The mansion Tony built for his wife is in a quiet area with tight security. It’s enormous, but—unusually for Los Angeles—doesn’t have a pool. The reason being that Ivy almost drowned twice. Although she can swim now, the experiences are still too triggering for him. There is, however, a very shallow water garden covered with lotus blossoms.
I park my Tacoma, which looks out of place among sleek European cars that cost more than most houses, then head to the door. The housekeeper, Felice, lets me in.
Once I’m inside the foyer with a cathedral ceiling and brilliant crystal chandeliers, I can hear the faint sound of the pianos. Ivy has two—a white Steinway baby grand and a Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand that Tony specially commissioned for their first wedding anniversary. It was handcrafted in Austria with a tiger lily—her favorite flower—and entwined T&I embossed on the side.
“Yuna and Lilian are here,” Felice says as she gestures me toward the music room.
“Thanks.” I flash her a quick smile and head down the familiar corridor. One side is made entirely of windows that face the garden, and I look at the stunning flowers and lawns that seem to spread out endlessly. Tony spares no expense to please his wife, and a pang pierces my heart.
I’m not envious of Ivy’s wealth, but I would die for the kind of connection she has with her husband. And their beautiful children. Tony fell in love with her at first sight, and he’s been crazy about her ever since. For him to make a promise to his wife and break it would be unthinkable. Nothing short of death could keep him away from her.
I, on the other hand, sort of have…Noah. Who puts no weight on his promises to me. Or his professions of love. Then there’s Lorcan…who is obviously unhinged because just what kind of weirdo breaks into the house of a woman he only met once through a dating app? And Joey, who only met with me so I’d sleep with his boss’s son and have a baby. What a creep.
When I walk into the room, a tiny strawberry blonde and an even smaller dark-eyed brunette squeal. “Bobbi!”
Their gazes are bright as they rush me in their pink tutus. Tiny tiaras sit on their heads, and they wrap their arms around my legs, hugging me. I crouch down and embrace them, one in each arm. They smell like baby powder and innocence.
“Hey, girls!”
“Hi!” Ivy stands up from behind the Bösendorfer, her gray eyes warm. She’s pulled her reddish golden hair into a top knot, which exposes the delicate line of her neck and the smooth slope of her shoulders. She looks casual and at home in a loose gray V-neck shirt and cropped teal pants.
Next to her, Yuna waggles her long fingers. Unlike Ivy, her auburn hair is unbound, and she’s in a stunning crimson dress that matches her take-charge personality. I’ve never seen Yuna in anything but beautiful clothes and the most fashionable shoes. Today’s no exception.
“Bobbi, how do I look?” Katherine spins, her hair flying everywhere.
“Look what I can do!” Lilian leaps around, her arms up in the air.
“Amazing, both of you.” I make sure to keep my tone and expression serious and admiring, even though I’m dying with laughter at their antics. Over by the pianos, Ivy and Yuna smile and shake their heads.
“I’m going to be a Sugar Plum Fairy!” Lilian declares.
“Me too!”
“I thought you wanted to be Cookie Fairies?” I say.
“We can be both!” Katherine says.
“Our grandmama said so!” Lilian adds.
I laugh. Yuna’s mother, a formidable woman, took it upon herself to sort of adopt Ivy as her own child and considers Ivy’s twins her own grandkids. Which was nice because Ivy’s mother passed away a long time ago and Tony’s mother is a sociopath. If Margo Blackwood ever came near the girls, I’d have to drag her away by the hair—she’s just that insane and dangerous.
“Girls, ready to bake some cookies?” Ivy says.
“Yes!” They dash out of the music room, squealing.
“Thank you for coming over. They’re exceptionally energetic today.” Yuna sticks her tongue out with her eyes rolled heavenward, then laughs.
“You know they’re going to get high on sugar, right? I can’t imagine them not gorging on the cookies after we’re done baking.”
“Oh, I know. But by then, Declan and Tony should be here.” Yuna gives me a wink.
“Are the boys out with their fathers?” I say.
“Yes. Thank God.” Ivy sounds sincere. “While the girls want to be Sugar Plum Fairies, the boys want to be Jedis.”
Yuna rubs her forehead. “It didn’t help that Mom had her assistant buy them light sabers. She doesn’t know what it’s like because she’s in Korea most of the time.”
“They broke Yuna’s favorite tea set,” Ivy whispers to me.
