Page 29 of Yours To Hold
Waking and asleep.
Ivy takes a step closer to me. “You don’t want me to come with you?”
I shake my head, doing my best to ignore how good this woman smells. And how there’s a flirty smile playing on the corner of those gorgeous lips. “It’s not that. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to come. Willow will be just fine if it’s the two of us.”
“I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions, Mason.”
“Ready!” Willow blows into the entryway, shoes on and a sweatshirt dangling from her hand.
Ivy grabs her hand, smiling at me. “Then let’s get going.”
God damn it.
It’s taking everything I have not to act on my feelings for this woman. And now? Now it just got infinitely harder.
* * *
“It looks really high.” Willow slinks farther behind me as we wait in line at the roller coaster.
“Look at all the kids coming off. They’re smiling.” I point to the end of the ride. “I promise, you’ll love it.”
“What if I get scared while I’m on it?” Willow whispers into my pants.
Ivy drops down to her level. “You won’t be riding by yourself. Daddy will be with you, and you can have him go as slow as you want.”
“Really?” Willow pops her head out to look at Ivy.
She nods. “Really. And if you get scared, you can always hold on to Daddy too.”
Willow looks between Ivy and me, her face showing a little more determination. “Will you ride with me, Ivy?”
Ivy holds out her hand. “Absolutely.”
“Will you be okay, Daddy?”
I smile down at her. “I’ll be just fine, Pipsqueak.”
Walking up to the booth, I get tickets for the three of us. Willow is chatting Ivy’s ear off.
Ivy’s asking all the questions, encouraging Willow and treating her like they’re friends.
Once I saw the two of them together, it was an easy decision to hire Ivy. Willow loves most people. But her chattering can drive even the most levelheaded people crazy once in a while.
And it only semi drives me crazy having Ivy in my space.
Fuck.
Maybe if I keep telling myself all the reasons it’s a bad idea, it’ll cool the lust I feel toward her.
“Bro. You’re next.”
Ivy and Willow are smiling from their seats in the ride as the high school kid takes my ticket and directs me to one of the cars. I tuck my long legs in as an older guy makes sure the bar is tight across my lap.
“You’ll do great, Willow!” I call up to her.
She’s holding on to Ivy’s legs as we head up the mountain.
It’s a slow ride up as we meander up. Nothing over-the-top. As the crest starts to come into view, Willow’s hands get tighter around Ivy.
