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Chase
AtleastIwas in the good books with my father. When I showed him my plans on paper for my new venture, he wrote me a nice big check. That was after reassuring him I could also run the agency. Suddenly whatever leisure time I might have had for the next ten years had been appropriated.
I’d partied hard enough anyway. At least my brain cells would be spared.
Since Ivy wasn’t answering my calls, I decided to visit her at the boutique, where I found Summer and Mitch drinking their murky green juice and chatting.
“Ah, just the man I want to see,” Mitch said as I walked into the boutique, which smelled like a field of flowers. After giving me a hug, Mitch explained, “We’re launching the new cruise next week, and we’d love for you to create our campaign.”
I nodded. “Cassandra mentioned something along those lines.”
“Do you have your sunscreen packed?” Summer asked, while hanging dresses.
“Excuse me?” I jerked my head back.
“The cruise takes off next Saturday. Have you booked your flight?”
“I wasn’t aware I was going anywhere,” I said.
Summer raised a brow. “Ivy will be there.”
Then ship ahoy!
I nodded slowly. “Is she here now?”
“No. But it might be a nice way to catch up with her on the cruise,” she said, virtually winking at me. Was she trying to bring us together? If so, good. I could use an ally.
“Ivy might not be pleased about that,” I said.
“I won’t tell her if you don’t.” She chuckled. “In any case, won’t your being there help with your campaign?”
“It would.” I thought about that for a moment. “How many days?”
“Five.”
Five days without meat? “No alcohol, I take it?”
“No.” She smiled. “But there will be some special teas for anyone who wants a mind-altering experience.”
“That could be dangerous on a ship.” I visualized someone jumping over the edge to swim with imaginary dolphins.
“Let me get back to you,” I said just as Ivy entered with Jack Whitman close behind.
He virtually snarled at me, and as my eyes made contact with Ivy’s, she winced as though I were a gorilla on the loose.
“Hey.” I smiled, acting like we were the best of buddies.
“Hey,” she responded coldly and walked past me.
“Did you come together?” Summer asked, looking from me to Ivy and to Jack.
Ivy shook her head, which came as some relief.
Had they spent the night together? Had an extended breakfast and now were hanging out at work? What next? Matching T-shirts?
“I just ran into Ivy,” Jack said.
Ivy didn’t strike me as besotted. Her cheeks didn’t have that streak of red that she got around me. Whether that was me embarrassing her or turning her on, I couldn’t say. But I liked seeing her all flushed. It reminded me of how she looked screaming my name while coming.
