Chapter Nineteen—Lidia

I shouldn't have agreed, but after the argument with Scotty, the thought of spending my night locked in my room to give them space made me cringe.

I knew deep down that being alone with Jace more than I had to would prove … tempting. It wasn't that I was a prude, Jace made me want to do things, but why would I do them if I knew nothing would come out of the relationship?

We were pretending, and I wasn't sure when things began to change.

Jace opened the door to his apartment, the woodsy scent of his cologne hung heavy in the air, and for the first time in a while, I felt nervous to be around him.

Nervously, I hung onto my luggage and glanced over my shoulder at him. His dark eyes drug up from my bottom to my eyes, and I felt a shiver race through me.

"Just drop that here," he said, grabbing it and placing it in the corner of the walkway. "Rebecca texted me three times asking if we were coming back." He chuckled.

I made my way to his sectional, remembering what happened the last time we were there together, and bit my bottom lip. "You said she came with the place, right? Have you ever thought of axing her?"

Jace grabbed two sodas and walked over to me. "Can't. It's in the contract that I keep her unless she breaks company rules or does something outlandish."

"Hmm," I mumbled. " So, what do you do outside of work and make appearances, Jace Archer? Actually, what are we going to do here?" I said, gesturing around his apartment.

Jace looked around. "I'm not normally here for very long. I—I normally work."

"Negative," I said.

"Or workout."

"Double negative."

He chuckled and swiped his thumb across his bottom lip as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't. "Well," he cleared his throat. "What would you like to do, Ms. Lambert?"

I glanced around at the opened space and out the huge glass windows. "I've got it!" I said. I jumped up and raced toward my purse, digging around in it, I brought out my notebook. "Here," I said, walking back to him. "We're going to watch A Walk to Remember, Pretty Woman and …" I tapped my chin. "Isn't It Romantic?"

Jace looked horrified. "Negative."

I gave him a look, grabbed his remote and started scrolling through his streaming services until I found Pretty Woman.

"It's about a stripper?" he asked. "Why …. Whatever, you know?" he asked. "Let me get the wine, I'll need it for this."

I got the movie ready and gladly took the glass of wine. Call me my father, but a midday glass seemed appropriate. I curled my feet beneath me and pressed play.

"She's a prostitute?" Jace asked suddenly.

"Yeah!" I said. "You didn't know that?"

He made a face. "How unrealistic is this, Lidia? This guy makes a bargain with her to stay the entire weekend with him in this lush penthouse? A hooker?"

I glanced over at him with a grin and pointed toward him and then back at myself. "Really, Archer? You are paying my student loans off in an exchange for a fake relationship?"

The corner of his mouth pulled into a grin. "I'll give you that. It was a very unusual deal."

"I'll say. I thought you were joking. After me embarrassing myself on numerous occasions, I'd never thought you'd want me to pretend anything with you."

"You know your self-image could use some work," he said, sipping his wine.

"My self-image is fine," I said, waving my glass around slightly.

Jace nodded in disbelief, grabbed my drink and sat it to the side. "I want you to tell me about high school. Tell me what your mother was talking about."

I groaned. "No, let's not get into that and ruin this movie."

"Screw the movie, Lidia, I want to know about you."

I poked my bottom lip out and sighed softly. "There isn't much to tell, what she told you is what happened."

Jace titled his head and then shook it. "I don't believe that for a minute. Tell me about the jackass that ruined your love for yourself."

"Well, I certainly wouldn't put it that way," I mumbled, running my fingers through my hair and playing with the end. "I had a major crush on this guy, Aaron, and he finally asked me out after I fawned over him for four years of high school."

Jace moved to face me, focusing as if I held the coordinates to Atlantis. "He … everything was fine. When we finished the movie, he took me to a spot were people go to … ya know. I felt uncomfortable and wanted him to take me home. He got pissed and made me get out. I walked home in the dark, almost missing curfew. The next day at school he told everyone that we had sex, and the entire football team started making rude gestures and pushing me up against the lockers at school. After that, I felt better when no one could see me. Maybe that would keep guys from coming on to me, because I didn't know which ones to trust and which ones not to."

I shrugged.

Jace sighed and reached forward to run the pad of his thumb against my jawline. "That was a long time ago, Lidia. You can't let that boy keep you from living your life. What if you meet your soulmate? How will he see you if you're hiding from him? And I don't mean just your clothes. You're guarded."

"I'm not—"

"The fact that you're still affected by what happened tells me that you are. What's his last name?"

I lifted a brow. "Are you going to stalk him?"

"No," he said, pulling out his phone. "We're going to Facebook him."

I laughed. "No, Jace."

"Yes." He prodded me with his finger. "Tell me."

"Aaron Jacobs," I said reluctantly.

Jace typed in his name and pulled up the list. "Is this him?"

I glanced over his shoulder at his phone and shook my head. "No, the one below that."

He pulled up his profile. Memories flooded my mind of how much I liked him growing up. Then me walking the five miles back home by myself. But nothing hurt worse than the reputation he left for me that wasn't even true.

His smile looked the same, but his face looked bigger, and he wasn't as fit as he had been in twelfth grade. Jace pointed toward his current employment. "He works at a car dealership downtown. Get up, we're going."

"No!" I said, pointing my finger at him. "I will not go and relive that humiliation."

Jace walked over toward the door and grabbed his shoes. "Jace," I said, but he ignored me. I watched helplessly as he gathered his keys and wallet.

When he looked at me, I saw excitement in his eyes. I don't think I've ever seen excitement in Jace Archer's eyes. "Get up, Lidia Lambert. We're going to see Aaron Jacobs."

I shook my head covering my face with my palms. "You're going alone. I'm not going."

He titled his head before walking over to me, bending down and hauling me over his shoulder. I yelped one because Jace had never picked me up and two because … Jace never played around like this.

Third, because I felt the fifteen-year-old girl come out inside of me and I loved it. Jace carried me down the hall and into the elevator where I kindly asked to be let down, and he refused. Even when an elderly man joined us uncomfortably in the corner.

Jace dropped me to my feet once we arrived at his car, and he cornered me, palms on each side of my waist and a wild look in his eyes. "You ready?"

"No," I said, shoving against his chest. "I can't believe you want to go down there."

He smirked and my stomach flip-flopped inside of me. Jace looked alive today, and I loved the happiness that grew there. "Let me take care of you," he whispered before kissing me.

It was unexpected and warm. With the hard lines of his body pressed against mine, my vision blurred from lust. Jace was kissing me in public without anyone near.

When he pulled back, he unlocked his doors and helped me inside. I needed it, I felt weak-kneed and wild. I glanced at him as he started the engine and sped out of the parking garage.

He looked … different.

We stopped in front of the Jeep dealership in downtown Houston. My pulse raced when Jace grabbed his keys and got out. I followed his lead, not knowing where this would go and why he insisted on us going here.

"Jace," I whispered. "Come on, let's go back to your apartment, maybe stop for ice cream? Don't make me go in there."

Jace unbuttoned the top button of his light blue shirt and grinned at me. "Come on," he said, sliding his palm around my waist. When we opened the door a cool blast of air suffocated me.

The elevator music hung in the background making me want to puke. The first man that walked up to us was not Aaron. Jace politely put up his palm. "We're looking for Aaron Jacobs."

He frowned but led us over toward a small office to the left. Aaron sat back in his chair, on his phone when we rounded the corner. His face morphed into a smile when he saw Jace, and then to something else when he noticed me beside him.

I squeezed the side of Jace's jeans but all he did was pull me closer to him. "Hi," Jace said. "I'm Jace Archer, I got your name from one of my employees. We're looking to buy a Jeep."

I glanced up at Aaron and he slowly drug his eyes from me to Jace. He looked more like a middle-aged man than Jace, and more uncomfortable than me.

So, he does remember me.

"Well, you came to the right place. What year are you looking for?" he asked, blocking me out.

Jace looked down at me. "What are you thinking, Baby? New? 2021?"

I gave him a dumbfounded look. "Yeah, whatever you want—"

He cut me off, "It's whatever you want. The Jeep is for you."

I couldn’t read his face. Was he being serious? I didn't know. I opened my mouth a few times to speak but nothing came out.

"New," Jace answered for me.

Aaron shoved his palms into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "We have a wide selection here. What all are you looking for?" he asked Jace again.

"It's her Jeep," Jace said, matching Aaron's stare. "Lidia, what do you want? You can have anything you want."

I saw what he was doing. Forcing Aaron to speak to me, and I hated him for it, and loved him all at once. I swallowed the hardened lump in my throat and took a shaky breath.

"Um, I like silver."

Jace nodded. "Show us a silver Jeep."

Aaron's eyes examined me from head to toe before he passed by Jace and led us toward the parking lot. The slew of Jeeps was way past my paygrade, and I knew I couldn't afford a monthly payment.

I prayed Jace knew that.

"We have a few silver Jeeps here," he said pointing toward the right. "Any catch your eye?" he asked, not making eye contact.

I slowly walked round the big vehicle, admiring the chrome edges and the huge tires. I turned to look at Jace who looked excited, a huge smile on his face. "I can't let you buy me a Jeep, Jace."

"Nonsense," he spat. "We're not leaving here until my fiancé has a new vehicle. That Honda looks like it's on its last leg. Pick one," he said slowly.

Aaron's brow folded. "You two are engaged?" he asked, giving Jace a questionable look. He looked shocked. Who wasn’t?

Jace turned to look at him. "She's going to be my wife," he said. "And she deserves the best. Pick a Jeep, Baby."

I felt the sun beat down on me hard, the spotlight of both men made me uncomfortable. Aaron crossed his arms over his chest and stared at me in disbelief.

"That one," I said, pointing toward the third one in the line. "I like the tires and the chrome."

"Does it have a V8?" Jace asked.

"Yes," Aaron said confused.

"Done. Let's get it."

"You don't want to see the price?" Aaron asked. "It's pricey."

Jace craned his head to the side. "Does it look like I'm worried about the price? I don't care how much it is."

Aaron nodded. "You're that art gallery owner, aren't you?"

Jace nodded.

Aaron looked back over at me. "How did you end up with Lidia?"

"Do you know her?" Jace asked.

Aaron rubbed the back of his neck with his palm and swayed on his feet. "Uh, yeah, we went to school together. I just would have never put you two together."

I'll say.

"You know Aaron, Lidia?” Jace asked, a sweet smile on his face. "What a small world. We met at the gallery," Jace said. "And I fell for her quickly. I'm sure you can understand. She's such a sweet girl. Nothing like the assholes I've seen running around Houston."

Aaron didn't respond, he found the asphalt interesting for several long minutes.

"Well, do we have to pull the paperwork ourselves?" Jace asked.

"No, Sir," he said, "follow me this way." We followed Aaron back into the building, and I felt a relief when the cool air hit my burning skin.

Jace interlaced his fingers with mine, but I stopped him before we went into Aaron's office with him. Jace looked down at me. "What is it?" he asked.

"Why are you doing this, Jace? I can't take a vehicle from you. You're already paying my student loans," I whispered.

Jace ran the pad of his thumb down my lip. "Lidia, I want to do this for you. You deserve this. You've put up with a lot of crap for me. But it's not that—I want you to have everything you want. I can give it to you."

"I don't want things, Jace," I said. "I want—"

Jace searched my face as if he knew what I was about to say. He nodded and lowered his mouth to mine. He kissed me softly. I felt the meaning behind his kiss, and it made my stomach pitter-patter in my chest. Did he really understand what I wanted? I wasn't sure.

I pulled back. "Jace, I don't want your money, or your things, I just want … you."

"You can have me," he whispered.

I stared at him, not knowing what to do, I wanted to believe him. I didn't think Jace would lie to me. He palmed the back of my neck. "Trust me, Lidia. I'm not some jackass from high school. I'm a man wanting to make you happy. I can make you happy."

Aaron cleared his throat. "We're ready to review the contract, Mr. Archer."

I lowered my gaze and found myself sitting beside him in one of the hard office chairs. Whatever they talked about floated in one ear and out of the other. Did Jace understand what it meant for me to be in a relationship? A real relationship?

Not some fake relationship that will keep his job. I trusted Jace enough to believe that he wasn't doing this to string me along, he already had me in place with paying my student loans, he didn't need to fake anything else with me.

"Thank you, Mr. Archer," Aaron said.

I stood with Jace, trying to draw myself back into the conversation with a smile. Aaron glanced down at me. "Can I speak to you for a second?"

Jace lifted a brow but walked out with the keys to the Jeep. "I'll meet you outside."

Jace left me alone with Aaron. "Listen, Lidia, I wanted to apologize. I know what I did to you back in high school was wrong, I'm sorry I did it."

I puffed my cheeks in aggravation. I wanted to be a good girl and accept his apology. But I couldn't help it. "You know you really messed me up, don't you? I hardly had any friends after that. You lied to the entire school."

He ran his fingers through his hair. "I know, and I think about it a lot, I'm sorry I did that to you. I was a stupid kid."

"Okay," I said.

He glanced over at Jace through the glass walls of his office. "It looks like you have made things good for yourself. He loves you."

I bit my lower lip, turning to look at Jace, he lifted a brow at me. "Oh yeah, how can you tell?" I asked. Knowing Aaron is full of crap.

"I can see it. The way he looks at you."

I wanted to believe that. "Okay, Aaron. Well, thanks for the Jeep. See you around." I left the office with the feeling of a thousand ships lifted from my shoulders.

Jace opened the door for me and handed me the keys. "For you."

"What is happening?" I asked aloud. "Why did you … oh my gosh. I can't repay you enough for this. I can't make payments on this you know—"

"It's paid for," he said. "And you're doing—done enough—for this. I want you to be safe. I want you to feel … appreciated."

I turned to him. "I—I don't know what to say. Thank you. I think we need to talk."

Jace nodded. "We have a lot to talk about, don't we? I'll order us some dinner at my place. Follow me home, and we'll talk."

I jumped into the driver's seat of the Jeep and squealed at the new leather smell. We drove home—slowly for me—because I felt like I was in a tank compared to my car.

On the interstate I noticed a small black Prius behind me. I watched closely as he took every turn that I did. I sped up to catch Jace, and the car made its way back behind me.

My phone vibrated. "What's wrong?" Jace asked. "You're speeding, that's not like you."

"I think someone is following me."

"Paranoid, much?" he asked.

"Seriously" I said.

Jace was quiet for a minute, weighing my seriousness. "Okay, keep your cool and see if he follows you all the way to my house. Try to get his license when he passes you."

I did as he said, and the car followed me all the way to Jace's penthouse. I get most of his license and put it in my phone quickly.

Jace walked over to my window. "Did he follow you?"

"Yeah, I sent you the license plate number."

"I'll have my guy run it. Come on inside. We need to talk about stuff."

I hopped out but stopped him before we made it to the elevator. "Jace, I'm not sure how you're feeling, but I'm confused. I don't know when this turned into something other than our bargain."

Jace interlaced his fingers with mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity surge through me. "I have no idea what I'm doing, Lidia, but if you'll let me—I'll prove myself to you. You trust me, don't you?"

I nodded.

He squeezed my hand. I felt the promise of safety and dare I say … love from him. "I've told you that I like you, let me show you that, Lidia. Come inside with me."

Butterflies swarm my nervous system. If I went upstairs with Jace I wasn't sure what would happen. Would I let my walls down and let Jace touch me? Or would I come to my senses and realize that this started all wrong, and I had no solid foundation with this man.

The better half of me knew Jace Archer was not a monster. He was a kindhearted guy that had let down his guard for me. I needed to let mine down for him.