Page 3 of Enemies Under One Roof

He turned abruptly and sat across from her, on the opposite plush chair.

‘To Ruby, diminutive in stature, immense in love,’ Ivy said, lifting her glass, mimicking the toasts of yesterday, that had lasted well into the night.

He raised his in response. ‘To Ruby, Little Big Boss,’ he replied with the affectionate nickname he’d always called her.

Ivy smiled, and his body throbbed, remembering the taste of her lips, their feel against his. But why? It definitely hadn’t been his first, nor last, kiss, so it made no sense that it was imbedded on his brain like no other.

‘Why are you here, Ivy Flame?’ He purposely used her stage name, not the one Ruby always called her, and he once had. ‘Now that everyone’s left.’

* * *

Ivy stiffened, Ethan hadn’t even used her real name like he had eight years ago. She refused to let it hurt, as she tried to adjust to being here, without Ruby and with him. He shouldn’t still have the power to make her knees tremble and make her ache for something she’d glimpsed in a fleeting moment of time. Until she reminded herself, as she had back then, too, why she had a pact and why she could never, ever break it. She was here today because of Ruby. That’s why her insides were twisted into knots; it had nothing to do with Ethan.

Finally, she got her brain to connect back to what he’d asked. ‘I’d been…’ Horrifyingly, her eyes watered and she blinked furiously.

Hounded by the press because of a marriage breakup that had absolutely nothing to do with her. She’d never been in a relationship with Ben and never planned to be. He’d been her married co-star, categorically nothing more.

‘Out of contact. No-one could reach me. I didn’t hear until it was too late.’

He looked far from convinced. He looked even better than she remembered, and she remembered plenty.

Dark haired and olive skinned, he showed his father’s Spanish heritage. It was only his pale blue eyes that revealed his mother’s English one. She and Ethan remained seated, but if they stood, her five feet ten inches without heels would make her eyes level with his lips. Lips that turned up when he smiled, laughed. But he wasn’t doing either now.

His darkened jaw hinted at afternoon shadow, his black shirt with three top buttons undone revealed a smattering of dark hair and his turned-up cuffs, strong forearms. She gulped. Mourning couldn’t diminish his raw masculinity. Nor hide abs more suited to someone who physically built, not owned and ran, a world-famous luxury hotel empire.

He raised an eyebrow. At what she’d said? Or because he’d seen her checking him out? Heat raced up her neck, and through sheer determination she internally repeated what he’d said. She needed to focus on this conversation, not get waylaid by an inane, pointless attraction.

‘What do you mean? Have all the guests staying here for the funeral already left?’ She’d presumed there would be numerous people still here, as Ruby had been much loved by many near and far.

He nodded. ‘As of this afternoon, I’ve given the staff a few days off.’

‘All the staff? Everyone’s gone?’ She couldn’t prevent repeating his words as their magnitude seeped in. It had been strange seeing no-one when she’d arrived. Not even Mrs Goodchild, the housekeeper, who was always at WillowGlen.

Ivy had wanted to remain under the radar, but still she’d expected to see Ruby’s trusted staff, who were the soul of discretion. But she’d been so distraught at not seeing Ruby and unsettled about the thought of seeing Ethan, she hadn’t really processed it. Until now.

‘Except me.’

‘You!’ she squeaked. ‘You’re staying here, by yourself?’

‘Of course. And your plans?’ In contrast, his voice was deep and dark and shouldn’t make her want to close her eyes and savour its deliciousness.

Absolutely not an option!

She placed a hand against her stomach, trying to contain her grief and loss and unscramble the mess of emotions that churned it. When she’d heard the news, she’d been desperate to get to WillowGlen to somehow say goodbye to Ruby, in the place she’d so adored. Despite the logistical nightmare, she’d made it in record time, unsighted by the press, which was no mean feat since they tracked her like bloodhounds.

‘To stay here tonight. I didn’t realise it would only be us. I’ll leave first thing in the morning.’ She mentally went through her plans and how she could rearrange to leave and remain undetected. As much as she’d prepared herself that Ethan would be here, she hadn’t expected it to be only the two of them.

Ivy straightened her spine. She could do one night with him; it was a huge house and she was an actress after all. But no amount of acting could cover up her unease around the man. Over the years, she’d convinced herself that she’d dramatised his impact, appeal. It had only taken fifteen minutes in his presence to shatter that illusion.

‘That’s not going to be possible,’ he responded coldly.

‘You’re not going to allow me to stay?’ Like a dart aiming for bullseye, his words hit their mark. He disliked her that much? It shouldn’t matter, especially as she’d done everything she could to make sure he felt that way about her. But paradoxically, it did.

He took a sip of the amber liquid in his glass. ‘You won’t be leaving in the morning.’

She lifted her chin. ‘That’s not your decision, I—’

‘You’re required for the reading of the Will.’