~ Jace ~
Stephen is pacing when I walk into his office.
That’s never a good sign.
He doesn’t pace unless something’s crawling under his skin.
“You look unhinged,” I say, closing the door behind me.
“Don’t start.”
“Then stop acting like a man who just lost a bet.”
He turns to me sharply.
“Have you slept with her?”
Straight to it.
I stare at him.
“That’s your opener?”
“Answer it.”
“Why?”
“Because I asked.”
I let out a slow breath.
“Yes.”
His jaw tightens.
“That was fast.”
“No,” I say evenly. “It wasn’t.”
He studies my face like he’s looking for guilt.
“You’re serious about her,” he says.
It’s not a question.
“Yes.”
That word hangs between us.
He laughs under his breath.
“You don’t even know her.”
“I know enough.”
“You know what she lets you see.”
“And you don’t?”
