sense. A feeling. An atmosphere.
It was an unfamiliar feeling for him. The only reason he recognized it was because he’d felt it when he’d go to his friends’ houses as a kid. He’d never experienced it at his own home. The house he grew up in was massive, gorgeous and sterile. There was no life. No activity. His mother spent ninety percent of her time split between their personal home gym and her bedroom and his father spent the majority of his time in his study.
As he washed the spoon he’d used to scoop the ice cream he remembered his family’s only daily interaction. Dinner at six sharp. Every night was like Groundhog’s Day. The same conversation that was limited to his father discussing politics, his mother discussing her friends and their many indiscretions, and his brother discussing himself. Ace never complained about his childhood. How could he? He never had to worry about food, clothes, books, having a roof over his head or someone laying a hand on him. He was privileged.
Still, all the money in the world hadn’t stopped him from being lonely. He hadn’t belonged in that world. He never fit in there.
In the Marines, he’d made good friends. Men that he trusted with his life. He’d had a purpose and excelled in missions which moved him up through the ranks faster than most. But even in that structure of camaraderie, he never felt like he truly belonged.
Hindsight being twenty-twenty, when he looked back at his ill-fated relationship with Kendall, he realized now that the reason he’d gone all in with her was because she gave him a false sense of something that he’d always wanted. She was familiar. He’d known her his entire life and had shared with her one of the biggest milestones in his life, losing his virginity. They also had a common bond of experiences that weren’t sexual in nature at all. They were from the same hometown. Things like spending weekends and summers at Tybee Island. Watching fireworks the first Friday of every month on River Street. Hanging out at City Market. All of those factors combined with the fact that she was hot and good in bed had made putting a ring on it seem like a logical next step.
His relationship with her had been a knockoff version of the real thing. It wasn’t authentic. He’d known something was off even before he answered that accidental Facetime call from his brother and fiancée, both naked and trying to shoot a sex video to preserve their cheating for posterity. He definitely knew something was wrong when his first reaction hadn’t been surprise, shock, anger, hurt or jealousy. He hadn’t felt anything. He’d been totally numb. That wasn’t the response of someone that was in love and about to marry their soulmate.
Tonight he’d felt more possessive over Stephanie, a woman he barely knew and hadn’t even kissed, than he’d ever felt over Kendall, his first everything and the woman he’d planned on marrying.
A sound caught his attention and he looked up to see Stephanie walking towards him. She was wearing blue sweats and a faded Cubs T-shirt. Her hair, which had been down, was now pulled up off of her face. His chest filled with warmth, just like it had this morning when she’d returned his trash bin. She was the cutest thing he’d ever seen.
“Sorry, I took so long. I got a call and I had to take…” Her voice trailed off when she saw the bowls of ice cream waiting on the counter. “You didn’t have to do that. I was just—”
“It’s no big deal.”
“Thank you.” The sincerity in her voice broke his heart a little.
He’d noticed that even the smallest gestures he’d made tonight, like opening her door and getting her a glass of water at the bar, had genuinely taken her off guard. He had no idea what her story was, and why she wasn’t used to anyone taking care of her, but he planned on finding out.
Silently they moved to the couch with their bowls holding large heaps of rocky road ice cream. When they sat, Stephanie curled up in the corner and tucked her bare feet beneath her. She looked so cozy and comfortable. All he wanted to do was sit next to her, wrap his arms around her and pull her onto his lap. But since he couldn’t he did the next best thing and sat beside her.
As they started eating he glanced at the red LED numbers displayed on her cable box and saw that it was after midnight. In less than eight hours he’d be on a plane heading towards an undisclosed location being briefed on his assignment that had no end date. He hated that he felt like they were on borrowed time, but the clock was literally ticking.
Not wanting to waste a minute he figured he’d jump right in. “You never answered my question.”
Her hand stilled mid-ai
r holding a spoon full of ice cream. “What question?”
“Mason. Is he the reason that you don’t have to cook anymore? Is he Mr. Fresh and Healthy?”
“Oh, no. He’s not.” She grinned before finishing her bite.
“You two never dated?”
She swallowed her ice cream before clarifying, “Oh, we dated, even got engaged. But I never lived with him or cooked for him.”
He was happy that she’d moved from one-word answers, but her responses still left him with more questions.
“So who is Mr. Fresh and Healthy?”
“The twins.”
“You dated twins?” She didn’t really strike him as the type of girl to be polyamorous, especially with brothers…
“No!” She let out a burst of laughter. “I raised twins.”
He’d never seen her with any kids. There were no toys around the house. No bikes and swing sets. “You’re a mom?”
“No.” She laughed again, this time her head fell back. “The twins are my brother and sister. You met Simone, she has a twin brother Scott.”
“And you raised them?” Now that didn’t surprise him like the thought of her dating twins or having invisible kids did. She read as extremely responsible and nurturing.
“Pretty much. My dad left when they were a little over a year old and my mom decided that staying home and taking care of kids wasn’t really her thing. She was around, but in body only, not in the practical sense. She spent her days sleeping and her nights partying. My dad sent checks so it’s not like I was financially responsible for them. But I did all the day-to-day stuff. The laundry, homework, doctor’s appointments, dinner, lunches, baths.”
“Wow.” Ace wasn’t sure what to say. He felt like an asshole for ever feeling sorry for himself and his upbringing.
He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be in charge of another person, much less two.
“How old were you when your dad left?”
“Six. But my mom didn’t really check out until I was around ten. It started slow at first, her asking me to put the twins to bed or warm up dinner, run a load of clothes through. I actually liked being her big helper at first. But after a few years, she wasn’t asking she was expecting. And if laundry wasn’t done or rooms weren’t clean or dinner wasn’t on the table, I was responsible. By the time I was fourteen she would leave for weeks at a time. Then on my eighteenth birthday she left a note saying that I was an adult now and I could deal with them.”
All He Needs – Ace & Stephanie (Crossroads Book 10) Page 7
