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FORD
Before I nod off, I double-check all the windows and doors. There’s a balcony at the far end of the living space, which would give someone access to the bedroom window. When I check it, it’s still locked, but my first stop in the morning will be security. I need to get a look at the footage from the hallway. Perhaps someone broke into the room next door and used their balcony to invade our space. Even with a foot of snow below us, the four-story jump from the balcony would injure anyone.
My cellphone chimes. Cell service is down but somehow the Wi-Fi is still working. There’s an email from Jasper telling me my name pinged on some of the trashier tabloid sites.
Well, that didn’t take long. Whoever paid to have those pictures taken sold them quickly.
Jasper: Please advise, boss.
My fingers fly across the screen, telling him to kill the story and to work on tracking down the source. Then I tell him my theory about someone hiding out on the neighboring balcony and using a tripod or extender to get the shot.
Once I send the email, I plug my phone in and let it be. I pay people to handle this kind of shit for me. If they can’t do their jobs, why am I paying them?
I walk over to the doorway of the bedroom and gaze at the sleeping beauty snuggled deep into the down comforter. There’s a slight smile on her lips and her cheeks are still flushed, but she looks happy. I wasn’t even sure I could make another person happy because, for years, I basked in my misery.
Talia is dead, but my secrets are safe, buried right along with her. She was the love of my life. I wanted to marry her and see her belly swell with my child. She tamed the wild beast inside me and made me feel safe enough to explore show her the real me. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t crave the company of another woman. Talia was it for me.
And then she was taken from me.
Maybe Ivy is my second chance, one I don’t deserve, but will certainly work hard to earn.
I shuffle into the bedroom and slide into the bed next to her. She sighs and shifts before settling back against the mattress.
She’s too good for me, and if she is my second chance, I’ll be damned if I let anything – or anyone – take her from me.
When the sunlight streams into the bedroom hours later, Ivy is still snuggled up in the comforter’s warmth, sound asleep, wearing those ridiculous unicorn pajamas. My dick twitches with desire, but I pushed her to her limits yesterday. I sit up, swing my legs over the side of the bed, and stand before shuffling over to the bedroom window. It’s blindingly bright outside. There’s snow everywhere, and even though the sky is a brilliant blue and the sun is out, the forecast calls for more snow tonight.
I quickly check my phone and find an email from Jasper. He informs me he’ll handle the hotel security and start tracking down who hired the photographer and where the photographs came from. I haven’t seen them, but from Jasper’s email, it’s clear he has.
Jasper: Enjoy your time, boss. You look happy.”
Well, damn. A whole day with nothing to do.
“Ford?” Ivy’s sleepy voice calls out.
A few seconds later, she appears in the doorway, covered in unicorns and looking like a sweet, rumpled angel.
“Good morning, princess,” I greet her.
She makes her way slowly over to the chair where I’m sitting and settles into my lap. Her head drops onto my shoulder and her arms slide around my neck. She nuzzles her face against me, making all sorts of fucking cute noises.
“Not a morning person?”
“Not usually,” she grumbles.
My hand brushes against her back. “How about some breakfast?”
“Waffles sound good,” she murmurs.
Her breath tickles my skin, and then I feel her soft lips press just below my ear. My heart thumps proudly in my chest.
“Then that’s what we’ll order.”
But neither of us is in a hurry to get up and do much more than just sit cuddled up in the chair.
“Did you find out anything more about what happened last night?”
I shift her so that she’s draped across my lap, so I can see the beautiful blue eyes that caught my attention a few short days ago. “Phone lines are still down.”
