Page 17 of Tempest

He didn’t say anything about her change of mind and enjoyed her hand in his. Ivy’s heels kept sinking and she had to go slowly. He thought about picking her up and carrying her, but figured she might think that was too much for a first date. So he wrapped his arm around her and made sure that she made it to her destination safely.

At the guest house, she released his hand. “I’ll be out in two shakes.”

“I’ll be here.” He sat down on a swing that faced the crowd and studied all the people milling about. He noticed Scott talking with Chase Bedford and wondered if Ivy was going to say something to him during the reception.

Before too long, she came out with a smile on her face. “Now I can enjoy the party.”

Ryan held out his hand and waited until she took it. “Come sit with me for a second.”

She collapsed next to him and lifted her feet as he pushed the swing back and forth. “This feels good. My feet are starting to hurt already.”

“I like what they do for your legs, but why do you wear uncomfortable sandals?”

“I like pretty shoes and I don’t much care how much pain I’m in when I wear them. I discovered the power of the right pair of shoes when my mama bought me my first black patent Mary Janes with heels. When I slipped those little jewels on my feet, I understood life. My knowledge was only further confirmed when I got a pair of white patent boots. I will never wear sensible shoes.”

Ryan squeezed her hand and laughed. Ivy might very well be the crazy he’d been looking for. What she looked like and who she was were two very different things. The outside was polished marble, and the inside was a crazy mass of contradictions. He figured that she must be into him, because she wasn’t holding anything back. All her crazy was out there for him to see. At least, he hoped that’s what was happening. “I’ll just have to carry you when you can’t walk anymore.”

Ivy looked over, and her soft tiger eyes blazed into his. The sound of the party melted away, and all he could sense was their connection and the warm breeze that floated around them. He lowered his head and was about to kiss her when the shrill sound of her phone interrupted him.

“Oh…” Pushing away, she dug into her bag and looked at the display. “It’s Mama. That’s strange. We usually don’t talk until the evening. I hope Grams is all right.” She pushed the button and answered.

Ryan watched her and saw a kaleidoscope of emotion cross her face. Whatever her mother was saying wasn’t good. Ivy hadn’t said a thing past hello. She clutched the phone with white knuckles and listened. This was going to be bad.

“Okay, Mama, I’ll try and get a flight out tonight. I’ll call you from the airport.” She pushed the button to end the call, and the phone dropped into her lap. “My daddy’s dead. He had a heart attack and died this morning.”

“Ivy, I’m so sorry.” He wrapped her up in his arms and felt her bury her face in his neck. He expected a torrent of tears, but instead he felt her quiet breathing. The lack of immediate sobbing told him a storm was brewing. Quietly, she cleared her throat and pulled away. Not one tear had dropped.

“I’ll take you home and get you to the airport,” he said.

Lifting her hand, she smoothed her hair. “My daddy left us when I was eight. He had an affair with the school secretary and ended up having a son six months after he left Mama and me. He was never around much after that. I don’t know what I should feel.”

She said it like she was giving a weather report. There wasn’t a trace of emotion in her voice, and he understood. He’d felt not much of anything when he heard about his mom.

“I’ll call for an Uber. You stay and enjoy the party,” she said in a small voice.

Standing, he shook his head. “Honey, I’m not staying. Let’s get you back so you can pack. Then I’ll take you to the airport.”

“Okay,” she replied quietly.

Standing, he took her hand and led her out to the valet. The way she held herself told him that when the feelings hit, it was going to be one hell of a storm. A damn tempest, if he had to guess.

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