I shut my eyes and take a deep breath.
So, so, so fucked.
5
Ivy
“And this is my room where you’re gonna sleep!” Delilah shouts, beaming up at me.
I survey the sea of colorful plastic littered over the dark hardwood and nod appreciatively. Glancing over to her tiny bed, I note the pink sheets with purple dragons covering them. I look back down to Delilah who is still clutching my palm like she’s getting paid for it, and notice the clearly used and loved stuffed dragon hanging from her other hand.
She likes dragons.
Got it.
“Actually, she won’t be sleeping in there, Lilah. You know that.”
I startle, letting out a mortifying yelp at the deep voice and whirl around, coming face to chest with Wes.
Holy pecs.
“Jesus, how long have you been standing there?” I ask before I have a chance to think before I speak.
He doesn’t answer, just scowls, brows so low his eyes are nearly closed. He scans my face briefly before his gaze flicks down to Delilah and my joined hands. It’s quiet for a beat, and before I have a chance to put my foot in my mouth and say something weird to break the tension, Delilah pipes up.
“But there’s nothing in the other room,” she whines.
“Miss Kayla liked it just fine, didn’t she?” Wes asks her with an arched brow.
“I guess,” Delilah grumbles, then pulls me to the closed door at the end of the hall, practically stomping in defiance.
She reluctantly gives me a glimpse of the guest room where I briefly see a plain bed, and not much else. She shows me the bathrooms, quickly opening the doors, before slamming them again. I roll my lips between my teeth, biting down on my smile at her utter lack of interest in showing me anything that’s not her room or her toys.
She introduces me to the plants in the hall and then drags me back to the living room where I quickly scan the open kitchen and dining room. I don’t have a chance to get a good look because we’re suddenly stopped by a giant body stepping in front of us, halting our tour. Delilah was just about to lead us through the small hallway just off the kitchen, when Wes blocks our path.
“That’s far enough,” Wes says in a gentle but stern tone.
Delilah stares up at him, and tilts her head. “But I want to show Iby your room,” she says so innocently I almost laugh again, but shut it down immediately.
That would definitely poke the bear.
“She doesn’t need to see my room, bug,” he replies.
Huh. Now I kind of want to.
Without thinking, I raise up onto my tiptoes to try and get a better look over his shoulder. Wes’s eyes dart to mine, the deep lines between his brows firmly back in their rightful place, silently scolding me.
I immediately drop down back onto flat feet, cringing at myself. That was not the right move.
“Fine,” Delilah sighs, full of sass, but she quickly corrects herself with a polite, “Okay, Daddy.” When he gives her another arch of his brow.
“Can I show her the pond?” she asks on a gasp.
“I don’t know if Ivy wants to do that,” he replies, looking at me for an answer, and it almost looks and sounds like he hopes I’ll decline.
I completely ignore any subtle signs he’s trying to send me, and give them my honest answer. “I’d love to see the pond,” I say, giving Delilah a genuine grin.
I hear grumbling from the tattooed bear, but can’t make out exactly what he says as he stomps around us, and leads us back through the house. Delilah and I follow him out the door, and down the porch steps. And just like when I first got here not twenty minutes ago, I’m left almost breathless by the view.
