“It’s Christmas. I want you to enjoy the holiday. Our first together,” he added with a smile.
“I’m terrified,” she blurted out.
Jace’s gaze softened and he scooted closer to her. “There’s no need to be. I swear it. These are the very best people. They’re my family. I wouldn’t subject you to any situation I thought would be harmful to you.”
“Ash is going to be there.”
Jace’s eyes flickered, but he recovered quickly. But she’d seen his reaction and knew he didn’t look forward to her and Ash being together any more than she did.
“Honey, listen to me. It’s inevitable that you and Ash will cross paths. You’re both very important to me. What happened happened. We can’t change it, no matter how much I wish differently. So the only thing we can do is face it and move forward. He’s not a dick. He’s not going to make things awkward. Ash is the best friend I have. He knows what you mean to me. Trust me when I say things are going to be fine.”
She glanced down. “I’m sorry. I’m ruining Christmas for you before we even get there. I’m scared. I don’t want to disappoint you. I don’t want to let you down. And I don’t want to embarrass you in front of the people you love. All I can think about is that they’ll take one look at me and they’ll know everything. They’ll know I’m not good enough for you. They’ll know you could have done better. And I can’t stand seeing that look on their faces. How they’ll look at you, wondering what on earth you’re doing.”
Jace’s scowl was instant. “Now you’re just pissing me off. That’s a bunch of bullshit, and swear to God, Bethany, if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to get you beyond such asinine thinking.”
She closed her eyes tightly, determined not to do something stupid. Like cry. It would ruin her carefully applied makeup anyway. Makeup that Jace had had to help her purchase because she hadn’t had a clue what to buy or even how to apply it. A very patient makeup artist had gone through all the steps, showing her how and what to apply, and in what order. Then she’d sent Bethany home with an entire bag of cosmetics, half of which Bethany didn’t even remember the purpose of.
“Baby, look at me.”
It wasn’t a request. It was a firmly worded command. One she instantly obeyed. While Jace was still holding back and easing her into their relationship, in the days since their emotional discussion about the course of their relationship, he’d become more comfortable demonstrating his dominance.
He’d gradually become more forceful, not only in bed, but in their everyday existence. And in the beginning, she’d truly wondered if she’d chafe at his authority over her, but in fact she’d embraced it. She reveled in her well-ordered existence. As soon as Jace had taken that step in exerting his dominance, a part of her had sighed in relief. It had been so freeing to hand over responsibility to someone who cared about her. Someone who took care of her and was insanely protective of her.
It gave her a measure of security she hadn’t enjoyed until now. It made her feel . . . safe.
“You do Gabe and Mia and Ash a huge disservice by thinking they’d feel any such way about you. They aren’t judgmental. They aren’t snobs. They’re not going to care about your past or where you came from. All they’re going to care about is that you make me happy because they care about me. And by extension, because they care about me, they’re going to love you. All I’m asking is that you give them a chance.”
She was suddenly ashamed because Jace was right. She wasn’t giving them a chance. She’d already passed judgment on them. The very thing she feared they’d do to her.
“I’m being a reverse snob,” she said quietly. “You’re right. I’m not being fair.”
He squeezed her to him again and kissed the side of her head. “You’re understandably nervous. I don’t fault you for that. What I’m saying, though, is that it’s going to be okay. Trust me?”
She nodded and he looked relieved.
They arrived a few minutes later and Jace helped her from the car. He wrapped his arm around her and cautioned her not to slip as they hurried toward the entrance to Gabe’s apartment building.
Butterflies took over, swarming her stomach as they rode the elevator to the top floor. When it opened, she was immediately assailed by delicious smells. A mixture of cooking food, and what smelled like scented holiday candles. Peppermint and pine?
The interior of the apartment was aglow with candles and in the corner of the living room was a huge tree, twinkling with hundreds of lights. The entire living room was decorated festively and the fireplace was on.
“Jace!”
A petite, dark-haired woman hurried over and immediately engulfed Jace in a huge hug. Jace’s smile was instant as he hugged her back. Then she pulled away and turned her warm smile on Bethany.
“You must be Bethany. I’m Mia, Jace’s sister. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m so happy you’re here!”
Bethany started to stick out her hand but Mia enfolded her in a hug similar to the one she’d given Jace. Bethany awkwardly returned it.
“Thank you for having me,” Bethany murmured.
“Hey, there you guys are.”
Bethany glanced up to see a gorgeous, tall man walk up behind Mia and slip his arm around her waist. She remembered him from the party. Actually, she remembered both of them. She’s stared wistfully at them as they’d danced and had thought they looked so much in love. She wasn’t about to draw attention to the fact that she’d been part of the waitstaff at their engagement party, though, and so she pasted a bright smile and pretended this was the first time she’d ever seen either one.
Gabe slapped Jace on the back and then turned to Bethany.
“Hi, Bethany. I’m Gabe, Jace’s friend and business partner. About to become his brother-in-law, if my bride to be will put me out of my misery and set a wedding date.”
“Hi, Gabe,” she managed to choke out.
Jace’s arm came around her, steadying her and offering silent support. In that moment she loved him for that.
“Come on in the kitchen,” Mia said. “That’s where everyone is congregated, drinking wine and snacking on the fruit and cheese tray.”
She tucked Bethany’s arm underneath hers so that Bethany was flanked by both Mia and Jace and then pulled them both toward the kitchen.
Bethany’s stomach dropped when they met Ash in the doorway. She nearly ran into him as he scooted to the side to get out of the way.
“Hey, man,” Ash said. “Glad you two made it.”
Then he leaned forward and kissed Bethany on the cheek.
“Hello, Bethany. You look beautiful.”