15. Ivy
Chapter Fifteen
IVY
James and his fiancée, Scarlett, arrive with their baby daughters, Harper and Halle, minutes after Rian and Sean. Caelon makes the introductions, and we stroll along the short woodland path to the beach together.
‘What are the chances?’ James slaps Caelon on the back. ‘It’s great to see you out in the daylight. I was beginning to think you were a vampire.’
‘I’m still waiting for my fill of blood,’ he grunts, exchanging a look with James that sets a shiver down my spine.
‘Do we have to be so morbid?’ I tilt my face to the sky. ‘The sun is shining. We have a basket full of food and drink, and the kids are getting an impromptu playdate with their cousins. Life is good.’
‘Is she always this cheerful?’ James’s pupils flit between Caelon and me with mild curiosity. If he recognises me from the bar, he doesn’t mention it.
‘Unfortunately, yes.’ Caelon gives me the side-eye. ‘I’m going to have to put a clause in her contract.’
‘Huh, I might add a few clauses in myself.’ I nudge his ribs with my elbow. All eyes turn to us. Mouths open wide enough to swallow the Titanic.
‘Holy shit! He’s fucking the nanny,’ Rian whisper shouts. Thankfully, Orla and Owen, who are running ahead, are out of earshot.
‘I am not fucking the nanny.’ Caelon’s face is grim. ‘But if I was, it would be none of your business.’
‘Oh, they’re definitely fucking,’ Rian says gleefully to Sean, who’s ambling along the path next to him.
‘I’ll fuck up your face if you don’t watch your mouth, little brother.’ Caelon’s eyes glint.
‘Whatever. Ivy, if you’re not fucking Caelon, would you like to go out with me tonight?’ Rian winks at me.
Does the man have a death wish? I mean, it is kind of funny, but Caelon’s clenched fists look primed to swing at any point.
‘You know, I can’t tonight, with the kids and everything,’ I sing sweetly. Caelon’s fists relax a fraction, and the temptation to wind him up trumps all rationale. ‘But tomorrow’s my day off.’
‘Ivy,’ Caelon growls, his feet slowing to a stop. All eyes remain on us. ‘Do I need to put you on my desk again?’
‘Told you! He’s fucking the nanny.’ Rian winks again and dramatically thrusts his hips back and forth. Everyone except Caelon dissolves into laughter. Everyone, including me.
‘Details about what went down on the desk!’ Scarlett squeals. ‘Or who, should I say?’
‘Ivy and I are friends, that’s all.’ Caelon’s haughty tone convinces nobody as he starts walking again.
‘You don’t have any friends apart from us,’ Rian argues.
‘Not true. I have Dermot,’ Caelon reminds him. ‘Who also happens to be Ivy’s brother, so watch your mouth, okay?’
‘The plot thickens!’ Rian says. ‘Does Dermot know you’re fucking his little sister? ’
‘Rian!’ James’s voice is low, his tone final.
The trees thin and open into a large, white sandy clearing. Gentle waves lap against the shore, the water so turquoise it’s hard to believe we’re in Ireland.
‘This is so tranquil,’ Scarlett beams, soaking it all in.
Caelon and I exchange a smirk. Technically, I’m Tranquil, but he won’t keep calling me that if I insist on joking about dating his brother. Caelon might not be willing to act on this attraction between us, but he’s made it damn clear he doesn’t want me getting it anywhere else. And while that is ridiculously unfair, there’s something really fucking hot about it. And now I know it galls him enough to send him – ahem –south, I plan on using that fact to my advantage.
‘Who’s up for a game of volleyball?’ Rian eyes his brothers. ‘Unless you decrepit old fuckers can’t keep up with me.’ he puffs his chest out in an unspoken challenge.
Caelon and James exchange a look. ‘Time to teach the little punk a lesson.’
For a bunch of panty-melting billionaires, Caelon’s brothers are hilarious. Not to mention ridiculously down to earth.
Scarlett and I set up blankets and towels in a semi-circle and sit side by side facing the sea, the scent of seaweed and summer wafting on a gentle breeze.
Orla and Owen lunge for their buckets and spades and start digging a hole. I reach for the picnic basket, helping myself to a can of Diet Coke. I offer one to Scarlett, but she shakes her head, watching as her toddler, Harper, runs to Orla to join in the fun.
‘How old is she?’ I peep at the beautiful bundle in Scarlett’s arms.
‘Eight weeks.’ Scarlett runs a finger over the child’s fluffy shock of dark hair. ‘She wasn’t exactly planned.’ Scarlett points to her toddler. ‘Harper was eight weeks when Halle was conceived, so I’m keeping James at arm’s length this time round.’ She laughs. ‘Well, trying to, at least.’
It’s my turn to laugh. ‘You know what they say. If you can’t be good, be careful.’
‘How long have you been with Caelon?’ she asks.
‘Oh, I’m not with him!’ I blurt out, clutching my chest. ‘We’re not… I’m not…’
Scarlett’s eyes snap to mine. ‘Oh my God, Rian was right, you guys are sleeping together!’ she hisses. ‘This is so exciting! Caelon hasn’t dated since Isabella and, you know, it’s about time.’
I hold my hand up. ‘We’re not. We only…’ Me and my fucking mouth! I only met the woman a few minutes ago and somehow I’ve managed to big a digger hole than the one the kids are carving in the sand.
‘Only what?’ Scarlett wiggles her eyebrows conspicuously. ‘Spill the beans, Ivy. I can already tell we’re going to be great friends.’
I glance at the Beckett brothers, engrossed in their highly competitive game, then back at Scarlett.
‘We’re not sleeping together. I only started working for him a few weeks ago.’ I pop the can open and take a drink.
‘I’m sensing a but here,’ she coaxes. ‘Is there any wine in that basket? That might loosen your lips.’
‘Believe me, these lips are loose enough! There’s no but.’ Not unless you count his nose being buried in my butt as he ate me out yesterday.
‘He’s never been anywhere with a nanny before,’ Scarlett muses. ‘In fact, he hated every single one of them. They were all terrified of him. Which is hilarious really because beneath his grouchy exterior, he’s an absolute teddy bear.’
‘You heard what Caelon said. He’s friends with my brother, Dermot.’ I shrug, conveniently skipping over the finger fuck in the bar. ‘That’s probably why he’s different with me.’
Scarlett scoffs. ‘It might have something to do with it, but I’m telling you, the way he bit Rian’s head off was territorial. He wants you.’
‘He doesn’t.’ I swat my hand in front of my face, dismissing the notion, the memories of him staring at the picture of his wife just seconds after I came on his face surging through my mind.
‘It was so awful what happened to Isabella.’ Scarlett’s voice drops.
‘Were you guys close?’
‘No. I only met her a handful of times. James and I got together just before the accident.’ Scarlett strokes a thumb over her baby’s cheek. ‘She was lovely, though. She and Caelon were childhood sweethearts. They were so happy together. Just goes to show, you’ve got to make the most of every day. Live for the moment.’
Which is precisely what I did last night, even though it was wrong on so many levels.
A loud thwack from the volleyball game prevents me from asking any further questions.
‘Ow, mother fucker!’ Rian clutches his nose, glaring at Caelon.
‘Oops, sorry.’ Caelon shrugs, a half-smile flirting with his lips.
‘You did that on purpose!’ Rian sinks to the sand.
‘Time out.’ Sean raises a hand in the air. ‘You two need to cool off before someone gets hurt.’
‘Is there any beer in that basket?’ James eyes the picnic Liz prepared.
‘It’s eleven am,’ Scarlett says pointedly.
‘Yeah, but it feels like four o’clock given we’ve been up half the night.’ James winks at her and she flushes .
‘With the baby,’ Scarlett says to me.
‘Arms’ length, hey?’ I snort.
‘I said I was trying, not succeeding.’ She grins.
‘No judgement here. We’re going to be great friends, remember?’
Caelon strides over to where the kids are digging, ruffling Owen’s hair. ‘You okay, buddy?’
‘Yep.’ Owen barely glances up. He’s so engrossed.
The sun beats down on my shoulders, scorching my skin. ‘I feel like I’m burning.’ I reach for my beach bag, patting around for the sun cream I packed this morning. I flip open the lid and squeeze a dollop onto my palm, massaging it into my shoulders.
‘Need a hand, Ivy?’ Rian calls, dusting sand from his knees as he rises from the ground.
Caelon snarls at his brother and lunges for me, snatching the bottle out of my hand. He sits on the towel behind me, positioning one leg either side of mine, so I’m sitting between his thighs.
I wish he was sitting between mine.
We should spend more time with Rian. I like the effect his flirting has on Caelon. It makes him positively primal.
‘She doesn’t want your filthy hands anywhere near her,’ Caelon snaps.
Scarlett chuckles. ‘Ivy, how does it feel to be the shiny new toy everyone’s fighting over?’
Caelon’s hands land on my shoulders, kneading and massaging the cream into my skin. Electricity dances down my spine. ‘It feels so good,’ I sigh, happily.
‘We don’t have to fight, brother.’ Rian smirks at Caelon. ‘We could share.’
‘I swear to fuck I’m going to murder you one of these days.’ Caelon’s voice is dangerously low. Rian guffaws and does the hip thrust thing again .
‘Someone phone Killian,’ James says, prising the baby from Scarlett’s arms and beaming at his fiancée lovingly. ‘Tell him to bring beer and pizzas.’
‘You should probably take your top off, Ivy.’ Rian smirks, pulling his phone from the pocket of his shorts. ‘It would be awful if you got tan lines.’
A growl rumbles in Caelon’s throat, and I feel him inch closer to me. The sun has nothing on the heat radiating from his body. Skilful fingers continue sliding over my skin long after the sun cream is well and truly rubbed in. His hot breath skims my neck. ‘If you take your top off, I’ll take you right here on this beach in front of my entire fucking family.’
‘Is that a promise?’ I think it was supposed to be a threat.
‘And to think I mistook you for a good girl.’ His fingers dip to my collarbones and my nipples go rigid. ‘But I think you might actually be as bad as me.’
Given half the chance, I could be. If I could be sure he wasn’t imagining I’m someone else while he’s buried inside of me.
I can’t compete with that.