Page 79 of Tender Temptation

His face hardens to stone. “Ivy, seems like you lost something.” He points to the panties. His voice is low and measured, but the icy tension is palpable. “Dinner is at 5:30 sharp.Do not be late.”

Ivy’s face drains of color, and she quickly retrieves her panties, stuffing them into her pocket with trembling hands. “Yes, Dad.”

Stan gives a final, cutting look at both of us before turning on his heel and walking out without another word. The door closes behind him with a soft click, but the silence it leaves is deafening.

Ivy slumps down on the couch, her face flushed with embarrassment. “Oh my God, Cillian.” Her voice quivers. “When he goes quiet like that…this is bad.Reallybad.”

An understatement, to say the least.

“Fuck. We knew this was complicated.” I scrub my stubble with my fingers. “I didn’t expect it to blow up like this.”

“What am I gonna do?” Ivy hugs herself.

“We.” I go to her and envelop her in my arms. “What arewegoing to do.”

Ivy’s not alone in this and I won’t let her face her parents without me.

We wanted to stop hiding.

Now we’ve been outed in the worst possible way.

thirty-five

Ivy

Moments Later

I’m frozen.

What the fuck happened?

The reality of what my dad saw sinks in. Heknows.Everything.

My mortification is overwhelming, making it hard to breathe or think. This is not how I wanted him to find out.

I’m snapped back to reality when Cillian takes my hand. “I’m going with you,” he says firmly, his eyes locking on to minewith determination. His support makes me feel slightly less panicked, but no less stressed.

“Um…I’m not sure if it’s a good idea for you to be there…” I look down at my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. “I don’t want to make things worse for us. Foryou.”

I don’t voice my other fears—how my dad can only control his anger so long. How he’ll likely lash out and say anything to keep me in line, which will eviscerate all the progress we’ve made. Still, I’ll take it if it means he won’t turn this attention on Cillian. I want to protect him from my father’s dark, cruel side.

Cillian tilts my chin up until our eyes meet. “Ivy, I’m in love with you. We’re in this together. I’m not leaving you to handle this alone. We’ll own up to it and face him as a couple.” He kisses me tenderly. “You’re the most important thing in my life and I won’t let him tear us apart.”

Tears well up but I manage a small smile. “Okay.”

After we gather our things and lock up the office, Cillian and I get into my car. The drive is quiet, both of us lost in thought. The tension is thick, the last time I felt this anxious was three years ago when my dad got home early from his trip.

This is worse, though. Every mile closer, the atmosphere seems heavier.

When we get close to my neighborhood, I glance over at Cillian. His jaw is set with determination. What’s about to go down presses on both of us.

I coast through the private gate into Medina, the grand estates and manicured lawns lining the private golf course come into view. My house is secluded on a quiet, tree-lined street abutting the lake, but the tranquil surroundings are in stark contrast to the turmoil churning inside me. Cillian places his hand on my thigh and squeezes, but his sweet gesture does nothing to steady my racing heart.

Being away gave me a false sense of bravado. Until today, my relationship with Dad had improved dramatically. This house even started to feel like home again.

Now, on the long driveway to the parking strip, I’m gripped by the same old dread I used to feel every time I walked through the door. This house, once again, resembles the mausoleum it used to be in the years after my brother’s death. A prison my dad held me hostage in.

It’s ominous.

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