Page 65 of Playing for Keeps
“Relax. I promise not to jump on you.”
The words are barely out of her mouth before I hear myself respond, “Who said I’d mind?”
She rolls her eyes with a smirk. “Funny.”
“I’m not joking, Ivy,” I say quietly, my eyes fixed on hers.
She meets my gaze for a beat longer than usual, then winks. “In that case, maybe Iwillfinish the bottle and jump on you after all.”
She laughs, clearly convinced I’m teasing, but I’m not. And maybe it’s easier this way. Pretending gives me cover. I can let little truths slip out under the safety net of a fake relationship.It’s messed up, but right now, it feels safer than laying everything bare. At least this way, I get to say something real… even if she thinks it isn’t.
“Wyatt,” a voice calls out, and I glance up to see Margot, the charity’s representative, weaving her way through the crowd toward us, notebook and pen in hand. “It’s so good to see you.”
I slip my fingers from Ivy’s and rise to greet her, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
“Good to see you too, Margot.”
“Last time was Miami, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, the football camp the charity hosted.”
“That’s it.” She smiles and nudges my shoulder. “You never called,” she adds in a low, pointed voice.
I manage to keep my expression neutral, even as I sigh inwardly. She’d flirted relentlessly during that week in Miami. I tried to stay polite, but in the end, I’d taken her number just to end the awkwardness. She was at the auction last week too, but I’d dodged a run-in, probably only because I left early with Ivy. I’d hoped showing up tonight with someone would keep things professional.
Clearly, I’d hoped wrong.
“Hi, I’m Ivy,” Ivy says, rising from the table and slipping her hand into mine.
Her smile is warm as she turns it toward Margot, who glances down at our joined hands with a flicker of surprise.
“Margot, this is my girlfriend,” I say. “Ivy, this is Margot. She works with the charity.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Ivy says politely.
“You too,” Margot replies, though her tone is a little tight. Her brows furrow as she studies us. “Wait a minute… weren’t you the one who placed the winning bid on Wyatt?”
Ivy nods, unfazed. “Guilty.”
Margot’s eyes dart between us, her confusion deepening. “But… you’re dating? So that means…” She trails off, piecing it together. “Ivy placed the bid on your behalf?”
I offer a sheepish smile. “What can I say? I wasn’t eager to have dinner with someone else. We’d only just made things official between us.”
Margot forces a smile. “That’s… unconventional.”
“But it’s still for a good cause, right?” Ivy says lightly. “And the charity gets the same support, no matter who writes the check.”
“I suppose,” Margot replies, clearly not thrilled.
“Wyatt’s told me so much about the work you all do. He really believes in it,” Ivy adds, looking up at me with genuine warmth.
I meet her gaze and can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips.
Margot clears her throat, snapping me back to the moment. “The photographers are ready for the website photos, if that’s okay?”
“Of course,” I say, reluctantly turning from Ivy. “Where should we stand?”
“Just over there, by the charity’s banner,” she replies, gesturing to the far side of the room.
