Fever (Breathless #2)(50)

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 ass**les 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 ass**les 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?”