Page 179 of Thorns of Malice

I've been dying to know what Dax is up to. Matt was annoyed that I asked him to talk with Dax. He was adamant he wouldn't speak with him. All of it makes me nervous. The last thing I want to do is hurt Matt worse, but Dax was just as adamant he needed to speak with him. So I've been on pins and needles, wondering what it's regarding.

I'd been glued to the TV until I realized I needed to figure out final details for our dinner date and get changed.

My phone beeps, and I glance at it.

Lilly: Holy crap, it's a zoo out here!

Me: I know. I'm sorry.

Lilly: It's okay. I should have anticipated it.

I pace the foyer until the doorbell rings. I open the door, and Lilly and Jaxon are on the doorstep. He has his arm around her waist, and she's carrying a bottle of champagne.

"Hi! Sorry about the paparazzi!" I say in greeting.

"That's crazy out there," Jaxon says with disapproval.

"I've never seen anything like it, and I live in L.A.," Lilly adds.

"I'm sorry," I repeat, feeling horrible.

Lilly waves her hand in front of her face. "No worries. It was kind of fun going through it. Maybe my father will see me on TV and freak out over my association with the Carringtons. Might give him a drop in voter approval this week." She winks.

I stifle a laugh, putting my hand over my mouth and shaking my head.

"Okay, you weren't lying. You do have daddy issues," Jaxon says, peering down at her.

She beams brighter and puts her hand on his chest, lowering her voice. She bats her lashes and coos, "Do you want to punish me later?"

Jaxon grunts, his expression darkening.

"Okay, why don't we go into the sitting room," I suggest.

Jaxon tears his lust-filled gaze off Lilly and shoots me a stern look. "I don't want you getting wrapped up in all this, Ivy. You don't deserve to be dragged through the mud by Dax again."

I put my hand on my hip. "Dax isn't dragging me through the mud."

"Not yet."

"Jaxon," Lilly reprimands.

"Are you going to have an attitude toward Dax all night?"

He clenches his jaw.

Lilly slides her hands up his chest. She laces her fingers around his neck, and he looks down at her. "Jaxon, we talked about this. Remember, you won't get your present at the end of the night if you don't behave and make peace with Dax." She smirks at him.

His heated eyes narrow.

I laugh. "Yeah, Jaxon, be a good boy so Lilly can give you her present."

He glances at me and then shakes his head once again in worry and disapproval.

I groan. "Come on, we're going to have fun tonight. Let's go."

I lead them down the hall and into the sitting room. I step inside and stumble to a stop.

Dax is on TV giving a press conference.

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