“Marshmallows. Got it, Steinem. I’ve got nieces.”
Lordy. A few words and I longed to grab some snow and pelt the man in the face. “Not an insult, Jake. I’ll gladly be compared to Gloria Steinem until the end of time.”
Jake shook his head at me and turned toward his house as he shut the Jeep’s door. Wrapping his arms around Addie, he murmured, “Yeah, peanut. I’ve got hot chocolate and mellows. Want some?”
Addie squealed and wrapped her tiny arms around his neck. I opened the door to lean in and grab my purse as I worked on convincing myself that this would all work out fine.
I know. I didn’t believe me either.
2
Dance Parties
Jake
As I set Addie down in the foyer, I tried to adjust my jeans surreptitiously. Jesus. What Ivy did to me. Every. Damn. Time. It didn’t matter that each time we’d run into each other, I’d resolve to be the better person. Each conversation devolved into teasing, her insistence that her stance was always right. She was no better than my siblings. Somehow, she simply got under my skin. Seven months in, I was beginning to think she was dug in and not coming out.
Frankly, I wasn’t sure I wanted her to.
There was a gentle tug on my sleeve, and I looked down into the most gorgeous pair of blue-green eyes I’d ever seen. Well, unless I caught Ivy’s gaze; then it was a tie. While I’d seen Ivy and Addie around town since they arrived this summer, this was my first chance to actually meet Ivy’s daughter.
Addie peered up at me from under her hat. “Mel-lows?” she whispered in a singsong voice.
Thank God for my nieces. I was prepared for this pint-sized visitor. “You bet, peanut. Let’s get your layers off first though.”
Woof.
Chief was voicing his displeasure from the kitchen where I had him gated in. Patience, dude. It had only been twenty minutes or so since I pushed him in there after seeing Ivy’s Jeep jump the curb. What I hadn’t divulged to Ivy was the small fact that most likely it wasn’t her fault. There was a large pothole right before the spot where her Jeep now rested. In the blanket of snow, it was likely covered. I had a feeling she’d hit it before popping up on the curb. While the woman could be maddening, I was grateful she and Addie were completely unscathed after that bit of excitement.
A gust of wind blew in as Ivy rushed through the door, slamming it behind her. I looked up from unzipping her daughter’s jacket to see the pink tint on her cheeks, shivering lips, and curves. Oh holy hell, those curves. She drove me to the brink, but I couldn’t deny my attraction to her. If I tried, the tightness down below would proclaim me a liar. However, I’d learned my lesson long ago and worked to school my reaction.
“You know, you wouldn’t be so cold if you had a coat.”
“Sure know how to welcome someone into your house, Spencer,” she said as she looked at me with what I assumed was likely an unintentional eye roll.
Ivy stomped snow off some, I had to admit, kick-ass brown-and-turquoise cowboy boots. Gloves and scarf tossed on my hallway table, she worked to tug off her boots as she hopped around on one foot, making faces at Addie. Her breasts swaying as she moved did nothing to help my condition.
Woof!
“Give me a minute, Chief,” I called, finally getting Addie’s jacket off her as she squirmed around.
“Where’s your puppy?” She peered around the front half of the first floor. The living room fed into the dining room. The kitchen led to the back half with the den and bathroom. Addie plopped down on the lowest stair where the staircase started in the foyer to the upstairs and looked at me with her pleading big-eyed gaze. Damn, I’d be a sucker for anything she’d ask for.
“In the kitchen. Do you like dogs?” I was now actively ignoring Ivy. Seemed like a good self-preservation technique. Then we wouldn’t argue, and I wouldn’t want to explode before tackling the woman to the ground. Win-win.
“Yessssss!” she hopped up, raised her little hands, and spun in a circle. Damn. The kid was cute.
“Ads,” Ivy called. “You need to get those shoes off before you walk around Mr. Jake’s house.”
“’Kay, Momma.” She plopped down right where she was and began tugging at her shoes, sticking her tongue out in concentration. With a huff of defeat, she plopped onto her back and stuck a foot in the air in my direction. “Mr. Jake, help?”
I smiled at her scrunched-up face. “Just Jake, peanut.” I took a step toward her and grabbed the foot to unlace her shoe.
“Addie.” Ivy used a mom tone that shouldn’t be attractive, but whatever. “What do you say?”
“Sorry. Please help, Mr. Jake.”
“Gotcha, Addie, but just Jake. I’m no mister.” I tossed one shoe to the side and grabbed her other foot.
