CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Noble lay in his bed waiting for Ivy to finish up in the bathroom and join him. Instead of him fantasizing about her being beside him in his bed, soon she’d be lying beside him in the breathing, living flesh.
His cock, harder and leaking more than he’d ever known possible, pulsed anxiously. Noble’s patience was running thin. If she didn’t walk through that door in the next ten seconds, he’d streak across the hall and throw her over his shoulder, caveman style.
When the doorknob turned and she entered his room, Noble clenched his jaw and fought the urge to bolt out of bed, drag his mother’s cock-softening nightgown off her body, and press Ivy up against the wall before driving balls deep inside her snug, slick pussy.
“Patience, cowboy,” Ivy drawled as if reading his mind. “Your parents are right down the hall. I’m not sure we should…you know.”
“I’ll stick a sock in your mouth if I have to in order to keep you quiet. But trust me, darlin’, we are going to…you know,” he growled.
“A sock? Really?”
“I’d use a clean one,” he assured with a lurid grin. “Take that god-awful nightgown off and get your sexy ass over here, woman. I’ve been waiting an eternity to feel your hot body against mine again.”
A pink blush sped from her chest all the way to her cheeks as Ivy tugged the ugly garment off and tossed it to the floor.
With a satisfied sigh, Noble drank in the sight of her lush body.
Her nipples were a darker shade of cranberry and her breasts were fuller, heavier than they’d been before. Skimming his eyes down her naked flesh, he paused and studied the gentle swell along her stomach. My child is growing healthy and strong inside her. His heart sputtered and a lump of emotion lodged in his throat. Swallowing tightly, Noble threw back the covers and spread his arms open. “Come here, sweetheart…let me love you.”
Ivy’s mouth dropped open slightly and a look of shock sailed over her eyes.
It was then that Noble realized what he’d said… Love? Well, hell.
He, too, was surprised the four-letter word had slipped off his tongue. He’d never said the L word around any other woman, but Noble was quickly learning that his feelings for Ivy were far different from anything he’d felt before.
If she’d let him, he’d love her…now, tomorrow, and for all eternity.
“You can make love to me, Noble,” Ivy whispered, failing to mask the quiver in her voice.
“I can, but I want more,” he replied without fear of digging himself into a grave.
“We already talked about this,” she said and sighed heavily.
“Yes. You talked and I listened.” He sat up and patted the edge of the bed. She reluctantly made her way across the room and eased onto the mattress beside him. “Now it’s my turn to talk while you listen.”
“Okay.”
He was ready to erase the pensive expression marring her pretty face, starting now.
“When I was eighteen, I made a vow that I’d never get married. I’d convinced myself that love didn’t last, and that binding yourself to another person until the end of time was the biggest mistake anyone could ever make.” He smiled when she gave him a halfhearted nod. “But I always told myself that if I ever found a woman who filled my life with light, happiness, and challenged me, I’d reconsider my pledge. And if she’d let me, I’d love her with every inch of my heart. Respect and honor her needs and her dreams. I wouldn’t take advantage of her, but would treasure the fact that she wanted to share her mind, body, and soul, the same way I’d share mine with her.”
“I used to believe in that fairy tale, too,” she whispered.
“It doesn’t have to be a fairy tale, darlin’.” He sent her a soft smile and traced the tip of his finger over her cheek. “Tell me something…when you left Las Vegas, did you ever think of me?”
Ivy issued a tiny scoff. “Do you want the truth?”
“Yes. I don’t lie, and I don’t ever want to be lied to.”
“I thought about you every day and every night. You even haunted my dreams.”
A slow smile tugged the edges of his mouth. “Same here, and it drove me absolutely crazy. Not to ruin the moment I hope we’re gonna be sharing soon, but when I came back home, I could have had a dozen women. I didn’t, because the one woman I wanted was you.”
Ivy shook her head. “One day you’ll wake up and want those other women again.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because monogamy is unrealistic. I mean, the chance of finding one person who’ll fulfill all your needs is like winning the lottery a hundred times in a row. It’ll never happen because no one person can satisfy another, not fully.”
“Probably not. But what if you find someone who meets most of your needs? Do you slam the door in their face because they can’t meet them all? And what parts are you responsible for filling?”
With a slight scowl, she pondered his words for several long seconds. “I don’t know. I’ve never had anyone want to meet my needs. I’m not sure what I’d do.”
“Have you ever let your walls down and opened your heart up enough to let any of them try?”
A flutter of guilt danced across her face before she banked it. “You missed your calling, cowboy. You should have been a shrink.”
“No. The only psyche I want to dissect is yours, darlin’…every nook and cranny.” He cupped her cheek. “Sawyer’s divorce was the reason I turned against marriage. What turned you against it?”
“I’m a gullible cheater magnet,” she announced, as if the title held great esteem.
But the accompanying sadness in her eyes told him she’d earned the label with a shitload of disappointment and heartache. A part of him wanted to kick the shit out of every asshole who’d ever hurt her and forced her to lock herself off from the possibility of love. Because for the first time in his life, Noble wanted to give his love to a woman…this woman.
But would he be enough for her?
“If I could guarantee you eternal love, I’d do it in a New York minute. Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystal ball to see into the future. Like I said before, I don’t lie. I also don’t make promises I can’t keep. But I will promise you this—if you’ll knock down your walls and let me in, I’ll do everything in my power to love you and our child the way you deserve…with all my heart.”
Ivy gaped at him as tears shimmered.
“Y-you…love me?” she stammered in disbelief.
“I think so. I mean…dammit, I’ve never been in love before. I have no idea what it feels like, but I know this…what I feel for you isn’t normal.”
She pinched her lips together, biting back a snicker.
“Fuck!” He exhaled heavily and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “What I’m trying to say isn’t coming out right at all.”
Ivy cupped his cheek and brushed a silky kiss across his lips. “I know what you’re trying to say. I do. And I don’t lie or make promises I can’t keep, either. So, how about this… How about we take it a day at a time for a bit? Learn about each other then figure out where we want to go from there. Will that work?”
“No more walls?” he asked, arching his brows.
She shook her head. “No other women?”
“Hell no,” he growled. “You’re the only one I want, sweetheart.”
She gazed into his eyes and threaded her fingers through his hair. Prickles of lightning zipped along his scalp as a chill skipped down his spine.
Ivy leaned in close to his ear. “Make love to me, Noble.”
His whole body began to shake. He was blindsided by a wild, savage animal buried deep inside him, and the beast was snarling and screaming for him to slam her succulent body to the bed, mount her unmercifully, and mark her with his seed.
Good Christ! Where did that come from?
Shoving the ravenous monster down deep, Noble focused on going slow…showing her the tenderness she deserved.
He gently cupped her cheeks before slowly easing her back onto the mattress. As he inhaled her intoxicating scent, he trailed kisses from her lips to her jawline, then down the column of her neck, gently laving and nipping his way south.
Every touch and taste of her silky, soft flesh sent an electrical charge racing through his system as the missing pieces of his soul aligned and snapped into place.
For the first time in his life, Noble felt whole.
Greedily feeding on Ivy’s flesh, he laved his way to her berry-hard nipples. She nearly levitated from the bed when he flicked his tongue over her dark, stony peaks. Pregnancy had obviously made them hypersensitive, and he took full advantage of that discovery. Toying with and teasing the tender tips, he reveled in each desperate mewl and moan escaping her writhing body.
She was an uninhibited delight who never failed to amaze him.
They had no need for words. Each touch, each caress and kiss spoke the language blooming from their hearts.
Noble loved her, of that he was now sure.
And even if Ivy wasn’t ready or willing to admit it, she loved him right back.
When she gripped his weeping cock, he bit back a howl and grunted. As she slid her soft hand up and down his throbbing length, Noble thrust his hips, driving into her palm with each spine-bending stroke.
Like the ocean tide, they gorged, filling their hunger and demand in a sensual ebb and flow.
Ivy stroked him harder, unfurling ribbons of ecstasy to sail and tangle inside him.
Try as he might, Noble wasn’t going to last much longer.
It had been far too long since he’d had…her.
Prying Ivy’s hand from his shaft, he moved in between her slender legs and gazed at the patch of saturated curls shimmering with her heady, earthy dew. His mouth watered. His cock strained.
“I’ve been waiting a thousand lifetimes to taste you again, gorgeous.”
Ivy purred as she slid a hand to her clit.
Purposely tormenting them both, she slowly rubbed the distended nub and whimpered softly.
“Tease yourself for me, baby…show me how you’d get off all those nights you spent thinking about me.” His voice was thick and rusty.
An impish grin curled her lips as she dipped a slender finger into her dripping core.
When she drew her hand away, Noble captured her wrist and drew her finger to his mouth. He groaned as her warm, spicy nectar slid over his taste buds. Memories of the magic they’d made that one incredible night exploded in his brain.
“I’ve changed my mind,” he growled, parting her swollen pink lips and lunging his mouth over her sex.
Ivy gasped and sank her fingers into his scalp as Noble laved her pebbled clit and lapped her silky juices. Panting, she bore down and came all over his face before he’d even had the chance to slide his fingers into her blistering tunnel. Drinking down the deluge spilling from inside her, Noble circled her sensitized clit with this tongue as Ivy gasped for breath.
When she looked down at him with those glassy pale blue eyes, Noble lost the rest of the pieces of his heart to her.
Mine!
“Again, gorgeous,” he cooed. “You know we’re just getting warmed up.”
“Oh, god,” she whimpered. “I’m glad I didn’t die in the bakery. I’d much rather you kill me with orgasms like that.”
He chuckled. “I’m not going to let you die, darlin’, but I’ll make damn sure you sleep hard tonight by the time we’re through.”
“Mmm,” she purred. “I’m glad it’s not time to sleep yet.”
“Not nearly as glad as I am,” he murmured, caressing the insides of her thighs with his cheeks.
Ivy jolted and started to giggle quietly.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Your whiskers…they tickle.”
“I’ve got something else that will tickle…tickle your fancy, sweetheart.”
She stopped laughing and gazed down at him with a hungry expression. “Oh, I remember…remember all the fancy things you did to me that night.”
“Hey, you could have it every night. All you have to say is…yes.”
“One day at a time, remember?”
“No pressure or anything, darlin’. I was just making you another promise.”
“Damn,” she murmured under her breath.
Noble wasn’t opposed to playing dirty. He’d win her over one earth-shattering orgasm at a time. Starting right now.
Feathering his lips and tongue up her thighs, he nudged her clit with his nose. The little gasp she sucked in along with the quivery clasp of her pussy made his pulse quicken.
Absolutely stunning.
His cock was screaming for relief by the time he’d brought her to climax two more times. Noble was all but drowning not only on the sweet cream flowing from her but on the sounds of her muffled keening cries. He couldn’t wait to take her someplace private, so he could hear her scream his name again as she shattered.
Moving up her glistening body, Noble licked the coating of her pleasure from his fingers and hovered over her. Love and pride swarmed him as he stared at Ivy, sated and panting. Her eyes were smoky and unfocused. A pink blush glowed over her milky flesh, and her hair spilled over his pillow like a halo of gold.
“Christ, you’re gorgeous,” he murmured as he lowered, supporting his weight on his elbows.
Dipping his head, he claimed her mouth urgently while he aligned his straining crest between her slick, sweltering folds. Inching in slowly, he issued a low groan as her liquid heat engulfed him.
Ivy wantonly thrust her hips upward, impaling herself on him.
Her silky, hot tunnel fluttered, pressing spine-sizzling kisses along his shaft.
Noble’s eyes rolled to the back of his head. His balls churned. She was testing his control to the nth degree and he had to fight like hell to keep from spilling inside her too soon.
Mom’s ugly nightgown. Mom’s ugly nightgown.
Mentally repeating the mantra, Noble glided in and out of Ivy’s tight core with slow, exacting strokes until the threat of embarrassing himself like an inept virgin passed.
Their tongues tangled, swirling and gliding, dancing in passion and need.
As if trying to reacquaint themselves with every inch of one another’s bodies, fingers kneaded, gripped, and caressed warm, supple flesh, branding every lush curve, flat plane, and taut muscle to memory.
Driving in and out of her heavenly core relentlessly now, Noble slowly lifted from her mouth. He gazed down at the gorgeous angel beneath him and lost himself in her beauty. Pleasure played across her face in ripples of delight, giving way briefly to creases of agony as she searched for the elusive bliss of release.
“Open your eyes…look at me, baby,” he panted in a commanding plea.
Her lashes fluttered open. Long seconds later, her glassy blue pools focused on him.
“Noble,” she purred.
“I-I’m…not gonna last much…longer, darlin’.”
A lethargic, sly smile tugged her lips as Ivy thrust a hand to her mound and began strumming her clit.
“Come with me,” she begged, causing his cock to grow impossibly harder.
“That’s…my…line,” he grunted before clenching his jaw.
Her eyes briefly twinkled in mischief before glassing over once again.
She parted her mouth and swiped her pink tongue over her lush bottom lip.
Memories of that ripe mouth wrapped around his cock sent demand slamming down his spine, arcing like lightning deep in his balls. The roar in his ears nearly wiped out Ivy’s breathless whimpers.
Unable to hold back the tide, Noble gripped her hips tightly. Shuttling in and out of her tightening core, he surrendered to the blistering swell cresting within.
“Come!” he growled in her ear.
A strangled cry, forcibly muffled, tore from the back of her throat.
Ivy bore down and clamped her heavenly tunnel around him.
Lights exploded behind his eyes.
His driving rhythm faltered.
Ivy arched into him, raking her nails over his back and sinking them into his flesh.
Noble’s thrust sputtered into wild, jerky motions as he slammed into her.
As he pinched his lips together, ecstasy charged through him.
His muscles turned to stone.
Lightning ricocheted through him as her pussy drew around him, milking his cock in spine-bending kisses.
Biting back a feral roar, Noble captured her mouth as he showered her sucking core in long, thick, and hot ropes of seed.
Mine…forever!
Deliriously floating somewhere beyond the stars, Ivy struggled to catch her breath. Noble’s head lay nuzzled against her neck as he, too, worked to normalize the bursts of moist air billowing over her flesh.
Sizzling after shocks quivered through her, causing her tunnel to twitch and flutter involuntarily. Noble’s embedded cock jerked in mutual indulgence causing him to sporadically moan.
She was boneless and sated, and her limbs felt like sandbags. Still, she clung to his sweat-soaked body, marveling in the inconceivable magic they’d so effortlessly created once again.
Would it always be like this? she silently wondered.
No. After time the newness would wear off. Noble would become restless and bored until one day she’d wake up and he’d be gone…sharing a bed with someone else. Oh, he wouldn’t mean for it to happen. But men were creatures of habit. And Ivy was already privy to his habits.
He’d seemed to accept her offer to take things day by day. But Ivy knew she couldn’t let her guard down. Not completely at least.
Her disheartening thoughts shredded the ethereal splendor she’d been floating in, sending her tumbling back to earth with a reality-jarring thud.
She inhaled a deep breath, wondering what had sent her down such a negative path in the first place. She’d just had the most incredible, mind-blowing sex of her life…for the second time. So why had she allowed Debbie Downer to crash this extraordinary party?
Because every time you’re with Noble, he slices you open, exposing all your insecurities and vulnerabilities. Clearly, you still don’t trust him with all the pieces of you. But if you think he’ll let you keep him at arm’s length, you’d better wise up. Either you’re all the way in or out. But you’re going to have to make up your mind…and soon, the little voice in the back of her head offered sympathetically.
Ivy scowled.
Trust took courage. While she’d reclaimed the virtues McMillian had stolen from her, Ivy didn’t know if she was strong enough to risk giving Noble the power to crush her. Anxiety wormed its way through her system and she tensed.
Noble lifted his head, peered down at her, and wrinkled his brow. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
Not yet.
But there was a ninety-nine-point-nine-nine-nine percent probability he would in the future.
Stop it!
She gaped at him, groping for some little white lie to mitigate his concern. Suddenly, his words blared through her head. I don’t lie and I don’t ever want to be lied to. Noble had been right by her side, all night, helping her navigate through the shit show McMillian had brought down on her. She owed the man still wrapping her in warmth and compassion the truth.
“I’m just worried that eventually I won’t be enough for you.”
A sad smile curled over his lips. “A life filled with guarantees would be a wonderful thing, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, we don’t have that. All we have is gut feelings, faith, and trust.”
She couldn’t help but smile. Ivy would have never imagined that inside this sexy-as-sin cowboy lurked such an insightful philosopher.
“My gut tells me you’re the one I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with,” Noble continued. “So I decided to take that big leap of faith, praying you feel the same about me. I trust you, Ivy Addison. Trust you with my life, because I know in my heart you’re a kind and loving soul. But if you’re asking if I trust we’ll make it till we’re old and gray? The only way we’ll find the answer to that one is through time, sweetheart.”
“How can you be so sure I’m the one?”
He caressed a finger along her cheek. “How can you question the connection we share? Do you trust me, Ivy?”
Either you’re all the way in or out. But you’re going to have to make up your mind…now! the voice in her head vehemently repeated.
The time had come.
Ivy either had to take the plunge or grab her towel and pool noodle and run away.
Did she want to block him from her life, their baby’s life, forever? The idea of never spending another night like this, wrapped in his arms, gazing at his handsome face, and openly sharing fears and insecurities ripped a gaping hole in her heart.
Trust took bravery, too.
Ivy had already proven to herself that she was brave. She’d proven that to herself by opening Sweet Flours. Proved it by knocking Harvey—the misogynistic prick from hell—Hays, the fuck out.
Woman’s intuition told her she was destined to be with Noble, because no man had ever touched her heart, mind, body, or soul so deeply or profoundly.
Faith was that invisible conviction that sparked hope in those who discovered their own limitations. It took some soul searching, but Ivy possessed that spark, the one Noble had ignited inside her. If five days, five months, or five years from now he walked out of her life, she’d be crushed, without a doubt, but she’d be okay. Ivy was a survivor.
Trust was a fragile, priceless gift. One that time made stronger and sturdier. Noble had already handed her the priceless gift of trust. It was time for her to place hers in his strong, capable hands.
Ivy cupped his face, lifted her head from the pillow, and softly kissed his lips. “Yes, Noble Grayson, I trust you. Trust you with my life.”
His nostrils flared.
Tears glistened in his eyes.
He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and swallowed tightly. “I won’t hurt you.”
His promise was wrapped in such raw emotion that Ivy knew he’d never made such a vow to anyone else before. Tears sprang out of nowhere.
“Don’t cry, love. And please don’t be afraid to let me in. I’d rather cut off my arm than ever hurt you. But for now, we’ll start out like you said…one day at a time and see where life leads us,” he whispered gently.
Holding back her sobs of happiness mixed with fear, Ivy simply nodded.
Noble wrapped his arms around her and slowly eased from her pussy before he rolled to his side, taking her with him. Tucking her in against his chest, he brushed a sweet kiss to her head and sighed.
“Close your eyes, darlin’, and go to sleep now. I’ll be right here with you, keeping you safe and sound.”
With a tiny nod, she let her wet lashes drift shut.
Soothed by the rhythmic beat of his heart, the security of his strong arms, and the delicious heat of his rugged body, Ivy stopped crying and floated away into the inky darkness.
When she woke, sunlight spilled through a gap in the curtains, illuminating an unfamiliar room. Noble lay beside her, snoring softly, with one hand still draped over her hip. Their legs were as tangled as the sheet bunched around them. The familiar ache between her legs, the one she hadn’t felt since Vegas, throbbed. It was a sweet pain she could easily become accustomed to. A shiver of anticipation raced up her spine.
As memories of the devastating fire raked her with brutal anguish, Ivy splayed a hand across her stomach. She was alive. The baby was alive. That was all that mattered. She gently stroked her palm over her distended belly and issued a grateful sigh.
It’s the start of a new day, peanut. We might be down, but we’re not out. We’ll be fine. Mommy…and Daddy will make sure of that.
Daddy. Wow! The word sounded so foreign, but she didn’t bother holding back the hopeful smile spreading over her lips.
A light tap came from the bedroom door. Ivy snapped her head toward the sound and quickly tugged the sheet up to her neck.
“Noble, honey? It’s Mom. Are you up?”
Ivy glanced over to see the man lying beside her, still sound asleep, snoring contently. She jabbed him with her elbow and hissed, “Noble. Wake up. Your mom’s at the door.”
“Huh?” He sat up, blinking, clearly disoriented.
“Your mom is at the door,” Ivy whispered again.
“Ma?” he called out in a rough, sleepy voice that made her stomach flip-flop.
Damn hormones.
“Yes, honey. Can I come in?”
“No,” he barked. Noble cleared his throat and launched out of bed, frantically searching the floor. “Hang on a second. Where the fuck are my… What do you need, Ma?”
“I brought Ivy some clean clothes and wanted to let you both know that breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes.”
Ivy bit back a grin.
Noble was standing in the middle of the room, buck-assed naked, sporting a most glorious hard-on, and scrubbing a hand over his face.
“Where the hell are my jeans?” he whispered to her.
Ivy shrugged.
“No clue. You were naked, like now, when I climbed into bed with you,” she said, keeping her voice low so Nola wouldn’t hear.
“Shit,” he hissed. “Just leave ’em outside the door, Ma. We’ll get ’em in a minute.”
“Fine, but don’t make Ivy late for breakfast. That baby needs a well-balanced meal so he or she can grow into the Grayson name.”
“I told you so! If Grayson isn’t on that birth certificate, she’ll skin us both alive,” he whispered, flashing Ivy a crooked grin.
“Noble Franklin Grayson, just because I’m getting older doesn’t mean I’ve lost my mother hearing. You’re right I’ll skin you both if any name but Grayson is given that baby. You hear?”
“We hear, Ma. We’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Noble Franklin, huh?” Ivy smirked.
“Yes.” He puffed up proudly. God, he was so damn gorgeous in all his naked glory. “What’s your middle name?”
Oh, shit. No. No. No.
“I’ll tell your mom the Grayson name is perfectly fine for the birth certificate,” Ivy ceded, blatantly changing the subject.
“Good. I like that. So will she. Now what’s your middle name?” he pressed, growling and prowling onto the bed like a lion.
She giggled as he hovered over her, boxing her in with his arms and legs. “It’s Ivy.”
“Oh. Okay, so what’s your first name?”
She shook her head vehemently.
“You’re not going to tell me?”
“No. I hate my given name.”
“Why? Is it Rumpelstiltskin?”
“Close.” Ivy groaned.
“Eugenia?”
“What?” She laughed. “Do I look like a Eugenia?”
Noble shrugged. “No, but you don’t look like a Rumpelstiltskin either.”
“Thank god.”
“Twenty minutes,” Nola called from outside the door.
“Tell me.” Noble cocked his head and gave her a warning glare.
“You’re so cute when you do that,” she taunted.
“Dammit. That’s my intimidating face.”
“No it’s not, it’s cute.”
“God help me. What have I gotten myself into?” he said, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
“You can always back out,” she countered with a sassy smile.
“Not on your life, sweetheart.” He leaned in, kissing her hard and fast before jumping off the bed. “I’ll grab your clothes so you can run across the hall and take a shower before breakfast. Just do me a favor and don’t put that damn nightgown on again, okay, Eugenia?”
“You keep calling me Eugenia, and I’ll put it on and parade down Main Street in it.”
He flashed her a knee-knocking smile that made her toes curl. “God! We’re going to have so much fun.”
After Noble retrieved her clothes, he peeked his head out of the door, glancing left and right before waving her to him.
“Coast is clear. You can streak to the bathroom.”
“Streak?”
“Yeah. Because you’re not putting that fucking old-lady nightgown back on while I’m around.”
“What if I like that old-lady nightgown?” she asked forcing herself not to smile.
Noble shook his head, snagged her wrist and plopped the stack of clothes into her hands before shoving her bare body out into the hallway.
“Noble!” she yelped.
“What’s goin’… Oh, damn. Now that’s a wake-up call,” Norris exclaimed, coming around the corner and skimming a stare over her naked flesh with a wolfish grin. “This is hella better than a damn alarm clock.”
Ivy let out another yelp and quickly hugged her arms over her breasts while slapping a hand to her crotch, dumping the clothes all over the floor.
Noble jumped from his room and blocked Ivy’s naked body with his naked body.
“Stop looking at her and get the hell out of here!” he bellowed.
Ivy raced to the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind her before pressing her forehead against the wood. Embarrassment scalded her entire body as she listened to the conversation taking place in the hall.
“She’s smokin’-hot, man. She got any sisters… any younger sisters?”
“Go stroke a load in your room and get out of here, you little perv,” Noble scolded.
“Bet you’re not strokin’ it alone anymore, are you?” Norris taunted.
“Next time I’m putting the old granny gown on,” Ivy huffed under her breath.
“Go!” Noble barked. Several seconds later, there was a tap on the bathroom door. “Open up, sweetheart. I got your clothes for you.”
“Ten minutes,” Nola hollered from the opposite end of the hall.
“Better hurry.” Noble grinned as he kissed her quickly and shut the door.
After scrubbing the embarrassment from her skin beneath the shower, Ivy quickly dressed and raced through brushing her teeth and hair before rushing to the kitchen.
“Morning, Miss Ivy,” Norris greeted with a knowing grin.
Noble stood. As he strode past the youngest Grayson, he smacked his brother on the back of the head before wrapping an arm around Ivy’s waist and leading her to the table.
When breakfast was done, sans any additional awkward nudity, Ivy thanked Nola for the delicious spread of orange juice, coffee, bacon, eggs, biscuits, grits, and pancakes. Then she and Noble climbed into his truck and headed toward Haven.
Ivy wasn’t sure if she was mentally or emotionally prepared to see the destruction to her bakery in the light of day or deal with the news crews that had arrived last night.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have a choice in the matter.