Page 37 of Wasted On You

An image of Mike Paul holding his sister’s hand while she gave birth flashed before Ivy’s eyes. It was sweet. And thoughtful. And so, Mike Paul. He’d never been one for convention.

“Cobi is a grown woman, Mom. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.”

“Children are meant to grow up with two parents. Not be raised alone by a woman who probably eats tofu and listens to rap music. She doesn’t even attend church.”

“I like tofu,” Kip said, sitting back in his chair. “The rap thing I can take or leave.”

The women ignored him.

“So that’s how you measure what a good family is? Whether there are two parents and if they go to church?” Ivy asked. Her mother was insane.

“It’s a good start. A foundation is important.”

“And how did that work out for you, mother?” The barb hit low, but Ivy didn’t care.

“Watch yourself, Ivy Lynn.” Diedre slowly reached for her wine glass and took a sip before setting it back on the counter. “I’m glad that your fiancé doesn’t seem to mind you spending that kind of money on someone like Mike Paul Darlington. I don’t understand it. The man is a confirmed bachelor, and from what I’ve heard, he’s confirmed himself all over this county and the next.”

She wasn’t wrong.

And Ivy hated it when her mother was right.

“As I said before, it’s all for charity and I didn’t want—” Ivy stopped herself in time, but it was too late. Diedre sensed blood and leaned forward.

“Didn’t want what?” Diedre’s left eyebrow rose dramatically.

Anger flushed her skin a shade of red that was not attractive on someone with her coloring. She looked to Kip for help, and thankfully, he understood the assignment.

“It’s all good, Diedre. I told Ivy to spend as much money as she could at the auction. Anything to raise funds for the new children’s center.”

“So, you paid that ridiculous amount of money for Ivy to spend time with the one man in Big Bend any sane woman would avoid.”

“I did.”

“You young folks sure have a funny way of looking at things.” Her mother played with her wineglass, running fingers over the top in a circular motion, then, after a few moments, turned to Kip. “When will your family arrive for the wedding? We should probably start organizing things. Christmas will be here before you know it, and then we’ll only have days.”

Shit. That was a subject she and Kip hadn’t discussed. When they’d announced their engagement at Cal and Millie Sue’s place over Thanksgiving, she’d pulled New Year’s Eve out of a hat, and the date had stuck.

There was no wedding. No engagement. None of that was real.

But Kip didn’t miss a beat. “I think we talked about them coming a few days before New Year’s Eve, but I won’t know more until closer to the date.” He was smooth, and for that, she was grateful.

Guilt flashed through Ivy, and she avoided her mother’s gaze and instead focused on prying a piece of brie from the wooden board in front of her.

“I’d like to host a dinner party. I think we should all meet.”

“That sounds nice,” Kip replied, shifting a bit in his seat.

Dinner? Shit, how in hell were they going to get out of that?

“And will your brother be coming? I hear he’s a newlywed as well.”

Something flashed across Kip’s face—a small break of disposition. His brother Duke was a sore spot. Ivy watched him closely as he smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know if he and Keely can fit a trip into their schedule.”

Diedre was too quiet. Too predatory. The look on her mother’s face made Ivy nervous. She was about to step in, but was too late.

“Wasn’t she your high school sweetheart?” Diedre asked.

“Jesus, Mom, I thought you were above reading gossip magazines.” Shit, did the woman believe everything she read?

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