Home is Where the Heart Is (Home #1) (10 page)

Jace smiled but his eyes were cold in a very keep-your-hands-off kind of way.

Ben grinned, holding his hands up in surrender as he walked out after Isabelle.

Jace regretted being the designated driver already. He wasn’t sure how he was going to watch her being stalked like prey without a beer to mellow him.

“Isabelle! Jace!”

Isabelle turned to make sure Jace was following as she smiled over at Maia standing on a chair, jumping up and down.

“Is your sister drunk already?” Isabelle whispered as they headed over.

Jace smirked. “Nope.”

“Oh, wow.”

“I know - wait until the alcohol hits,” he told her playfully.

Isabelle smiled nervously as she crossed the distance between them, bracing when Maia threw herself into her arms.

“You made it!”

“We sure did,” Isabelle replied, squirming a little with the constant affection.

Maia let go of Isabelle and appraised her, running her eyes up and down Isabelle’s frame with a frown on her face.

Isabelle picked at her dress anxiously. “What?”

“You look better in my dress than I do,” Maia told her, looking miserable.

Isabelle looked aghast. “No I don’t.”

Maia sighed deeply. “You do. I don’t have the boobs or the sexy curves to fill it out like you do.”

Isabelle looked up at Jace for help so he pushed forward and twirled around.

“Well? What about me?”

Maia raised an eyebrow. “You couldn’t pull it off either.”

“Oh, ouch!”

Maia smacked Jace away dismissively and put her arm through Isabelle’s.

“Come on babe, let’s go say hi to everyone.”

As she left, Maia gave Jace a warning glance which he returned with a glare.

With Isabelle in good hands, Jace relaxed and settled himself into the party. He made small talk with a few guys he used to play footy with before heading over to Matt and lounging on a leather couch, perfectly positioned to provide a perfect view of Isabelle.

He scoffed to himself - a freaking leather couch outside. It was pretty much a sign that said ‘we burn money for fun.’ As he sipped his drink and watched the group around Isabelle grow bigger, he felt eyes burning into him. And not just one pair.

He looked around to see the majority of guys at the party staring at him with interest.

“What’s their deal?” he asked Matt.

“You just rocked up with this Sports Illustrated looking girl with no explanation. In this town, that’s kind of a big deal.”

Jace raised an eyebrow. “Sports Illustrated?”

Matt groaned. “Oh grow up Jace. Just because I’m practically married to your sister, doesn’t mean I don’t have eyes. Isabelle is banging, any idiot could see that.”

Matt then looked around and grinned. “Rather, every idiot already has.”
As if on cue, Jace found himself slowly being surrounded - the press of male bodies reeking of alcohol and sweat overwhelming him.

A rough hand pushed him in the chest.

“What the hell, dude?”

He turned his attention to Tyler, playboy of the town. He was also arguably the best looking dude with that body that he spent hours toning at the gym, like the show pony he was.

“Where have you been hiding her?”

Grunts of agreement followed him.

Jace tried to be nonchalant. “She’s my new neighbour. I’m just helping her settle in.”

Matt snorted in disbelief as hope crossed the faces of the guys around him.

“So, does she have a boyfriend?” Tyler pressed. “Is she available?”

Jace felt his insides freeze, how the hell was he supposed to answer that? He certainly didn’t own Isabelle, but there was no way in hell he was going to pass her up as the flavour of the month for these clowns.

“She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” he said tersely. “But she’s not available.”

The guys looked at him then and maybe for the first time ever, Jace felt like they were actually noticing him for more than that stoner at a party. They were starting to see him as a potential threat and he was surprised to find the caveman in him welcomed it.

“Still, it would be rude not to introduce myself,” Tyler said lightly, with a cocky grin.

“She won’t be interested,” Ben drawled as he walked over.

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

Ben waved back to Isabelle who was politely listening to Slater as he practically drooled in her drink. Just as Jace was about to turn away, Isabelle looked over at him and smiled, lifting her hand in a wave.

“Go and talk to her for ten minutes, she isn’t like the other girls here. She’s smart and funny and completely seduce-proof.”

Tyler scoffed. “No one is seduce-proof.”

Jace’s hands curled into fists. “She’s not a game for you to play.”

Tyler smirked as he backed towards Isabelle. “Guess we’ll find out.”

If it weren’t for Matt’s iron grip on his arms, Jace would have launched himself at the little shit. He had seen what happened to the girls Tyler had grown tired of so quickly. Like hell Jace was going to throw Isabelle to the wolves.

“so – a
girl
, huh?”

Jace kept his eyes on Isabelle and Tyler as he answered Ben.

“Yeah, yeah. There’s just something about her.”

“She’s definitely on a different level of hot,” Brandon, Tyler’s right hand man, sighed.

“She’s beautiful,” Jace corrected firmly.

“She’s so sad,” Ben said quietly, finally breaking Jace’s anxious gaze at Isabelle.

“What?”

“She’s sad,” he repeated. “I was just talking to her before and her eyes were so fucking sad even though she was smiling. I almost gave her my mother’s shrink’s number.”

Jace wanted to punch him out. Why did Ben have to be perceptive and sensitive? Wasn’t being rich and attractive enough? Didn’t Jace have enough odds stacked against him with Isabelle as it was?

“She doesn’t look sad now,” Matt mused. “More like uncomfortable.”

Jace looked over to see Tyler all up in Isabelle’s space as she backed away with a forced smile.

“Hmm, looks like she really is seduce-proof,” Brandon said.

“No,” Jace said as he strode away. “She’s just not stupid.”

The look of relief on Isabelle’s face as soon as she saw Jace was enough to speed Jace’s heart up and give him the courage to wrap a protective arm around her.

“Jace, I’m so glad you’re here,” Isabelle said brightly, although she shifted away from his touch slightly.

He smiled down at her reassuringly.

“I was just telling Isabelle that we should get a water volley ball game going - it is, after all, a pool party.”

Tyler was smiling at him but the tone of his voice made it clear that he wanted Jace gone, yesterday.

“I think we’ll need to warm up with a few more drinks first,” Jace said. “You want a top up Isabelle?”

She smiled so brightly he was almost blinded. “Oh yes please, I would love one.”

This time it was she that towed Jace along.

“Nice meeting you,” she called back to Tyler.

She let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you so much,” she whispered releasing his hand. “I was in definite need of rescuing. I feel like I need a shower with sand paper after the way he stared at me.”

“So, what’s it like being the hit of the party?” he asked as he grabbed another drink.

“I hate having all this attention on me,” she admitted. “But everyone has been really nice and welcoming.”

Jace snuck a look at her with that hot little body and gorgeous face. Yeah, he’d bet they were being super welcoming.

“We haven’t scared you off already?” he asked.

“It takes a lot to scare me,” she scoffed.

“I can tell.”

A flush crept onto her cheeks but she didn’t look away this time. Instead she took his hand and led him back over to where Maia and Matt were stripping down to their swimmers.

“Sick of being told how hot you are yet?” Maia quipped at Isabelle who actually rolled her eyes at her.

“You’re obviously drunk,” she told Maia firmly.

Maia grinned. “Yeah, yeah, come on, we’re going for a dip in the spa. Strip into your swimmers and then we’ll see.”

Isabelle pulled at her dress. “Oh, I don’t know…”

“She doesn’t have to,” Jace said defensively. He didn’t want Isabelle to feel uncomfortable but he was having a hard enough time with the guys when she had her clothes
on.

Maia tsked at him. “Shut up and let the girl make up her own mind. Now Isabelle, are you going to come and have fun or chicken out?”

Isabelle’s eyes flashed and Jace was worried she might try and lunge at Maia. Instead she pulled the dress swiftly over her head, tossing it at her feet as she stared at Maia defiantly.

Jace had never been more turned on in his life. Unlike Maia who was very model like with her long legs and willowy body, Isabelle was all curves and softness.

“Damn,” Maia whistled. “You should wear less more often.”

Isabelle chuckled and shook her head but Maia wasn’t so easily appeased.

“No,” she insisted. “Jace, tell her how hot she is.”

Isabelle looked to Jace expectantly who couldn’t find the right words to describe her beauty.

“You look… I mean…your body…no! I…”

Maia smirked and took Isabelle’s hand. “Rendered him speechless, you go girl. Come on, let’s go claim the good spa before the couples defile it.”

“Aren’t you one of those couples?” Isabelle asked as they moved away, scoring a chuckle of delight from Maia.

“Jace.”

He looked over to Maia’s best friend, Giselle.

“Hey Gigi, what’s up?” he asked casually, one eye still on Isabelle.

Giselle smirked. “New girlfriend? My heart bleeds.”

Jace laughed. It was an old joke between the two of them that since Matt was her cousin and Maia his sister they should get together and keep it in the family.

They’d tried once but it was awkward and they couldn’t even get past a first kiss without laughing and feeling grossed out. Which had a lot of the guys puzzled because Giselle was actually really pretty with brown hair, grey eyes, a slender body and killer sense of humour.

“You’ll always hold my heart,” he told her dramatically.

“Liar.”

Jace shrugged and wrapped a friendly arm around her. “How have you been?”

“Oh, you know me, changing lives, saving the world…same old, same old.”

He smiled and looked over at Isabelle who was watching him with an odd look on her face. Giselle eased out of Jace’s grasp and gave Isabelle a bright smile.

“I like her,” she admitted softly.

Jace raised an eyebrow. “Did Maia introduce her already?”

“No, but I like how you act now that she’s around.”

“Act?”

“You’re not on anything tonight, are you?” she asked.

He stepped back like she’d slapped him. “What has that got to do with anything?”

“You’re not even drinking,” she pressed on. “I think this is the first party I’ve gone to that you have not been either passed out in the corner or completely buzzed that you don’t recognise anyone but your dealer.”

Jace definitely felt like she’d slapped him. “I’m not always high.”

“Liar.”

He wanted to cry, he actually felt his eyes prickle. He hated that she knew what a screw up he was, that he relied on feeling nothing to get through every day. He was weak and he was a coward.

Her soft hand landed on his shoulder.

“Stop punishing yourself,” she whispered. “If that girl over there is the reason that you’re allowing yourself to feel then I love her already, even though it seems totally unfair that she is that hot and steals the love of my life away.”

He smiled at her, grateful that she was letting the serious mood drift away.

“Thanks,” he told her and meant it.

“Don’t over think it,” she told him firmly and then trotted away.

“Where are you going?” he called after her.

She spun around, her smile mischievous. “Oh you know, introducing myself to my replacement, same old, same old.”

Jace laughed softly to himself and waved her away.

“So, who is she?”

Jace spun around to face his worst nightmare.

“Well?” Kimberley asked as she took the coke from his hand and wrapped her mouth around it.

“Go home Kimberley,” he said, feeling tired all of a sudden.

“I asked you a question,” she pressed, rubbing her body, covered only by a tiny string bikini, against him.

“She is none of your business.”

“Is that the reason you’ve been such a dick to me?” she demanded. “That new slut?”

Jace spun around, knocking the drink out of her hands. “She is not a slut and that is rich coming from you.”

Kimberley surged closer, his rage drawing her in instead of pushing her out. “Do you want to hurt me?” she purred. “I could take it rough.”

He wrenched away from her in disgust.

“Is she your new girlfriend?” Kimberley asked again, chasing after him.

“She’s a friend,” he said in a warning tone.

“Then why have you been undressing her with your eyes all night?”

The shock showed on Jace’s face before he could stop it which only spurred Kimberley on further.

“I’ve been here all night you know and I’ve watched you with her… with each other. It’s sickening the way she fawns over you while luring every other guy. Got to give her credit for being smart though… always good to have a backup plan.”

Jace grabbed her arms and yanked her close, pulling her eyes open to check the pupils.

They were glassy, huge and bloodshot.

“Damn it Kimberley, what did you take?” he asked, letting her go roughly.

“Are you screwing her?” she asked, her voice rising.

“Kimberley, I’m not in the mood for your games.”

In fact, he’d just about had enough drama for a life time and that girl was ripe for an Oscar, she was so melodramatic.

“You’re the one doing the playing, Jace!” she screeched, drawing some attention their way.

“We broke up,” he said firmly. “More specifically,
you
broke up with
me,
so to be honest my life isn’t any of your concern anymore.”

“You told me you loved me once. That doesn’t just change over-night unless you find someone new to love.”

“Go home,” he said firmly, pushing her in the direction of the back gate.

“No,” she said with a slight slur. “Not unless you’re coming with me.”

Jace barked out a laugh. “You really have lost your mind.”

“And you’re avoiding the question. Do you have a thing for the new girl?”

Jace froze and then moved away from Kimberley, totally done with this conversation.

“Fine!”

Jace froze at her tone and felt immediately uneasy.

“Maybe I’ll go find out for myself,” she told him as she tottered away.

He spun around as she jogged over to Isabelle who was dangling her feet in the spa while Ben showed her some magic tricks.

“Kimberley!” he hissed as she broke into an unbalanced run.

“Kimberly, don’t! Maia!”

He screamed his sister’s name with such desperation that she unlocked herself from Matt and quickly took in the scene before her.

Kimberley launched herself at Isabelle at the same moment Maia acted, ending with Kimberley being knocked onto her back, the pavement grazing her shoulder as she fell.

Isabelle’s eyes widened and she rushed over to Kimberley pulling her to her feet.

“Are you OK?”

Kimberley actually hesitated, Isabelle’s kindness shocking her. But it wasn’t enough and Jace wasn’t fast enough to stop it.

One minute Isabelle was looking at Kimberley with confusion and concern, the next Kimberley’s fist flung out with such force Isabelle was knocked back, with Jace managing to catch her before she hit the ground.

“Bitch!” Kimberley snarled, her body shaking with adrenaline and whatever drugs she had taken.

Isabelle’s eyes were wide with hurt and filled with tears as she pressed a hand to her bleeding face, worried that it would no doubt bruise…again.

“What the hell is your problem?” Jace snarled as he helped Isabelle to her feet.

Kimberley never had a chance to reply because with one swift hit Maia had her on the ground, her knee pressed on her chest.

“Crazy bitch,” Kimberley grunted as she writhed in pain.

“Are you serious?” Maia snapped. “You just hit my friend out of nowhere and
I’m
the crazy bitch? Do everyone a favour and get the hell out of here.”

Kimberley reared back like she’d been hit again.

“Maia, not you too. She’s the one that doesn’t belong here,” she whispered.

“Get. Out,” Maia simply repeated.

Isabelle pulled herself away from Jace, shooting him a betrayed look.

“No, I should go,” she said resolutely.

“What?” Maia snapped. “You didn’t do anything wrong,”

Isabelle shook her head. “I’m going to go home.”

She turned to Ben with a weak smile. “Thank you so much for having me. I’m so sorry for causing any trouble.”

Before anyone could reply or try to stop her she practically ran out of the party, still
clutching her sore face.

“You are the absolute worst,” Jace told Kimberley acidly. “Did I say I didn’t want anything to do with you? I meant I wish I’d never
met
you.”

“Jace!” she cried, reaching pleadingly for him.

He stepped over her and ran after Isabelle, very aware of all the whispers and fingers being pointed his way. Oh well, not like that was anything new.

By the time he made it out of the back gate she was walking briskly, her body stiff with purpose.

“Isabelle!”

She stopped briefly before turning back, her eyes ablaze with fury as she stormed over to him and poked him in the chest firmly.

“That your girlfriend?”

“What?” he asked in horror.

“Don’t lie to me,” she yelled. “I will not be your play thing while you play house with someone else.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” he insisted quickly, trying to calm her down.

“Don’t lie to me,” she repeated, her voice soft but uneven. “I saw the way she looked at you and, last time I checked, girls don’t just hit girls over nothing. It’s usually over a guy.”

He held his hands up to appease her. “We broke up six months ago, she ended it. I don’t have any interest in getting back together with her and I am so, so sorry she hurt you.”

Isabelle’s chest rose quickly for a while, her breathing laboured.

“Isabelle,” he said softly. “I would never lie to you, OK?”

She looked away from him but her breathing slowed and her body stopped pulsing with rage.

“Isabelle?”

He moved over to her, carefully taking her face in his hand and gently caressing her cheek where a red mark was present.

“You don’t know how sorry I am,” he said tenderly.

Isabelle looked into his eyes, their connection so strong, so palpable - it was like an electric current in the air.

“It’s my fault,” she whispered, pulling away once more.

She was filled with so much sadness and self-loathing… and Jace had just inadvertently added to that. He was a fucking idiot. How could he forget about Kimberley? He should have been more vigilant and he should have given her some warning.

“Don’t take the blame for the actions of drugged up girls and low life dickheads, OK? You do not deserve to be hit, ever. No matter what. I’m going to do my best to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.”

She met his eyes with tear filled eyes. “How much do you know?”

She was asking about her first round of bruises and tortured eyes, and how much he had figured out.

“I know that someone hurt you,” he said finally. “Someone you cared about. I know you’re not ready to talk about it, but when you are, I will be there for you. And I also know that you only deserve the best, and you’ve been dealt a pretty lousy hand. But I’m hoping to help change that.”

A few tears fell from her eyes but she swept them away impatiently. 

“Kind of a buzz kill for that party, right?”

There it was again, the wall she had built up with its impenetrable layers. Just when he thought he’d made a breakthrough with her, she shoved him back so hard it was like getting whip lash.

“Oh I don’t know, I thought it was pretty awesome,” he said lightly.

“I got beat down in front of your whole school while I was half naked,” she said slowly.

The full horror of it all struck her and she covered her face with her arms.

“I’m going to have to switch schools before I even start!”

He pulled her arms away.

“All anyone is going to be talking about is how crazy Kimberley is, and how inhumanly hot you are.”

“You’re drunk,” she said shyly.