“It’s kind of creepy that you’re just right behind me,” I hissed.
“It’s my job, lady.”
I came to a stop. “Well, unless you’re a super creep and you’re taking photos of my derriere, I suggest you come up and walk beside me so it’s less creepy.”
“I can do that.” He jogged a few paces before we both started walking. “Better?”
“I mean, it’s still weird, right? Where I come from, you don’t follow people everywhere they’re going unless you’re fixing to kidnap them. And if that’s the case, let it be known that I’m a black belt, and I will karate chop your ass right out of town.”
He laughed. “I’m not going to hurt you. Hell, if I didn’t need the money, I wouldn’t be here. Ty’s a big deal back home. My boss wants me on him, so it’s the job, you know?”
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Isaac.”
“Well, Isaac. I’m Ivy. And take it from someone who is doing a job that they love… don’t spend your time doing things that don’t make you happy.”
“Wise words. But I think my baby mama would disagree with you. I’ve got bills to pay and a baby boy at home who I need to provide for. I’m getting my degree online, so this is temporary.”
I respected his honesty even if I didn’t respect the job he was doing. We arrived at my house, and I came to a stop. “I’ll bring you out some water and snacks when we leave. Just try to be polite, all right?”
“Thank you, Ivy.”
I walked up the three steps and inside the house and heard music playing. My heart started racing, but when I looked up, I saw Ty standing in my kitchen pouring us each a glass of wine. There was a notebook sitting on the counter and it looked like he’d been writing an awful lot.
“Welcome home, dear.”
I raised a brow. “How did you get in here?”
“I guess I know you really well, Ivy Baron. Key in the backyard under the flowerpot. Terrible plan. God knows who could have come in here. No more hiding the key in obvious places.” He handed me the glass of wine.
“Are you writing?” I took a sip and watched him over the rim of the glass.
“I am. It’s the first time I’ve written anything in months, and it’s all thanks to you.”
“What does that make me, country star… your muse?”
“Damn straight, woman.”
“So, what are we doing tonight?” I asked, as he moved closer to me, and his nearness had my breath catching.
“We’re going on a double date with Addy and Jett. But first, you’re going to relax.”
“And how exactly am I going to do that with you breaking and entering and crowding me?” I chuckled.
“How about we start with a little game of airplane, a round of bull riding, and maybe a shower where I rock your world?” He moved closer, invading my space.
I reached over and set my wine on the counter. “Ooohhh, you know I’m a sucker for airplane, and I was the reigning champ at bull riding. So, the champ deserves to have her world rocked, right?”
It surprised me what a comfort level I still had with Ty. It was like no time had passed since we’d been together. It was equal parts comforting and terrifying. Because I’d never had this with anyone else.
And I knew in my gut that I never would.
Ty wriggled his brow and moved to my living room. He slid my coffee table toward the corner to open up the space. “Remember how mad your mama used to get when we would do this at your house?”
“Yes. She would lose her marbles. But we did break a lot of things in the process, so I guess she had a point.”
He dropped down on the floor and lifted his legs. “Are you ready to fly the friendly skies?”
I chuckled. “Am I really doing this in a dress?” I kicked off my heels and bent down to stretch my legs.
“Don’t even think of taking that off right now. I’ve been thinking about undressing you since lunch. If Sebastian hadn’t been there, I swear to God, I would have dipped my fingers under that skirt beneath the table. That’s how badly I wanted you.”
My mouth gaped open, and I studied him. He’d definitely upped his dirty talk game. He’d always been trying to get me alone when we were teenagers, but this was next level.
And I was here for it.
“You perv. Your brother was with us and that’s what you were thinking about?” I climbed aboard, resting my lower stomach on his feet as our fingers intertwined and he lifted me as high as his legs would go.
“That’s what I was thinking about, Ive. How gorgeous you looked when you came apart for me last night and again this morning.”
I let out a long, slow breath and slowly pulled my hands away and held them out to my sides. He swayed his legs from left to right, trying to get me to reach for his hands again.
But I concentrated on my balance and we both laughed as I moved from side to side. Before he opened his legs and caused me to fall forward on top of him.
“Hey, you cheated. I was doing just fine up there.”
He brushed the hair away from my face. “I know you were. You’ve always been fine flying solo. You just didn’t know it.”
His words had more meaning than he was saying and we both knew it.
Because when he left, I’d be flying solo again.
Chapter Fourteen
Ty
“Don’t run from second chances!” Ivy, shortly after Ty returned to Willow Springs
Being with Ivy was better than I ever could have imagined. Grown-up Ivy was cool and fun and sexy as hell. She’d climbed up on my feet and done the airplane in her hot as fuck work dress, and then proceeded to have me roll over and get on all fours while she wrapped her legs around my middle and gripped my neck as I tried with all my might to buck her off like a wild bull. We used to play these ridiculous games all the time when we were growing up, but Ivy was stronger now. She never let go. And it was not for lack of effort.
I then convinced her to take a shower with me, where I dropped to my knees and enjoyed every moment of pleasuring her. The surprise of the day was when she dropped to her knees with the water pouring down on her head and took me in her mouth.
I’d never seen anything sexier in my life.
She was getting ready for dinner, and I stepped out into the living room to take a call from my manager.
“Okay, we’ve got sold-out shows for all of our stops on this first tour,” he said, and I could hear him blowing smoke and knew he was vaping.