Page 107 of Playing for Keeps
Paisley beams. “Me either.”
Just then, Ashlyn gets up from Ben’s lap and walks over, her face lit up with a huge smile.
“I haven’t seen you all week,” she teases Ivy. “Have you abandoned me for my brother?”
Ivy’s eyes widen. “What? No! I’d never do that.”
Ash laughs and pulls her into a hug. “I’m kidding. I’m so happy for you guys.”
She turns and hugs me too, and finally, Ivy seems to fully relax.
“There you are,” Mom calls from the doorway leading into the house, balancing two plates piled high with meat for the grill. She sets them down on the table before making her way over to us, a smile already tugging at her lips.
“I told you we were late,” Ivy whispers beside me.
I dip my head, brushing my lips close to her ear. “You shouldn’t have worn all that lace if you expected us to be on time.”
Her eyes go wide as she gives my chest a playful smack. “That’s not my fault!”
I grin. “No, baby, it’s mine. You make me crazy.”
I nuzzle into her neck, loving the way she squirms and laughs, gently pushing me back. “Behave. Everyone’s watching.”
Before I can reply, Mom chimes in, her eyes twinkling. “So, you two finally figured it out, huh?”
I straighten, wrapping my arm around Ivy’s waist and pulling her close. I press a kiss to her temple. “Yeah, we did.”
Her expression softens. “I’m so happy for you both.” She shoots Ivy a knowing wink. “I told him to tell you how he felt. He practically wore a hole in my carpet pacing the floor while you were out showing some guy a house.”
“Is that right?” Ivy says, looking up at me with a grin.
My cheeks heat. “Ivy doesn’t need to know about that,” I say quickly. “It doesn’t matter now.”
Mom smiles before disappearing off to the grill. Ivy steps in front of me and wraps her arms around my waist.
“Pacing a hole in the carpet, hey?” She giggles, and I pull her into my chest. “Okay, okay. I was an idiot,” I admit sheepishly.
“Yeah, but you’re my idiot,” she says quietly.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I am, and I’m never letting you go, Ivy James.”
Her eyes widen at the words, and before she can respond, I kiss her. Leaving her in no doubt about how I feel. Her arms loop around my neck, her fingers curling into my hair, and just like that, everything around us slips away, like it always does when I kiss her.
It doesn’t slip away for long, though, when a loud round of cheers erupts behind us.
I grin against her mouth as she stiffens slightly in my arms, clearly remembering where we are. I’d bet anything she forgot while we were kissing, and I love that.
“Put her down!” Cade calls out.
“Leave them alone. They’re adorable,” Taylor shoots back.
Ivy pulls back, her cheeks flushed.
I meet her gaze and don’t even try to hide the way I’m looking at her. “I’m gonna kiss my girlfriend whenever I want, soeveryone better get used to it,” I say loud enough for them all to hear. Then I lower my head and kiss her again.
Another round of cheers follows as I finally pull away, lacing my fingers with hers and leading her over to the others.
“What can I get you to drink, baby?” I ask once she’s settled beside Ash.
