40. CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY
I vy
“Oh, my god.” I come to a shaky stop in my six-inch heels.
I’m inside a glass dome on the rooftop of the resort’s lodge, staring at a scene from the most heartfelt, romantic movie.
The man standing beside the lit-up table makes my heart palpitate. Brody, what did you do?
“Are you alright, ma’am?” the server who brought me up asks.
“Yes, thank you. I can...” I lift my gaze to Brody. “I can take it from here.”
All the information I received two hours ago was to get dressed that we would be having dinner. I expected another like the mountainside restaurant, but this is so much more.
Outside the circle of light enveloping the table for two, the glass dome is dark showing off the night. It feels like being outside underneath the wan moon, gently falling snow, and thousands of stars without a chance of freezing to death. Despite being comfortably warm, a sweet thrill travels up my back and I shiver.
I walk forward until I’m standing within the glow of fairy lights, before the man who owns my heart. “You went all out.”
“Not nearly enough for you.” He steps over to me.
The three strides it takes him is enough time for me to drink in his tall, imposing length. He’s in dress shoes, a pressed shirt, and matching pants.
But it’s his eyes that hold me captive. Usually a cold gray that tells the world to back off, they’re soft and warm on me now, like a cozy blanket I want to fall into with no hope of getting out.
He takes my hand and kisses it while looking into my eyes. Based on how my body tingles from head to toe, it’s as though she doesn’t remember having this same man tangled around her just this morning.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, love.”
He’s taken to calling me that after we admitted to truly wanting each other. It’s been two weeks, and with every day that comes, my heart finds more space to fill up with more affection for him.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to you too, handsome.” I peck his cheek, my heels making it a lot easier to reach him. “Oops.” I make to wipe off the lip-shaped lipstick stain, but he catches my fingers in his.
“Don’t take it off.”
“Why not?”
“I want everyone to know who I belong to.”
My stomach swims, and my head spins. He says shit like this so matter-of-factly with almost no emotion that it’s crazy how much it melts me from the inside out.
“I like that. So, how would we show everyone I’m yours?”
“That’s only for you to know.” His eyes shine with dark intentions.
My core quivers. We’ve been treated to a steady dose of his promises and follow-throughs. I don’t know how else to live without having him by my side every day.
“Come on.” He leads me back to the table and pulls my chair out.
I take my seat, as does he.
“Who helped you set this up?”
“If you can believe it, Zane did.”
“What?” I bark a laugh.
“Yeah, and Sera, too.”
“And Nick?”
“He’ll be told after. I didn’t trust him to keep it from you.”
I giggle. “Well, I’m pleasantly surprised by all of it.” I take in the sight once more.
“I’m glad you are.” He picks up his menu. “I have all your favorite dishes lined up.”
“You know all my favorite dishes?”
“I had help from Iris.”
My heart warms. “You really put in the work.” I flip open the menu, and laughter belts out of me. “Mac and cheese?”
His face falls. “That’s what she said.”
“On nights when I just want to throw something easy together, then yes.”
“Oh.” He fase palms.
“Brody, I don’t care. This”—I swing the menu to encompass where we’re seated—” is the best thing ever and I love it. I would be thrilled to share a dinner eating fancy mac and cheese with you.”
This pleases him and a smile ticks his lips up at the corners. “Great. Place your order, then.”
We’re halfway through the dinner, talking about everything and nothing, when the conversation turns to my meeting with the police earlier in the day.
“They asked me further questions about my relationship to Daryl. They’ll need my testimony to lock him away for good.”
“And you said?”
“Of course, I will. He shouldn’t be out there harming anyone any longer. A man like that with such a long list of crimes outside attempted murder and kidnapping is a danger to everyone. I’ll be more than happy to lend a voice to getting him locked away.” I pause at the look Brody gives me. “What?”
“I like when you get so fierce. It’s hot.”
My face heats up. “I’ll keep that in mind for later tonight then.”
Gray eyes turn to slits, warming my insides up. “Yes. Definitely do that.”
“I also asked about Dad’s case. The cops said they’ve been able to locate the accounts where the money was kept.”
“Accounts?”
“He was trying to move it around to make sure it’s undetected.”
Brody hisses a disapproving sound, and his eyes grow dim. “I’m sorry, Ivy.”
I’ve not gotten over my parents’ betrayal yet. Brody has been kind enough to listen to my rants and console me. He knows talking about what my father has done is no small thing.
“It’s fine. I mean, it’s not fine. But it’s not exactly a dinner conversation, is it? They’re charging him with embezzlement and Iris gets back most of the money. It all works out.”
“Yeah, it does. And you played an important role in making it happen.” He leans forward, looking into my eyes. “You did the right thing.”
I give him a small smile. “I know.” I take a deep breath. “I have some other news.”
“You do?”
I nod.
When considering how to be together, we had three options: either Brody moves to Denver, I move to Pine Peaks, or we travel back and forth to meet each other.
After a lot of consideration, I decided.
“I’ve been job hunting,” I tell him.
“I know your work at CPS stresses you out a lot. You deserve a break.”
“That’s partly it, but not the entire reason.”
His gaze stays on me. Curious and patient.
“I’ve been looking for a job in Pine Peaks, Brody. Your mom helped a lot. She put in a word for me with the administration of the school and I have an interview for the position of school counselor.” I swallow a breath. “I’m moving to Pine Peaks.”
Dark eyebrows nearly hit his hairline, and his lips part.
“Say something, Brody.” A shaky laugh leaves me.
He jumps out of his chair and rounds the table, pulling me into his arms. He kisses my face and then my lips.
“I’m guessing this means you’re happy,” I manage to say between the possessive glides of his mouth against mine.
“More than you know, Ivy. I want you here. I’m happy to have you here.” He cups my face, staring at me with watery eyes. Then, something else sneaks in, making his gaze go wary.
“What? What is it?”
“What about Iris?” Before I can make sense of what he’s asking, he explains. “She needs your help to get used to being a regular adult, Ivy. I don’t want you split in two places because of me.”
I’ll always trust Brody because of how much he cares about Iris. Sometimes even more than I do. “Iris is fine. She even insisted on it when I told her about the idea. She’s happy for us and she has Callum. It may even be too much for her to have the two of us looking out for her.”
“You sure?”
“Very.” I grab his trailing hand and kiss his fingers. “I’m here to stay, Brody. You’re not getting rid of me easily.”
“I don’t plan to.” He kisses my neck.
A thrill courses through me. But the reality of the task ahead clouds my mind. “I have to make a list. There’s a lot to do before I can move. I have to do the interview and get the job. Then I need to find a place to stay…” The look on Brody’s face cuts me short. “What’s that look?”
“What look?”
“That look.” I try to imitate his smirk and fail. Or so I think because he laughs and tweaks my cheek.
“Don’t worry your pretty head, love. Everything’s taken care of.”