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“We need to talk, Jake.” Please. His expression remained fixed. “I need to tell you what really happened that day.”
In an instant the look on his face changed. His jaw tensed, his eyes darkened and his mouth pressed into a straight line. “I didn’t bring you here for talking.”
Before Ivy could react to his hurtful words he turned and walked away.
* * * * *
It was early. Ivy didn’t know what woke her, but she was alone, and had been all night. Where did Jake sleep? She was surprised he’d left her alone. Taking his advice, she’d turned in the night before, falling asleep before he finished his shower. Did he leave me? She got to her feet, pulled the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around her. Then she went in search of the stubborn man.
She found him much the same way she had the evening before, standing in front of the window looking out at the city. Only he was dressed this time. And his drink was a cup of coffee. Behind him, Ivy could see the skyline streaked with vibrant color as the sun made a slow appearance over the horizon.
He turned her way. Their gazes met. “I thought you left me.” Was that a quiver of emotion in her voice?
“I’m callous but I’m not that coldhearted.” He took a sip of coffee, turning his attention back to something outside. “I apologize for my crude remark last night.” Ivy could see a muscle twitching in his lean jaw. “You can leave now, if you want.” Her mouth dropped. “Consider Wally’s debt paid in full.”
Ivy could only stare at Jake. It was as if someone had just pulled the rug out from under her. “So does this mean you’ve had your fill of me?” She didn’t know where she got the courage to ask him.
Jake looked at her long and hard, but his expression was impossible to read. “It’s occurred to me that I’ll never have my fill of you, honey. So why prolong the inevitable? I can’t keep you naked and locked up here forever.”
Now, Ivy, ask him now.She took a deep breath. “Can I ask you a question, Jake?” The slightest nod was his only response. “Why does Rick hate you so much?”
His expression clearly said it was the last thing he expected her to ask. He seemed to think about it for a time before releasing a heavy sigh. “You remember the movie, The Parent Trap?” Ivy nodded, speechless. “You could say something similar happened to us. Only Rick had a less than happy life with our mother. She squandered away the money dad sent for his support on drugs, booze and herself. Rick didn’t discover he had a wealthy other family until a couple of years ago. I didn’t even know about him until he showed up on our doorstep one day.”
Ivy wondered how something like that could happen. “That doesn’t explain why he hates you so much.”
Jake shrugged. “When he found out he had a twin who’d been living the good life while he was left to suffer neglect in the hands of our mother, bitterness got the better of him. Dad has tried to make it up to him. But the only thing that makes Rick happy is to have everything I have, only bigger and better.” His gaze moved over Ivy, an emotion in his eyes she couldn’t quite make out. “He wanted you too.”
Now seemed like a good time to tell him the truth. “He didn’t have me, Jake. I swear it.” Ivy stepped closer to him, invading his space. When it didn’t appear that he was going to stop her she continued. “There’s never been anyone but you. I was waiting for you that morning. When Rick found me I was sound asleep. I didn’t even know what was going on until I heard your voice and woke up. It was all done to hurt you.”
Jake remained quiet but his eyes spoke volumes.
“I tried to tell you but you were so angry, only believing what you saw. What Rick wanted you to see. And then you said you never wanted to see me again and walked out before I had a chance to stop you.”
“You’ve had three months to tell me the truth.”
“Do you think you’re the only one with pride? And I was hurt, Jake. That you believed Rick over me. That you didn’t trust me. I loved you too.”
He glanced away, but not before Ivy saw the look of regret in his eyes. What is he thinking? Did he believe her? He set his cup down on the wide windowsill and snagged the sheet Ivy had tucked between her breasts, pulling her into his arms.
“God, Ivy, at the time I said I wanted you to stay away, I meant it. Then I calmed down and came to my senses, realizing what a mistake I’d made. Only then it was too late, and the damage was done. I nearly killed Rick when later he gloated about making love to you.”
“If you believed nothing happened, then why didn’t you contact me?” He had to hear the hurt in her voice.
Jake leaned back so their eyes could meet. “I convinced myself that I didn’t deserve you. As more time went by, I figured you moved on.”
“But what about Wally, and this weekend?”
He smiled. “The situation with Wally couldn’t have happened at a better time, and played right into my hands. It wasn’t planned. But the moment I saw you again I knew I had to have you, if only for a little while.”
Ivy snorted. “You just want my body.”
A brow rose. “Well, you are a good fuck.”
A good fuck!Her scowl lasted only as long as it took her to recognize the amusement swimming in Jake’s warm eyes. A laugh escaped her and she decided to throw caution to the wind. “You still love me, you know.” Will he deny it?
“I know, honey.”
Ivy’s heart soared with happiness. “So what are we going to do about it?”
