He heard a distinct duh in the way she said that. “And if you hadn’t met me?”
She leaned in, an impish curve to her mouth, her eyes glittering. “Then I’d have been out seeking a few fleeting moments of excitement.” She patted his chest. “But this is better. No risk, and it’s all the excitement I can handle.”
No risk? Damn it, he didn’t like the sound of that, either. “Explain that.”
Her shoulders lifted. “Every minute with you is electrifying. It absolutely makes my heart race.”
Frustration gathered. “No, I mean that bit about no risk.”
“Oh.” She edged closer, smiling up at him. “I trust you. I trusted you almost from the moment we met. Somehow I just knew you were a good man. I think it was how you dealt with Justin. How you are with Daisy. And how you looked at me, like you really saw me.”
“Of course I see you.” He cupped a hand to the back of her head, keeping her mouth close. “Most men are aware of beautiful women.” The way she scoffed at that bothered him. “You don’t think you’re beautiful?”
Her mouth twisted to the side. “Let’s be real, okay?”
“Yeah, let’s do.”
“I know what I look like. I have mirrors, and I have a hairbrush.”
That wild, unique, adorable hair... Corbin threaded his fingers into the coiling mass. “Your hair is incredibly sexy.”
For that observation he got a rude laugh. “My hair is chaotic. When it rains? Oh my God, it’s impossible. Even when I tie it up, pieces shoot out everywhere like it’s trying to escape my head.”
Damn, she kept him grinning. “Well, I love your hair. I like how it looks and how natural it feels.” Saying that, he lightly fisted his hand, crushing a few curls, and then, when he opened his fingers, he watched them tumble free again. “It’s silky soft, and I appreciate that you don’t load it up with products.”
“Products never did any good anyway.”
Putting his nose near her temple, he murmured, “It smells good, too.”
A little more breathless, she said, “Maybe it’s my lotion.”
Getting her to accept a compliment was nearly impossible, and yet he found that endearing, too. “It’s you, Ivey.” He touched his tongue to her earlobe, felt her shiver and gently bit. “You always smell so good.”
Her hands gripped his shoulders and she tilted her head, making it easier for him to tease her.
“You also have incredible eyes.”
Sounding a little dreamy, she asked, “I do?”
“In the sunlight, I can see how green they are, but the gold flecks are there, just waiting, adding a sparkle to your eyes. When the light is dim, like now, the gold expands and takes over.”
“Hmm.” She breathed more quickly. “I never realized.”
“Don’t spend a lot of time staring into your own eyes?”
She laughed softly. “No, why would I?”
Instead of answering that, he tilted her back to see her face. “You have an elegant nose.”
Her mouth twitched.
“And these lips...” He leaned forward to take a quick taste, coasting his tongue over her bottom lip, and when she opened her mouth, he dipped in for a slower, deeper taste. Voice rougher, he growled, “Your mouth makes me a little nuts.”
“Works for me.” She put a hand to his jaw, and her amazing eyes searched his. “So you like me a lot?”
Silly, sweet Ivey. “It’s safe to say I more than like you.”
That truth earned him a radiant smile. “And when I babble? That doesn’t put you off?”
A sign of insecurity? He’d put the blame for that on Geoff. “I love how you speak your mind. Anyone who doesn’t must be an insecure ass.”
“You know, I sometimes wondered. I mean, I do go on, I know that. But I’m not mean about it or anything.”
“You’re one of the most caring people I’ve ever met.”
Her fingertips touched his mouth. “I’m really glad you think so, because even though that was one of the things I’d planned to work on, now I don’t really want to.”
“Trust me, Ivey. You don’t need to change a damned thing.”
“At first, when I was considering how to start over, I’d thought about making changes, but I like me, you know? I like who I am and how I am. I’m overall pretty darned content with who I am.”
With good reason. Ivey had it together. Nice house, nice business, respect in her community, a very close friend... “Tell me you have room in that life for a guy with a struggling kid and a wacky brother?”
Sliding her arms around his neck, she gave him a hug. “I love having you guys in my life.”
Love. Yeah, he knew he was sinking fast, but how could he not? He hadn’t known he needed her until he met her.
And now he couldn’t quite imagine facing the future without her.
* * *
Soaking in her narrow tub, a scented candle glowing on the edge of the sink and Maurice close by with his catnip mouse, Ivey thought about the day to come. She’d been doing that for more than an hour.
Relaxing. Pampering herself. And anticipating Corbin’s visit.
Moisturizing foam drifted around her mostly submerged body. It smelled like lilacs and felt silky to her skin. She’d already buffed her nails and used a deep conditioner on her hair. On her bed, she’d laid out her prettiest matching bra and panties.
Oh, this is nice.
She’d gotten used to speedy showers because Geoff was waiting, yet somehow she knew Corbin would encourage her to take some time for herself.
Because he liked her. As is. A lot.
She hugged that knowledge to her, then jumped when her phone rang. Turning to stare at where she’d left it on the closed toilet lid, Ivey frowned.
But it could be Corbin, so she roused herself from her relaxed position, stretched out one arm and snagged the phone.
Not Corbin, but Hope. Ivey answered with a smile. “Hey. What’s up?”
“I know you’re getting ready for a big date,” Hope said. “So I won’t keep you. But guess what?”
These days, it could literally be anything. Hope’s world was fresh and new, and Ivey had never seen her so happy. “Let’s see. I already know you kissed Lang.” Hope had shared that first thing, and it gave Ivey hope that she’d keep pushing forward, and in the process, she’d be able to bury the past. “And Lang kissed you back.”