Page 6 of Feels Like Home

“Are you…are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. I’m already in town. Give me your address and I’ll head your way.”

Jace gave it to him. “I appreciate you doing this for me.”

Ian’s chuckle was soft and deep, making Jace’s heart thump faster. “Not a problem. I’ll be there soon.”

When Ian hung up, Jace gripped his phone in his hand and took a deep breath. This time when he saw Ian, Mr. Obnoxious wouldn’t be around to embarrass him.

It would just be the two of them.

If his grandma didn’t poke her head outside.

A shiny maroon Lincoln Navigator pulled to the curb. Jace had seen that SUV around town before, unless there was more than one in Midnight Falls.

The driver’s door opened, and Ian stepped out. His long legs were encased in dark denim. His vibrant blue short-sleeved shirt brought out the whiskey hue of his eyes, even from a distance. As he walked across the street, his wild mane of hair was tousled by the wind.

Jace was in so much trouble.

“Pop the hood,” Ian said as he passed the driver’s door of Jace’s tan Camry.

How? Since he’d never popped it before, Jace sat there clueless and flustered. He glanced around, hoping to find something marked “hood.”

No such luck.

Ian came back and leaned inside the car. His upper body caressed Jace’s arm and leg. His lustrous hair spilled into Jace’s lap like a waterfall of silk. Sweet torturous hell.

The hood unlatched, the sound drawing Jace’s attention. Ian pulled away, but his intoxicating scent lingered. So did a few strands of his hair on Jace’s shirt.

“Turn the key,” Ian instructed from behind the hood.

“Pull your shit together,” Jace muttered then turned the key. Again, the lights on his dashboard came to life but the car only sputtered.

Ian returned to the driver’s side and leaned down, staring at the dashboard. He wasn’t far enough inside for their bodies to touch or his hair to spill into Jace’s lap again.

“I have good news.” Ian smiled. “The solution will only cost you a few dollars.”

Something stirred inside of Jace as he stared into whiskey-brown eyes. “I’m sorry, w-what?”

Ian crouched and pointed. “Check your gas gauge, hon.”

Clearing his throat, Jace turned and stared at the needle, red-faced that it was resting on empty. “I’m out of gas?”

“Yep.” Ian chuckled. “It happens to everyone. Why don’t we enjoy dinner, and then we’ll fill a gas can afterward?” He stood and took a step back. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

“So am I.” Jace got out and closed the door as Ian dropped the hood. When he glanced at the living room windows, he saw his grandma quickly drop the curtain back in place.

With a slight shake of his head, Jace followed Ian to his SUV. The diner was bustling when they entered. Ian grabbed Jace’s hand and led him to a booth in the back.

They sat opposite each other. Jace hated to let Ian’s hand go. He liked the guy touching him.

Liked it a lot.

Overwhelming so.

“Since I invited you to dinner, this is my treat.” Ian grabbed the menus tucked behind the container holding the table’s condiments and handed one over.

“Thank you for dinner.” Jace remembered his manners while looking over the menu.

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