Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
IVY
“Welcome back,” Tucker says with a grin. He came to the airport to pick us up, and I have to admit, it’s nice to be back in Montana. “I hear it was a successful party.”
“It was incredibly successful,” I gush before Xander can reply. Instead, he smiles down at me. “It raised so much money for those kids, and Xander was charming and the perfect date. I’m proud of your brother.”
“I’m proud of him too,” Tucker says with a smile, and we all climb into the car. “I’m glad to hear you had a good time. There’s not much going on here. Dad had a little snafu with his blood sugar yesterday, but it’s straightened out now.”
“Did he go to the doctor?” Xander asks.
“Yeah, it was really low. He’s fine.”
“This shit always happens when I’m not around and can’t do anything to help.” I can hear the frustration in Xander’s voice. “You should have called me.”
“It wasn’t that big of a deal,” Tucker replies with a shrug. “He wasn’t admitted to the hospital or anything. Just needed some help to get leveled out.”
I know that Greg has had issues with his diabetes over the past couple of years, and all the siblings help out where they can. And one of the challenges for Xander has been that he lives so far away most of the time and isn’t here to help out more.
Xander checks his phone and frowns.
“Hey, Red, I think we should head into town real quick so you can have a look at your house.”
“I’m down for that,” Tucker agrees, and I frown at both of them.
“We literally just got off a plane.”
“It’s early,” Xander says. “Not even noon. We can knock that errand out, then head home and get some work done.”
I was really looking forward to a hot shower, since planes always make me feel grimy, and I have stuff to do.
Plus, I want to see my cat. And don’t even get me started on the fact that it has to reek of cigarettes in my house and that I’d have to see the evidence of what my own mother did to the place.
But I guess it’s not a big deal to run into town so I can make a list of things to tackle and maybe pick both Tucker’s and Xander’s brains on who to call for cleanup. Because it’s best for my own mental health if I don’t try to do it myself.
I’m lost in my own mind, scrolling through social media and chatting with the WAG group, when Tucker’s vehicle comes to a stop, and when I look up, I immediately frown.
There’s a huge dumpster parked in my driveway, and several work trucks are out here too.
A tall, muscular man waves from the porch, and I get out of the car and walk right over to him.
“Walker Hayes,” I say with a frown. “Did you break into my house?”
Just like the Hendrix family, I’ve known the Hayes boys most of my life. Walker was a year ahead of us in school.
“Uh, no,” Walker replies without cracking a smile. “Xander hired me. Go on in and have a look around.”
I glance back and see that Xander’s on the phone and Tucker’s talking to another guy on the sidewalk, so I go inside alone and feel like I’ve walked into an alternate universe.
Everything is gone. Well, likely out in that dumpster in the driveway. The ruined couch and blankets, all my destroyed artwork: gone. Even the carpet has been torn out. There’s a hole in the drywall that I didn’t notice before. It’s the size of Brenda’s fist.
Moving into the kitchen, I see that most of it is untouched, but all the dishes that were in the sink are gone and it’s been cleaned up.
My bedroom is empty. The shredded clothes and destroyed bed have been taken away. Anything that Brenda touched is gone.
And when I take a breath, I don’t smell smoke and urine.
When I return to the living room, Walker’s waiting for me.
“The plan is to patch that drywall, get some new hardwood in here, and paint. Shouldn’t take too long, depending on the flooring you choose and how long that takes to get here.”
I frown up at him.
“Walker, I appreciate all of your hard work, but I need to discuss the budget with you. I have to make sure I can afford you.”
Before the other man can reply, Xander walks inside and grins as he looks around.
“You’ve done a great job, man.”
“Why didn’t you talk to me about this?” I ask, and that smile slips, and I feel like an asshole. “I mean, thank you. Truly, thank you for dealing with this when you know I didn’t have the brain space for it, but you should have told me.”
“I didn’t want you to worry about it,” he says.
“But I have to pay him, and—”
“He’s been paid,” Xander interrupts. “You don’t have to do anything, Ivy.”
I blink, and before I can respond, my phone rings.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Ivy, this is Steve at the fire department. Hey, I wanted to let you know that we’re finished with the investigation at the bar, and you’re free to do whatever you want with it.
You’ll need to talk to a contractor, and probably the city because you’ll need permits, but our piece of it is finished. ”
“Thanks, Steve. I appreciate it.”
I hang up with a sigh, shove my phone in my pocket, and turn back to the guys.
“Everything okay?” Xander asks with a concerned frown.
“Yeah, the bar is . . . I don’t know what the word is. Ready to be torn down? That was the fire department. They’re finished with it.”
He nods and Walker clears his throat.
“Do you have plans for Lucky’s yet, Ivy?”
“No.” I wrinkle my nose and shrug a shoulder. “I haven’t really had time to think about it. I guess I’d better come up with a plan. Eventually.”
I let out a sigh and shove my hands in my back pockets.
“If you’re ever interested in a partner, let me know.”
I feel my eyebrows climb into my hairline.
“Seriously? You’re dying to switch from contractor work to owning a bar?”
Walker shrugs a shoulder, then crosses his impressive arms over his chest. “I can do both. I’d be interested in a conversation if you’re ever willing to have it.”
Ideas start to spin through my mind, but I simply nod.
I’m ready to go home.
“I’m sure we can manage to have that conversation. Thanks a lot. How are your brothers?”
“Everyone’s doing well.” Walker nods. “Well, I’ll get back to it.”
He shakes Xander’s hand, then mine, and walks outside.
“He’s always been a man of few words,” I say as I turn to my man. “You’re too good to me.”
“I’m just the right amount of good,” he counters and kisses my forehead. I sense him check his phone over my shoulder.
“Is everything okay? What’s going on?”
“My agent called just as we got here. New endorsement deal with a sports drink.”
“Hey! That’s awesome, good for you!” I frame his face and pull him down so I can kiss him. “They’d be stupid not to want you.”
“You’re biased.” He grins, and his hands drift down my back to my ass. “Let’s go home.”
“Thank God. I need a shower.”
He waggles his eyebrows, making me laugh.
“You’re insatiable.”
“Where you’re concerned? Fuck yes, I am.”
“Thanks for the ride, and the detour,” I say to Tucker as I hope out of his vehicle. “Tell Darby I said hi.”
“I will. She’s been out with a sick horse all day.”
I frown at that. “I hope she’s okay.”
“I’ll make sure she is,” Tucker replies with a wink. “See you both later.”
Xander slips his hand in mine and weaves our fingers together as he leads me to the door.
“When will our stuff be shipped from Denver?” I ask him.
I wanted to pack a couple of suitcases, but Xander assured me that it would all be taken care of and I didn’t need to worry about it.
Now that I think about it, he does that a lot. Takes things off my plate. Makes my life easier.
“It’s already here,” he replies, and I stop cold and frown up at him.
“How?”
“The courier service already delivered it. Come on, Red, I can’t disclose all of my cool tricks.” He smirks, and then the sound of little feet catches my attention as Cally comes running over to greet us.
“Hey, little muffin,” I croon as I scoop her up and press my face to her side, enjoying the way her soft fur feels against my skin. “I missed you a ton. Were you lonely?”
“Ava came often,” Xander reminds me. He’s petting the feline, and she’s purring, her eyes half open as if she’s in heaven. “I have something to show you.”
“Yes, I saw it this morning.” I set Cally down, and then I’m in Xander’s arms, flung over his shoulder, giggling. “You’re going to hurt your knee!”
“No, I’m not.” He slaps my ass, making me yelp. “You’re such a bad girl.”
“Such a bad girl,” I agree with another laugh. “Are you going to punish me?”
“I should.” He’s walking me down a hallway on the first floor, and then he sets me on my feet and slaps my ass again. “But I love you too much.”
“Oh, sad.” I bat my eyelashes and stick my lower lip out in a pout, and he leans down to kiss me, and then I’m pushed back against the wall, and he’s kissing the hell out of me. “Gonna climb you like a tree,” I whisper against his lips.
“Later.” He grins. “I promise. Now, let me show you this. I’m proud of it.”
“I’ve seen it. Yes, it’s very nice.”
“Nice? The fuck?” He scowls, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Okay, joking aside. What do you have to show me?”
“Say it’s better than nice.”
“It’s better than nice.”
He narrows his eyes and leans in to whisper in my ear. “I’m going to edge the fuck out of you later.”
My thighs clench, and he smirks.
“It’s a date.” I wink at him.
He shakes his head and opens the door, then gestures for me to go first, and when I walk over the threshold, I stop cold.
Holy shit.