“There’s no such thing.”
She remained on target. “Just look. Please.”
Her earnest face was too much for Jack. With a little too much attitude, he grabbed the brochure and opened it, frowning when he saw the photos. “This doesn’t look like a tent.”
“Which is why I thought you would like it.”
“Yeah, but ... .” He trailed off and studied the photos. “These tents have full beds ... and bathrooms.”
“Yes.” Ivy was encouraged by the softening of his tone. “It’s only camping in the basest sense of the word. We could have bonfires with the other couples — all people on their honeymoons, so it’s not as if they’re going to want to spend a lot of time with us — and then we can retire to our tents, which are really honeymoon suites that just happen to be a little closer to nature.”
Jack’s heart lurched at her tone. He recognized it. This is what she really wanted. He, of course, wanted her to have whatever she desired ... but this was the last thing he wanted to consider. “Ivy ... .”
“You don’t want to do it.” She was expecting that response. She knew it would be an uphill climb. She thought maybe she had a chance. “It’s okay.” She snagged the brochure back from him. “It was just an idea. Wherever you want is fine.”
“It’s wherever we want,” he corrected, annoyance bubbling up. “We’re both supposed to be happy with the choice.”
“I’ll be happy with whatever you want.” Ivy flashed a smile. “It’s fine. It was a longshot anyway.”
“Well, wait a second.” Jack reclaimed the brochure and opened it again. Honestly, it didn’t look so bad. He wasn’t a fan of camping, but Ivy loved it ... and he loved spending time with her. “I thought you liked New Orleans.”
“I do,” she reassured him quickly. “Last night was exactly what I needed. The city is great. It’s just ... I would prefer that for a vacation rather than a honeymoon. There’s a lot to do there, a lot of culture to soak up. There are tours and cocktails and things I won’t want to miss. When we’re on our honeymoon, we’re basically going to lock ourselves away every night.”
Jack smirked. “Don’t sell yourself short. I’ll want to lock you away every day, too.” He hesitated a moment. “What about that trip to the supposedly haunted old west town? You wanted to go there, too.”
“I do, but I think that might be fun for a family trip, something we could take JJ to.”
“You’re just saying that because you think Max will melt down if you go to that place without him.”
“There is that, too,” she agreed. Her blue eyes were soft as they searched his face. “You don’t want to do this. It’s okay. We can do New Orleans. I just thought that might be a fun trip for later in the year, when it’s colder here and the nursery is shut down. We don’t just get one trip. You get six weeks of vacation a year and I have a lot of downtime in the late fall and winter.”
“That’s true,” Jack murmured, rolling his neck. “If we do this ... .”
Hope surged in Ivy’s chest.
He sent her a cautioning look. “If we do this — if being the operative word — I’m going to want something in trade.”
Ivy’s lips curved. “Oh, good, a negotiation. What did you have in mind?”
“I want the New Orleans trip before the end of the year and you need to let me take you to community service this morning. You also need to let me pick you up after your shift.”
She was expecting the first part of the demand. The second, though ... . Her eyes were narrow slits as she searched the counter. “Did you take my keys?”
“I’m not answering that on the grounds that it will get me in trouble.” Jack’s grin was charming. Ivy wasn’t moved by it, though.
“I can’t believe you took my keys.” She threw her hands into the air. “That’s so frustrating.”
“I have no doubt,” he agreed. “It’s what I want, though. I’m willing to do this glamping thing with you because I want you happy ... and, honestly, the tents don’t look too bad. If this trip goes poorly, though, we’re never camping again. There’s nothing you’ll be able to do to entice me.”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “And when we have kids who want to go camping? Are you really going to stand there and tell me that you’re going to look a five-year-old girl in the eyes and tell her no?”
Jack hesitated and then nodded. “I’m a cold-hearted disciplinarian, so it will be easy.”
That was the most ludicrous statement Ivy had ever heard. “If that’s what you need to tell yourself.” To give herself time to consider the offer, Ivy dragged a hand through her hair and shuffled in front of him. “I’m worried that Greg will take it poorly if you drop me off,” she admitted. “He already doesn’t like me.”
“I actually don’t think that’s the problem.”
“Um ... he’s mean to me.”
The simple statement was enough to annoy Jack, but he held it together. He already knew he was going to get his way. All he had left to do was finesse her just a little bit more. “Honey, I’m pretty sure he’s only mean to you because he’s attracted to you … and probably was right from the start. You weren’t wearing your engagement ring out there — we both agreed that was a bad idea in case it got lost or stolen — and I’m assuming he believed you were single ... right up until the point I showed up.”
Ivy ran the scenario through her head. “That doesn’t sound right.”
“Well, I think it does. It doesn’t matter, though. I want to
