Fever (Breathless #2)(71)

“Did we say anything wrong?” Mia asked anxiously.

“No, baby girl, you did everything fine. I appreciate it. This is just hard for her. She’s not used to any of the things we take for granted. She’s not used to being around people, much less people who care. She was a nervous wreck about meeting you all. She doesn’t want to embarrass me.” He broke off with brittle laughter. “She doesn’t think she’s good enough for me.”

“Shit,” Gabe murmured. “I hope you put an end to that crap.”

“I think maybe we should go,” Jace said, casting a look of apology to the table.

Mia nodded and Gabe rose, putting his hand on Jace’s shoulder. “If you need anything, let us know.”

“Will do. Thanks for the great food, Mia. You outdid yourself.”

“Give Bethany our love,” Mia said softly.

Jace smiled at her. “I will.”

Chapter twenty-five

Jace hugged Bethany to his side as they hurried into the cold and toward his waiting car. She hadn’t met his gaze once after he’d told her they were leaving. Mia and Gabe, hell, even Ash—especially Ash—had been extremely gentle with her, hugging and kissing her good-bye and acting as though nothing had gone wrong.

But Bethany had been mortified. It was evident in the tight lines of her body and the anguish in her eyes.

He ushered her into the car and kept her close to him as they pulled into traffic. He’d already given his driver their destination when he’d called to tell him they were ready to leave Gabe’s apartment. She didn’t even notice when they didn’t head in the direction of either of their apartments. She likely thought he planned to take her to her apartment. Maybe even thought he’d stay over with her.

As if she was staying anywhere but his place on Christmas night.

He was growing more and more impatient with the distance between them. He wanted her in his apartment, in his space. In his bed every night. No, there hadn’t been a single night since he’d moved her into her apartment that they’d spent apart, but many of those nights had been spent at her place.

His mind told him not to move too fast, not to push too hard, that the end result could be disastrous. His heart just wanted . . . her. In his arms, his bed, his life. Any way he could make it happen.

When they pulled up in front of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bethany finally became aware that they hadn’t gone back to her apartment. She lifted her head and gazed around in consternation.

“Where are we?”

He leaned over to silence her by kissing her. Then he opened his door and gently pulled her from the car.

“Jace, what are we . . .”

She broke off when her gaze lighted on the Christmas tree that towered above the ice skating rink. Tears immediately filled her eyes and it made his chest squeeze painfully.

“Oh, Jace.”

She went silent, her eyes rapt and alight with joy. She stared, motionless, her breath puffing out in a cloud.

“I came here once,” she whispered. “It was my first Christmas in the city. Mine and Jack’s. We walked forty blocks in the rain because I just wanted to see this one time.”

Jace struggled to breathe at the ache in her voice. His hands tightened and curled into fists. “How long ago was that, Bethany?”

She was twenty-three. So young and yet she seemed years older. Hardened by time. With the cynicism of someone much older than her tender years. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know just how long she’d been on the streets.

“Four years,” she murmured.

He stifled the curse that blistered his lips. She’d been living on the streets of New York City for four f**king years. She’d been nineteen. An age when most girls were looking forward to the start of their lives. Fresh out of high school. In college. Having fun. Taking on the world.

He was more determined than ever to shield her from every bad thing in her life. He wouldn’t allow anything else to touch her. He only wanted to surround her with good things. Happy memories. He wanted to give her that.

“Let’s go closer,” she said, her voice trembling with excitement.

She took hold of his hand, tugging him forward. He couldn’t help a smile at her excitement. Her eyes danced and her entire face lit up just like the Christmas tree.

She was so beautiful when she smiled she made his gut ache. And every time she smiled, he was always struck by the fact that she did it so rarely. It was another thing he was determined to coax from her. He wanted to give her a reason to smile every damn day.

She weaved her way through the small crowd and then stopped in a spot where they wouldn’t be elbow to elbow with anyone else. She stared at the tree in silence, her hand leaving his to clasp with her other in front of her.

Damn it but he should have made sure she brought her gloves with her. Her hands were cold. For that matter, she wasn’t dressed appropriately to be standing outside. She had a coat, but it was the lighter of the two he’d bought her. He’d thought they’d only be going from the car to the apartment and back.

But she didn’t seem to notice the cold. Her focus had drifted to the ice skaters and she wore a soft smile of pleasure.

Suddenly her face lifted and her lips parted in delight.

“Jace, it’s snowing again!”

She held her hands up, capturing the slowly drifting flakes on her palms. They melted instantly but she chased after more.