“You’re hurting me.” Ivy wrenched her head away from his hold.
“You can take it.” And he had missed giving it to her so damn much.
She bit her lip, and her gaze fell to the floor.
“Here, Gabe.” He handed Gabe the first aid kit.
“Thanks.” Gabe nodded at the former US Marine. River’s dark eyes scanned the situation, his thick biceps rippling as he put a hand on Bethany’s shoulder.
Silently, Gabe cleaned her wound, trying not to inhale the familiar scent of her that evoked memories of lazy Sunday mornings in bed and her favourite French-pressed coffee.
“Miss Wilder, I hear you had a scare this evening,” River said.
“Yes, I did. It was awful, but that man here got me out of there in two seconds. Can I charge that woman for harassment or something?”
“You can file a police report,” River said. “Have you had any threats tonight?”
“I don’t know. Ivy?”
Ivy turned, and for a moment, Gabe saw her unguarded expression before she smiled. “No new threats tonight. One last night.”
“You got to take those threats seriously, Miss Wilder. We don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’ll take them seriously,” Bethany said.
“Bethany! Thank god you’re okay.” A short man in a sports jacket hurried over to her.
“Daddy, it was so awful.”
“Let’s get you back in there. Tomorrow, I’ll take you on a shopping spree. Thank you.” Mr. Wilder nodded at them all as he ushered his daughter back to the fray.
“I’m going to grab the security feed to give to the police,” River said. “Let me know when you’re done here. Good work.”
Gabe nodded. Erik followed River, leaving him alone with Ivy.
He finished cleaning her wound, placing a Band-Aid on her cheek. “At least keep the Band-Aid on for a day.”
“It looks ridiculous,” Ivy said.
“You could never look ridiculous.” He threw out the alcohol wipes and closed the first aid kit. “You should take yourself home.”
“Do you mean the home you kicked me out of?” Her eyes flared in anger.
His mouth went dry. Kicking her out of the condo was kind of an asshole move, and part of him regretted that. He should have sold it and split the profits with her.
“What did you want me to do, Ivy? You ruined my life.”
“You kept your job at Axis Management, and it looks like you have another one. Your friends still speak to you, right?”
“Your actions have consequences,” he snapped.
“I ruined my life by trying to save yours.” She glanced away from him, but he caught the angry expression on her face.
“So you’ve said.” It was the story she told him back in August. He had a hard time believing it. Ivy counted on that post having an effect. That’s why she posted it, to cost him that job.
“So much for taking care of me,” Ivy spat.
“Ivy, if you need...” Gabe said.
