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So, I signed with him, and got to work. Now, the past few years have been a whirlwind. Amazing movie projects, critical acclaim, and, yes, the money isn’t too bad either. But a part of me still feels like it’s not real; that everything I’ve worked for could disappear overnight, which is why I’ve been powering ahead, working back-to-back on movies without time to breathe. I burned out – at least, that’s what everyone told me, when they insisted I take this vacation, far away from the bright lights of Hollywood.
I put up a fight at first but now, I want to send them all a fruit basket for dragging me out of the editing suite and halfway across the country. I already feel lighter, fresher, more inspired …
And it’s not just because of the crisp mountain air.
Ivy.
I catch sight of her emerging from the museum, striding confidently in her jacket and boots. Her hair catches the sun, glinting with reddish tones, and I wonder what it would be like to wrap my hand in those curls, angling her mouth to mine …
Easy there.
Ivy crosses the street, disappearing into the local coffee shop.
I pause. I agreed to back off asking her out romantically, but that doesn’t mean I have to run the other way if I see her coming. We’re neighbors. It’s a small town, we’re bound to bump into each other. And haven’t I been craving a good, hot, cup of joe?
I saunter across the street, and casually step into the coffee shop. I'm ready to explain my sudden need for an extra-large pumpkin-spiced whatever, but instead, I find Ivy standing with her hands on her hips and an angry scowl on her face, staring down a man that looks weirdly familiar to me. Tall, blonde, arrogant smile …
I snap my fingers. “Jake Fortune,” I mutter.
“Off the TV,” the woman beside me nods, watching them with a gossipy look. That’s how I know him, I’ve seen those teeth grinning out from billboards around LA. “What’s he doing here?” I ask. “And how does he know Ivy?”
“Shh,” she elbows me, “I’m listening!”
When I look around, I find she’s not the only one. The whole coffee shop is eavesdropping, but Ivy doesn’t seem to notice, squaring off against Jake.
“The treasure doesn’t actually exist,” she’s telling him with a glare. “It’s a folk story, that’s all!”
Jake gives a shrug, looking smug. “We’ll see about that, babe,” he drawls. “Maybe there’s something you missed in the letters—”
“My letters,” Ivy interrupts. “And what the hell were you doing going over my head and behind my back, talking to mymom?”
“I always loved Eileen, she sends her best, by the way. She’s been feeling under the weather,” he adds. “We think it’s a cold.”
“I know that!” Ivy splutters, getting flushed with rage. “She’smymom!”
“Whoa, relax,” Jake says, in a tone of voice that clearly enrages her. I think I see steam start to hiss out of Ivy’s ears. “All’s fair in love and war.”
“And what about sheer loathing?” she shoots back.
He grins. “It’s a thin line between love and hate … it’s okay if you’ve been missing me, babe. I’ve been missing you, too.”
“Missing you? Ha!” Ivy snorts. “I’ve never been happier.”
“Really?” Jake’s smug smile only grows. “Your mom said, you haven’t been dating anyone since our divorce.”
Wait, what?
I gape in shock. Ivy wasmarriedto this guy?
But before I can process that little revelation, Ivy draws herself up to her full height – all five foot five of her – and glares. “I’m dating. I’m dating nonstop. In fact, I’m seeing someone right now!”
“You are?” Jake looks surprised. So am I.
“Yes!” Ivy declares loudly. “It’s going great. Best I’ve ever had. He’s … he’s … right there!” she announces, her eyes landing on me.
And then she strides across the coffee shop, grabs me by my collar, and kisses me.
7
