Something’s off with Ivy. I know I should leave well enough alone, but the tinge of anxiety in her eyes worries me.

I wait for her to make it past the bar area before I follow her. I’m stopped by a few individuals who thank me for my speech and for starting the fundraising gala. In my periphery, I notice Teegan hastily following Ivy’s path to the restroom, and my entire body goes on high alert. Unfortunately, since I’m delayed multiple times, I don’t reach the hallway in time to hear the beginning of the conversation between the two.

Neither of them notice me as I draw to a stop at the corner of the hall.

“What are you doing here with Jones?” Teegan demands, stepping closer and invading Ivy’s personal space. It takes everything in my power not to interfere because I know Ivy can handle herself. It doesn’t make it any easier to swallow the fact Teegan’s touching her.

Ivy schools her expression into a mask of innocence. “Well, considering we’re at a fundraising gala, I’d say that question should have an obvious answer.”

I bite my lip to restrain the snicker at her sarcastic response.

Teegan steps closer, toe-to-toe with her now. “You know what I mean. Are you dating him?”

My breath lodges in my throat while I await her answer.

Ivy’s gaze flickers to Teegan’s hold on her wrist before returning to stare at him, her eyes turning cold. “Word to the wise. You shouldn’t lay your hands on someone unless they give you permission first.”

He tosses his head back with a laugh. “Oh, Ivy. Have you forgotten how often you gave me permiss—”

“That’s enough.” Her voice is low, lethally quiet, her eyes flaming with anger.

He releases her wrist and holds up his palms in surrender. “I’m just concerned. You need to know, he’s not one to get serious. I just want to protect you.”

Ivy feigns a baffled expression. “That’s odd. He seemed especially serious when we babysat his nieces the other weekend. Oh, and what else?” She feigns thoughtfulness and taps an index finger to her lips. “Ah, yes. It was pretty serious when I had him in my mouth an hour ago.”

I barely choke back a laugh at her no-nonsense statement. An overly bright smile in place, she gives a little wave. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room.”

Ivy turns in the direction of the women’s restroom door, and Teegan remains standing there watching her disappear inside. I study his expression, and he appears almost…sad?

I step into the hallway and approach. At the sound of my footsteps, Teegan turns and stops short when he spots me. He recovers quickly, and his lips form a smug smirk.

“Ah, Jones.” He waits for me to draw to a stop about two feet away from him. “I was checking to make sure your lovely date was sure she wanted to stick around with you instead of”—he breaks off with a casual shrug, his smirk widening—“someone better.”

I clench my jaw and compartmentalize my anger the same way we were taught to do on the field. Instead of losing my cool, I wave a hand dismissively and adopt a casual tone. “Doubt she’s interested in someone who always wants my sloppy seconds.”

A myriad of emotions flicker across his face—anger, hurt, and what also appears to be reproach, before it morphs back into the former. His gaze turns flinty. “But that’s where you’re wrong, Jones.” A corner of his mouth tilts up. “As far as Ivy goes, you’re getting my seconds.”

In a flash, I’m in his face, close enough to make him tip his head to peer up at me as our gazes clash. My voice is steely. “You’d better not talk about her like that again. You understand me?”

“Becket?”

So caught up in our own war of words, neither of us heard Ivy exit the restroom. The instant she speaks, her tone both curious and uneasy, it alleviates the majority of my inner turmoil.

She lays a hand on my forearm. “Are you okay?”

Still maintaining Teegan’s gaze, I notice his eyes flicker down to where she’s touching me and detect the slightest tic in his jaw.

“Fine. Just reminiscing with Teegan, here, about the past.” I step away from him and turn to her. “How’s your headache? Worse?”

She pointedly ignores Teegan’s presence. “I’m fine…as long as you promise me something.” Ivy lowers her head to peer up at me from beneath her lashes and toys with the lapels of my tuxedo.

“What’s that?”

She leans in close to whisper in my ear, but it’s loud enough for the other man to hear. “You promise we can continue where we left off earlier and take advantage of my lack of panties.” Backing away, she arches an eyebrow with a mischievous smile. And I know exactly what she’s doing.

The grin that spreads across my face is wide at the fact she’s blatantly choosing me over Teegan. She’s staking her claim. Sure, it’s juvenile as hell, but man, it sends a massive surge of pride racing through me.

Vaguely, I register the sound of his retreating footsteps, and I expel a sigh of relief.

“Well.” She claps her hands together with faux excitement. “Any other exes we need to chat with tonight?”

My fingers fly to her waist, and I tug her closer. “Smart-ass.”

Warmth fills her gaze. “As if there’s any other way to be.”

I link our fingers together, and we start down the hall. “I do have some prerequisites, of course.”

Her eyebrows rise, eyes sparkling with amusement. “What’s that?”

I draw us to a stop at the corner of the hallway and whisper, “You’ve got to be in this for more than just my body.” My words contain a shade of a flippant tone, but I’m serious. The thought of Ivy being with me only for sex chafes considerably.

Our eyes lock, holding for a beat, and her features soften before she murmurs, “Deal.”

* * *

“Now you be sure to let us know if he’s not treating you right.” Vonn and Brantley continue fawning all over Ivy, and I’m under the impression we’ll never make it home at this rate.

“Guys.” I eye them pointedly. “Can we call it a night already?”

The two men grumble good-naturedly but give in, and we exchange hugs and goodbyes with one another.

Blue and Knox left earlier in the evening since she was exhausted. My brother and Vonn are planning to stay a mile down the road at the Omni Hotel where Vonn gets a discount as a corporate employee. I hate that they won’t be staying at my place, but I understand the desire to have a little getaway of sorts.

Selfishly, though, I’m relieved they won’t be around tonight since I have plans for Ivy that include making her yell my name.

“See you sooner next time,” my brother murmurs in my ear when I tug him close for a final hug.

“Absolutely.”

He grins at me. “Love you.”

“Love you.” I step back. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Yes, Mom,” the two men say in unison.

I laugh and wave before I take Ivy’s hand and lead her out the exit to our limo.

“We have about twenty minutes to get to your house, right?” The hopeful lilt in her voice is obvious. Once we’re seated inside the vehicle, she leans toward me. “We could have some…fun.”

Amused, I toss her a stern look. “Once we get home, that’s when the fun begins.”

She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “Party pooper.”

I dip my head and kiss her bare shoulder. “I never said we couldn’t make out.”

In an instant, Ivy straddles my lap, her dress hiked up, and I’m grateful for the dark privacy glass of the limo as well as the divider separating us from the driver.

I sweep her long hair back over her shoulders. Gathering it in one fist, I tip her head back with the slightest pressure and expose the graceful column of her neck. I place wet kisses on her skin, darting my tongue out to taste her. I lightly nip at her, loving the way she arches into my touch.

“Becket,” she murmurs, her voice a breathless sigh. She rocks her hips over my hard cock, which presses firmly against the zipper of my pants, and I’m nearly singed from the heat that radiates from her.

Fuck. I remember she’s bare beneath her dress.

Barely a thread of my restraint remains. I know I shouldn’t, but I do it anyway. I glide a hand beneath her dress and palm her bare ass.

Ivy’s gaze darkens with lust. With hooded eyes, she guides my other hand and places it over her breast. At the sensation of my touch, her nipple puckers beneath the thin fabric, and I’d give anything to have her completely bare, to make her writhe beneath me.

But not like this.

I tighten my grip on her waist to stop her movements. I clench and unclench my jaw, attempting to get myself under control. “Why don’t we…talk?”

She leans back to stare at me in disbelief and gives a little laugh. “Talk?”

With a grimace, I add, “And not on my lap.” I flash her an apologetic look. “At least not until we get home.”

She expels a long breath and moves off my lap to sit beside me. Slumping in her seat, she crosses her arms and peers at me. “Okay.” Her eyes scan my features before she asks softly, “What do you want to talk about?”

I lean back and mirror her position, regarding her in the dimly lit confines of the limo. “Did you have a good time tonight?” I rush to add, “Be honest.”

She slowly nods, her hair sliding silkily against the leather seat. “I did.”

A faint smile tugs at my lips. “If you had to choose your favorite part, what would it be?”

Her lips part, mouth spreading into a wide, mischievous grin. “That would have to be when you—”

“Ivy.” I give her an admonishing look. “I hope your favorite part isn’t the closet.” Then I regard her in thought. “Although, it was pretty hot.”

Her voice drops, sounding a bit huskier. “That it was.” There’s a brief pause before she sobers. “But that wasn’t going to be my answer.”

“No?”

She shakes her head. “My favorite part of the evening is a tie between your speech and…” She falters, trailing off as she averts her eyes.

“And?” I prompt gently.

The edges of her mouth tip up thoughtfully. “When you asked me if we needed to leave because of my headache.”

Her answer baffles me. My brows pinch together as I mull over her words. How is that possibly one of her favorite parts of the night? “I’m not sure I understand.”

Her gaze lifts to meet my inquiring one, and there’s a hint of wonder in her voice. “You offered to leave an event that means everything to you—just because I mentioned I had a headache.” A tiny smile plays on her lips. “Without hesitation.”

I lift a shoulder with a small shrug. “Of course. I don’t want you to—”

She laughs softly, interrupting me, and briefly presses her index finger to my lips. “That’s just it, Becket. You didn’t give it a second thought. You were worried about me.”

I frown. “You make it sound like a bad thing.”

Her blue eyes study me, and I swear I detect a shade of sadness in the depths. “It’s not a bad thing,” she whispers. “It’s just not something I’m used to.”

Her words hang between us, simultaneously heavy, meaningful, and heartbreaking. My Ivy who’s never let a man in, who’s never let anyone get too close. My Ivy who’s fiercely independent and headstrong, who guards her heart with lock and key.

I can’t help but wonder if maybe I’ve succeeded in getting closer, managed to get her to trust me enough to let me close.

“Well”—I bring her hand to my lips and dust a soft kiss on the top—“maybe you need to get used to it.” With me, I silently add.

Ivy directs her attention to our joined hands and presses her lips thin. “I wish it was that easy.” Her voice is faint, barely audible.

I part my lips to respond when she looks up and offers a weak smile. “You never did tell me how you ended up with Daisy.”

The change of subject catches me a little off guard, but I comply, recognizing that she wants to lighten the tone of our conversation. “They had a feature on Jacksonville First News discussing pet adoption. It’d been a rough weather day, downpouring rain, thunder, and lightning, so I ran on the treadmill and watched the TV in the gym. They brought out a bunch of dogs and some cats. Daisy had been abandoned before being brought to the shelter. She’d been practically starving and mangy.

“Honestly, the moment I saw her, I knew I had to have her.” I shrug. “Just something I felt when I laid eyes on her. And I have to say, I think it was meant to be. She and I just clicked. She’s smart, never gets into anything she shouldn’t, knows not to eat or chew on anything aside from the food in her bowl. She just seems…happy to have me as her owner.” I lean my head back on the seat and gaze at the dark ceiling of the vehicle. “I think she knew I was going to take good care of her, that I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her.

“And let’s be honest.” I grin and gesture to myself. “Daisy and I have a lot in common. We love running, eating, playing around, and sleeping. Plus, we both have beautiful dark hair.”

She laughs, and that’s exactly what I was aiming for. Her eyes dance with humor. “Well, she’s a lucky girl to have you.”

I shake my head and notice the vehicle has stopped at the gated entrance to my neighborhood. “No. It’s the other way around. I’m lucky to have her.” I gaze into her eyes and skim the pad of my thumb across her bottom lip. “I feel the same way about you.”