Life was perfect. The holidays were planned. Jace only had a few more band commitments, and then we’d have an entire year just to be together. With no other responsibilities other than the ranch.
Satisfied with my life, I was relaxing in the living room with a glass of wine and a book when my phone pinged.
Zoey: U there?
Alex: Y
Zoey: So, apparently, Ty is a gazillionaire.
Alex: ??
Zoey: He wants me to work for his foundation.
Alex: So, your dream job – awesome.
Zoey: Are my dreams coming true? I’m having a hard time believing all of this is happening.
Alex: It is, embrace it.
Zoey: I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. I do want us to get together.
Alex: I’ve been busy too, let’s do it soon.
Zoey: Yes! Love you
Alex: Love you.
“Hey, I hate to interrupt.” Jace stood in the doorway, buff arms above his head gripping the crown molding. His sweats hung low on his hips, and my mouth salivated at the happy trail that was visible from his taut abs to the waistband.
“I’m on board with a sexy interruption!” I motioned him over.
“I have the info for New York, get your mind out of the gutter.” Jace came over and sat next to me.
“Oooh!” I squealed. “Let me see!”
Just as we began to go over his itinerary, Jen knocked on the front door and came in without waiting. Her face was crumpled with grief.
“Jen, what’s wrong?” Jace bolted to her. “Is it Mom?”
“No.” She erupted in tears. “I need to speak with you alone.”
“Anything you say can be said in front of Alex, Jen.” Jace scolded. “We don’t have any secrets. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I just got off the phone with Jessica.” Jen could barely talk.
“Jessica?” Jace seemed clueless.
“Cassie’s sister.”
Jace’s face went white. “What did she want?”
“Cassie’s dead.” Jen’s voice caught; tears streamed down her face.
“Wait. What? Shit.” Jace plopped down next to me shellshocked. I gripped his knee, searching his face for a reaction.
“She was killed in a car crash a few days ago.” Jen sat down opposite us. “She left behind the baby I saw her with. A girl named Helena.”
“Oh.” Jace’s face was still blank.
“The funeral is on Saturday.” Jen closed her eyes and sighed heavily.
“I can’t go. I’ll be in New York,” Jace’s voice was strangely robotic, completely devoid of emotion.
“The family wants to get some DNA from you, J-bird,” Jen said softly. “As soon as possible.”
“Why?” Jace asked, his voice distant. Detached.
“They think you’re the baby’s father,” I interjected, trying to catch his eye.
My heart was beating out of my chest. How could this happen just when we found our perfect balance? Our lives were completely shattered with one phone call. Shaking the negative thoughts from my brain I decided it didn’t matter.
I would be there for Jace, in any way he needed me to.
“Jen, let us have a few minutes,” I said gently.
“Sure.” Jen stood to leave. “I’m heading back out to our place. I left her number on the kitchen counter.”
We sat silently for at least fifteen minutes. Jace’s hands were clasped in a giant fist, his elbows resting on his knees. His head hung down; his hair was tousled around his face. I remained where I was, unsure of what to do or say. I was so scared about whatever was going to happen next, I almost relished the limbo we were in.
“Fuck.” Jace finally broke the silence.
“You should give her a call.”
“I know, but I don’t want to.” Jace looked at me, fear permeated his gaze.
“This little girl could be a huge blessing to your life.” I eeked out a smile, trying to be positive.
“I don’t want to be a father to her child.” Jace’s voice caught. “I’m feeling like I’m having an out-of-body experience right now. How the fuck does this happen?”
“It’s going to be okay, Jace. We will figure all of this out, I’m not going anywhere.” I got up placed my hands over his.
“Yet,” Jace spat and abruptly stood and walked into the kitchen.
I followed him but didn’t react. This was intense. Fighting with him over a stupid comment wasn’t going to help things.
He picked up the slip of paper Jen had left him and grabbed his mobile and punched in the number before I could stop him. My initial worry was that Cassie’s family shouldn’t have his direct, private phone number. But it hit me that if Helena was Jace’s daughter and Jace and I were together, the infant child would become part of our lives. I involuntarily shivered and wondered if it was me that Jace was worried about.
In the middle of my own thoughts, I didn’t pay close attention to his conversation. My brain fogged over. Mostly Jace grunted “nos” “I don’t knows” “uh-huhs” and “okay.” He asked why her family wanted him to take a paternity test when Cassie told Jen that Jace wasn’t the father of her kid a few months ago.
Unfortunately, judging by his frustration when he hung up, he didn’t seem to get any answers.
“So?” I said tentatively.
“They are demanding that I do a DNA test. Cassie apparently left a will naming me as the girl’s father.” Jace slumped down on the couch. “If I don’t agree, they are threatening to go to the press and then to court.”
“If they threatened you, maybe we should get a lawyer.” I tried to be helpful and include myself so that he knew I’d stand behind him. “I could talk to Zoey when I’m at her house tomorrow.”
“No!” Jace held up his finger. “No. No. No. I do not want Zoey or Ty or any of the guys to know about this. Not yet. Maybe not ever, if I can help it.”
“Okay. Then we need to find a lawyer.”
“Alex, let me just process. And think.” Jace scrubbed his hands over his scruffy face and kept them over his eyes.
I marveled
