First

Chapter 16

"Did you want to stay for dinner tonight? And maybe we can watch a movie?" I asked, sitting on a hay bale and watching Jace work.

Jace threw a load of hay into one of the stalls and approached me, kissing my frostbitten nose. It was the end of November and the snow had already blanketed the ground. I had been sitting out here for hours watching Jace work, just wanting to spend some time with him.

"Aren't your parents going to be home?" he questioned, lifting his eyebrows.

I shook my head. "Nope." I gave him a mischievous smirk. "Mom and Dad are out of town for the weekend for Dad's job. Levi's with his girlfriend for the night and Reagan's at a birthday party."

Jace laughed and pulled me into his arms. "You've got this all figured out, don't you?"

I nodded eagerly. "Mm-hm. We haven't spent a lot of time together lately. I miss you," I pouted.

"Awe, I've missed you too, babe," Jace sighed.

"So is that a yes? Date night tonight?" I asked expectantly.

"Yes, date night tonight."

"Yay!" I clapped my hands, kissing his perfect lips.

"Now go inside." Jace picked up my hands and blew on them after seeing how blue they were. "It's cold out here; I don't need you getting sick."

I smiled and stood up. "I'll see you soon."

Jace smacked my butt, propelling me toward the house. "Soon, now go."

I laughed and ran to the house. As soon as I entered, it struck me how empty it was. Everyone had left earlier in the day and I had been lonely until Jace had agreed to come over.

I couldn't wait to see him; only a few hours until he got off work. So I busied myself tidying up the house and making my bed. A girl never knew when a boy would see her room.

Then when I was finished, I hopped in the shower, wanting to be clean and fresh for him. Besides, Jace always told me he loved me just out of the shower. So there was that too.

I braided my hair, letting in fall down my back and dressed in a pair of leggings and a thick sweater.

As I was heading down the stairs, the doorbell rang and I don't even have to answer it to know who it is. It was more than just knowing he was the only person I was expecting. I could feel his presence emanating through the door and my whole body tingled when he was near. It was a dead giveaway when my skin lit up like summer when he was around.

I stopped and took a deep breath before I opened the door. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him. He was too beautiful; I had to constantly pinch myself to convince myself that this was all real. That he was real and that he was all mine.

"Hey," he said as I stepped aside to let him in.

I helped him out of his jacket and wrapped my arms around his waist as he stepped out of his boots. "Geez, you're freezing."

"And you're warm." Jace picked me up and carried me to the couch. "I think I'm going to take advantage of that for a few minutes," Jace laughed, collapsing with me on his lap.

I smiled. "And I don't mind that at all." But I jumped when he buried his frozen nose in my neck. "Except when you do that," I giggled.

I tried to push him away but he had no immediate plans to move. So I let him sit there and warm up but eventually I had to move.