Chapter Two

"I got everything on your list." Jace set the bags on the kitchen table, wiggling his arm when one of the handles caught on his wrist. The handle finally released, then two cans rolled from the bag but stopped when the fruit bowl blocked them from going any farther.

"Did you get my peanut butter cookies?" His grandma walked into the kitchen and kissed him on the cheek with a loud smack. "Been craving them all day."

"Two packs of them." Jace normally would have unloaded the bags, but he wanted to jump into the shower. The store run had taken longer than he'd anticipated. It hadn't helped that only one register was open and the people in front of him had full carts.

"You're a darling!" His grandma smiled brightly. She dug through the bags as Jace turned to his mother.

"I can't stay for dinner. I, uh, I'm meeting some friends at Deep Dish." He hated lying to her, but that was better than her becoming excited about her son having a date. Jace didn't want to stand there and answer a million questions or have to listen to dating tips.

"Why didn't you tell me when I called you?" His mom rested her hand on the back of one of the chairs at the table.

"Last-minute plans." Jace took a step back, afraid she would be able to see right through the lie. Moms had a weird way of knowing a lie from thirty paces away.

"He's twenty-four, Myla. Jace needs to get out instead of sitting up with two old ladies." His grandma opened one of the packs of cookies and pulled one out. A look of pure joy crossed her face when she took a bite.

"You might be old, but I'm still young," his mom huffed. "Fifty-one is the new thirty."

"And seventy-six is bad on your hips," his grandma countered.

As the two exchanged banter, Jace walked backward then hurried to his room. He jumped into the shower, scrubbing the day off of him. The last hour at the gym had been nonstop cleaning. He'd worked up a sweat trying to get everything done in time.

Like the asshole that he was, Owen had looked over Jace's shoulder nearly the entire time, scrutinizing his work and nitpicking everything.

At least Jace had tomorrow off and could get a break from Mr. Obnoxious.

When he stepped back into his bedroom, Jace rummaged through his closet and drawers trying to decide what to wear. Jeans or shorts? T-shirt or something with a collar? Sneakers or…sneakers? He needed to start buying something other than tennis shoes.

After spritzing body spray all over himself, Jace went with a pair of relaxed-fit jeans and a dark plum Polo. The color always made his hazel eyes appear more honeyed.

Jace stood in the mirror trying to get his black hair to look as if he'd just rolled out of bed.

"You got this," he said to his reflection. "Open your mouth and have a conversation. It's just the diner. Nothing fancy."

He was totally going to botch this.

"Friends, my ass," his grandma said when Jace walked through the living room on his way out the door. She was on the couch with a pack of peanut butter cookies on her lap and a glass of milk on the side table. She sniffed the air and grinned. "You done used half the bottle of body spray. Who's the lucky fella you're sneaking off to see?"

Jace glanced over his shoulder.

"Your mom is in the kitchen cooking and drinking wine. Don't you hear the music playing?" she asked. "She's oblivious to you sneaking off." His grandma stood and set the package aside. "You're such a stunning boy, Jace. You look just like your father, god rest his soul."

"I'm just—"

"Save it. I know a polished man going on a date when I see one." She brushed her hands over his shoulders. "I'm happy you're getting back out there after your bad breakup with Tucker. That boy didn't deserve you."

Jace didn't want to think of Tucker or their bad breakup. Especially not before a date with Ian. "I have to go."

She patted his cheek lovingly. "Make sure you have fun." Her eyes sparkled. "Remember to open your mouth and talk, dearie. Don't let your shyness get in the way. But most importantly, you make sure this one treats you right."

"I'll bring you back one of Roman's delicious desserts." For a woman so thin, his grandma loved her sweets.

"If Roman was older and into women, I'd snatch him up." She snickered. "Tell that stud your grandmama said hello."

Not in a million years. "My grandmother is a saint. She doesn't get all worked up over a guy."

"You should have seen me back in my day when your grandfather courted me." She winked. "I was a knockout, honey. Had men lining up to take my hand."

"I'm gonna go." Jace headed for the door as he tried to get that image out of his head.

"No kissing on the first date," she called out behind him. "No sex, either. Make him work for what he wants."

Jace groaned. Now, if Ian wanted a kiss, all Jace would think about was a line of lust-filled men after his grandma. He should have just crawled out of his bedroom window instead of using the front door.

When he turned the car key, the dashboard lit up and the fan kicked on, but his car only sputtered. It had started with no problem when he'd left work. Jace tried again, only to get the same results.

"You pick a fine time to act up on me." He didn't know the first thing about cars, except how to fill the gas tank. Sadly, Jace didn't even know how to change a flat. That was what roadside assistance was for.

Even though he was nervous about having dinner with Ian, Jace didn't want to miss his date. There was just something about the guy that made Jace's heart somersault all over the place.

Either they would have to reschedule or maybe Ian would agree to pick him up. He bit his thumbnail as he made the call.

"Jace." Ian said his name as if he were purring the four letters. "What's up?"

"I, uh—" Jace cleared his throat as he tried to force back his timidity. "My car."

"Are you having car trouble?"

"Yes!" Jace palmed his face. "I mean, yes. It won't…it won't start."

"Do you know why?" Ian asked. "Has it been giving you problems before now?"

Jace shook his head and then realized Ian couldn't see him. "No, and I don't know anything about cars. I bought this one used, and so far, it's been good to me. It worked fine when I left the gym, and now …I don't know. The dash lights come on, but I can't get it going." That was way too much explaining. "We can reschedule," he said.

"Or I could take a look at it," Ian offered. "I know my way around an engine. The problem might be something simple, saving you a mechanic bill."

Something Jace couldn't afford. He had some money saved, but he helped out with household expenses. His mom worked from home as a tax accountant, and his grandma lived on a fixed income. Jace didn't have extra money for repairs.

"Are you…are you sure you don't mind?"

"Not at all. I'm already in town. Give me your address and I'll head your way."

Jace gave it to him. "I appreciate you doing this for me."

Ian's chuckle was soft and deep, making Jace's heart thump faster. "Not a problem. I'll be there soon."

When Ian hung up, Jace gripped his phone in his hand and took a deep breath. This time when he saw Ian, Mr. Obnoxious wouldn't be around to embarrass him.

It would just be the two of them.

If his grandma didn't poke her head outside.

A shiny maroon Lincoln Navigator pulled to the curb. Jace had seen that SUV around town before, unless there was more than one in Midnight Falls.

The driver's door opened, and Ian stepped out. His long legs were encased in dark denim. His vibrant blue short-sleeved shirt brought out the whiskey hue of his eyes, even from a distance. As he walked across the street, his wild mane of hair was tousled by the wind.

Jace was in so much trouble.

"Pop the hood," Ian said as he passed the driver's door of Jace's tan Camry.

How? Since he'd never popped it before, Jace sat there clueless and flustered. He glanced around, hoping to find something marked "hood."

No such luck.

Ian came back and leaned inside the car. His upper body caressed Jace's arm and leg. His lustrous hair spilled into Jace's lap like a waterfall of silk. Sweet torturous hell.

The hood unlatched, the sound drawing Jace's attention. Ian pulled away, but his intoxicating scent lingered. So did a few strands of his hair on Jace's shirt.

"Turn the key," Ian instructed from behind the hood.

"Pull your shit together," Jace muttered then turned the key. Again, the lights on his dashboard came to life but the car only sputtered.

Ian returned to the driver's side and leaned down, staring at the dashboard. He wasn't far enough inside for their bodies to touch or his hair to spill into Jace's lap again.

"I have good news." Ian smiled. "The solution will only cost you a few dollars."

Something stirred inside of Jace as he stared into whiskey-brown eyes. "I'm sorry, w-what?"

Ian crouched and pointed. "Check your gas gauge, hon."

Clearing his throat, Jace turned and stared at the needle, red-faced that it was resting on empty. "I'm out of gas?"

"Yep." Ian chuckled. "It happens to everyone. Why don't we enjoy dinner, and then we'll fill a gas can afterward?" He stood and took a step back. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

"So am I." Jace got out and closed the door as Ian dropped the hood. When he glanced at the living room windows, he saw his grandma quickly drop the curtain back in place.

With a slight shake of his head, Jace followed Ian to his SUV. The diner was bustling when they entered. Ian grabbed Jace's hand and led him to a booth in the back.

They sat opposite each other. Jace hated to let Ian's hand go. He liked the guy touching him.

Liked it a lot.

Overwhelming so.

"Since I invited you to dinner, this is my treat." Ian grabbed the menus tucked behind the container holding the table's condiments and handed one over.

"Thank you for dinner." Jace remembered his manners while looking over the menu.

"It was my diabolical plan to spend more time with you." Ian chuckled then focused on his own menu.

Jace stared at the choices, but he was also covertly fixated on Ian's full, kissable lips. At that moment, the bottom lip was caught between those perfect white teeth.

Ian was focused on what he wanted for dinner.

Jace was focused on what those lips would feel like on any part of his body. What he wouldn't give to find out.

Julian Sanders approached their table. Jace knew a lot of people in Midnight Falls. He just had a hard time talking to them. His mind always blanked out when it came to conversations. Small talk was his downfall.

"My day always brightens when I have a celebrity in my section." Julian's bluish-gray eyes sparked with humor.

What was the guy talking about? What celebrity?

"Then it gets even brighter at the sight of Jace Galano." Julian whipped out his electronic order thingy.

The compliment made Jace squirm. His mouth tugged into a smile, though he refused to look at the server, concentrating on his plastic-covered menu instead.

"Are you vying for a bigger tip?" Ian asked with a grin. "I haven't been in the spotlight for five years, so stop buttering me up."

Spotlight? Jace wanted to whip his phone out and Google Ian's name. Curiosity was gnawing at him to find out why the guy had been a celebrity.

"I'm not buttering anything. What do you guys want to drink?" Juliun tapped the screen a few times. "I swear I hate using these. They make ordering easier, but not when they glitch." He yelled over his shoulder, "Roman, this handheld POS is acting up again!"

"Stop whining and grab another one," Roman hollered from the pass. "Your moaning is making the sizzle on my grill fizzle out."

"Now he's a rhyme master." Julian rolled his eyes. "Give me a second, guys."

"Never a dull moment in this place," Ian said. "I hope your day improved after you left work."

"How so?" Jace set his menu aside.

"Has Owen treated you that way since you started working there?" Ian followed suit and lay his menu down. The skin between his eyebrows wrinkled. Then his foot tapped Jace's in a slow tempo. A gentle smile crossed Ian's lips as he stared at Jace.

Jace shrugged then gazed at the tabletop. "It's a pretty easy gig. The hours aren't bad. The pay is decent."

"Which tells me that Owen has been a constant dick to you."

At the slight snarl in Ian's voice, Jace looked up. "He's just…Owen. Full of…" There was no way to finish that sentence politely. The only thing Owen was full of was his own self-inflated ego. "Why did Julian call you a celebrity?"

Ian rested his forearms on the table and clasped his hands. "With the way this town gossips, I'm surprised you don't know." His eyes filled with something Jace couldn't discern, a faraway look that pinched his features slightly. "I was a pro snowboarder for ten years. Gave up the profession five years ago."

"I don't follow sports. My mind can't grasp the rules and whatever lingo is used for whatever game." Jace rubbed his upper arm. "You don't look old enough to have snowboarded for ten years and retired for the past five. You must have started in your teens."

Ian broke into an open, friendly smile. "I carry my age well. Let me guess." He studied Jace for a moment. "Early twenties."

Jace touched his cheek as heat erupted over his face and the tips of his ears. "Twenty-four. I would try to guess your age, but I would probably insult you. Numbers aren't my thing. For example, when we met, I thought you had to be at least six-three or six-four. I'm way off, right?"

He tapped Jace's foot. "Close. I'm six-five."

Tapping his finger on his chin, Jace tried again. "Late twenties at the most."

Julian returned. "Sorry about that. Have you guys decided on your drinks? As long as I was, you two probably know what you want to eat, as well."

"I'll have an iced tea," Ian replied.

"Same," Jace said.

"Sweetened or unsweetened?" Julian asked.

"Sweetened," Jace and Ian said at the same time.

"Coming right up. Do you still need a minute to decide on your food?" He entered their order into his handheld device.

"Ready?" Ian's left eyebrow rose a fraction. "I know what I want, but if you need more time…"

Why did Jace have a weird feeling the guy wasn't talking about food? "I'll have a mushroom Swiss burger. Well done. Fries on the side."

"I'll have the steak, medium rare, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and a side of grilled onions and mushrooms." Ian's foot tapped against Jace's again in that slow tempo.

It was nice, almost like a secret thing between the two of them. Jace was probably reading too much into it. For all he knew, it could be a strange tic Ian suffered from. The guy might tap any random foot that was near his.

"I'll grab your drinks." Julian walked away.

Ian sat forward. His hair fell around his shoulders, framing his face and highlighting his strong cheekbones. Was it as soft as it looked? Would the strands glide through Jace's fingers like smooth satin? Why was he so fascinated with Ian's hair?

And his whiskey-colored eyes.

His voice.

Those tempting, sensual, kissable lips.

"If you're not ready to ditch me after dinner, would you consider taking a walk with me?" Ian wiggled his brows.

The guy made it nearly impossible to turn him down when he looked so adorable and hopeful.

Unfortunately, Jace had been lured in by a playful smile once before, only to be left dejected and heartbroken. "Around t-town?"

The humor in Ian's eyes faltered as his foot stilled. "Or wherever you're comfortable with."

Jace reminded himself that Ian wasn't Tucker. The man in front of him shouldn't suffer for someone else's malicious mockery disguised as friendly teasing.

"Can I think about it?"

"I'd never force you to do anything you don't want to." Ian's foot started tapping his again. "You'll always have choices with me, kitten." His grin resurfaced, reaching his eyes. "You look nice. Plum is definitely your color."

Jace breathed easier. "You look amazing. Blue suits you."

"Does it bring out the hue in my eyes?" Ian batted his beautifully thick lashes in an exaggerated manner.

Laughter seized Jace. "I hadn't noticed, but maybe just a little."

As hesitant as he'd been about his date with Ian, Jace was glad he'd agreed.