Chapter 9
I gnaw on my bottom lip and stare out the window, replaying our argument over and over in my head, trying to make sense of what happened back there.
My plan was to antagonize him, get under his skin by giving him a little something to fantasize about. I knew he’d be annoyed—it’s not exactly a difficult feat to annoy him—but I didn’t expect him to take it from me, to threaten me.
And more than that, I didn’t expect to like it.
I can’t explain it, but there’s something so exhilarating about pushing his buttons, like I’ve finally found the rush I’ve been chasing all these months. Being around him makes me feel alive, like I’m breathing pure oxygen after surviving my whole life off polluted air.
The rush of not knowing how he’ll react feels like a drug that I’m quickly becoming addicted to. It’s like I’m catching glimpses of the real Leo through the cracks in his armor every time I push back.
I sit back with a huff and prop my feet on the dash. It seems that I underestimated him before. Looks like I’m going to have to try a new angle next time.
“What did I tell you about putting your feet on the dash?” Leo scolds, breaking through the silence.
I jerk my gaze from the window and narrow my eyes. “You’re literally pulling into the driveway. I think I’ll take my chances.”
“It’s not about that. It’s a bad habit, a dangerous habit, that you need to break. I’m not always going to be around to remind you,” he says as he taps my leg with the back of his hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity in its wake.
“Yes, Daddy,” I tease, rolling my eyes as I pull my legs down.
He doesn’t say anything, but I can see the slight twitch of the muscle in his jaw and the way his grip tightens on the steering wheel. The man’s clearly on edge, and I wonder if he’s thinking about what happened back there, just like me.
But before I can ask him, he puts the car in park and spins to face me. “I’ll do most of the talking. I just need you to smile and look pretty. I think you’ve already taken enough creative liberties for the day with your little stunt this afternoon.” His jaw muscle spasms, and his eyes darken as he stares at me like he’s waiting for his words to sink in. His voice drops lower. “Do you think you can manage that, Ivy?”
Oh, hell no. Who does this guy think he is right now?
I force a fake sweet smile. “What’s wrong, Leo? Are you scared that I’ll act like a brat and embarrass you because you took my new toy?”
I lean toward him and run my fingers through his styled waves, not missing the way his eyes drift shut for only a moment before he catches himself.
He grabs my hand and places it in my lap a little more forcefully than I’d expect. “Just save it for when we’re alone, will you? We can fight until we’re both blue in the face behind closed doors, but I’ve got a reputation to uphold. There’s a lot at stake here for me. Remember that I’m helping you here just as much as you’re helping me.” He lifts his brow in challenge.
“Of course.” I bat my eyes and flash him another fake smile.
He sighs. “Come on. Let’s just get it over with.”
He’s out of the car and already opening my door before I can do it myself, and I take his offered arm, looping mine through his as he leads me inside. Wow, he’s really putting on a show if he thinks they’re spying on us in the driveway.
Mary and Frank meet us in the foyer, both pulling us into tight hugs, and I’m shocked at how quickly they managed to transform the space from all the Vegas decorations.
Leo loops a single finger in my palm, offering me the tiniest bit of comfort as I follow behind in awe, taking in all the personal touches I missed last time. A gallery wall filled with baby pictures, old family photos on the wall behind the staircase, a mixture of old and new furnishings.
This isn’t just a big, fancy house; it’s a home, and I can practically feel the years of memories that made it that way. And for the life of me, I cannot begin to understand how someone so serious and grumpy as Leo could’ve grown up in a loving home like this.
I drag my fingers across the ornate molding, my eye catching on the peeling wallpaper in the corner of the hall, and I don’t know why, but I find it all that much more endearing. This big, rambunctious family has more money than I can even fathom, and yet they still have peeling wallpaper and scuffs on the baseboards. It’s refreshing, so different from the everything’s-for-show life I grew up with.
The sound of arguing grows louder as we approach a fancy sitting room, and Leo’s four brothers come into view.
I recognize Roman and his younger brothers, Guy and Luka, so that must mean the raven-haired man sulking at the table is Jett.
Fern’s gray eyes flash through my mind, her coloring strikingly similar, and I already know I’ll have a soft spot for the black sheep of the family. Leo hasn’t told me much, but I’m perceptive enough to notice when something’s off with people, and there’s definitely something beneath the surface with this guy.
“Finally decided to join us, did you? I’ve been sitting here for thirty minutes, practically starving because Mom wouldn’t serve the appetizers without the guests of honor.” Guy rolls his eyes as he moves to the bar cart to pour himself a whiskey.
“You literally just ate, like, four dinner rolls. I’m afraid you don’t understand the meaning of that word, little brother,” Luka says, swiping the whiskey from Guy before he can pour his drink.
Guy shoves him away and snatches the bottle back. “Why do you have to be such a dick?”
Luka just laughs and shrugs as he moves to the table to take a seat.
“Boys, now, that’s enough. If you’re going to act like wild animals, then you can go eat outside with Marty,” Mary scolds, and they both apologize under their breath.
I look at Leo, confused that I missed someone. “Who’s Marty, and why does he have to eat outside?”
He huffs a laugh, accepting the drink Frank passes him, but it’s Frank who answers. “Marty would be the pig Mary adopted at the county fair three years ago.” His words sound irritated, but his smile tells me otherwise.
“Do you know what they were going to do to him, Frank? They were auctioning him off to be turned into bacon,” she whispers behind her hand, as if Marty can hear us talking about him.
“I’m well aware. You made your case, and thanks to you, Marty is now living the life of his dreams, feasting off the finest scraps a pig could want.” Frank winks and kisses Mary on top of the head, and they both look to Leo and me like they couldn’t be any happier.
“Well, sounds like I need to meet this special pig.”
Leo wraps a heavy arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his warm, protective embrace, and I have to fight the urge to pull back and look at him like he’s crazy. “I’ll take you out to the barn to meet him after dinner.”
“You two are just the cutest. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing my oldest boy so happy and in love. Come on. Let’s sit down and catch up.” Mary claps her hands together and leads us to the massive oak dining table, set like a fancy restaurant with origami napkins and more forks than feel necessary.
Leo pulls out a seat for me on the end, across from Jett, who only acknowledges us with a nod. “This is Jett. He owns Restaurant downtown. Don’t worry; he’s like that around everyone. It seems like all he enjoys in life is work?—”
Roman’s laughter cuts Leo off. “And you’re one to talk. I swear, I thought you’d taken some kind of vow of celibacy like a monk, committed your life to your work, until this one showed up.” He shakes his head and laughs, and I can feel the heat of Leo’s irritation boiling under his skin.
“He’s not wrong,” Frank adds as servers fill the room, placing small appetizer plates in front of everyone. “I can’t tell you how shocked your mother and I were to run into Miss Ivy in the hospital of all places.” Frank takes a swig of his cocktail and eyes us over the glass. “That just goes to show that people can always surprise you.”
My eyes ping between the men, and I can sense there’s more to the story. Why else would Leo feel so desperate for my help?
“Well, let’s not talk about work. It’s a rare moment where everyone I love most is here, together, under the same roof. Tonight, we’re celebrating Leo and Ivy and their surprising engagement,” Mary squeals, holding up her glass in a toast.
Jett’s eyebrows furrow, and he whips his head to Leo in confusion. “Wait a second. Did she say engagement?”
Leo clears his throat and smiles, then places an arm around me, as if to prove it, but Jett just shakes his head, staring between us.
“You’re telling me you’re engaged? To be married? And this is the first time I’m hearing about it?” Jett narrows his eyes at Leo like he sees right through him.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I know we told you in the group text.” Mary pulls out her phone and begins searching for proof, but now, we’ve got Frank’s attention too.
I can feel Leo stiffen. His leg begins to bounce under the table, and I slide my palm over it to still him.
“We, uh … wanted to keep a low profile until we knew things were serious.” I flash a smile to Leo, who looks half relieved and half terrified. “You know, because of the age difference …”
The room falls silent, and if looks could kill, I’d be a dead woman from the glare Leo sends me. I can practically see the steam spewing from his ears, but he’s already angry, so I might as well keep going.
“Thirteen years, to be exact.” I nudge him in the ribs with my elbow and flash him a wink before I turn back to Jett. “Daddy didn’t want the unnecessary judgment with your family’s high-profile status and all—” My words are cut off when Leo’s large hand clamps tightly around my upper thigh, sending a sting of pain and rush of tingles straight to my core.
Jett’s eyes widen in shock, and then all at once, everyone bursts into laughter, doubling over, wheezing, and slapping the table.
Guy laughs so hard that he falls back in his chair, which only makes Luka laugh harder.
I have to say, I’ve always been quick-witted, but even I surprised myself, pulling out that masterpiece of revenge.
Leo clears his throat again, trying to brush it all off. “She’s just joking.” His hand moves a little higher on my thigh, his fingertips sliding just beneath the hem of my little yellow sundress, and I suck in a breath. “Ivy loves to joke around and get a rile out of me. Don’t you, sweetheart?”
I swallow a gulp when his hand slides up further, fingers tracing dangerously close to the apex of my thighs. All eyes are on me, and I try to play it cool. I don’t know what kind of game he’s playing, but I will not be threatened twice in one day.
“I’m sorry. I forgot you only like me to call you that in the bedroom. Oops.” I shrug as I begin picking at my salad.
“Well, one thing is clear: this family certainly isn’t boring,” Mary chimes in, and soon, everyone falls into conversation.
His thumb breaks underneath the elastic of my panties, and I jerk my head to look at him.
What are you doing?I mouth, but he just takes a long pull of his whiskey, his eyes staring at me as he moves his thumb closer in slow circles until he finally brushes over my now-throbbing clit.
I swallow a gulp, ready to argue, to slap his hand away, to do something … but rather than any of that, I find myself parting my legs to give him better access. My traitorous vagina hasn’t seen any action in months. Who am I to turn down a spontaneous fondling when the man is so clearly skilled with his trade? I don’t know what kind of game this man thinks he’s playing, but he needs to know that it’ll take more than a public finger-fucking to teach me a lesson. Hell, if this is how he reacts to being called Daddy in public, maybe I’ll start calling him that exclusively.
Another flick over my clit, followed by a gentle caress, and my eyes are threatening to roll to the back of my head as a wave of full-body shivers coat my skin. Pure, unfiltered pleasure shoots up my core at the faintest brush of his finger, and my needy vagina clenches in response, starving for more.
I suck in a hiss, and my fork drops to my plate with a sharp clatter. Once again, the chatter dies down as everyone looks toward the direction of the commotion.
I scramble to grab my fork just as Leo makes another delicious sweep over my clit, this time pausing for just a moment as he masterfully plays with my pussy.
“This Caesar salad is amazing! Maybe the best I’ve ever had,” I manage to say, which seems to appease them as they go back into their conversations.
I nearly fall out of my chair when he adds his other fingers to his perusal, deepening his touch. He dips his middle finger deeper, teasing along my entrance as he methodically massages my clit with his thumb.
“Are you struggling to keep a straight face right now? God, you’re such a whore, aren’t you? You’re so wet, parting your legs for me, begging me to touch your pussy right here at my family dinner,” he whispers in my ear, making me choke on my own saliva.
“You two are being awfully quiet down there,” Mary says, bringing the attention back to us.
Leo pulls his hand away for only a moment, and I take a deep breath of relief, but just as I open my mouth to speak, he slides a thick finger inside me, and I strain to keep a straight face.
“I think Ivy’s a little tired from her shopping excursion today. Aren’t you, sweetheart?”
“Uh-huh, yes, I did go shopping …” My words come out blubbery, like I’ve had too much to drink, and then he’s curling his finger, and my vision goes blurry.
It takes every ounce of focus I have to keep my body up straight, and I can’t even think about the wet spot I’m leaving on the chair.
“Scarlett mentioned you came by her store when she called earlier to ask me about the festival sponsors?—”
“Did she now?” Leo says between clenched teeth, and then he adds a second finger.
My fingers grip on to the seat of my chair as I try to maintain my balance, try to look unbothered, but I’ve never felt pleasure like this. It’s like I’m aware of every nerve in my body, and they’re all turned up and tuned in to Leo’s impeccably skilled fingers as he plays me like an instrument.
I don’t know if it’s the fact that he caught me off guard, or that he’s touching me underneath the dinner table and nobody even notices, or that the man has brought me closer to orgasm with only a few brushes of his fingers than I can get myself with my vibrator … but my body’s never experienced pleasure so intense.
A drop of drool falls from the corner of my mouth and lands on my hand, and I’m quick to wipe it away. Luckily, Jett seems to be preoccupied with his phone, saving me the trouble of having to look him in the eye while his brother finger-fucks me into oblivion. Because that would be uncomfortable …
I’m so close, right fucking there, as stars start to cloud my vision. I suck in a hiss through clenched teeth, trying to hold back my moans as the warm fluttering builds low in my belly. Holy shit. My toes curl, and every muscle in my body braces for the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever had. My walls begin to clench around Leo’s fingers, and I squeeze my eyes shut, ready to ride the waves and succumb to my much-anticipated release when, all at once, he slides his fingers out of me.
Cold air rushes in place of his warm skin, and my eyes fly open.
I croak out, reaching for his hand as confusion floods my mind, “Wait … why’d you … I was just about to …”
He gives my leg a friendly pat, like he’s telling me it’s okay, as that cocky, smug smile spreads over his lips. And then he leans in and whispers, “Now, you didn’t really think I was going to let you finish after that behavior, did you, baby girl?” He carefully spreads his napkin over his lap like he didn’t just finger-fuck me to the edge of madness. “Maybe you’ll think twice before you start something you can’t finish.”
My mouth falls open, and his eyes flash to my untouched plate. “Don’t be rude, Ivy. You’ve barely even touched your plate. I know how hungry you were …”
A piece of cherry pie sits in front of me—not sure when we moved on from dinner to dessert—and Leo dips his finger into the whipped cream. I watch as he licks it off, closing his eyes like he’s savoring the flavor.
“Damn, that’s sweet. Almost feels sinful for something to taste so good.”
“Can someone pass me a piece of pie?” Guy’s voice breaks through the sexually charged moment, snapping me back to reality.
I narrow my eyes and grab my fork, stabbing my own piece of pie with unnecessary force, but my threat goes unnoticed when Frank’s voice steals everyone’s attention.
“Speaking of the festival, Roman, how’s the planning coming? We’re only a few short weeks away.”
“Actually, Dad, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” He looks around and shrugs. “I didn’t want to impose on Leo and Ivy’s celebration dinner, but I do have some good news myself.”
“It’s no imposition to us, is it, Ivy?” Leo looks to me, feigning innocence.
I force a smile. “Not at all.”
Roman’s smile grows wider, and his shoulders sag in relief. “Good. Well, I’m happy to announce that thanks to Leo securing our partnership with the Thompson Brothers deal, Kingsley Industries will be creating a new sister brand of eco-friendly cleaning products next fall.”
Mary claps her hands excitedly.
“That’s incredible, son. This is wonderful news,” Frank adds.
“So, naturally, I’m going to be pretty busy as we create the new branding. We’re starting from scratch and pulling a whole new team together to work on it. I’ll be flying all over for the next six months at least, and that means …”
“You’re not going to be able to head up the festival,” Mary finishes for him.
Roman offers her an apologetic smile and then looks at Frank. “So, looks like we’re going to need to find a new lead and fast. I’ll admit, I’ve been behind schedule, and I haven’t done much to get started, so whoever you pick’s going to have their work cut out for them.”
I see my opportunity for revenge, and I jump. I was only halfway listening, but I heard all I needed to hear.
Festival planning. Work cut out for them.
Check and check.
“Leo would love to do it,” I blurt, and everyone goes completely quiet.
I look at Leo, who’s back to fuming, and return his pat of encouragement. “Leo was just telling me on the drive over how he’s looking for more ways to get involved and give back to the community. He’s been dying to get his hands dirty, and I’m sure he’s more than capable of getting the job done.”
“Leo, that would be … wow, son … that would be perfect.” Frank’s smile grows impossibly bigger as he looks between his boys, his eyes gleaming with pride.
“Look at that. I told you, don’t count him out of the fight just yet,” Mary says to Frank, but everyone’s gone so quiet that we all hear.
We all look around in awkward silence, and then Frank claps his hands. “Well then, that settles it. I’m going to need you working on the festival full-time, starting tomorrow. I think this will be good, give you a little break.”
Leo grips my shoulder like he’s pinning me in my seat. “Oh, I don’t know, Ivy. I’d hate to busy myself with more work after you just uprooted your life and moved here to be with me. I’m not sure that it’d be fair to you?—”
I pat him on the chest. “I don’t mind one bit. I think it’s important to follow your heart. You know I’ll be here to support you, holding down the fort while you go to the office every day.”
Frank cuts in, offering another solution, “Why don’t you let Ivy help you? Bring her into the office, and you two can plan the festival together? That way, you’ll still be together, and you won’t feel guilty for leaving her alone all day.”
I clap my hands together. “Now, that is a good idea. I can’t wait to see your office and what you do all day. Now, we’ll never have to be apart!”
Leo’s lips tighten, and I can see he’s trying to bite back an objection … because what can he really say? His dad’s solution is sort of perfect.
“Problem solved,” he says through clenched teeth as he flashes me a look that says, Just wait until we get home.
“Now, when we’re at work, would you prefer I call you Boss Daddy, or should I just stick to Daddy?”