Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
AJAX
I’m watching the clock tick over.
How’s Ivy doing?
She left not long ago to get some things from her place—it won’t be her place for much longer. Reluctantly, I agreed for her to move in slowly over the week.
I’m impatient to start our new life together.
When there’s a tap on the door, I leap to my feet.
After getting to the door in record time, I tug it open. “You don’t have to knock.”
The redhead standing on the step grins. “Oh, I think I’m going to have to now.”
“Jessie girl.”
She laughs as I wrap my arms around her and lift her off the floor, giving her a spin. When she first came here, I wasn’t sure about her, but soon warmed up when I realised under all that bravado was a heart of gold.
“You weren’t at the house with the others, so I thought I’d come and check in on you.”
“Come in.” I take a step back and she walks into my living room, casting her gaze around before dropping onto the couch.
I join her on a nearby chair, and she leans forward.
“I’ve been told you have a new lady in your life.”
I chuckle. “So you’re here to get the gossip.”
She laces her fingers together. “I am. Especially as I’m told you’re moving her in. Are you sure you’re not rushing things?”
I shake my head. “It might seem like it, but I’ve had feelings for Ivy for a long time. Turns out she feels the same way. She needs me. And I need her.”
Jessie smiles. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. She seems nice. She reminds me a lot of Delaney.”
I chuckle. “As long as Cookie keeps his eyes off her.”
She laughs. “I think you’ll be fine. She’s made it very clear it’s only you for her.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You spoke to her?”
Her smile widens. “She’s at the main house. I intercepted her when she arrived because I had to make sure she was good enough for one of my boys. It’ll be nice to have another woman around the place. There’s too much testosterone on this farm.”
“So, she’s?—”
“She’s fine. Shane just made coffee for everyone and Cookie’s making sausage rolls. I came by to ask you to join us. And, I wanted to talk to you before we went over.”
“You’re a good woman.”
She shrugs. “I try. I’m just glad you’re happy. You must be to be talking so much.”
I smirk. “Yeah. She brings that out in me.”
“Then I’m really happy for you.” Jessie stands. “You know, now you’re taken, maybe you can wreak havoc on Digby and Cookie’s private lives. Get some payback.”
I stand and shake my head. “Oh, you heard about that, did you?”
Jessie stands on tiptoe and kisses my cheek. “I know everything. You should know that by now.”
“I’m just glad I have my own place.”
She laughs. “You deserve your happy ever after. Especially after what happened with Emma. I’m so excited for you, and I look forward to getting to know Ivy better.”
I wrap my arms around her shoulders and hug her tight. “Thanks, Jessie girl.”
“Let’s go.”
As we walk to the main house, Jessie’s taking deep breaths and talking about how good it is to be home.
But as much as I adore her, I’m not really listening.
Ivy’s voice carries through the air as we approach the door.
We step into the kitchen and the talking stops.
I catch my breath when Ivy turns and smiles at me.
Her eyes are so full of love—I see that now.
Fuck waiting.
“Do you have your things in the car?” I ask.
“There are some boxes. By the end of the week, I should be all moved in.” She beams that beautiful smile at me—the one that hits me right in the chest every time.
“Why don’t we go and get the rest after we eat? I’ve got my truck, and the others?—”
“You in some kind of rush, bro?” Shane grins.
“Yeah. Something like that.”
“Dad thinks I’m staying until the end of the week.”
I step forward and take Ivy’s hand in mine. “Do you really want to wait?”
She shakes her head.
“So let’s do it.”
Her brows knit. “Who are you, and what have you done with Clayton?”
“Dude? You told her your real name?” Cookie laughs.
“Well, yeah. She’s my girl.”
Jessie’s jaw drops. “That’s your name?”
I shoot her the side eye. “Yeah.”
She pouts. “I’m hurt you never told me.”
I shrug. “You never asked.”
Shane laughs. “That’s fair.”
Jessie glares at him, but her faux rage doesn’t last long as she breaks into a smile.
“I’ll help you move too,” Jessie says.
Ivy shakes her head. “I can’t ask you to.”
Her eyes are shining bright, and I think she’s a bit awe struck by Jessie. A lot of folk are at first, but Jessie’s just like one of us when she’s on the farm. She only puts on the Hollywood star bit when she’s in Los Angeles.
“We’ll take all the help we can get.” I lace my fingers with Ivy’s. She leans her head against my bicep, and I look around the room. Everyone has a smile on their face, and I know they’re genuinely happy for us.
I found my one.
And she was right under my nose the whole time.
We must look a sight as three trucks full of us pull up outside Ivy’s place.
I take Ivy’s hand in mine and raise it to my lips.
I know she’s worried.
I know she’s scared.
She’s not sure how her Dad will take this change—he wasn’t happy about her moving out in the first place.
But my beautiful butterfly needs her freedom. And with me, she’ll never have to worry about being kept in a cage.
Once we’re all out of our vehicles, Ivy leads us toward the house. She doesn’t have that much to shift, but there’s strength in numbers and it’s not until we’re in the kitchen that it’s clear we’ve got a secret hidden weapon.
“Ivy? What’s going on?” Her brother eyes all of us.
“I’m here to get my things,” she says.
“You’re Jessie Lane.” Tyler’s mouth falls open.
Jessie nods. “Yeah. Now help us with your sister’s stuff.”
He just stares at her. Jessie cocks an eyebrow.
I bite down a laugh because it’s clear that Jessie’s already adopted Ivy as part of our little family, and she’s very protective of all of us.
“I … of course.” He scuttles off toward Ivy’s room and comes back out with a large box.
It’s Ivy’s turn to stare as he carries it out the door in the direction of the cars.
“What have you done to my brother?” Ivy asks.
Jessie laughs. “Let’s get you packed and out of here.”
“Ivy? What are you doing?” Her father walks toward us, a pained look in his eyes. He scans the room.
“I’m moving out now, Dad.” She speaks to him gently, but this must be hard for both of them. It’s clear she loves him—she wouldn’t have agreed to stay if she didn’t.
But it’s time for him to let go.
“Now? We agreed the end of the week.”
I move behind her and wrap my arms around her shoulders. “Plans change.”
“But—”
“I’m a grown-up, Dad. I’m going to start a new life. Sooner rather than later.”
He opens his mouth again, shifts his gaze to me, and then closes it again.
There’s no point in arguing—she’s mine now.
Once her things are loaded onto the back of my truck, we all pile back into our respective vehicles and head back to the farm.
I’ve got her .
It doesn’t take long to unpack her things as we work together. We put all the boxes in the spare room—it’s not like she’ll be sleeping in there, and when we’re done, the others all leave to give us some alone time.
“Alone again.” She walks to me and wraps her arms around my waist.
This is it. This is my happy ever after.
“Any regrets?”
“Not a single one.”
I bow my head and kiss her softly. “I want to build something here with you. Something solid. A future.”
Ivy’s eyes fill with tears. “I love that idea.”
“I’ll always be here for you. My little Cinderella.”
Her lips twitch, and she smiles. It’s like the sun coming out from behind a cloud.
I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I’ll never take her for granted the way her family did.
She’s all mine.