he broke off and ash pinned him with a look. "when i've found what?"

jace's smile was crooked as he stared back at his friend. "your kryptonite."

ash didn't flinch. was that what josie was? yeah, he could see it. he'd given gabe and jace no end of grief over falling head over ass for a woman and going against their play hard and live free motto. but now that he was in a very similar situation, he didn't object one bit.

a sense of peace settled over him.

"you've been a lot more calm. settled lately," jace said. "i like it on you, man. after bethany . . ." he broke off again with a sigh, almost as though he hated bringing it up after they'd sworn not to go back there. "after bethany, i was worried. about you and me. hated what happened even though i don't regret it. i hope to fuck that makes sense. i didn't like what it did to us and i didn't like how shitty i was to you and bethany after that night. but i also don't regret the decision i made not to share her with you."

"i don't regret it either," ash said with a smile. "i'm good with it, jace. you need to stop dwelling on it. we're good. you got over being a dick. bethany makes you happy. now i've got josie, and she makes me happy."

"glad for you, man."

"yeah, i know you are."

"no word from your family? how are things with brittany?"

ash sighed. "nothing this week, and that makes me nervous, because it's not like them to just give up and sit back. brittany's happy in her job. she hasn't done much more than work and go home, but she'll get there. i want her to meet mia and josie and hook up with mia's girls. they'd be good for her. josie is more brittany's age, so maybe the two of them will hit it off."

"you sound positively domesticated with all the girlfriend-arranging you're trying to do," jace teased.

"fuck you, man."

jace's expression grew serious. "so nothing from the wicked bitch of the east? she laying low? and what about the old man? can't believe he wouldn't have anything to say about brittany's defection. not when he's so high on family bonds, no matter how fake they may be."

ash sighed. "yeah. nothing this week. but i don't expect that to last."

"well, when the shit hits the fan, i expect you to let me know. no way i'm letting you into that viper's nest without backup."

ash chuckled. "you make it sound like a sting operation."

"hell, an evening with your family qualifies."

ash checked his watch. "want to grab a bite to eat before our conference call? i want to call and check in with josie. make sure everything's all right with her and remind her that i'll be late."

"yeah. want to hit the grill again?"

ash nodded. "thanks again, jace. know i don't say it enough, but you and gabe always having my back . . . don't have words."

jace grinned. "after tonight, how about you let your lady off the leash and let her mingle with the rest of us?"

ash laughed. "yeah, i know, i've kept her to myself this week. it's been nice. but yeah, i want her to meet you and bethany. gabe and mia will be back by sunday. would be nice to get together with them too."

"a year ago would you have ever thought that the three of us would be so tangled up with women? gabe married, me engaged and you head over ass for a woman you only just met?"

ash shot him a glare. "you're one to talk about being head over ass for a woman after only just meeting."

jace's grin was unrepentant. "only takes one time, man. when it's the right woman, you just know. i would have never thought it would go down like that, but then when i saw bethany, i just knew."

"yeah, i hear you. i wasn't much of a believer myself, but then i met josie and something just clicked. can't even explain it."

"don't need to. i get it," jace said as they walked out of ash's office. he stopped outside the door and turned to ash, his eyes serious. "just remember this, man, and it's applicable and so true on so many levels. take it from me, because i did my best to fuck it up. falling in love is the easy part. it's everything else that happens afterward that's hard and takes work."

"christ. you've turned into a pyschobabbling pussy," ash said in disgust.

jace flipped him off. "fine, don't listen to some friendly advice, but don't come crying to me when you fuck things up."

"yeah, whatever," ash grumbled.

"want to walk or take the car?"

"walk," ash said. "i'll call josie on the way."