2. Ivy
TWO
Ivy
Red Lodge, Montana. The farthest place I could think of from New York City that still has fall colors. I’ll admit to doing minimal digging on the internet before settling on the spot.
Still, I remembered it vaguely from stories of the more well-off students during college. It’s apparently quite the destination when you’re into skiing and mountain-bound activities.
I’m not here for any of that, though. Nope, I need the peace and quiet a small town can offer.
And a few hundred miles between me and the ol’ Big Apple.
Autumn yellow leaves rustle as a cool breeze cuts through the yard. This house is definitely a fixer-upper, and I’ll have my hands full doing the actual fixing since I’m not about to hire anybody.
Funds are decidedly lacking at the moment, and I’m drinking the last of the coffee.
“Ugh, I need to find a job.”
Grumbling to myself isn’t going to help, of course. But everyone needs to take a moment to complain every now and then.
And besides all that, it is beautiful here. The trees are tall and abundant with the edges of mountains cutting across the sky in the distance.
Everything feels slower here, too. There’s no hustle and bustle of too many cars for the street to handle with crowds of pedestrians.
There’s no subway, with its hour-long commute to go only a few miles. There are no crowds of people yelling across alleys at each other at all hours of the night.
A crow caws from a nearly barren tree up at the top of my driveway, and I watch as it takes off, knocking down more leaves, and flies away from the highway.
It passes between my yard and my neighbor’s, and it’s right then that I see him walking down off his porch.
The tall, muscular man heads toward a small mailbox at the end of his drive, pulling out a small handful of letters.
When he turns around to walk back, I’m just able to catch myself before he notices my jaw dropping open like some idiot. He’s just so ripped .
You don’t see bodies like that outside of superhero movies, for fuck’s sake.
I shake myself. I did also see him fight with a young blonde woman the other day, and that shit did not look good. He’s probably as big of a player as those A-lister heartthrobs are.
As I snort lightly at my own joke, the guy looks up toward his door. But he notices me sitting here on the porch, and my entire body locks up.
Oh, shit. No, no, no. Just go back inside. Ignore me.
But I think the universe has it out for me today, because after staring at me for a moment, his steps resume, only they’re leading him to my house.
Dammit. That’s definitely not what I wanted. I also can’t deny the curiosity that’s bubbling up through my blood.
Who is this guy who’s shaped like Thor and fights with young blonde women on his porch? Should I get used to my mornings being interrupted by lovers’ quarrels?
I really hope the answer to that is no.
As he gets closer, I’m struck by the color of his eyes again. I noticed them yesterday, but now, he’s actually getting closer to me, and it’s like those damn things get bluer the longer I look at them.
He’s got rustled, deep brown hair, too. It’s cut in that way that all attractive men seem to be able to pull off, his bangs on the shaggy side while the sides are cut closer to his head.
There’s a light layer of stubble on his jaw, and now that he’s coming up my steps, he’s so much taller than I realized.
“Hi, do you have a moment?”
And he sounds like that? Crap. Well, I’m fucking done for.
I’d laugh at myself if it weren’t so true. His voice is just so deep, this gorgeous bass that rumbles out of his broad, well-defined chest.
So well-defined, in fact, that I can see it crystal clear through his long-sleeve henley.
“Umm, sure. How can I help you?”
There’s a look of concern on his face, his brows pinched together, and something about it tells me that it rarely goes away.
It’s such a strange thought to have, but for whatever reason, I just know that Mr. Next Door is the worrisome, pensive type.
“Look, about yesterday,” he starts, and I can’t stop myself from coughing slightly as I try to hide myself behind a sip of my coffee. “I just want you to know that it wasn’t what it looked like.”
He felt the need to come all the way over here for that? Jeez. Is he planning for the future? Trying to make sure I still think he’s cute?
I cock my brow. I’m not going to fall for that little trick. If he wants to be honest with me, he can start now.
“Oh, really. Well, it looked like you had a screaming match with your latest conquest. No?”
He clears his throat slightly, ducking his chin as his eyes go to the wood slats of my porch, which are straining under his weight.
When the guy looks back up at me, those sparkling blue eyes far too pretty for my liking, he chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment and then nods gently.
“I understand why you might think that. And honestly, I would, too.” He folds his arms over his chest. “But unfortunately, I was just firing my nanny. I caught her stealing from me. Among other things.”
I regard him, narrowing my eyes on his face like I’ll be able to deduce if he’s lying. I’m not terrible at it, but in truth, I assume most people are lying to me. A bad force of a habit.
Still, Mr. Next Door doesn’t seem to give off that nervousness or overconfidence that a lot of liars tend to.
“Your nanny?”
He nods, cocking his head to the side as his eyes roll. It’s a gesture that’s far too attractive for the thirty-something dad living next door.
At least to me.
“Ex. But yeah. I’m…” I can see him visibly stiffen before he finishes. “A widower. She was helping me take care of my daughter, Daisy. Well, she was barely doing that, if I’m honest. But I just didn’t want you to think that your neighbor was some playboy asshole or something.”
I laugh at that, unable to fight it back, and I smile as I nod. “Oh, no, wouldn’t want that.”
The guy rolls his eyes again, and the move is just as attractive in that teasing way. “I’m Xaden, by the way. Xaden Ledger.”
Something in my brain clicks as he introduces himself, and I’m sitting upright with a jerk.
“Wait. Xaden Ledger like from Xemplary Technologies?”
He raises his brows, clearly a bit surprised, but nods. “Yes, actually. How do you know of my company?”
“Ha!” I smile, setting my mug down on the small table I brought outside. “There are few in New York who don’t. I used to live there.”
Xaden sucks in a breath, nodding as the corners of his mouth turn down. “I see. Had to admit I wondered where you moved from. Not a lot of people relocating to Red Lodge, you know?”
“Yeah.” I swallow down the discomfort that arises whenever I think about why I left the city. “I needed a change of pace, and it’s…definitely slower here.”
“That it is.”
“I’m I’m Ivy Campbell.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Campbell.”
We hang in silence for a moment, but then I remember who that woman actually was and how badly I’m in need of a job.
“Hey, I’m sorry that happened with your nanny. No one should have to deal with someone stealing from them when they’re just trying to take care of their kid. And if you need a new nanny, I actually used to work in childcare in NYC.”
Xaden frowns, stepping back slightly, and I can tell that he’s immediately more on edge. I know he had a rough go with his nanny, extremely recently, in fact, but I’ll admit to being a bit surprised by the obvious reticence.
“I’m sorry, what? Are you…asking for a job?”
He smirks slightly, but it’s more an attempt to dislodge that scowl he’s fighting back.
Shaking my head, I put my hand to my chest, an old habit when I’m trying to prove I’m not the one lying.
“I’m sorry, Xaden. I just thought that you might need help since you’re short a nanny now. I’m not trying to pull one over on you or take advantage of the situation. I really do work in childcare.”
“Apologies, it’s just hard to believe I’m actually that lucky. Especially considering what happened yesterday. What did you do?”
“I worked for a childcare center in New York. Wildflower Children’s Center. I was one of several teachers there. The place was much more like a mini school than a typical daycare center. We prided ourselves on providing excellent education to prepare kids for preschool and beyond. We hosted summer school programs, did advanced learning units, and paid close attention to nutrition and daily comfort. Happy kids learn the best after all.”
Narrowing his eyes on me, Xaden crosses his arms again. I can tell it’s his little habit of choice, and I raise my brows with a patient smile.
He begins to nod like he’s bobbing his head to nonexistent music, and he really is too cute. It’s going to be a thing working for him if I do wind up getting that chance.
Which, if I am honest with myself, is a move I made out of sympathy and desperation. I do feel bad that he was saddled with a thief, and I really do need to make some money. I have bills to pay like everyone else.
“How long were you there?”
“I started right after I got my bachelor’s in early childhood education, so four years.”
I’m still beholden to that critical gaze, and I take this questioning as an impromptu interview. Xaden is clearly very protective of his daughter, which he should be, and he’s also very obviously gun-shy about hiring someone new.
Understandable. So bring it. I’m more than happy to answer your questions.
“Four years? So you’re only twenty-six?”
“Hmm, actually, twenty-five. I graduated high school earlywhen I was seventeen.”
His eyes widen, and I’m not sure what expression flickers to the surface only to be squashed down. Xaden’s brows pinch together for only a second, and he blinks so rapidly it was like I overloaded him with information.
He shakes himself, bringing his attention back to me.
“Do you have any certifications that make you a good candidate for a live-in nanny?”
I smile, addressing him as I would anyone who was looking to hire me, even as my stomach clenches over the tension rising during this little back-and-forth dance we’re doing.
“As a part of my first year on the job and during my last year of college, I obtained my Child Development Associate certification as well as the Advanced Child Care Training certification. I am certified in first aid and CPR, as well as basic water safety. I’m also technically certified as a Newborn Care Specialist, but I’ve yet to use it. The youngest age we admitted into the center was six months. But I wasn’t sure, so I took the exam just tobe sure. I also know there is a specific nanny certification, and I would be happy to take it while I am beginning my service for you. If understood, it is a forty-question test. So, I imagine that I could have it completed for you in about a month.”
Xaden is speechless, and I can see him fighting the instinct to let his jaw drop. A smug satisfaction ripples through me, and I can’t help but grin widely back at him.
I love it when my hard work pays off, and I love it even more when the hours and hours of effort I put into those things show people how serious I am.
After being an unlucky kid who barely got out of the system after proving herself with a similar testing situation, I quickly learned the value of demonstrating and solidifying your capabilities.
“Well, I’ll admit that is a lot more than the last person had to offer.” Xaden regards me, chewing on the inside of his cheek as his eyes roam my face. “I will consider your application, Ms. Campbell. And thank you for being so forthright. I’m assuming you wouldn’t mind if I verified the information with your previous employer?”
“Of course not. Tell Margaret hi for me. I miss her.”
He grins, taking my joke, and dammit, he needs to stop with all the effortlessly handsome. He’s even got a dimple right on his cheek.
I continue to be doomed.
“Well, I need to get back inside. Daisy isn’t going to last much longer with Ms. Rachel. She thinks it’s a baby show. My four-year-old.” He sighs, shaking his head. “Kids.”
Laughing, I offer a little wave as Xaden turns around and walks back over to his place. I stare for too long at his ass in those tight jeans before shaking out of it and dragging myself back inside.
I’ll admit that this job opportunity, however oddly it entered my life, sounds like a much better move than hitting the local coffee shop while I do the rounds.
And knowing what he does for a living, he probably pays well, too.
The door creaks as I open and shut it, locking up behind me. The deadbolt sticks a little, and the chain on the door looks about as strong as an uncooked noodle, but they’ll have to do until I can hit up Lowe’s for a better option.
Which, hey, might not be too long from now, thank God.
Not that money is the only thing I think about, but a girl’s got to eat, and I need safety even more.
Blowing out a long breath, I think back to Wildflower. I didn’t want to leave. I really didn’t, but after I found out that…
Yeah, there was no staying, Ivy. You know that.
As I shut the curtains, glancing across my porch just to be sure, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I’m not expecting much in the way of notifications, so when I pull it out and see the text icon, I’m more than a little surprised.
I look around the new house, at the faded, torn wallpaper, the dust caked in the corners, and the bare cupboards and counters in the kitchen that stretch out next to the living room where I stand.
I’m totally alone. There is no one else in this house. But my spine tingles all the same, and then I glance back down at my phone, forcing myself to unlock the screen.
I click on the little envelope icon, and it pulls up the message from an unknown number.
You can’t run forever, Ivy.
“Shit.”
I swallow hard, my stare raking around the house. I know it’s stupid, but I can’t help it, and before I know it, I’m looking out the windows over the driveway and road in front of it.
He’s not there. No one is there.
“Calm down, Ivy. He didn’t find you. How the hell would he? You told no one where you were moving, and this is bumfuck nowhere. You’re fine.”
I repeat the words to myself, “You’re fine,” over and over again until they’re unintelligible. I need them to sink in. I need them to be true.
And sure, the logic says they are, but I do not believe it.
Not for a single second.