Page 9 of Take My Place

Wrapping myself in the softest, largest towel I’d ever seen, I go to the walk-in wardrobe to see if there are any fresh clothes for me to wear. Although most of the drawers are empty, I find some brand-new underwear in my size, as well as some jeans and a few T-shirts. None of them are very exciting, and I prefer black to the reds and blues that have been left out for me, but it is better than nothing. I can pick out some things which are more my style later today.

Picking up my old clothes, it feels wrong leaving them for someone else to clean, so I put them on a chair in my bedroom. I decide to ask Johnson where the laundry room is and do it myself once Romy and I are back from our shopping spree.

A strange buzzing sound catches my attention. For a moment, I wonder whether someone has messed with the ringtone on my phone, but then realise it’s the intercom. Going to answer, Romy’s face comes up on the screen.

Damn, he looks more sexy than yesterday.

“Morning, Ivy. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m still mad at you, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Well hopefully you’ll give me a chance to redeem myself,” he suggests. “You still happy to go shopping with me?”

“What–and miss out on the chance of maxing out your daddy’s credit card? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Good,” Romy smiles, although I think he thinks I’m joking. The prince of this castle hasn’t seen anything yet. I can shop like a princess if I need to prove a point. “Have you had breakfast yet? Do you want me to get the cook to fix something for you?”

The thought of food made my stomach lurch. I wasn’t great at eating when I got up at the best of times, but when I am hungover, the last thing I want to do is have breakfast.

“Can we get something while we’re out?” I ask.

“Of course. Anything you want. Do you need me to come and get you or can you find your way to the front of the house?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”

I might have been drunk last night, but I still remember that all I have to do is head straight down the corridor leading away from my room and I’d eventually hit the stairs down to the entrance. It isn’t long before I am outside where Romy is leaning against his Mercedes waiting for me.

“You look good,” he says when I’m closer, his eyes running over me.

“Save it.” I hold up a hand for him to talk to. “I’m not interested in your sweet talk. You can speak when you’re spoken to, otherwise I don’t want to hear a word. You had your chance when you decided not to tell me about our engagement. You kept quiet then, so you can keep quiet now.”

“Whatever you say.” Romy mimes zipping his mouth shut, locking it, and throwing away the key.

Dammit, he is too charming for his own good.

“Ugh.” I shake my head, trying to hide the fact that it is impossible for me to stay mad with him for long. He is right–we do have a spark. There is something about him that melts my heart, so even though it is going to take me a long time to forgive him–if I ever did–I still want to feel his lips against mine, run my hands down that incredible body, lose myself in him…

“Ivy?”

“What?” I shake my head to snap out of it.

“I said, do you mind if we do a brief detour before we head to the mall?” Romy asks. “I’ve got an errand I need to run.”

“Do what you like,” I reply, getting into the passenger side.

“Did you sleep all right?” Romy went on, starting the engine and pulling away from the house. “I hated the thought of you sleeping on your own when I was so close. I don’t like fighting with you, Ivy. I-”

“Romy?”

“Yes?”

“I don’t want to talk about this right now.”

“Alright. But wearehaving this conversation at some point.”He bit his lip to stay quiet, and I stifled a grin, turning away so he wouldn’t see my face.

Although I’m not familiar with this part of town, I have a pretty good idea about which direction the mall is and that’s not where we were going.

In fact, I’d bet good money we were heading in the opposite direction.

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