Page 152 of Jace
This man.
My best friend.
My king.
My picture of love.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
JACE
I’m happierthan any man should be allowed. Like I’ve won the equivalent of the lottery of love.
I could apologize for my luck, but fuck that.
I deserve this and so does Viv.
Just because you’ve been stuck in a shitty situation doesn’t mean you can’t flush it all and start over.
Or in my case…
Finally start a life with the woman you love.
“There’s a bunch of baskets and stuff.” I shrug at them placed everywhere in my living room. “The designer said they’re handmade and seagrass. Don’t know what you’re supposed to put in ’em. Usually, I just use them for my cheesy snacks. But, whatever. Women seem to love having hundreds of them, so I thought…”
Vivian doesn’t look focused on the baskets, so I shut my mouth before I stick my foot in it.
I’m already tasting my toe with that cheesy snack reveal.
Jaw dropped, she’s gazing around my house with its palette of sand, sea, and sky. After I bought it, I hired a designer and told her to decorate it for my wife. When she asked to meet her, I said, “She’s not mine yet, but when she is, I want this place tobe just like her. Serene. Natural. Soft. Like the perfect day at the beach.”
Did I know Vivian would be mine one day?
Yeah, because I was willing to wait forever for her, alone in this house, until she filled it with our future.
There’s not a drop of testosterone in the design, and that’s fine by me. I got enough in my veins, and my dick is secure. I’ll give my woman whatever she wants.
Baskets. Throw pillows. Enough plants to turn our house into a rainforest.
But Vivian’s eyes light up at the gallery-white walls, perfect for hanging photos. She caresses the deep-blue sectional sofa, knowing that’s our prime cuddle spot. Beaming at the clean lines of the white oak dining room table, set for our future family of eight, she gets this whimsical look, as if she’s imagining our future… when it’s now.
We’re doing this.
This isourhome.
“You like it?”
“Like it?” She races across the sisal rug, crashing into me with a hug. “I’d say I love it, but that doesn’t feel right because I loveyouso much for doing this. Jace, it’s perfect.”
I loop my hands around her waist. “I know it’s not fancy and historic like your home. It’s kinda rustic and relaxed, but?—”
“But my home will become our gallery.” She reminds me of her plan. “While this place will be our sanctuary.”
I flash my sexiest smile, trying to tempt her. “Can it be a sanctuary full of screaming kids? There’s a king-size bed in our bedroom to make ’em, and four bedrooms upstairs to fill ’em.”
“Maybe.” She bounces her brows. “But let’s start with the cat.”
Nodding toward Moose, who’s curled on the sunshine-bathed rug by the sliding doors to the deck outside, Vivian’s slowing my roll. She doesn’t want me to get my hopes up.
