Chapter 6 –
Clary's POV
As soon as Clary was pulled out of the club and pushed into the cab she turned to Izzy, "What the fuck, Iz?! What the hell happened to being my wing-woman? Remember? 'You need a rebound, Clary!'" Clary mocked in an annoying, high-pitched voice that caused Izzy to glare.
"You should be thanking me! There was no way I was letting you go home with Jace and be another notch on his bed post… plus he fucking knows my friends are off-limits…" Izzy growled out.
"Well, as it turns out, Isabelle, I'm 22 years old and can decide for myself who I hook up with and who I don't. I couldn't care less about your rules about who your friends can and cannot date." Clary said with venom in her voice when Simon decided to chime in.
"Sounds like maybe you want this Jace guy to yourself, Isabelle. Anything you'd care to share?" Simon said with a pointed look in Izzy's direction causing her to gape at him incredulously. The look quickly morphed into anger and Clary thought she saw regret in Simon's eyes as he shrugged and added, "Forbidden fruit is totally Clary's thing, so really you are just making her want him even more…"
"You don't know Jace like I do… he's never taken a girl seriously… hell, he's never even had a relationship, and I'm just looking out for you." Izzy said turning towards Clary, almost sounding sad.
That's definitely a first, Clary thought as she began to calm down and realize how silly this fight was. But she still couldn't let Izzy get the last word, "I appreciate you looking out for me, but please don't interrupt my hot make-out sessions anymore. Plus, I've known Jace longer than I've known you…" Clary said while crossing her arms and putting a sly smile on her face, knowing she had won the argument.
"What do you mean you've known him longer? Have you guys already hooked up before?"
Clary laughed, "God, no… I wish…we've only made out… honestly, we haven't really done much talking. I didn't even know his name until you told me." she shrugged, unapologetically.
"You've only been living here like three days, when the hell was this?" Izzy asked incredulously.
"Uhm, like four years ago…" Clary twirled her red hair with a finger and smiled thinking about the hot blonde again… mmm, Jace, a hot name for a hot guy… wait, Jace… "Isn't Jace the name of Alec's stripper friend?" Clary blurted out before she could stop herself.
Izzy laughed, "What he does in his spare time, I'm not sure… but he's actually a hot-shot CEO at our family's company. Our parents went into business together after college, so we basically grew up together. Which means, to answer Simon's rude question earlier… No, I am not into Jace – he's like a brother to me, and we've always had a rule that he could hook up with whoever he wanted, except my friends." Izzy said with a glare towards Simon.
I'm gonna need to dissect that situation when I've had a little less alcohol, Clary thought.
"Well, Iz… I really like you, ya know, in what I've seen for the three days we've known each other… but you should know, I'm not one for following rules." Clary said with a wide grin.
Izzy scowled at her friend, but eventually sighed and said "Whatever, Clary… I guess it's just a hookup, right? Not like you are professing your undying love for each other."
Maybe not undying love, but definitely undying lust, Clary thought with her smile never leaving her lips.
She fell asleep that night with dreams of big tan hands gripping her hips and soft pink lips kissing every inch of her body, and when Clary woke up, she was still smiling.
Later that evening…
Clary pulled up to the art gallery in her brand-new Audi, thanks to her always generous dad, and gave the keys to the valet as she stepped out of the car. Izzy and Simon were coming together, as a date, and she wanted to arrive with him.
Clary was dressed in a deep purple sleeveless dress, that would have been somewhat modest if it weren't for the high slit up her left thigh. She paired it with manageable two-inch heels since her feet were still sore from Izzy's torture the past two days. Her long red hair was curled gently and flowing down her back and her makeup was light and natural looking, except her shiny light pink lips. Last night she felt sexy, tonight she just felt beautiful. With that confidence she walked into the open house at Garroway Books, which, after tonight, would be known as Garroway Art, Books, and Cafe. Not a very inventive name, Clary thought, but it got the point across.
She walked into the art gallery and was blown away with what her mom and Luke had created. She hadn't been allowed to come see the new space until tonight, as it was meant to be a surprise, which it surely was. The exposed beams and brick gave the gallery a rustic look, which contrasted with the modern light fixtures and decor gave it the perfect downtown hipster vibe.
After Clary took in the ambiance, she began to notice the artwork her mother had selected to display. Ninety percent of the pieces were her mother's... Clary could tell her mother's work apart by now. But to her surprise, the other ten percent were pieces of Clary's that she didn't even know her mother had kept all these years. Most were from her high school art days and a few were pieces from college that her father must have sent. The thought brought tears to Clary's eyes. My family is truly amazing, she thought.
Once she blinked the tears away, she spotted Maia and Jordan talking with Magnus and Alec and made her way over to them. After some hugs and guilt tripping Maia over not showing up last night Clary spotted her mom and step-dad and excused herself to speak with them.
"Mom! This is amazing!" She said with a huge grin, as she hugged both Jocelyn and Luke.
"Thank you sweetie, we are glad you approve of your pieces. Luke was a little worried about your reaction."
"Honestly; I am just touched you kept them all and that you got dad to part with anything. I love you guys so much." Clary said while letting go from the hug and blinking away the tears that were threatening to fall.
After her parents introduced Clary to some old friends and investors of the business, Clary spotted Isabelle and Simon so she headed over to say hi.
"Clary this space is awesome. I wonder what designer your parents used?" Izzy asked.
"He's right over there." Clary said while pointing at a tall man with green hair that was gelled up to look almost like the horns you would see on a goat. "Ragnor something or other, have you heard of him?"
"Ragnor Fell?! He's one of Magnus' good friends! Come on Simon, let's go say hi!" Izzy squealed while dragging Simon away.
"Catch up with you soon, Clary!" Simon yelled over his shoulder.
Clary just shook her head at her friends as she looked around. A few seconds later someone tapped her on the shoulder and handed her a champagne flute as they said, "You look like you could use this."
Clary shivered at the sexy voice and immediately recognized it as none other than her Golden man himself, Jace.
"Thank you." Clary said while looking into his eyes and taking a drink. "Somehow you always know exactly what I need." she said seductively.
Jace chuckled lightly and said "I'd like to know more... I'm Jace." He said holding out his hand.
Clary raised her eyebrows at him and shook his hand and said "Clary, although I think we are a little past the point of handshakes, don't you think, Jace?"
Jace smiled hugely and laughed again. Clary thought it was the sexiest sound she had ever heard, and she smiled to herself at the thought.
"So, Clary. What brings you to this open house?"
"Actually, I work here... well, I will work here. My mom and step-dad own Garroway's and when they expanded, they asked me to come work for them." Clary smiled up at him as she spoke.
"Ah well, congrats on the new job." He said with a smirk, "what exactly is your line of work?"
"Well, Jace," Jace couldn't help but feel his pants grow a little tighter at the way she said his name. Focus, Jace, focus... ignoring her when she's talking is not the way to win her over, he thought to himself. "I just graduated from Alicante Academy of Art, so I guess you could say I'm an artist." Clary finished with a smirk.
"An artist, eh?" He asked while cocking an eyebrow at her, "Are any of the pieces on display tonight your work?"
"Actually a few. Shall I show you around Mr..."
"Herondale, it's Jace Herondale."
"Okay Mr. Herondale, follow me..." Clary bit her lip as she led Jace to her first piece. Herondale... that name sounds so familiar, but she just couldn't place it.
"So, Clary, if you just graduated college that makes you... Twenty-two?" He guessed.
"Precisely. Although, haven't you ever heard it's rude to ask a woman her age, Jace?" Clary said while stopping in front of the first piece and turning to face him while looking him in the eyes. "How old are you?"
"I'm twenty-four, and I have heard that... but, something tells me you aren't like most women."
"That I am not. You know me so well, already." She said with another smile. She's not sure she will ever be able to stop smiling around him... mmmm Jace Herondale, she thought... the man all my dreams have been made of for the past four years.
Clary and Jace continued to flirt as she showed him her pieces in the gallery. He was clearly in awe of her work, especially when learning that most were created back in high school... before any formal art training.
Jace couldn't help but want to spend all night with this woman who had completely captivated him with a couple of kisses and one conversation. I'm in so deep, he thought.
"Hey, Clary, my friend owns a bar around the corner from here, how would you like to go have a couple of drinks with me?"
Clary's whole face lit up as she smiled even brighter, "That would be perfect. Let me tell my parents goodbye. I'll meet you at the entrance in a couple of minutes."
After Clary hugged her parents goodbye, she walked over to her group of friends as they gave her knowing smirks. "Bye, guys... Jace and I are going to a bar nearby." She said as she hugged everyone goodbye.
"Biscuit, wait... use protection!" Magnus yelled after Clary had already started walking away.
Her face was still beet red when she made it to the front where Jace was waiting. Jace knew their friends must have made a lewd comment. "What did they say?" he asked.
"Ohhh nothing, they just not-so-politely reminded me to make you wrap it up." Clary tossed her hair and said to him with a wink.
Jace's booming laugh was infectious, and Clary began laughing, as well. When they both calmed down, he grabbed her hand and said, "Let's go."