Chapter Sixteen—Jace

Lidia stepped out of my bathroom in a summer dress that I knew pushed her boundaries. It wasn't too much, because I did like that she kept her curves to herself—with hopeful intensions of seeing them one day.

The lacy black sleeves were short, and her neckline modest, with a tight waist, it hit right above her knee. She looked iffy when she stepped out, but I knew instantly she liked it.

A small smile played on her bare lips. Memories of tasting her mouth at the café danced along my skin, leaving goosebumps. I couldn’t help myself. In the business world, I took what I need to make my business thrive, in my personal life—I never had to take it, because it was given to me.

Lidia wasn't a giver. She was a work-for-it-and-you'll-be-glad-you-did type of girl. That made me ravenous for her.

She twirled and looked over at Gemma who hadn't said a word to either of us since she arrived thirty minutes ago. She gave us one quick nod and left us alone.

The silence of the room fell heavy on me because I'd noticed Lidia's distance since our lunch date. She looked reserved, but I noticed the way her chest moved heavily when I neared her.

She liked it, but she was scared. I understood her fear, considering our date, but I also wanted her to know I wouldn't hurt her.

"You look great," I said, sliding my hands into my pockets to keep from touching her.

Lidia bit her bottom lip softly and examined herself in my wall-length mirror in my bedroom. "I like it. I really do." She turned to face me. "Now, I just have to not put my foot in my mouth during this dinner, and everything will be fine, right?"

"Are you asking or telling?” I asked.

She shrugged. "Do you have an answer for me?"

I took a careful step toward her and tucked her loose dark hair behind her ear. "Everything will be fine. I would never let anything happen to you at my expense. Seth will be there, but we can take him."

She mocked a jabbing motion. "I can take him. Now I just need you to keep your cool around him, and everything will be fine. What's up with you two anyway? Why do you hate each other so bad?"

I leaned against the wall and stared as Lidia fixed her hair. "I don't hate him, per se. I just—Seth has always been a brownnoser. That's how he gets what he wants. Manipulative. Even when we were little and I wasn't old enough to really understand. As we got older, and Grandfather gave me the job, and I excelled in school, he couldn't stand it."

Lidia turned to face me. "So, he's jealous?"

"More or less."

"I get that. I'm an only child, and I don't know firsthand, but I understand the notion of being jealous of a sibling. I'm not surprised he's jealous of you, and not the other way around."

I smirked. "Because I'm … irresistible? Accomplished?"

"There you go, fishing for compliments," she smiled. "No, because you've got it all together. The job. The house. The—" she stopped and trailed off into silence.

"Uh-oh," I said, pushing from the wall. "What was that pause for? What am I missing?"

She searched my face for something, but I wasn't sure if she found it. "It's not necessarily something I think you'd miss, but some people definitely would."

"Tell me," I said, pinching her chin. "What am I missing?"

Lidia pursed her lips in thought. "Love."

I tilted my head to the side. Lidia was the hopeless romantic out of the two of us. I'd never in my life thought being single would make me miss out on anything, but I wasn't naive enough to think that people wouldn't think I was lonely.

Truth was, I hadn't really thought I was lonely until recently. The penthouse didn't seem as pleasant in the quiet as it used to, and now the silence made me think about Lidia.

I knew we didn't know each other well enough to love each other, but I didn't mind her company.

I chuckled. "Well, you're right, some people don't mind being single."

She hid her face from me while she grabbed her clutch and walked toward the door. I couldn’t tell what she really thought because her face changed. "Let's get this over with," she said. "Plus, I'm hungry."

We drove to my parents' house on the outskirts of Houston as the sun slid behind the grassy hills of the property line. Lidia didn't say much besides critique my music choices, but her nerves came out when we pulled into the mile long driveway.

You'd think we stepped onto a Georgia plantation with the weeping willows lining the drive and the over exaggerated sense of the south. My Dad took pride in living in Texas and wouldn't let anyone forget it.

Seth's Beemer sat close to the fountain as we pulled up and parked behind him. Lidia whistled low. "Dang, Mr. Archer. This is—something else. You grew up here?"

I opened my car door and met her at the front. "Yeah, it was magical as a kid, but the field," I said, pointing toward the distance, "was the best. We played for hours outside every day we could. Dad taught us how to fish in a pond in the backfield. I can't say I didn't have a good childhood, because I did. It's just …" I stopped her before we ascended the steps. "My parents—well, my mother mainly—has a chip on her shoulder. She's snooty and wants the best for her boys."

Lidia grinned. "Which is not me, right? I can tell by the way she looks at me that I'm not what she imagined for her oldest."

She wasn't wrong. "She wants me to marry a woman like her, and I'd rather eat nails."

Lidia smoothed her palm down my shoulder to my wrist. "Don't worry about it, Jace. I'm prepared for anything your mother could possibly bring to the table tonight. Seth, too."

I liked her confidence and wished that I had the same courage. We walked into the house, and into the marble-floored corridor. Lidia's mouth parted slightly, and I couldn’t blame her. My mother thought we should live like royalty even though Dad would have been happy with a house in Suburbia.

"Jace? Is that you?" Mother yelled from the living room.

The smell of Georgia's cooking wafted from the kitchen, and I realized how much I missed it when my stomach growled. I led Lidia toward the living room where I could smell the liquor from the bar in the far corner before we rounded the corner.

Dad sat in his recliner, that Mother begged him to get rid of, while Leanne sat on Seth's lap on the lounge. Mother—always the host—stood by the bar with a glass of brandy in her hand.

This should be good.

Mother's eye deadened when she looked at Lidia. I knew Lidia hadn't done anything to her personally, it was all in the status quo of our family's reputation.

"Lidia, nice of you to join us," Dad said, making his way over to hug her.

"Good to see you," she said, looking around the room full of sharks and smiling. "Y'all too."

Mom smiled awkwardly while Seth stood up to make a grand gesture of hugging her. I tightened my hold on her hand and watched the roll of emotions on his face. "I'm glad you could finally make it out. I know Mom and Dad have been wanting alone time with you," he chuckled. "Since you two are engaged now."

Mom mumbled something beneath her breath but didn't make a move to come acknowledge either of us.

Leanne shifted onto the couch. "I love your dress, Lidia. Where did you get it?"

She twisted a bit in it, examining it herself. "Gemma brought it—"

Leanne made a face. "Gemma Stine? That's who designs your clothes?" She gaped at me. "You have her clothes tailored made?"

Lidia glanced up at me with wide eyes. We never really talked about it, I guess. If I knew Lidia at all, I knew she probably hadn't guessed that Gemma made those for her instead of just bring her something from her shop downtown.

"Yeah," I said. "She deserves the best."

Leanne blinked a few times before swiping her palm down her own dress and clearing her throat.

"Dinner is ready, Ma'am," Georgia said from the doorway.

I walked over and hugged her small frame, laughing when she yelped. Georgia was an older woman in her late sixties who took care of both of us when my mother was too busy with her social clubs to do it.

"It's been too long," she said in broken English. She moved from Russia as a teenager and soon became a maid for my mother's family who passed her down the line, keeping her employed.

Her eyes skated toward Lidia, who waved awkwardly. "This is Lidia, my fiancé. This is Georgia, she helped raise me."

Lidia leaned in to give her a hug, which surprised her, but Georgia smirked. "Nice to meet you."

We followed her into the dining room were the table was set for royalty. I pulled out Lidia's chair and she slid in and looked around the room.

It was over the top, a lot more than my penthouse apartment, and it screamed old money. Dad plopped down across the table from Lidia and smiled at her.

"So, honey, I'm shocked this one hasn't run you off yet," he said with a chuckle. I cringed at the thought of all the dad jokes that he would put us through.

Lidia smiled. "He's been surprisingly … a gentleman."

Mom snorted but didn't comment as Georgia brought out our salads. I shoveled it into my mouth to keep from spewing out anything that I would regret.

"Tell me," Mom said, taking a small bite. "How is it you two met again?"

Seth chuckled from his seat on the other side of me. I kept my eyes on my food and calmed myself.

"I was hired as his assistant, and it just … happened," she said.

Mom made a face, and silence took over the table. I almost preferred the silence to the chitchat that I knew my family would force Lidia to endure.

"Funny thing," Seth said unexpectedly. He made eye contact with Leanne who sat near Mom on the opposite side of the table. "You come up with a fiancé out of the blue so close to Grandfather's deadline."

I dropped my fork against my bowl and clutched my fist against the table. The smirk on his face made me want to knock his lights out.

Dad cleared his throat. "What deadline?"

I'd never told my parents about the contract, or at least not the crazy speculations Grandfather put in. It never seemed like their business. Especially since I was a grown man when I signed it.

I wasn't Seth. I didn't need their approval for anything in my life. God made me this way so I could walk on my own two feet and make my own decisions.

Seth took a leisurely drink of his wine, his eyes intently zeroed in on mine. I felt my stomach churn with hatred and then Lidia's palm slid against my thigh, calming me.

"What deadline?" Dad asked again.

Seth titled his glass toward Dad. "Tell 'em. Or should I?"

Lidia cleared her throat. "I think Seth is referring to the speculation that Jace has to be married by thirty-five to keep his position at the gallery."

Mom's mouth dropped opened in shock, but Dad's didn't. He smiled. What was there to smile about? Leanne hid her smile behind her glass as she sat back in her chair to enjoy the show.

I wouldn't give them one.

Calming my nerves, I gripped Lidia's hand on my thigh tightly and turned to face her. Her hazel eyes looked nervous, but she smiled lightly at me.

"That has nothing to do with Lidia Lambert," I said. "When I met Lidia, I hadn't thought about that speculation since my lawyer brought it to my attention when I signed the contract." Slowly, I brought her hand to my mouth, and I kissed it. "Grandfather hasn't mentioned it, I'm sure he doesn't even remember."

A small lie, but I knew Grandfather wouldn't talk to Seth about our business. He was a businessman but a smart one, and one that I trusted.

I turned to look at Seth. "I can't believe you remember that, brother." I slapped him on the back. "I guess fate's got my back, huh? I meet my person right in time."

Seth's jaw clenched tightly.

Mom sighed. "Why would your Daddy do that to him?" Mother asked Dad.

Dad shrugged softly without losing his smile. "Oh, you know Dad, he always has a reason."

Mom threw her hands into the air. "Whatever. Georgia, you can bring the steaks now, Honey."

Lidia's eyes slid toward mine and we made quick eye contact. I felt her let out a soft sigh of relief.

We made it through dinner without any more outbursts or mostly rude comments. Seth picked at his food during dinner, and I noticed his toe tapping against the floor.

He looked pissed and it made me glad. When we finished, and chatted for a little while longer, I said it was time to go. Without a goodbye to Seth or Leanne, we walked out into the summer air.

Lidia took a huge gulp of air and pressed her palm against his chest. "I can breathe. God, I felt like I was taking half breaths back there, your mother eyed me the entire night."

She stepped down the last step and I matched her, drawing her body close to mine. "You know," I whispered. "It made me hot how calm you stayed in there."

Lidia searched my eyes. "You know no one is watching us, and they weren't in the café either. Is this … real? Are you just trying to keep our charade up or … do you mean these things?"

I traced her mouth with the pad of my thumb. I'd been blindsided in the café with how much I wanted to kiss her. She had to know this was real, didn't she? I could see the want on her face during random times, even when she tried to hide it.

"I've already told you. Lid. I like you."

Lidia's palms gathered my shirt as she tightened her hands into fist at my side. "I don't know how to process that," she said.

I nodded. "That's understandable. I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did. I—"

The front door swung open. Seth's determined silhouette filled the doorway before he stormed down the stairs. When he stopped, it was a little too close for comfort.

His brow folded down heavily, and a scowl grew across his face. "Don't you think for one minute that crap you pulled back there will keep Grandfather and everyone from finding out the truth. No one will believe that you want to marry her." He chuckled hard and pointed at Lidia who I'd pushed behind me. "What are you going to do when you're not married to her before the deadline? Are you seriously going to make this girl marry you to keep this job? Do you two have a plan to divorce after six months? Huh?" He shoved my chest, but I didn't budge.

I hated myself for letting Seth get my worked up. However, not as bad as I hated the sight of him lately. I shoved him back, watching him stumble back from the liquor he tossed back during dinner.

"Don't let my silence or niceness fool you, Seth. You won't get this position no matter what you do. Don't worry about Lidia and me. If I want to move to Canada and have fifty kids with her, it's none of your concern. However, even if I did move, you would never—never—get my job. Do you understand? So back off her before I embarrass you."

Seth wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb and chuckled. "You think for one second that Grandfather is going to let you keep your job if you don't marry her, Jace? Grow some balls and tell him the truth—you don't know how to love."

Warm red heat scorched through me and before I could help it, I slugged him. Lidia yelped loudly but I couldn’t stop myself from lunging at him.

All my pent-up emotions barreled over into rage, and I slugged him again. "Stop it, Jace!" Lidia's voice vaguely registered to me.

Her tiny hands tugged at my shoulder before Seth gathered his wits and stood up, wiping blood from his upper lip. "You shouldn't have done that," he said.

The front door opened, and Dad descended the stairs. "What's going on out here?"

Seth spit. "Nothing," he said, before running up the stairs back into the house.

Lidia walked around to my side. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, still feeling out of control on the inside. "I'm fine. Everything is fine, Dad. We're just leaving."

"Bye Mr. Archer," she said as I hurried her toward my car and into the passenger seat. I sped home, the pedal to the floorboard and my fingers tapping relentlessly against the steering wheel.

Lidia held onto the handle but didn't comment on my speeding. We bypassed Lidia's road home, and she looked concerned for a moment but kept her mouth shut.

I pulled into my parking lot at the complex, and hoped out, hearing Lidia's small footsteps trail behind me, all the way up to my penthouse.

The door hit the opposite wall as I barreled through and walked into the center of my living room. I ran my fingers through my air and tried to keep my anger at bay.

Lidia softly shut the front door and took off her shoes at the doorway. She watched me pace the floor like a lunatic before disappearing into my room.

I wanted to drink my bar away, but I didn't want Lidia to see me angry and drunk. I sat down on my couch and leaned my head back, letting my thighs fall wide and my anger try and seep out.

Lidia sat down beside me with a first-aid kit in my hand. "Why don't you take a shower so I can play doctor on you," she said.

I glanced down at myself and realized I was bleeding from my hand. "Okay, a shower sounds nice." I stood up and stripped out of my shirt.

Lidia's watched me with anxious eyes. I loved the way her cheeks turned red at the sight of me shirtless. It was innocent and turned me on. I licked my lips slowly and felt myself wanting to entrap her underneath me against the sofa, but I didn't—not yet.

I walked toward the shower and turned on the hot water. The shower felt like Heaven on my burning skin. I finished and dressed in a pair of gray sweats, and I axed the shirt.

I wanted to see Lidia squirm for a while. Lidia sat up straight when I walked in, her head down but eyes trailing me. "Sit down," she said, patting the seat beside her.

Lidia pulled out the ointment, slid it across my knuckles, and then proceeded to wrap my hand in a bandage. When she was happy with it, she said, "There, all better."

She sat the kit to the side and looked around. "So, are you not taking me home?"

"Do you want to go home tonight? I'll gladly take you home. I just wanted some company. I don't want to be alone tonight."

She tucked her hair. "I can stay," she whispered. "If you want, I will."

I stared at her. "I want."

"Gotcha," she said. "So, do you have any clothes I can wear? I mean … I can't sleep in this dress."

"Yeah," I said, standing up. I brought her an old pair of sweats and a T-shirt. "This should be okay. It'll be big but you're just sleeping, it'll be fine."

"Okay, I'm going to shower."

She walked into the bathroom and left me by myself. Lidia's phone buzzed in her clutch, and I ignored it. By the third time it buzzed, I checked to make sure it wasn't an emergency.

Scott's name crossed the screen. "Hello?"

Scott took a moment to answer. "Where is Lidia? Did you knock her off because she won't marry you?"

I rolled my eyes not feeling like entertaining him. "She's in the shower—alone. What do you need?"

"Is she coming home tonight?"

"No. She's staying here."

He chuckled. "Of course she is. You know she's a virgin, don't you?"

"I know, not that I think she would appreciate you telling her business. I told you to back off," I said.

Scott scoffed. "I'll back off the day she tells me she doesn't want to be my friend anymore. Don't hurt her." He hung up before I could defend myself, not that I felt like I needed to.

Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers. The couch moved next to me as Lidia sat down.

She looked … sexier in my clothes than she did in the dress from dinner. She wore her dark hair twisted into a bun on top of her head, and big-rimmed glasses.

"Scott called," I said.

She lifted a brow. "You answered. Did he give you the third degree?"

"Is Rebecca's nose fake?" I asked.

Lidia threw her head back and laughed. "I'll take that as a yes. What did he say?"

"To not hurt you," I said, glancing over at her.

"He just cares," she said.

"I know that," I countered. I leaned up and braced one forearm on the back of the couch to face her. "I've told you and him that I won't hurt you. Do you believe me?"

"I wouldn't be here if I thought you'd hurt me, Jace."

I traced my fingers over her mouth and watched her heartbeat pick up pace in her neck. "I loved kissing you today," I said.

Her eyes lowered to her folder hands in her lap. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. It startled me, but … I haven't been kissed in a really long time."

"Hmm," I said nodding. "What if I said I wanted to do it again?"

She glanced up at me, a sudden braveness took over her face. "What if I let you?"