Home is Where the Heart Is (Home #1) (30 page)

“I missed you!”

He froze with his arms locked around her. Had he just heard her right?

“Um…”

Isabelle chuckled. “You’re going to give
me
a complex if this is how you react every time I say something nice to you.”

“Sorry, I meant to say I always miss you. Did you have fun shopping?”

Isabelle released him and then did a seductive little twirl.

“Maia made me buy this,” she looked up at him from under her lashes. “She said orange is your favourite colour.”

What the hell?

What was happening right now? Was she seducing him? On purpose?

“Are you trying to charm your surprise out of me with those seductive moves?” he joked, trying to keep the blood from rushing downwards.

Her cheeks flushed scarlet and she looked away.

Jace beamed - she had the worst poker face ever.

“I knew it was too good to be true, having you all over me. You are tempting as fuck Angel, but I’m not telling you anything.”

Isabelle sighed in frustration. “But it’s my birthday and I hate surprises.”

Jace spun her into his arms, her ear by his mouth. “Not this surprise.”

Her breathing became heavier and he swore he could get high just off her reaction to him. Fuck drugs – this girl was his addiction, his high, his everything.

“It’s a great dress by the way,” he said casually as he took her hand and pulled her towards his Ute.

“Not great enough,” she muttered under her breath, allowing Jace to help her into the passenger seat.

“You’re making it incredibly hard to behave myself,” Jace whispered against her neck as he buckled her in before heading over to the driver’s side.

“You’re not planning on murdering me and leaving my body in the woods, right?” Isabelle asked with an eyebrow quirk. “Because that would probably ruin my birthday.”

Jace broke out in a huge smile, his nerves starting to fade away.

“Damn, you’re onto me!”

“Just be warned that I took a Tae Kwon Do class once, and I know how to break your ribs.”

Jace smirked. “Once?”

Isabelle shrugged. “I was obviously the fastest learner and didn’t need to take any more classes.”

Jace looked over at her and into those bright hazel eyes filled with amusement and affection.

He was so lost in this girl he had no idea if he would ever be found again.

“I guess I’ll have to go with Plan B then, just for my own safety.”

Isabelle smiled in delight. “Yeah, if you want to keep your rep as a bad arse, then I guess that’s for the best.”

They fell into a comfortable silence as Jace drove the rest of the way. Parking a safe distance away he took a deep breath as he rushed around to her side of the door, pulling a blindfold out from his front pocket with shaking hands.

“You’ve got to put this on, Angel,” he told her quietly as he opened her door.

Isabelle’s eyes grew wide and she bit her lip nervously. “A blindfold?”

“Do you trust me?” he asked, tracing a line across her cheek with his thumb.

She surprised them both by nodding almost instantly.

Jace tied it over her eyes firmly, smoothing her hair as he went.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured as he helped her out of the car, keeping a firm hold on her waist as he guided her.

“I know,” she whispered back. “I’m safe with you.”

Thank God she was blindfolded because he couldn’t keep the stupid grin off his face at her words.

“Rookie mistake,” he told her gruffly.

Isabelle giggled and elbowed him lightly, trying to push him away.

“Nope, no running today, Angel,” Jace told her as he vaulted her up over his shoulder, keeping an arm around her waist to hold her steady.

“Jace! Put me down!” she shrieked, but he noticed she wasn’t trying terribly hard to pull away from him.

“Not even if you begged…and I’ll be honest with you, Angel, the thought of you begging does things to me.”

He was waiting for a slap or a cry of indignation but instead her small hands began to trace up and down his lower back, teasing his waist line.

“What are you doing?” he asked tightly.

“Nothing,” she replied innocently as she pulled his shirt up and began her assault on his bare skin.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath and quickened his pace.

Isabelle laughed gleefully. “You’re not the only one interested in the idea of begging.”

“What has gotten into you today?” Jace asked, trying to keep his body under control.

“Can’t a girl just touch her ‘label free guy’ without an agenda?”

“Nope,” Jace replied, relieved when he could see they were getting closer.

“OK, fine. Maia gave me some champagne to calm my nerves before she dropped me home,” Isabelle admitted in a huff.

Of course she did. He was going to have a little talk with his baby sister later if Isabelle was too buzzed to pay attention to what he had to say.

“But I’m not drunk,” she continued to tell him. “I feel totally fine, just really light and happy. Oh! Did you know Tate is thinking of visiting next holidays? Wouldn’t that be fun? Maybe he’ll bring the mystery girl he keeps talking about. Did he say anything to you at the airport about a girl?”

Jesus Christ. How was he meant to get her to hear him out tonight when she couldn’t even focus on one conversation at a time?

He let her babble away as he pulled his phone out with his other hand to let Maia know they were only minutes away.

“Spiderman, are you even listening to me?” Isabelle demanded, pounding on his back for emphasis.

“Yeah babe, I’m right here and listening,” he replied, giving her a little squeeze.

Isabelle sighed and pressed a kiss to his back.

“I like it when you call me babe,” she murmured. “Tell me something cute.”

“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen in my life,” he told her earnestly.

She smacked his back again. “No! Tell me something that’s true!”

“I just did. Just because you don’t see how beautiful you are, doesn’t mean you’re not.”

She was quiet for a few moments, probably trying to make sense of his words through the buzz in her head.

“You’re so good to me, Jace,” she told him finally. “Why are you so good to me?”

He opened his mouth and those three little words were right there, ready for him to spew his heart out. Before he could say a word, he froze in place as he realised they were about to walk right into her surprise and she wasn’t in position for it.

“I’m putting you down, Angel, and then we’re going to walk a few metres to your surprise.”

“We’re nearly there?” she squealed. “Oh, it’s so exciting even though I don’t like surprises! Did I tell you I don’t like surprises?”

Chuckling to himself he gently lowered her to her feet and then wrapped an arm around her waist, his other hand holding hers as they walked down the narrow path leading to the private beach area he had set up.

“You remember your promise about not killing me, right?” she murmured as she walked with him clumsily, stumbling under the blindfold.

“I’m not going to hurt you ever, Isabelle,” he replied back, using her name to show her he was serious.

They reached the peak of the walkway. Below, Jace could see Matt had delivered on his promise of a huge bonfire and all their friends were around it, unusually quiet as they waited for their arrival.

He pushed back against the nerves and nodded his acknowledgment to everyone below as he pulled Isabelle along.

“We’re nearly there.”

“Thank God, I didn’t really dress for a hike.”

Jace grinned. “We’ve been walking barely ten minutes and I carried you some of the way.”

“Manhandled me is a more appropriate term.”

“Tell me you didn’t love it and I’ll never put my hands on you again,” he whispered in her ear.

She flushed bright pink and turned her face away from his, refusing to answer.

Score one Jace.

When they reached the bottom he positioned her right in front of everyone gathered around and then stood behind her, his hand on the blindfold.

“Are you ready for your surprise?”

“You hired the cast of Magic Mike for me, didn’t you?” Isabelle replied with false enthusiasm.

Matt smothered a laugh, causing Maia to smack him across the head and Jace to glare at him.

Isabelle froze at the sound and then deftly pulled the blindfold off herself.

“Surprise! Happy birthday!”

Isabelle’s eyes darted to Jace’s and then back to everyone watching her with massive smiles on their faces.

“Is this… is this for me?” she asked quietly, her eyes locked on Maia.

“I don’t know anyone else with a birthday today, baby girl,” Maia replied, moving forward to throw her arms around her. “Do you like it?”

Isabelle’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know what to say. You really did all this for me?”

Maia nodded towards Jace. “I’d love to take credit but this was all Jace - I just kept everyone in line.”

She turned to him then, her eyes filled with emotion and unshed tears.

“Jace…this is so…thank you. Thank you so much.”

He could see she was struggling with feelings so raw in front of everyone so, instead of opening his heart to her like he really wanted to, he gave her a lazy smile and winked.

“Channing Tatum wouldn’t return my calls so this was the next best thing.”

Isabelle blinked one, twice and then burst out laughing.

“How rude of him, doesn’t he know who you are?”

Jace shrugged and then watched as Maia towed Isabelle away into the excited and shrieking pack of girls waiting to embrace her.

“Well, well, look who’s got himself a heart and is being all cute and shit.”

Jace turned to Ben who was watching him with a playful smirk.

“Oh, you don’t even know the cutest part,” Matt cut in, handing them both a beer. “The best is yet to come.”

“Shut up, dude,” Jace warned, feeling his ears go red.

Ben grinned wildly. “Are you in love, dude? Get butterflies when you look at her? Does she complete you?”

Jace fought a smile and smacked Ben’s arm off his shoulder. “Shut up man, at least I know what I want and I’m not clueless like you.”

“Don’t try and make this about me, back me up here, Matt.”

Matt raised his hands. “Don’t look at me dude; Jace actually has a point for once.”

Ben glanced over at Jace with a raised eyebrow.

Was he really that oblivious? He couldn’t really think Kandi was happy being his friend.

“Kandi, dude,” Jace said slowly. “She’s been in love with you for years and throwing herself at you for the last two.”

Ben’s face was priceless.

“But she’s my best friend,” he said slowly.

Matt rolled his eyes. “You’re a dumb shit. Jace is my best friend and you don’t see him giving me lap dances or taking me bikini shopping with him.”

Ben smirked. “You wear a bikini, Matt?”

“You know what I mean, shithead. That girl has thrown herself at you every chance she can find, and you’ve totally shut her down every time. You’re lucky she’s still talking to your ass, let alone inviting you for sleep overs.”

Ben looked over to where Kandi was standing with Tyler by the fire, laughing at something he said but glancing over to Ben every few seconds.

“See that, dude?” Jace said nodding. “Tyler is giving his A game and she’s still only got eyes for you.”

Ben didn’t reply - just kept staring at Kandi as if seeing her for the first time. You could practically see the cogs working in his head as he processed the information and his feelings.

“You’re a dumb fucker,” Jace told him, clapping him on the shoulder. “You stay here and work through your shit - I’m going to go and get a drink.”

Matt grunted his agreement and they left Ben standing there, completely dumbfounded.

“She looks really happy, dude,” Matt told him as they sat on a log on the opposite side of the fire to the girls. “I didn’t know she could smile so much when we first met her.”

Jace looked over at Isabelle laughing at Maia’s attempts to do a hand stand with a vodka cruiser still in her hand.

“I’ve never felt like this before,” he admitted softly.

Matt nodded. “I know, man, anyone can see that you love her. I’m just worried you’re going to get fucked over again.”

“I didn’t love Kimberley,” Jace pointed out.

“Exactly, and look how much that shit tore you up. You are so lost in this girl that if this thing goes south it’s not going to break you, dude – it will ruin you.”

“Geez, thanks for your vote of confidence,” Jace replied sarcastically.

“I’m just looking out for you bro, you’re pretty fucked … but your girl? She is
fucked up.”

Jace glared at his best friend murderously. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

Matt didn’t even flinch. “Like I said, totally lost in her. Just be careful – I like Isabelle, but I love you and I’m always going to do whatever I need to do, to take care of you.”

Jace didn’t like the sound of that at all.

“Dude, whatever happens is on my head, OK? You leave her alone.”

Matt stood up, glanced over at Isabelle and then met Jace’s glare unrelentingly.

“I make no promises. Better gear up, the sun’s going down and it’s almost time.”

Jace let his best friend go without any protest and took several deep breaths as he turned to the ocean and the setting sky. He had maybe an hour, ninety minutes tops before the real surprise took place.

Remembering something Isabelle said before, he got out his phone to text Maia.

JACE: Watch how much you let Isabelle drink, OK? I don’t want her to be paralytic for my present.

Seconds later his phone vibrated a response.

MAIA: I’m on it. Try and enjoy yourself, you’ve got this. She’s gushing about how amazing you are right now and hanging on my every word about your need to make others happy. Love your face xx

Fuck, he loved his sister. If this whole thing worked out like he was certain it was, he was going to buy her a horse or something to show his thanks and even then it might not be enough.

He glanced at the pinks and reds that were starting to streak through the sky, and figured he may as well take his sister’s advice and unwind while he waited. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do and he wanted to give Isabelle some time with everyone else before he stole her away.

Catching Matt’s eye he nodded and then caught the beer that flew his way a few seconds later.

He moved to sit next to Giselle and Kandi who were roasting marshmallows, but made sure Isabelle was still in his sights.

He’d give her this time to be the centre of attention and spoiled by their friends but as soon as that sun went down? She was his.

CHAPTER 13
ISABELLE

There was a slow burning warmth coursing through Isabelle’s veins. It was so unlike the ice she usually felt, she felt in danger of going into shock. She sat in a comfortable arm chair by the fire, roasting marshmallows and surrounded by people she could confidently name as friends.

It was quite possibly the best day of her life, certainly the happiest she’d been in months. If Tate were here too, it
would
be a perfect day.

“Jace is, like, the sweetest ever,” Kandi gushed for the hundredth time.

“Who knew, right?” Kerry quipped.

“Certainly not me,” Giselle added. “I’ve known that kid most of my life and I had no idea he had a romantic bone in his body.”

“I know! Remember that one time at camp…”

Isabelle frowned slightly as they began to tell stories about Jace and his many conquests and the trouble he always seemed to find himself in. She couldn’t reconcile the Jace she knew and cared about with this wild, careless, party boy with whom they were so familiar.

“You’re all being a bunch of bitches.” Maia spoke firmly over them all. “I happen to know my brother has always had a soft side to him, he just hadn’t met a girl worth settling down with… until now.”

Isabelle froze.

“Stop looking so surprised,” Maia giggled. “Are you not the girl he did all this for?”

“Well yeah… but we’re friends, and friends take care of each other.”

As one, the girls groaned long and loudly, grumbling for Isabelle to shut up.

“Let me tell you a little something about friends,” Kandi said with a slight slur. “The friend zone is something I am an expert in so you can trust me when I say you are
not
in the friend zone. Jace looks at you like you’re the spoon and he’s the…wait, that’s not right. He looks at you like… girl, he just looks at you and
only
you, OK? You walk in a room and it’s like BAM! Everyone else has disappeared. I would
kill
to have someone look at me like I was edible.”

Isabelle giggled, her face flaming. “Yeah, but he’s a guy. He probably just wants to….you know.”

Kandi smirked. “Screw your brains out while he looks into your soul? Haven’t you guys done that yet?”

Isabelle’s face flushed bright red and she looked down at her suddenly very interesting fingernails.

“No! We’ve….I’ve….it’s just not like that.”

“Are you religious and waiting for marriage or something?” Kerry asked curiously.

“Back off girls,” Maia said firmly. “The fact that she’s still got her V card at seventeen is amazing. She’s just being selective about who she shares her body with, right Isabelle?”

Isabelle peeked up at the girls, her face still flushed. “I just don’t want to mess something up that I can only do once. It doesn’t have to be marriage or anything, but it should mean something.”

Kandi sighed dramatically. “I wish I had been strong and saved myself for the right guy.”

“And by that you mean Ben?” Maia teased.

“What about me?” Ben asked as he appeared with Jace.

It was Kandi’s turn to flush a deep red now as she totally avoided Ben’s gaze.

“It’s nothing,” she mumbled, wringing her hands in her lap.

Ben didn’t look convinced but shrugged. “Whatever. Listen, Kand, can I…uh…can we go talk for a minute?”

Something in Ben’s voice had Kandi’s head snapping up to meet his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing! I just… I just thought we could go check out the rock pools or something.”

Isabelle looked over to Jace with her eyebrows raised; something was definitely up with Ben. Jace smirked and shook his head before beckoning her over to him.

Like a trained puppet she obeyed immediately.

“Hey,” he whispered.

“Hi,” she whispered back, her body heating up at his nearness.

“I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Another one?” she moaned.

Jace laughed at her, playfully tweaking her nose. “Don’t be ungrateful, you’ll love it, I swear.”

As if she could ever say no to him.

“Ladies, you don’t mind if I steal the birthday girl away for a bit, do you?” he asked the rest of their little circle.

“Depends, what do you plan on doing with her?” Anna asked with a grin.

“Crazy murder her and then throw her body off the cliffs,” he replied casually.

Everyone chuckled except Ben and Kandi who had slunk away from the group.

“Well, in that case, you better hop to it.”

Jace gave them all a dramatic bow and then took Isabelle’s hand in his giant, warm one, tugging her down to the other side of the beach.

“I don’t know if I can handle any more surprises,” she admitted, after they’d been walking in silence for a while. “This is already too much.”

Jace stopped and pressed his fingers to her lips. “Not too much,” he said in a husky voice. “It is never too much for you, babe.”

Why was her heart beating so frantically against her chest? Why were her palms so sweaty? Oh god, what if he could feel how gross her hands were right now?

She tried to tug out of his grasp but his hold just tightened.

“Angel, please just let me touch you for tonight.”

His voice was so quiet and pleading Isabelle couldn’t do anything but numbly walk along beside him on auto pilot as she tried to figure out what the hell was happening.

They pulled to a stop and Isabelle’s eyes widened. They stood at the bottom of the cliff, a small jagged path the only way up to the top.

“You weren’t kidding about throwing me off the cliff, huh?” she muttered.

Jace chuckled and pulled her under his arm and close to his chest. It was oddly comforting and eased her nerves.

“And risk the wrath of your ninja skills? I don’t think anyone is that brave. Come on, there’s something I want to show you up top.”

“Fun fact about me? I don’t hike, ever.”

He smiled indulgently at her. “It’s not as bad as it looks and I promise it will be worth it.”

Isabelle looked deep into his ocean blue eyes and saw a nervous vulnerability and hope that squeezed her heart. He had gone to so much effort to make this day amazing for her, and had probably spent a lot of time getting everything perfect and everyone organised - all he was asking was that she climb up a stupid cliff, with him right beside her to stop her from falling.

She sighed deeply. It wasn’t like he was asking for a kidney; she could endure a small hike if it meant giving him even a fraction of the happiness he had given her.