The more she thought on those supposed faults, the more she thought they weren’t faults at all.

Jace wrapped a towel around his waist and then reached down for her hand. He held another towel in his other hand and when he pulled her to her feet and helped her step from the tub, he enveloped her in its warmth.

He quickly dried her and then arranged the towel around her so she’d be warm before leading her into the bedroom.

“You in the mood for anything in particular tonight?” he asked.

There was a small overnight bag by the bed and he reached down, pulling out underwear and a change of clothes. She saw he had jeans and a T-shirt. Definitely casual. She mentally went over the contents of her new wardrobe. She had a blingy pair of jeans and a gorgeous turtleneck with a cardigan and scarf that would be casual but still looked nice. And boots. She had a beautiful pair of fur-lined boots that would look awesome with the jeans.

“Finger foods,” she said before thinking better of it. Then she flushed. Jace hardly looked the type who went for cheap finger foods. He was more a caviar kind of guy. Expensive steaks, expensive cuts of meat she couldn’t even pronounce and dishes with sauces she also couldn’t pronounce.

But he went on like he didn’t notice her gaffe. “There’s a place not too far from here. Ash and I took Mia not so long ago. It’s a pub that serves terrific appetizer-type foods. The nachos are good. They have burgers, wings, all the usual suspects.”

Her mouth watered. “That sounds utterly perfect. Can we go?”

He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “You get dressed and I’ll take you.”

Chapter eighteen

Jace sat in his office, completely distracted by his thoughts. There was a pile of notes from Eleanor, the receptionist, of calls he had to return. E-mails to respond to. Financials to study. He had a videoconference in forty-five minutes, but his concentration was shot.

He hated that he’d put Bethany up in a separate apartment. At the time, it had seemed like the right thing to do. He hadn’t wanted to overwhelm her. He knew he had to move slow—or at least slower—or risk frightening her away. Because he knew the minute she moved into his apartment, into his space, into his bed, it was all over.

So here he was, having installed her into Mia’s old apartment knowing damn well he wasn’t going to spend any time apart from her—only what he had to in order to get his work done and fulfill his obligations. But if having her own apartment gave her a semblance of power and at least the guise of having a choice, then he could deal. Because he knew she had neither power nor choice. She was his. Belonged to him. That didn’t change because she had the appearance of independence.

He was biding his time, waiting for the right opening to make his move. And then she was completely and utterly his. And he’d be damned if they spent any time apart.

The last week had been a hell of sorts. He was living out of an overnight bag, spending his nights in Mia’s old apartment because it was where Bethany was. He had a routine of sorts, where he left her in the mornings with Kaden and Trevor and then dismissed them when he arrived in the afternoons. But at least she was safe and watched over. Until he had her firmly ensconced in his own apartment, he wouldn’t rest easy.

A soft knock sounded at his door and he looked up to see his sister standing hesitantly in the doorway, her gaze wary. She was likely studying his mood, and if Ash was right, she had reason to after Jace bit her head off the last two times she’d come to see him.

“Hey, baby girl,” he said, allowing the affection he felt for her to shine through.

She relaxed, relief crossing her pretty features, and walked into his office.

“Thank God you’re in a better mood,” she said.

He chuckled but then quickly sobered as he rose and went around his desk to pull her into a crushing hug.

“Ash told me what a dick I was to you. Sorry, sweetheart. It probably doesn’t make you feel any better that I don’t even remember you coming in to see me. Ash swears it happened and he also swears I was a complete asshole and that Gabe wanted to rearrange my face for upsetting you. I deserved it.”

Mia’s brow crinkled with concern as Jace pulled away and motioned for her to sit down.

“Is everything all right, Jace? You haven’t been yourself. And you haven’t said anything about Christmas, which is why I came to see you. Gabe and I want you and Ash to spend it with us. Gabe’s parents are going to come over but for the most part it’s just going to be us. Like old times,” she added softly.

He hadn’t given Christmas much thought. All his thoughts had been occupied by Bethany. He glanced down at his desk calendar and realized it was just a few short days away.

His first Christmas with Bethany. Bethany, who had nothing. Who likely had never had a tree, presents, had never been surrounded by family and good friends. Instead, Christmas had been just another day on the streets. Cold, hungry. A time to feel even more lonely than usual.

Hell, he hadn’t put up a tree in his apartment. Hadn’t made certain she had one for her apartment. Hadn’t taken her Christmas shopping. Hadn’t taken her down to Rockefeller Center, as he had with Mia so many times in the past, to see the tree.

He blew out his breath and lifted his gaze to his sister, who sat staring at him, concern darkening her rich brown eyes. Eyes that were a mirror of his.

“I met a woman,” he began.

Mia’s eyebrows shot up and she leaned forward in her chair. “Whoa, wait. You met a woman? As in this isn’t someone you and Ash hooked up together with?”

Jace winced. “For God’s sake, Mia. I’m not discussing my sex life with you. What the hell do you know about Ash, anyway?”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh please. It’s not exactly a secret that neither of you have gone solo in a long time.”

Jace cringed. Well hell. The very last thing he wanted his baby sister to know about was his and Ash’s propensity for threesomes.

“So this woman. I take it Ash isn’t involved?”

Jace sighed. “He’s not now.”

Mia’s lips formed an O. “So he was then. Awkward!”

“Well, it could be. At least at first. Look, Mia, she’s different.”

Mia nodded knowingly, a wide smile curving her lips. “Oh my. My big brother has finally fallen. This is worth the price of admission.”

Jace shook his head. “Just listen, please?”

As if sensing the importance, she dropped the teasing air and her expression became more serious.

“What’s going on, Jace? Is everything okay?”

Jace ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in his chair. “As I said, she’s different, Mia. Way different than you and me. Gabe or Ash. Bethany is—was—homeless.”

Sympathy immediately darkened Mia’s eyes. If nothing else, his younger sister had a heart as big as the world.

“How did you meet her then?” Mia asked.

“She was working your engagement party. Of course, I didn’t know all of that then. To make a long story short, Ash and I hooked up with her even though I knew I wanted her to myself from the very start.”

“That’s pretty screwed up,” Mia muttered.

“Tell me about it. Anyway, she bailed the next morning and I spent two weeks turning the city upside down looking for her. The shelter called me when she came in looking for a place to sleep, and she’d been roughed up by assholes her brother owes money to.”

Mia’s expression was stricken. “Oh no! Jace, is she okay?”

He nodded. “Just scraped up. That was a week ago. She’s fine now.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why haven’t I met her? Why hasn’t anyone met her?”

“I plan for you to,” he said quietly. “I want her to spend Christmas with us. I don’t want her to be alone and I damn sure don’t want to tell her that I’m going to spend Christmas with my family and have her feel like she’s nothing to me by not inviting her too.”

“Of course not. Of course we’d love to have her,” Mia said in a rush. “I’m looking forward to it. Is she staying with you? Surely you didn’t let her go back to the streets.”

Jace scowled. “Hell no. I’ve put her up—temporarily—in your old apartment.”

Her eyebrow rose. “Temporarily?”

“Very temporarily,” Jace muttered. “Just until I move her in with me.”

Mia’s mouth formed the same O of surprise it had earlier. “You’re serious about her.”

“Do you think I’d be bringing her to Christmas if I wasn’t? When have I ever risked what you and me and Gabe and Ash have by bringing in an outsider? You’re my family, Mia. All of you. No way I’d let just anyone enter that inner circle.”

“Then I really can’t wait to meet her,” Mia said softly. Then her expression grew thoughtful. “Does she have any friends? It doesn’t sound like she has anyone at all. How old is she?”

Jace shook his head. “She’s your age. She’s had a hard life. Never had a chance, really. But she’s smart. She’s sweet. She lights up the entire room. I can’t explain it, Mia.”

Mia’s smile broadened. “Oh, Jace, I’m so happy for you! And it definitely sounds as though she could benefit from some girl time. Is it all right if I swing by the apartment sometime? She could go out with me and my girls.”

Jace hesitated, hating what he had to say next. But Ash knew and it was likely by default Gabe knew. Mia would have to know so she didn’t do anything to put her foot in her mouth later.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” he said slowly. “Bethany has had some . . . issues . . . in the past with addiction. May not be a good idea to throw alcohol at her and I know you and your girls tie one on when you go out.”

“She can drink water with me,” Mia said firmly. “Not like I have a good tolerance for alcohol anyway. The important thing is that she get out with girls her own age and make friends. Unless you have a problem with it?”

Jace found himself shaking his head. “No. No problem. I appreciate this, Mia. You’re an angel. I’m sure Bethany will appreciate it. But a warning. She’s quiet and she’s definitely shy. It would be easy to overwhelm her and I know your friends can be a little pushy.”

Mia shot him a glare. “They’re the best kind of friends and they won’t be mean to Bethany. I wouldn’t let them, even if they were the type to do it.”

Jace smiled at her ferocious defense. And she didn’t even know Bethany yet.

“I have every faith you’ll take good care of her. But, Mia, there’s something else you need to know and Gabe will be made aware too.”

She groaned. “You have to get Gabe involved?”

“When it comes to your safety, yeah, I do.”

Her brow furrowed up and her nose scrunched into an adorable line.

“I’ve assigned bodyguards to Bethany. As I told you already, some assholes who want money from her brother roughed her up. I’m not taking any chances until that situation is resolved. Which means if you’re going out with Bethany then those bodyguards go too and they look out for you and your girls. We clear?”

She rolled her eyes but nodded.

“I’d like to see the poor fool who tries to take me and my girls on,” Mia muttered.

Jace chuckled because she likely had a point. But still, he wasn’t taking any chances.

Mia rose and then came around his desk to wrap her arms around his neck. She hugged tightly. “So you and Bethany will come for Christmas?”

He kissed her cheek. “Yes, baby girl. You can count on it.”

As Mia headed for the door, she nearly collided with Ash on his way in. Ash put his hands out, grasped her shoulders and then laughed.

“Whoa there, sweetheart.”

“Hey, Ash,” she said in a cheerful voice.

Ash dropped an affectionate kiss on top of her head. “I need to see Jace about something. I’ll see you around later, okay?”

She held up her hands. “I know when I’m being dismissed. Guess I’ll go see if Gabe has time for me.”

Ash snorted. “As if he wouldn’t. Ever.”

She grinned, waggled her fingers and then disappeared down the hallway.

Ash turned back to Jace and then closed the door. Jace lifted his eyebrows in question as Ash made his way to the chair Mia had vacated. He tossed another folder onto Jace’s desk before sitting down. Jace was really starting to hate those damn folders. They never contained anything good.

“Bethany’s brother’s debt is taken care of,” Ash said with no preamble. “Good news is the assholes who roughed her up weren’t interested in anything but getting their money back. Plus sizeable interest, of course.”

“Of course,” Jace said acidly.

“Bethany should be good now.”