Page 70 of Unravel Me

I roll my eyes at him before turning my attention back to Ivy.

She looks up at me before pulling me down so she can whisper in my ear, even on her tiptoes she can’t reach on her own. I lean down, breathing in that sweet cherry almond scent that I could get lost in.

“I love it here. Thank you for bringing me.” She turns my face and kisses me sweetly on the lips. And fuck if it doesn’t feel good to have her initiate kissing me in public. She has all the power over me. Good or bad, my heart has always been in her hands. I will gladly get on my knees and worship this woman if she’ll let me, but fuck if I don’t want her to feel the same for me. I need her to.

“C’mon, let’s go walk around.”

I lead her by the hand, and it’s like I can feel each hesitant step she takes through our connection, she’s winding up tighter and tighter again. Pulling her next to me and wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I gently kiss her temple.

“You’re okay, butterfly.” She relaxes into me as we walk around the crowded beach.

“Is that Ivy, Sawyer?” I look behind us to see a dumbfounded Luna. “You didn’t mention Ivy was back at lunch!”

Ivy tenses next to me and I rub her arm reassuringly. She can’t seriously think I was on a date with Luna, but damn if I don’t appreciate the slight jealousy it brought out in her.

“She actually just arrived and we’ve been hiding out a bit. Lots to catch up on. This is her first time being out with everyone. Sorry, Luna.”

“It’s okay! It’s good to see you, Ivy. Welcome back. I’m not sure if you remember me—”

“I do! Luna Mills. You were in the class right under ours. It’s good to see you. How are you?”

“Oh, life is busy! I work at Barrel House and boy is it just crazy right now! But life is good!”

“Hendrix come back, Luna?”

“Ugh. No. Actually, he decided to stay with his family. So the kitchen staff is keeping up with the basic menu, but man has it been tough! We’re the only real restaurant in town, you know, so people aren’t thrilled that they’re missin’ more than half of the dinner menu.”

I look up at the stars then, thanking every fucking power that be for paving the way for my girl to come back to me.

“Ivy?”

“Sawyer . . . don’t.” She grabs a fistful of my shirt and tries to pull my attention back to her but it’s too late, my mind is already made up. I told her I’d give her choices, but fuck if I’m going to make this easy on her anymore.

“You’re in luck, Luna. Ivy is a trained and experienced chef. She graduated from the Culinary Institute and has worked her way up in the kitchen. She’s in between jobs right now, but her last one was as a sous chef at a fancy restaurant in Seattle.”

“Are you really? Oh, Ivy. I don’t want to speak for the owners, but I’m the manager and will be calling them first thing in the morning! You’d be saving us if you’d consider coming to work as our chef, at least for a bit.”

I look down at Ivy, prepared for her wrath, but instead find her mouth gaping open at me. I push under her chin to close it.

“What do you say, Chef? Want to get back in the kitchen?”

Watching the smile grow across her face is priceless. She turns to face Luna.

“Absolutely, Luna. You can get my contact info from Sawyer. Just reach out if you want me to come in.”

We say goodbye to a very relieved Luna, and I steer Ivy back to my truck.

“Sawyer, what you just did back there . . .”

I open the passenger side door and push her up against the seat, shielding us from anyone passing by.

“Baby, it’d be good for you. Just go with it. Nothing has to be permanent, but you said it yourself, you miss being in the kitchen. Do this while you figure the rest out.”

“I don’t need to figure anything out, Sawyer.”

Her words freeze me to the spot, my eyes on hers, my heart stops beating and all the air whooshes from my lungs. Fuck. Is she still leaving? Did I push her too far? Did I misread everything?

“Aspen Ridge is my home.Youare my home.”

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