Page 41 of Enemies Under One Roof

Wearing a jumper, his jumper, that dwarfed her. His heartrate kicked up; he liked it on her, far too much. Liked that her hair reflected how many times he’d run his hands through it, snared it in his fists. Liked that her lips showed evidence of his kisses and the hours they’d spent, tasting every part of him. She wrapped her arms around herself, and his chest tightened at the protective gesture.

He shifted his feet, trying to get his balance while losing any notion he’d had his fill of her. He still wanted more. The thought vanished into the charged silence settling over them, thick and potent.

He blinked.

‘I didn’t know you’d be…’ he started.

‘I thought you were asleep…’ she said at the same time.

Her lips flattened, and she motioned for him to speak as he desperately tried to gather his scrambled thoughts.

Why didn’t you wake me?

Was it as earth-shattering for you?

Neither were options.

‘I didn’t realise you’d be in here,’ he repeated, shocked at the hint of vulnerability in his tone.

‘I woke and…’ she began, her eyes locking on his, attraction and something he couldn’t identify flashing across her face.

He held his breath and what?

She turned her head, looking over his shoulder, and dropped her arms to plant both hands on her hips. Then she puffed out her chest, pouted her lips, as second by sickening second, Ivy Flame returned.

‘None of that matters now,’ the sultry voice he hated practically purred.

‘No!’

He didn’t realise he’d shouted out loud until the word reverberated around the room.

For a stunned moment neither spoke, nor moved.

Light-headed and clammy, he dragged much-needed air into his lungs, because until that moment he hadn’t realised how much of Annie he’d seen over the past weeks. How bit by bit, she’d replaced Ivy, and how much—he frantically searched for the right word—he preferred that. It was Annie he wanted.

He stiffened, his heart hitching. Wanted her for WillowGlen, he meant. She was the one he’d worked side by side with, deciding on how best to honour Ruby’s wishes, and he was proud of what they’d achieved, together. In all honesty, he wasn’t sure if he’d have reached the same outcome by himself.

‘I want Annie. You don’t need to be Ivy with me,’ he implored.

She gasped, and for a searing second, vulnerability and uncertainty flickered across her features, making him want to heave.

He ached to reach forward and hug away the pain on her beautiful face, because he knew why she’d had to become Ivy. And he hated to think she had to pretend with him to be anything other than her true self.

‘Really, Ethan.’ She lifted her chin and gave a false grating laugh, not looking at him. ‘I’m Ivy. I’m always acting.’

Like the blinkers had been torn off him, he acknowledged the gut-curdling truth.

‘Were you acting this afternoon, tonight?’

‘No.’ This time it was Annie who shouted the word, horror etched on her face, her eyes spearing his.

Relief pounded through him. He should turn and walk away, only returning when he had a tight rein on his control, except he couldn’t get his feet to move.

* * *

Ivy dug her fingers into her hips instead of covering her face from Ethan’s penetrating stare, terrified he’d see all the things she wanted to hide.

How much she hated Ivy and what she represented.