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Ivy Maddox.

I mean, let’s be honest. It has a pretty nice ring to it.

The Bradley name has been cursed lately. Headline after headline.

Would it really be so bad to change it to Maddox for a while?

CHAPTER 14: Ivy Maddox

Finish the Sentence

My heart races as I walk into the building and push the button for the elevator. It arrives all too soon, and we head up to the floor that houses our office. It’s just the two of us in this car, so I start in with the gossip right away.

“Did you have a fun night?” I ask.

“Dude, Ivy. I screwed a pro hockey player. It was the best night of my life.” She’s definitely hungover, and her lips are puffy from making out with West in the backseat.

“How was he?” I ask, leaning in.

She giggles. “Let me reiterate. Best. Night. Ever.” She holds out her hands about nine inches apart, clearly indicating his size, and she wiggles her eyebrows.

I can’t help but laugh. “Oh my God, Ashley!”

“What about Cash?”

I shrug.

“You don’t know?”

I shake my head. “We both passed out.”

“Amateurs.”

“Well, I mean…we did get married, so I assume it’ll lead to that sometime.”

Her brows quirk for a beat, and then it’s like recognition dawns over her entire face. “You got married last night,” she repeats. “Oh my God, I totally forgot about that! Wait, you and Cash…you actually got married? That was for real?”

“Total honesty, I’m not sure. I don’t remember.”

“You married Cash Maddox, and you don’t remember?”

I shake my head, and this feels like a preview of the next conversation I’m sure I’m about to have.

The elevator doors open, and we walk past reception and part ways.

I rush to my office to grab my tablet and a pad of paper before I head to the conference room where our nine thirty is set to start in about twelve seconds, and I slide into the seat beside Everleigh, who’s currently seething as her eyes land on me.

I really, really want to open with, “Told ya I’d be on time.” I don’t. Instead, I force out a sunny, “Good morning.”

Everleigh bypasses the greeting. “We’re all set to begin.”

I open my tablet and hit the voice memos so I can record it, and then I flip to the notes app so I can also take notes while she talks.

I manage to keep up pretty well thanks to the shower, ibuprofen, coffee, and kiss.

The kiss.

The kisses.