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What was she doing? She’d let herself get all wrapped up in . . . nostalgia, she supposed. She’d underestimated how strong the drive would be to somehow relive her past.
“Up writing,” Blake said, coming slowly down the stairs. She noticed a slight wince as he reached the bottom. She knew he wouldn’t mention it, but he must be paying for last night’s performance. “Not much has changed over the years.”
“You know me. I can’t help it.”
“Hopefully I’ll inspire a better song this time around.” Blake was wearing a pair of Auburn logo sweatpants. The sight of him shirtless was inspiring enough on its own. Blake was solid, hard, carved muscle. She’d touched every inch of him earlier, but now, in the light, she could fully appreciate him.
“I’m certain that any song inspired by last night’s performance will do nothing but enhance your reputation with the single ladies of Rosewood.”
Blake flopped down onto the couch beside her and chuckled bitterly. “Thanks, but I have no trouble attracting the ladies of Rosewood, single or otherwise.”
Ivy arched a brow at him. “It must be your humility that draws them to you.”
Blake smiled and put his palm on her bare knee, absentmindedly stroking the skin. “I assure you it’s not because I try. Since I came home, they’ve been swarming around me like bees. My players’ moms slip me their number on the sidelines. My mom’s friends pat my rear as I walk past them. At first, I enjoyed the attention and made the most of it. Losing myself in an eager woman was a welcome distraction from the mess my life had become. But it never lasted. Lately, the attention has gotten a little old.”
Ivy tried not to focus on the stirring of jealousy in her chest, but it was easily roused. He had always been a magnet for women’s attentions, and that was just fine when they weren’t dating. And right now, they weren’t. “As my manager, Kevin, always tells me when I complain that the general public is more interested in my physical assets than my musical talents: there are worse things than being wanted.”
“I suppose. They’re all very nice women. Some are quite attractive and pleasant to be around, but that’s it. When we were finished, all I could think of was getting out of there. None of them inspired me to pursue them or made me think about a future with them. I have this new life now that allows me the time to really dedicate myself to a relationship and possibly have a family, and damned if I can find the right woman for me.”
Blake frowned slightly, his gaze focused on his hand as it stroked her knee. “You were the only woman who ever inspired those kinds of feelings in me. The only woman I could ever look at and know exactly what our life would be like together. And I threw it away because I was young and stupid.”
Ivy wasn’t sure what to think. They’d fallen asleep after agreeing this was fun and nothing more. Now, he was talking like she was the lost love of his life. “You’re not even twenty-seven yet, Blake. For the love of God, don’t start talking like your chance at love is over. We’re both young with plenty of time to find the right person.”
“Yeah,” he said, but he didn’t sound convinced. Instead, he got up from the couch and padded into the kitchen. “Are you hungry?”
She was happy to change the subject to something less serious. “Much to my personal trainer’s dismay, I’m always hungry.”
Blake chuckled and went to the refrigerator. “Pancakes or waffles?”
“Yes,” Ivy said as she joined him in the kitchen.
Blake started mixing up a pancake batter, eyeballing Ivy from his position near the gas range. “Do you realize what shirt you’re wearing?”
Ivy looked down. It was the Auburn SEC Championship shirt from the year Blake led the Tigers to an undefeated regular season. That was the win they were celebrating at the infamous party where Ivy and Blake broke up. “I just grabbed a shirt from the drawer in the dark so I wouldn’t wake you. I should’ve looked closer.”
She felt silly enough walking around in nothing but one of his oversize T-shirts, much less an Auburn one, but she didn’t really have much choice. It was either the T-shirt or last night’s prom dress.
Ivy pulled a stool up to the island and sliced fruit while she watched Blake cook. When the food was ready, they took their plates and a pitcher of orange juice out onto the deck.
It was a completely different experience in the daytime. Now, the mysterious darkness was a tangle of trees and bushes. She could see the part of his lawn that stretched out beyond the deck behind the house. In the distance, she could make out more water. “Is that a pond out there?”
“It is. The creek feeds into it.” Blake sat down at the table. “I keep it stocked with fish and I have a smaller boat I keep at the dock. Maybe we could go out there sometime this week.”
Ivy wrinkled her nose and shoved a piece of cantaloupe into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment. Fishing. Fishing meant bugs and slimy things. And even worse—sitting idle for hours. That sounde
d like pure hell to her. “I think that’s a terrible idea. I haven’t been fishing since I was eight. There’s a reason for that.”
“Yes, because you’ve never gone fishing with me. I’m certain you’d enjoy it if I was there.”
Ivy didn’t think even Blake’s company could salvage it. “Being trapped in a tiny boat with a box of live crickets is not my idea of fun, even if I’m trapped with you. What if there are water moccasins?”
Blake listened to her thoughtfully, but she could tell he wasn’t about to give up his idea. “What if we went out on Willow Lake instead? It would be more convenient and comfortable for you. I could pick you up at your dock in my bass boat. There’s more room, for sure. Would that be better?”
“It sounds better,” she had to admit.
“Great. What are you doing tomorrow night?”
Ivy breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She had plans that would most definitely push out any fishing trips. “I’m driving to Birmingham in the afternoon. A friend of mine is flying in to spend a couple days. He’s always wanted to see where I grew up. I’ve tried to convince him that it’s not as exciting as he imagines it to be, but he’s got this overly romantic view of the South, like we’re walking, talking Gone with the Wind cast members.”
