“Oh, honey, that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.”
Jack followed her into the water, being careful not to step on the cover-up even though he knew it wasn’t real. It felt real. The emotions behind it were real. That was all that really mattered.
Fourteen
Ivy woke to warmth. She was still on top of Jack, his arms wrapped around her as he slumbered peacefully beneath her. He looked like one of those angel statues carved out of stone she’d seen in photography books. He was breathtaking.
“If you keep staring at me like that I’m going to charge you a fee,” Jack teased, stretching.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“I was … kind of,” Jack murmured. “I’m too warm and comfortable to move, so I’ve been zoning out.”
“You look handsome in the morning.”
Jack wrenched his eyes open and focused on Ivy for the first time that day. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Ivy made a face that caused Jack to smirk. “I have bedhead,” she replied. “Men wake up looking better than when they went to sleep and women wake up looking like train wrecks.”
“I think you look cute,” Jack countered, cupping the back of her head so he could kiss her. It was a soft gesture, simple, and yet it caused Ivy’s heart rate to speed up. “What time is it?” he asked.
“Probably about the time you need to get up so you can go to work.” Ivy wasn’t happy with the prospect.
“Probably,” Jack agreed, although he showed no signs of moving. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to leave the happiest place on earth.”
Ivy pursed her lips but couldn’t entirely swallow her smile. “That’s probably the best thing you could’ve said.”
Jack snuggled her close again, relishing how her body fit against his so perfectly. “I can call Brian and tell him I’ll be late. He’ll understand. He’ll give me endless grief about it, but he’ll understand. We can spend the next three hours exactly like this and then face the day.”
Ivy lifted her head. “We can’t stay like this for three hours.”
“Well, I thought we might do a little something else, too,” Jack teased, tickling her ribs.
“That sounds nice,” Ivy said, skirting his grip. “We can’t do that right now either, though.”
Jack didn’t bother to hide his disappointment. “Why not?”
“Because if you don’t stop holding me so tightly I’m going to have an accident,” Ivy admitted. “We haven’t moved in ten hours. Nature is calling.”
Jack grinned. He couldn’t help himself. She was the cutest thing he’d ever laid eyes on. “Well, then I guess I should let you go and do your thing while I start breakfast,” he said. “We’ll catch up on that other stuff after we fuel up.”
“Deal.”
IVY joined Jack in the kitchen ten minutes later, her face freshly washed and her hair brushed. Jack shook his head when he realized what else she did in the bathroom, until she planted a huge kiss on his lips.
“I see you brushed your teeth,” Jack said, grinning when they separated. “Perhaps I should do you the honor of reciprocating.”
“I like you stinky.”
Jack poked her ribs, looking her up and down and realizing for the first time that she was wearing his shirt. It looked better on her than him … and it was giving him ideas.
Upon leaving her bedroom he reluctantly climbed back into his boxer shorts but otherwise remained undressed. He was definitely hoping for a repeat after breakfast. Now he wasn’t sure they would make it through the meal.
“I see you’re wearing my shirt.”
“Oh … um … I can change if you want me to,” Ivy said, chewing on her lip. “I just … it smelled like you. Wow. That sounded stalkerish, didn’t it?”
Jack grinned. “You can stalk me whenever you want,” he said, pulling her in for another hug. He couldn’t stop touching her. He didn’t think he’d ever want to. “You look good in that shirt. You can’t take it off until after we eat. Then I’m going to take it off for you. If you want to smell me, well … .” He involuntarily shuddered when she rubbed her nose against his neck and inhaled deeply. “I’m starting to forget about food again.”
“I’m hungry,” Ivy admitted. “I haven’t really eaten in days. I … can we eat first?”
“Yes,” Jack said, loving the giddy bounce to her wagging hips as she rubbed herself against him. “Maybe not if you keep doing that.” Jack nipped playfully at her neck, briefly wondering if there was a way to feed and romance her at the same time when the sound of someone clearing their throat in the adjacent living room caught his attention.
Ivy and Jack swiveled in unison, Jack having the foresight to tug Ivy’s shirt down so it was covering everything, and found Max standing behind the couch with his keys in hand.
“Does someone want to tell me what’s going on here?”
“Good morning, Max,” Jack said, tightening his arm around Ivy’s waist. “We were just about to make breakfast. Do you want to join us?”
“I’m convinced I’ll work up an appetite while beating you to death, so sure,” Max deadpanned, his gaze bouncing between his sister and Jack. “How did this happen?”
“How did what happen?” Ivy asked, pasting her best faux innocent look on her face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, cute,” Max said. “Someone had better start explaining things to me or I’m going to start yelling.”
“You can’t yell in my house,” Ivy countered. “I’ll kick you out. Have you ever considered knocking?”
“See, that’s funny,” Max shot back. “I let myself in because I was worried when I found out my sister’s car was shot off the road yesterday and she ended up in a ditch. I didn’t think it was true when I heard the rumor at the diner. I mean, my sister would’ve called, right?”
Ivy’s face fell. “Max, I’m sorry. I kind of … forgot
