Page 97 of Corrupting Ivy

“I can’t sleep in here with you.”

Randall placed me on the bed with ease, then pulled back the sheets and plush feather comforter. “You’re more than welcome to find the spare room, but there isn’t a bed in there.”

My traitorous heart fluttered. Of course, waking up beside Randall was an idea that put butterflies in my belly and had my heart racing. But, in reality, he’d almost killed me before Mr. Grady had the chance.

“Randall, I don’t want a repeat performance from the last time.”

The first crack of thunder rumbled through the valley as I kicked off my slippers and tucked my legs into his soft sheets. He pulled the covers to my chin and ran his thumb over my cheek.

“There won’t be.”

“How can you say that?”

He exhaled as if talking about this exhausted him. “Get some rest, Ivy, and we’ll cover it all in the morning.”

“I can’t sleep right now, even if I wanted to.”

“Then stare out the window and watch the rain fall.”

I turned towards the other floor to ceiling window in his room, overlooking the same scenery from the kitchen as another rumble of thunder hit closer. I jerked, and shivers raced down my body.

“Don’t tell me they scare you?”

I hung my head and diverted my gaze away from him. “They didn’t use to.”

He laid a gentle kiss on my forehead. “It’ll pass.”

One Week Later

It was great tocome back to my haven, where I was neither reserved all the time nor required to rely on others for my needs. Living out of a suitcase is not the most ideal option.

While listening to the rain, I sat back in my office chair. It hadn’t stopped much since we arrived home, only stopping for a few hours at a time before turning into a deluge or drizzling. As I ran my hands through my hair while looking at the time on my computer, I battled the temptation to check on her again.

Ivy’s in-home nurse, Lacy, had come every day, dressed her wounds and monitored her healing. She didn’t get out of bed much the entire week, sleeping most of the days away while recuperating. So I took advantage of the time to wrap up some work with Blackstone Tech that I’d fallen behind on, and I even took my teams on a tour of the new facility, giving them specific instructions for the transfer with Sacha that would take place in three weeks.

I drank my scotch while listening to George Strait’s soft country music in the background. Until I succumbed to my desire and strode across the hall into my room. Ivy sat in the soft leather chair, covered in the feather down blanket she’d removed from my bed, watching the rain drizzle into the pool, which overlooked the mountains in the distance. My little piece of paradise.

“I’d have gotten you a blanket if you wanted one.”

She returned my gaze. Her cheeks had regained their color, and she seemed, dare I say, happy.

“This one’s nice.”

“It should be on the bed, though."

Ivy cinched it even tighter around her neckline, giving her the appearance of the Michelin Man, but beautiful.

“It’s so comfy.”

“I’ll buy you a new one.” I met her in the seating area and took a seat next to her.

She sucked on the inside of her bottom lip. “You’re different here.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know… there’s a gentleness about you.”

“Hmm.” Maybe because I didn’t have her running around just yet. Maybe because she was here. “I think that’s because you’ve been sleeping this whole time.” I smiled, letting her know I wasn’t serious. When she smiled, I pressed on. “Are you feeling well enough to go over the house rules?”

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