CHAPTER SIX #2
I back away from her, dropping into my chair and shielding my growing bulge with the desk while she awaits my answer. “If you like it here, we’ll stay.”
Reaching into my bottom drawer, I rip open a bag of Sour Skittles and dive in.
She tracks my candy foraging, blinking her dark, fanning lashes a few times. “Just like that? I ask to stay, and we do?”
“Yes.” I nod, popping in a handful of the lemon. “Just like that, Ives.”
“Okay.” And the storm retreats as briskly as it brewed. A force melting into a puddle of innocence before my eyes. She falls into the chair across from me. “What’s with the candy?”
I slide the bag to the edge of the desk nearest her as a peace offering. “It calms me.”
She carefully sifts through, emerging with a palm full of only the reds and yellows— my favorites. “More than the scotch?”
“Different,” I say, marveling at how the room is suddenly cooler, the air more comfortable.
She’s like a witch, changing the weather with her moods. The embodiment of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”
She eats one piece at a time, examining each for God knows what before gently placing it on her tongue and sucking it into her mouth. Tantalizing and adorable at once. “I guess it could be worse. At least you don’t smoke.”
Snatching the candy bag back, I dig for the reds. “I used to. The candy replaced it.”
She hums in thought. “What made you quit?”
“Someone strongly encouraged me to do so.”
Her eyes dart to mine, glacial now. “Someone important to you?”
“Very.” Truth.
And the truth flips a switch.
Her face and neck flush crimson, rage lurking beneath her creamy skin.
Those icy-blue eyes shoot jealous daggers.
It’s the damn Arctic in here now. I could tell her it’s not what she’s thinking, but I’d hate to be presumptuous .
She labeled me as such at the pub. Better, and a bit more entertaining, to let her stew in spite of the frigid air.
“Anyway,” she barks, “moving on. Did you sign the prenup?” A growl follows—a quiet yet unmistakable growl .
Christ, she’s fascinating—a one-woman amusement park. But I will not finish that thought because it’s too … Liam .
Instead, I swallow the strawberry-candy juice and pull out the papers we need, placing them in front of her. “I did. My lawyers added two clauses which require your signature though. ”
She studies the first highlighted passage, awestruck gaze searching me. “If you don’t hold up your end of the agreement, I receive ten million dollars ? Why would you add that?”
Because I need you to trust me. Quickly. “Insurance.”
“For whom? Me? You want to insure me ?”
“Yes. There’s insurance for me already with you needing to stay for five years in order to receive your inheritance.” Not that she’ll be going anywhere after that, but if all goes right, she won’t want to by then.
“And if I stay after the five years?” she inquires.
Interesting. Perceptive or hopeful?
A broad smile climbs over my cheeks. “Then, you’ll have your money and all of mine, so it won’t matter.” Win-win.
“And vice versa,” she snarks, but she’s got it all wrong. Her money isn’t what’s valuable.
“I need you , Little Storm. Not your money.”
She nods, stumped and silent, so I flip the page and point to another section of the document. “There’s also the other matter my lawyers added.”
She reads over the section. “I have to adhere to all safety protocols put forth by you?” Her brows knit into a tense wrinkle. “What does that mean?”
Not expecting this to land well, I roll up my sleeves in prep for the heat. “You’ll be under my protection at all times. Guarded.”
“Okay, like a tail?” She tilts her head in thought, surveying a red Skittle and plopping it onto her tongue. “My father was paranoid too and often had security detail keep tabs on me, so I’m used to that. No worries.”
It wasn’t nearly enough for my peace of mind.
“This is a step up from that. I don’t trust many people, so one of the four of us will be with you at all times.”
Her chin jolts up, squinted eyes trained on me. “So”—she clenches her fists with a huff—“you’re saying I can never be alone now? For the next five years? ”
The sugar-high isn’t going to cut it for this discussion.
I reach into my other bottom desk drawer and grab the bottle of Macallan and a glass, pouring myself three fingers’ worth—no rocks, but desperate times, desperate measures.
And this elaboration will amount to that.
“You can have as much alone time as necessary within the house.”
A howl of laughter gushes out of her, bordering on maniacal. “And in the yard?”
Sounds like you know the answer to that, Little Storm. “No. It’s fifty acres. Too many blind spots.”
“Who the hell have you pissed off that would hunt me on your property?” She reaches across the desk, chugging my scotch and promptly choking it down with a cough.
This conversation is rapidly going south. And I’m not sure how many more shifts in climate I can handle before my head explodes.
“That is an extensive list and not necessary for this conversation.” My tone grows stern. “I said no . End of discussion.”
She rises with a whoosh, her jaw locking before she presses her hands onto my desk, the force blanching her fingers. “What the fuck did you just say? End of discussion?”
She spins, fisting her hair as Ty scurries past my office door where he was undoubtedly listening.
Run for the hills, brother.
“Ty!” she hollers.
He pops his head in, forehead scrunched in surrender. “Yeah, Freckles?”
“Please reason with this … Neanderthal and inform him I don’t need fucking bodyguards.”
Ty meanders into the room, light as always. “Now, that’s offensive. I’m a friend, tons of fun to hang with, not a bodyguard, and Wells is—”
“A classy escort,” Liam interjects, strolling in behind him. “He might even strip if you get on your knees and beg him. Right, Chief?”
“ Jesus Christ ,” I hiss .
Liam smirks. “Oh, my bad, Ivy. He’d much prefer for you to strip before getting—”
“Can we stay on topic for one goddamn second?” I swipe my hand back and forth over my hair, blood boiling.
Gage tromps in next. So, the three of them were out there eavesdropping and giggling like little girls. Different than when I do it. As the one who carries the whole fucking world of everyone in this room, it’s a necessary evil.
Gage’s gaze sails through the room before docking on Ivy in suspicion.
He puffs up his chest and sears me with his amber eyes.
“Adam’s downfall was Eve. David’s was Bathsheba.
Samson’s was Delilah. Sensing a pattern?
Guinevere brought down King Arthur’s whole fucking kingdom.
If that isn’t some foreshadowing shit right there, I don’t know what the hell is. This is too messy!”
For Christ’s sake, I don’t have time for this nonsense.
Ivy throws her arms out with a gasp. “I’m sorry .
” Fantastic. As if she wasn’t enraged enough.
“Is that rant about me? Or against women in general? Misogynistic much? We’re only good for one thing, Gage , or do you fuck men?
” She shakes her head. “Nah. I bet you can’t land them either.
Looks like your hand gets plenty of use. ”
Ty and Liam laugh, but Gage cracks his neck, muscles twitching in his jaw as he glares at her, and I have to grip my desk to keep from lunging over it and tearing him apart.
His nostrils flare. “ Fucking pussy has never been an issue, but it is like sleeping with the enemy.”
She claps her hands, the crack harmonizing with her hysterics like a resounding gong in the room.
“You know, there’s a movie with that title.
The enemy is a pathetic, psychotic coward who’s a poor excuse for a man.
Sound familiar?” Her rage turns on me with an eerie calmness.
“Tell me this asshole isn’t one of my bodyguards.
” With that, she collapses into the chair, plainly worn out by the afternoon.
“This is nice,” Liam chirps. “People underestimate the importance of quality time these days. So, what are we doing tonight, fam? Bowling? Movie? ”
Ivy twists in her seat to face Ty. “Dom Toretto. The Fast and the Furious .”
I’m not sure what that’s about, but Ty bends in half, howling. “Shit, you’re hilarious, Freckles.”
Gage coughs into his fist. “Wrapped around her pint-size finger. Notice the death point on her manicured—”
“Enough!” I slam my fist against the desk like a gavel. “It’s like herding fucking cats. Ivanna, you will be with one of us at all times. Test me, and that goes for inside the house too.”
She jumps out of the chair, pings me with a fuming glower, and stalks from my office while I finish with the guys.
“Liam, get your smart-ass back to work. That is where we need quality time. And, Gage, do not let me hear one more goddamn comment that could be even mildly offensive to Ivy. You will apologize, and in the future you won’t so much as sneeze in her presence without excusing yourself and begging for her forgiveness. Understood?”
Resentment radiates off him, mostly due to old wounds, which I suspect he realizes. He simmers down, casting an apologetic nod. “Understood, Wells.”
He jerks his head to Liam, and the two leave the room, so I settle into my chair for a respite while Ty drops into the one across from me.
“That wasn’t so bad,” he says, to which I cock my eyebrow, wondering if he was in the same room as me.
He smiles. “She knows we won’t be letting her out of our sight, and as far as I can tell, she’s pissed but not planning to flee.
Gage had to get that out of his system. It’s done.
And if we didn’t already know, it’s clear she’s got the fight in her to survive what’s coming. ”
“She’s a lot to rein in,” I muse.