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I scoff. "Says the man who lies about his name to all women.”
He laughs and steps closer to me, just enough so our shoulders brush against each other.
My skin tingles at his touch, and I suppress a shiver.
We reach the museum, and Ivan looks up at the building with awe.
"This place is amazing." He crosses his arms over his chest and takes in the architectural details.
I smile, glad that he appreciates it as much as I do. "My parents used to bring me here when I was younger."
I shield my eyes against the bright afternoon light.
The Martha's Vineyard Museum of Maritime History is an impressive building that stands tall and proud against the bright blue sky. The exterior is made of weathered wood and bricks, making it look like a relic from the past. The grounds are landscaped with nautical-themed sculptures that bring the seafaring history of this island to life.
We make our way to the museum and enter through its large wooden doors. The hushed tone speaks to the reverence for the artifacts and stories housed within these walls. Despite peak tourist season, the patrons are respectful and quiet as they take in the sights.
The main hall is painted a deep navy blue with white trim. Large displays are full of objects found by local divers.
I smile as I approach the front desk with Ivan at my side. "Hey, Abigail," I say to the perky blonde behind the desk.
"Cassidy," she rushes around the mahogany desk and embraces me tightly. "How are you?"
"I'm great," I say with a grin. "I'm here on vacation with my dad and his friend Ivan." I gesture to him. "Abigail is a local, and we played together as kids and have been friends ever since.”
Abigail blushes as Ivan shakes her hand. A wave of jealousy rolls over me.Why the hell am I jealous?
I take a deep breath and push my feelings away. I can't let my hormones get the best of me, but one look at Ivan makes that problematic.
His chiseled physique put Michelangelo's David to shame as he stood before me. His athletic build is astonishingly obvious through the white tee that clings to him like a second skin. My breath catches, and heat rushes to my core. Ivan has an air of raw power and confidence radiating around him. No wonder he's a playboy. No doubt women throw themselves at him. What would it be like to be in bed with Ivan...against the wall with Ivan...in a hot tub with Ivan...
I shake my head to clear the images of us together. I can't let myself get carried away like this.
"What do you do for a living Ivan?" Abigail longingly gazes at Ivan and bats her lashes.
Ivan gives her a million-dollar smile. "I'm an investor," He says, “I love working with small companies and start-ups."
Abigail leans closer and purrs, "How noble of you."
It's all I can do to suppress an eye roll. Ivan is all about his money; sure, he helps out companies, but only if they can offer him a hefty return on his investment.
As if reading my thoughts, Ivan says, "It's not charity work." He gives Abigail a knowing look. "If I don't think I'll make at least triple what I've invested in a timely manner, then it isn't something I'm interested in." His tone is assertive and confident, letting everyone know he means business.
The front desk phone rings, and she quickly answers it, asking the person to hold for a moment. "Enjoy your visit." She smiles at Ivan. "You don't need a map. Cassidy knows where everything is."
He thanks Abigail and then turns to me. "Shall we start our tour?"
I lead him to the east hall, one of my favorites. "This hall contains artifacts from an 18th-century shipwreck." I stop in front of one of the cases. "My mom and I used to come to this hall first."
My chest tightens as I look at the items on display. A rusted music box, a torn and faded piece of cloth, a length of gold chain. "These items might not look like much, but they tell a lot about the people on the ship. The ivory handle of the hairbrush tells us that the woman who owned it was from a wealthy family."
Ivan notices my distress and places his hand on the small of my back. His touch is surprisingly comforting, and I take a deep breath, allowing myself to relax.
"They’re beautiful pieces." He leads me away from the case. "Antonio doesn't talk about his late wife."
We sit on a small bench. I swallow hard. "She died just as Dad was starting his business. He had a lot of money saved from his job and small investments that he planned to fund his new business." I blink back tears. "But when my mom got sick, most of the money was needed to cover her medical expenses." I look up at Ivan. "That's when you came in."
He nods and takes my hand in his. "Your father is a very resourceful man. He managed to get the money he needed to make his business successful." He gives me an affectionate smile that warms my heart.
