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“When I’m not there, though …”
“But maybe you could stay.”
“Juliet …”
“Is it too soon to move in? You kind of already live with me.”
“We did everything backwards.” His lips lifted on one side, a half-smile. “But maybe we should start at the beginning now.”
I knew Jace’s pride would make it hard for him to move right in, but I’d had to suggest it. “Then stay tonight. Or a couple weeks. However long it takes to find an apartment next door to my house.”
“There are no apartments next door to your house,” he laughed.
“Fine, down the street.”
“Juliet, I couldn’t afford an apartment in Bel Air even if there were any near you.”
I pushed my lips into a fake pout. “I hate the thought of you far away. I’ve gotten spoiled.”
He smiled at me, his eyes dancing. “You’re the farthest thing from spoiled,” he said. “I expected you to be, you know. When I first came to work for you.”
“You did?” I didn’t like that, but it didn’t shock me.
“Of course. But you’re real and practical and good.”
“So you’ll move in?” I tried, still imagining what a pleasure it would be to wake up every day with Jace, in his arms.
“So I’ll find something close,” he said, taking my hand and pressing it to his lips. “And it will probably take at least a week.”
* * *
Elvis was soexcited to see us that he leapt up in the air a few times, spinning in a silly pug circle or two, and then immediately snorted loudly and collapsed in a wrinkly snoring little pug pile.
“It’s so good to see you both,” Renee said, welcoming us warmly. “I made shrimp creole, I hope that sounds okay.”
“That sounds great, Mom,” Jace said, pulling her in tightly.
“Did you have a good weekend?” she asked us, seating us at the little round dining table in front of the bay window looking out on the yard, filled with flowers.
I exchanged a warm look with Jace. “We did,” we both said.
“And you figured out whatever complications were …” she gestured between us.
“What do you mean?” Jace asked, surprising me. Renee’s easy acceptance of us together had made me believe Jace had told her what had gone on with us, even before we’d gone to Maryland.
“Juliet might be a famous actress, but everything you feel is written on your face,” she told Jace. “Always has been. I could see you were in love with Juliet the first time you told me you were working for her.”
A trickle of surprise immediately turned to warm pleasure inside me, making me smile.
“No you couldn’t,” Jace said.
She gave him a serene smile, setting plates in front of each of us. “Okay,” she said simply.
My heart felt like it was full of warm honey, and it was overflowing and dripping down all over everything, making my whole life seem sweet and good. I loved the idea that Jace had been in love with me when he’d first met me. I knew I’d always had a crush on him, and I’d tell him so. Later.
Renee sat down with us and turned to me. “When Jace was little, he used to try to lie when he thought he was going to get in trouble—or if he was covering up for his brother, which he did a lot. But where Jarred could lie right to your face with no remorse, Jace’s bottom lip and his chin would start to quiver, and he could barely get through telling the fib before he was contradicting himself, admitting the truth and ducking his head in shame.”
“Such a clear sense of right and wrong,” I agreed.
