CHAPTER FIVE
IVY STEPPED OUT onto the huge porch and stretched. She’d finally unpacked and was ready to relax. The porch swing looked inviting, and she could see herself sitting in it a lot during the next week while reading. This time it would be pleasure reading and not for business. In fact, she didn’t want to think about business at all this week. She was here to enjoy herself and intended to do just that.
Tessa couldn’t come with her since this was the weekend she was to go visit her aunt in Austin. More than once Ivy had taken the drive with Tessa to share the driving and for company. However, lately Tessa had found it a lot easier to fly. Her best friend had racked up a lot of frequent-flier miles doing so, especially now since her aunt was showing signs of dementia.
Ivy had felt a little bad about not inviting Nana, so she had called her a couple of days ago to see if perhaps she wanted to join her this week. However, Nana had made plans to join a group of senior ladies for a weekend trip to attend a gospel revival in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Her grandmother had been taking such trips for a couple of years now. At first Ivy had been concerned about a group of older women traveling alone together. The families of the other ladies voiced the same concern and decided to pool their moneys together and hired female chaperones to travel with the group. Nana and the ladies didn’t like the idea of chaperones and often referred to the younger women as their traveling companions.
Ivy glanced around, deciding she liked the place. It was on a private road and secluded from the other homes. It looked just like a beach cottage with its wooden frame painted a pristine white. What she liked the most, besides the huge front porch, was the stone walkway that led to a private area of the Galveston Bay.
The inside of the house was gorgeous with its two bedrooms, both king-size suites with private baths. It was a split bedroom concept and both faced the ocean with floor-to-ceiling windows. There were marble floors throughout, with a cozy living room and an eat-in kitchen with a wide breakfast bar.
When she’d arrived that morning, a huge gift basket that included bottles of wines, an assortment of cheeses, bread, fruits, chocolate and snacks had sat on a table in the living room with a welcome note. She had parked her car inside the detached garage, which made it easier to bring in her luggage, as well as the items she had stopped by the grocery store for and purchased. She wasn’t a big eater, so the food should be enough to last the week she would be here. Other than eat, sleep, read and drink wine, she didn’t plan to do much of anything else. It was time off she otherwise would not have taken if she hadn’t won this trip and for that reason, she intended to get the most out of it.
And she intended to put that call from Damien out of her mind. She couldn’t believe he’d called after all this time...and to apologize. It was too late for that now. His leaving Houston and moving to New York had been best for the both of them. Her feelings had been raw and she couldn’t imagine them in the same city and running into each other. She’d been given time to get over him and she had. Whoever said “Out of sight and out of mind” knew exactly what they’d been talking about.
Refusing to let thoughts of Damien ruin her week here at the cottage, she moved across the porch to sit on the swing. She smiled, thinking how nice it was here. Even the weather was agreeable. Since this was March the weather was still cool. Too cool for her to think about taking a swim today. However, the good news was that forecasters had predicted the coming days would be nice and sunny. She figured all those students on spring break whose destination was the beach next week would appreciate that.
The first thing she’d done after arriving and unpacking had been to take a nap. Now she was up, well rested and ready to explore what would be her private place on the island. Getting up from the swing, she stretched before going inside the house. After grabbing a light jacket, she moved toward the kitchen. Moments later she was outside and happily walking toward the bay.
* * *
IT WAS LATE evening when Nolan pulled into the drive. He could have arrived sooner, but when he’d got to his great-aunt Caroline’s house, he decided to hang out with a few of his cousins that he hadn’t seen in a while. Then there was the fact that his great-aunt had cooked a mouthwatering meal as well as his favorite dessert of peach cobbler since she’d known he was coming.
Deciding not to put his car in the garage for the time being, he got out of it and looked around. He loved coming here and had known he’d wanted to buy it the first time the Realtor had shown it to him. Less than an hour’s drive from Houston, it was one of those places he could get to in a reasonable time. He often regretted having decided to list it as a rental because it wasn’t always available for him to use whenever he wanted. Instead of getting into his SUV and driving here on Friday nights and staying the entire weekend whenever he felt like it, now he had to check with his property manager to make sure no one had rented it.
At least he’d got here before dark. He intended to build a fire in the pit, pour a glass of scotch and chill for a minute. He had talked to Corbin during the drive here and his brother hadn’t been surprised with Victoria’s attitude. The women in the family seemed to be more accepting of Mama Laverne’s interference in their lives than the men. It was apparent that Victoria had it in her head Mama Laverne would hook her up with a love match made in heaven.
Entering the house, he lifted a brow when he saw the huge basket sitting on a table in the living room. That was thoughtful of Ron to do that and he wondered if it was something his property manager had begun doing for all renters. If so, such a kindhearted gesture would definitely have renters returning.
Nolan walked over to the basket, grabbed an apple, rubbed it against the thigh of his jeans and then bit into it. It was good. Sweet and juicy, just the way he liked his apples. Leaving the living room, he went into the kitchen and saw a can of coffee, bags of chips and a case of bottled water on the counter.
When Nolan opened the refrigerator he discovered it fully stocked as well. He smiled, thinking his property manager had definitely outdone himself. Was he vying for more than just the 15 percent cut he was getting? Ron’s contract was up for renewal in a couple of months. Was that the reason he’d gone out of the way to make sure Nolan had everything he needed? Bread, eggs, butter, milk... Although he wasn’t sure why Ron had purchased the 2 percent kind. But he had redeemed himself with the wine coolers.
Nolan smiled while thinking not only would his property manager’s contract get renewed, but the man might even get a raise on top of it. Tossing the last of the apple in the trash, he grabbed a bottle of water and had taken a huge swig when suddenly the back door opened and someone gasped. He swung around and nearly choked on the water.
The one woman he hadn’t expected to see for a long time, if ever, was standing before him. Ivy Chapman. And from the expression on her face it was quite obvious that she was just as shocked to see him as he was to see her. He tried not to notice how different she looked now compared to a few days ago. Her hair was no longer tied in a knot on her head, but flowed wildly around her shoulders in thick yet soft-looking curls. Her hair styled this way made her mocha-colored face appear rounder, her cheekbones higher and her neck more slender.
She was still wearing her glasses, and like before, he thought the eyes behind the frames were beautiful. Mesmerizing. And those glasses seemed tilted on a cute little nose. Today she was dressed far more casual with a pair of cutoff jeans and a clingy T-shirt. Both showed off luscious curves and a gorgeous pair of legs. With legs that looked like hers, he thought wearing a long skirt to cover them was such a waste.
“Why are you here?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.
He leaned against the counter, trying for it not to be so obvious that his gaze was raking her up and down to get a good view of her legs and admiring her sexy lips. “I’m here because I own the place.”