Read to the end for a special some'some.

He looked older; after all, it had been ten years. But the changers were subtle, adding strength , maturity, and the confidence that comes with success. He looked amazing.

"Hello Jace'" she managed to say, despite the shock of seeing him again.

"'You two know each other? Why didn't you tell me?" Sebastian's voice was laced with subtle undertones Clarissa had come to recognize meaning he was less than pleased with a situation.

"Jace and Jonathan used to be best friends, but it's been years since I've seen him. I had no idea that this was Mr. lightwood was Jace. I didn't even know he was an architect." She realized how little she'd known about Jace. He'd been there in dreams and fantasies, but she hadn't even known he'd gone into a mundane school.

""Jonathan was a good friend, we shared an apartment while we were going to UCSD," she knew he stayed at the LA Institute also. "but when I went to Europe for graduate school we lost contact," Jace began to explain to Sebastian before turning to Clarissa. "So, what's Jonathan up to these days?"

Clarissa cleared her throat and quickly looked toward Sebastian. "He's running the sporting goods store."

The man gave a smile of understanding. "Your dad retired?"

"From the business end of things. He still works with the uh customers. That's always been his favourite part of it."

"Are you working for the family business too?"

"Yes, I handle the publicity and assorted odds and ends." It had been her idea to have a mundane autograph day where she'd met Sebastian. "You can usually catch Jonathon at the original store Mondays and Fridays. It's almost impossible to reach him at home."

"Must not have a girlfriend," Jace quipped.

Did Jace have a girlfriend? Clarissa nonchalantly glanced to his left hand. He wasn't wearing a ring. Though that meant nothing. She hoped he wasn't. God, what was she thinking? She was engaged. What should she care. Get it together girl!

She couldn't tear her eyes from Jace. She had seen his face so many times in her dreams at night and her fantasies during the day. The crush she'd had on him, yes, she admitted now, it was just a crush, it had stayed with her through the years. As her awareness of relationships had grown, she had visualized the two of them in some very romantic uh situations. She'd even imagined a very vivid wedding night.

She shifted uncomfortably, grateful no one could read her mind.

"How'd that sound honey?"

"Sebastian's question pulled her attention back to the three men. She wasn't sure what her fiancé was referring to, but she trusted his judgment. "Whatever you think best." She couldn't believe she'd said something so submissive, even to avoid admitting she wasn't paying attention.

She glanced at Jace out of the corner of her eye. The subtle lifting of one eyebrow registered his puzzlement at her answer.

Sebastian took her hand, and the four of the walked over the lot. Jace made the occasional note on a small notebook.

"Do you have someone for landscape yet?" Jace asked.

"Mother had contacted someone'" Sebastian assured him.

Jace nodded and looked down, but not before Clarissa saw a quick smirk.

"I'll need their contact info so I can confer with them. I'd like to have final approval on their designs before they do any planting."

"Sure."

"You have an interior designer?"

"Not yet."

Jace reached into the pocket of his notebook and pulled a few business cards. He handed them to Sebastian. "These are three local interior designers. I've worked with each of them before."

Sebastian handed the cards to Clarissa. "Why don't you research them and see whose style you like best." He smiled down at her. "Be sure you show mother."

Jace's professional manners never slipped, but Clarissa could see the judgment in his eyes. "I'd like to get a feel for what you need from the interior"

When Sebastian looked confused Jace explained. "Number of bedrooms, bathrooms, do you need an office space, a large room for parties, size of kitchen. I imagine you'll want a home gym?"

"Near the pool, yes," Sebastian replied.

Jace reached into his pocket pulling an ipad out. He quickly scrolled through it and Clarissa heard a ding from Sebastian's phone. He pulled it out, it was from Jace. "That's a list of items for you to go over. Please note you want the gym near the pool. Also, if you could pay attention to how much time you spend in each room of your current place. What time of day each room gets the most use."

"What's the reason for the questionnaire?" Clarissa asked.

"I like my buildings to make maximum use of natural lighting. So the rooms you use most at mornings will be on the east side, rooms used in evenings will face west."

"I like that" Sebastian turned to Clarissa. "Honey, ecologically designed, remember that for an interview."

"I'd like a split level," Clarissa ignored Sebastian's remarks.

"What did Mother think?" Sebastian asked.

"Miss Verlac suggested a two stories, but a traditional two story would be too overpowering in this lot. A split level would blend into the surroundings effectively. I have several ideas."

"Which did Mother like?"

"Miss Verlac hasn't seen them." Clarissa heard the ice in Jace's voice.

Where did he get off judging Sebastian? Granted Sebastian was overdoing the mama's boy routine but she was paying. She sighed. Jace looked at her, was he planning on judging her too?

"I can have some exterior sketches done by next Tuesday. Can you drop by my office around one?"

Sebastian gave an affirmative. He didn't check with Clarissa but she shouldn't have trouble getting time off work. She was grateful he didn't bring up his mother again.

They headed back to their cars.

"Mr. Stevens," Sebastian said. "I almost forgot, I have the signed baseball for your grandson." He picked up the pace, Mr. Stevens following him.

Jace fell back, gently taking Clarissa by the arm. " So when's the wedding?"

"The second Saturday of January."

"Ah that's why they're rushing this job." He released her arm, but the warm tingling his touch set off remained. "How long have you know each other?"

Why was he asking and what business was it of his? She hummed but answered anyways. "Three months."

"Three months? During the season?"

"Yes." Clarissa looked up at him, her eyes narrowing. "Is there a problem with that?"

"You cant have spent much time together, with the team practicing, games, publicity, and your demon-hunting responsibilities. How well do you know this guy, Clary?"

"It's Clarissa or Rissa. No one calls me Clary anymore."

His gaze swept over her face, lingering a moment too long on her lips. His eyes flashed, as the corners of his mouth turned up in a smirk she knew too well. "No one but me." His voice flowed over her, sending shivers down to her toes. "You didn't answer my question."

Shit! It was none of his business. He had no right to butt in. He had no right to look at her that way, calling her by a nickname she'd abandoned years ago, making her feel like a teenager again. "Do you give all your clients the third degree?"

Jace stepped away from her. He smirked.

"Ready to go, Rissa?" Sebastian asked from ahead. She nodded.

In the car, Clarissa wished they'd get to their destination quicker. Her mind began to race. Jace's questions unsettled her. How well did she know her fiancé? The really hadn't spent much time together. Were the rushing things?

"Rissa, you okay?

Sebastian's voice interrupted her thoughts. She smiled at him. "Guess im just tired."

"I was thinking that we should invite Mother to go with us next Tuesday to see the plans."

It was the perfect opening to tell Sebastian how frustrated she was with his mother's continual interfering, but she let it go. She didn't want to argue now. Miss Verlac would go back to Chicago after the wedding. She could put up with her that long. What worried her now was the small , uneasy stirring in the pit of her stomach. An image of a man with dark blond hair, golden eyes, and a slow, sexy smile refused to leave her mind.

He'd been right, she was a beautiful woman. He could almost see her peeking out the window of the sketch he was working on. Sketching was something he'd learned from her.

Unfortunately, it seemed that her personality had changed. she'd been sweet, sensitive as a kid, but today, when he'd questioned her, she'd been near hostile. And he certainly had never figured her for a yes-dear type.

It really wasn't her business. But there was something about Verlac he didn't like. Sur he was attractive and famous. Somehow he'd never pictured Clary as the type to fall for a jock. Especially an mundane man still attached to the springs of his mother's apron.

Jace put his stylus down and stretched. He would work more on the plans tomorrow. He had until Tuesday after all.

He hoped Clary knew what she was getting into. But then again, what difference did it make to him? His job was to design their house. He never worried about any of his other clients. Of course his clients were never part of the underworld like him and Clary were. They also never had a crush on him in the past.

It was in the past, ten years past. He had known it was just a crush. He had told her she would find someone of her own one day and wouldn't give an old man like him the time of the day.

His mind flashed a picture of her. She'd look professional in the black skirt and blazer she'd worn that morning, blazer parting as she walked to show emerald green silk. She'd certainly matured. Physical desire shot through him. He adjusted himself in his jeans, he didn't feel like an old man. Shit.

Three months… she'd met Sebastian Verlac three months ago. Part of him could help but wonder what would've happened if he'd walked into her life first?

Hope you guys enjoyed, it's unedited, but the story gets better, i promise!