“Oh my! Look at you! My baby is so beautiful, isn’t she, Ace?” she gushed, casting a glance towards him. She was the only one who called him by his nickname other than me. And he didn’t mind. But it was only reserved for the two of us.

Not removing his stare from me, he gave a slow and tight nod. “Indeed, she is.”

Heat crept up my neck at his words while Mom watched the interaction with her wicked eyes.

“Well, honey? You didn’t mention any parties like that to me,” she queried, her tone teasing. Of course, she got some hints from all the flowers everyday and gifts.

I cleared my throat. “Uh, it was a sudden invitation. So we have to attend.”

“Oh, all right then. I won’t keep you guys any longer.” She put a hand on Ace’s shoulder. “I would like to ask you for coffee, but clearly, you’re on a run right now. So go, and… take care of her.”

Giving her hand a firm squeeze, he nodded. Sincerity engraved in his eyes. “I will.”

“Where are we going?” Fastening up the seat belt, I turned to him.

Something tugged at my lower region when I found his dark gaze on my legs. With a grunt, he put his big callus hand on my knee.

“You enjoy torturing me like that, don’t you?” he groaned.

A shiver ran down my skin, raising goosebumps across. Noticing it, his hand raised sensuously to my thigh. With my breath hitching in my throat, I removed his hand. My heart thudded in my chest. The temperature of the car ambience suddenly peaked.

“K-keep your hands to yourself, will you? And don’t think that high of yourself. I didn’t wear it for you.” I gulped. “I wore it because I liked it.”

Liar.

The twitch of the corner of his lips was the evidence of my lie getting caught.

Biting my lip, I averted my eyes. “You didn’t answer my question. Where are you taking me?”

Ignoring my warning, he took my hand in his and placed a kiss at the back of it. “It’s a secret. So let my secret surprise you, shall we?”

Huffing, I tried to snatch my hand from his, but his grip was firm. His knuckles caught my attention. They were littered with cuts and bruises.

I gasped, taking a hold of his hand. “What happened to them?”

How come I didn’t notice them before?

His demeanor changed. Pulling away, he gave a nonchalant shrug. “Nothing, just got carried away with exercise.”

The way he averted his gaze opposed his own statement.