In the morning, I roll over and find Jace already awake, watching me. The sun is streaming in through the window, since we hadn’t bothered to close the curtains last night, and tiny dust motes dance in the sunbeam like sparkles.

“Hi,” Jace says, smiling when he sees I’m awake.

“Hi.” I snuggle up against his broad chest.

He leans over to kiss my forehead, grazing his lips across my skin. It sends a shiver through me, and despite the fact that we only got to sleep a couple of hours ago, I drape my thigh over his and grind my pussy against his hard muscles.

“Woman, you’re insatiable,” he teases, grinning.

“I can’t help it,” I plead innocently. “You make me that way.”

He nuzzles my nose. “Unfortunately for both of us, I said I would help Luke with some stuff out at the house today, and I need to get going soon.”

“You did?” I try to keep the note of disappointment out of my voice. I had really been hoping that we’d finally get a chance to talk today. “Do you want me to come with you? I can help with whatever it is.”

But Jace shakes his head. “You would be bored to tears. Why don’t you do something fun today? Hit the spa here at the hotel or go out shopping or something.”

I don’t want to go to the spa or go shopping, but things are still too much on shaky ground with us for me to pick a fight about this. Instead I force myself to smile.

“That sounds fun. When will you be back?”

“Probably around four or so? I’ll pick you up and we can go for dinner?”

“That sounds nice.” This time my smile isn’t even forced. I lean in to kiss his mouth and the kiss lingers and deepens, until Jace finally pulls away with a groan.

“Why do you have to be so damn tempting?” he says, shaking his head and laughing. I think that’ll be enough to lure him into staying for a while longer, but to my disappointment, he hoists himself out of the bed and starts getting dressed.

Less than fifteen minutes later, he’s ready to go. I, on the other hand, haven’t even dragged myself out of bed yet.

Jace looks me up and down, wrapped in the white bed sheet. “You’ll be okay by yourself today, right?”

I nod, plastering another fake smile on my face. “Of course. Maybe I’ll check out the spa, like you suggested.”

Jace’s face relaxes. “Good.” He leans down and gives me a quick peck on the cheek, and then he’s off.

I stare at the door for a few minutes, as if I can’t quite believe he’s gone.

After last night, I was sure we would finally spend the morning talking everything through. I have feelings for him, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has feelings for me too. Even if he hasn’t said anything yet, his body had told me everything I needed to know.

So why was he so eager to dash off this morning?

I shake my head and make my way to the shower. Maybe I’m reading too much into this. Maybe Luke really did just need help cleaning up after the wedding — though you’d think a family with as much money as they have would just hire cleaners.

After my shower, I decide to go for a stroll. The neighborhood around the hotel is a vibrant one, and we’ve barely explored any of it. I find a coffee shop and enjoy a latte and a pastry while I flip through a local entertainment magazine someone left on the table.

That manages to kill an hour or so, and then I wander listlessly for another little while. Contrary to what I told Jace, I don’t bother checking out the spa — I know there’s no way I’ll be able to relax today.

Eventually I make my way back to the hotel and flop down on the king-sized bed. I decide to call Rori to take my mind off things, but when I dial, it just rings and rings and then goes to voicemail.

“Hi,” I say, huffing up at the ceiling. “It’s me. Just calling to say hi. Call me when you get a chance.”

I’m not expecting to hear back from her right away, so I’m surprised when a text dings through just a couple of minutes later:

“Sorry, sweetie. Caught up in some stuff. Call you back tonight, okay?”

Great. Even Rori doesn’t have time for me today. And what would she be so busy doing on a Sunday anyway?

I’m starting to feel pathetic for moping around though — this isn’t who I am. I wanted to see the city while I was here, and now I actually have a little bit of time.

So with that, I put Jace and Rori and everything else out of my mind, and head back out into the streets. I eventually manage to while away the day in downtown Chicago, popping into little shops that pique my interest, taking myself out for lunch, and possibly drinking a half liter of white wine at a little sidewalk cafe.

I head back to the hotel a little before dinner time to shower and change. Jace had said we’d have dinner together, but I haven’t heard from him all day.

By the time I get out of the shower and finish drying my hair, I have a text from him.

“So sorry. Caught up later than I thought. Trent’s lending us his driver for the night — he’ll pick you up at 7. Ok?”

I stare at the message for a minute, then shake my head. Is it just me or is Jace behaving strangely today?

I try to shake it off — I’m probably just stressed and reading too much into it.

“Sure. Where are we going?” I text back.

His response comes through almost immediately:

“You’ll see. ;)”

Okay. I shake my head again. I text him one more time.

“Can you at least tell me what to wear?”

“Anything. You look good in everything. :)”

That makes me smile. Jace is sweet. Not exactly helpful, but sweet.

I eventually decide on a simple jersey black dress. Stretchy and comfortable and casual, but because it’s black, it can pass for dressy in a dimly lit restaurant, if that’s where we’re going.

By that time it’s almost seven, so I go downstairs to the lobby to wait for Trent’s driver.

He shows up promptly at seven, and introduces himself as Ted. I follow him out of the hotel and to the waiting SUV.

“Do you know where we’re going?” I ask him, as he holds the back door open for me.

“Yes, ma’am. Holloway Drive.”

I stare at him blankly. A smile crosses his aged face.

“Luke Whittaker’s place, ma’am.”

I wrack my brain, trying to think of why Jace might want me to go all the way out to Luke’s.

“I thought we were going to dinner?” I say to Ted.

“We’ve only just met, ma’am.” He smiles kindly but there’s a twinkle in his eye.

I realize he’s cracking a joke, so I laugh and climb into the back seat. Of course he doesn’t know why we’re going to Luke’s. He’s just the driver. But as we begin the hour long drive out to the farmhouse, my mind races: what in the world is going on?