Page 148 of Thorns of Malice

She inhales sharply, and surprise fills her voice when she asks, "Ivy?"

"Yep," I cautiously state.

She tilts her head, squinting her eyes at it. "I thought we were going to a place called Finn's."

"I was hoping to surprise you. It's a soft opening tonight."

She pins her gaze on me. "This is your restaurant?"

I shake my head. "No."

She narrows her eyes. "What do you mean no? Please don't tell me it's Avery's."

I hate she would think such a thing. Avery should never have been associated with Seducing Ivy. I hope any memory of her attached to the brand will soon fade.

I assure her, "No, it's not Avery's. It's yours."

Her eyes widen. "Mine?"

"Yeah."

"Dax, I don't know anything about owning a restaurant."

I chuckle. "You don't have to, gorgeous. Everything's taken care of, but your name's on the business."

"With yours, right?"

I shake my head. "No. Only yours."

"I don't know how to run a business," she says.

"Don't worry. I have my people running it, and I'm overseeing it. But you can fire me if you want at any time."

She gapes at me.

I chuckle again. "It's true."

"There's no way you gave me control to fire you," she blurts out.

"I did, and it's yours. Now, let's go eat, I'm hungry." I open the door. The valet opens her side, and I bark, "Don't touch her."

He freezes, giving me a confused look, with snowflakes falling all around him.

I get around to the other side and then help Ivy out. I bypass the valet and go into the restaurant.

It's dimly lit and mimics the outside, with gold, whore-red, and diamond bling everywhere. Several walls have Seducing Ivy climbing from the floor to the ceiling, with the blooms dancing across the vines.

Ivy gasps.

I tug her closer, murmuring in her ear, "Do you like it?"

She glances at me, her lips an inch from mine. "Dax, this is amazing."

Satisfaction and a hint of pride fill me. "Good. Let me show you around the rest of your restaurant."

"My restaurant," she mutters, as if she's still trying to believe it.

"I've been working on this for three years," I admit.

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