For some reason, seeing him so upset put Ivy at ease. “Thank you for coming.” She threw her arms around his neck. “I was so freaked out. All I knew is that I wanted you.”
The naked emotion on her face was enough to quiet him. “You’re always going to have me. Never doubt that.”
4
Four
Brian had no problem with Jack taking the rest of the day off. It was obvious that his partner had bigger things to worry about. Because she was still frazzled, Jack took the wheel of Ivy’s car.
“We’ll get you home and cleaned up,” he said. “After that we’ll take a little downtime and then go into town for dinner. We can pick up my truck at the station then.”
Ivy absently nodded as she glanced out the window but didn’t speak.
“Honey ... .” Jack was stymied. He wasn’t sure what he should say but there were a million things he wanted to say. Finally, he decided to take a roundabout tack. “How was your reunion with Dorian?”
That obviously wasn’t the question Ivy was expecting, but she embraced it all the same. “He was happy to see me.”
“Did he recognize you?”
“Not at first, but he actually had some cool stuff there and I was describing an old painting I wanted him to help me re-frame and he recognized it as something Aunt Felicity had done for me. It was kind of an icebreaker.”
“That’s good,” Jack enthused. “What did he tell you?”
“Not much. We only had a few minutes together before ... .” She trailed off and redirected herself back to a safer topic. “He asked about my parents ... and Max. I let slip about my community service. I’m still bothered that I don’t have a date to start.”
“Actually, you do,” Jack countered. “I made a call this morning. You’re starting two weeks from today.”
“Two weeks?” Agitation rushed over Ivy. “But ... why can’t I start sooner? I’m sick of sitting around and worrying about how the other lawbreakers are going to kill me.”
“That is not funny,” Jack snapped.
For the first time in what felt like hours, Ivy mustered a ghost of a smile. “Lighten up, Jack. I was going for the gallows humor.”
He checked his reaction. “I’m sorry. I just ... I hate being afraid. When you called and said what happened, it sounded ludicrous, but I was filled with fear all the same. I couldn’t get to you fast enough ... and I swear that Brian purposely drives slow when he knows I’m about to have a heart attack.”
That statement allowed some of the tension Ivy had been feeling to diminish. “I should’ve told you I was all right. I mean ... I thought that was a given since I was calling you and everything, but I guess I was kind of terse on the phone.”
“You were obviously in shock.” He moved his hand over to cover hers, never shifting his eyes from the road. “I could hear it in your voice. All I wanted was to get to you, to hold you. Then, when I saw you, I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest.”
Ivy was rueful as she glanced down at her ruined shirt. “I guess I’ve looked better.”
“You are the most beautiful woman in the world. The blood, though ... I just don’t understand how this happened.”
“That makes two of us.” Ivy flicked her eyes back to the window. “It was over before I even realized what was happening, Jack.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “She came in and it was obvious she needed help. He was right behind her, though. There was no time ... and I was frozen in place. I didn’t help her.”
Frustration churned through his chest. “Honey ... .”
She ignored his attempt to soothe. “I thought about you when the gun went off. I wondered how you would’ve responded ... and then I thought about when you were shot in the chest by your partner and wondered if it happened that fast. Then I wondered if you had time to think about what happened as it was occurring. It was just ... horrible.”
Jack was in the middle of traffic so he couldn’t pull over and comfort her like he wanted. Instead, he increased his speed. He needed to get her home and cleaned up. Then he needed to get her in bed for a few hours. She’d seen too much and needed to shut down. “I’m sorry you had to see it. I would give anything to be able to change things.”
“You can’t, though.”
“No.” Just like he couldn’t get her out of the community service, or at least get her a better assignment despite his best efforts. “I’m really letting you down these days, huh?”
The disparaging statement was enough to snap Ivy out of her reverie. “Don’t ever say that. You never let me down.”
“It doesn’t feel that way right now.”
“You’re not a time-traveling wizard, Jack. I know that might be a disappointment, but I never expected you to be able to go back in time and change things.”
“Yeah, but ... the community service.”
“The judge insists that I have to do my punishment in public so there can be no allegations of favoritism. I get it. I knew I was breaking the law when I did what I did.”
“You mean when you saved Maisie’s life.”
“That’s what I mean.” Ivy was rueful as she squeezed his hand. “Now she’s going to punish me for my good deed. I still wouldn’t change things. I did what I had to do. Now I have to pay the price. It’s what’s best for everybody.”
“It’s not what’s best for you.”
“Well, it’s what’s best for everybody else.” She blew out a sigh. “I think I have bad karma juju or something right now. I don’t know how to explain the bad things that keep happening to me.”
His heart ached at the words. “You don’t have bad juju — and I’m not even sure what that is, but I know you don’t have it — and it bugs me when you say stuff like that.”
“Sorry.”
“I don’t want you to be sorry. I just want you to ... be happy.”
“That’s kind of a difficult thing right now, what with the shooting and being a hardened criminal.”
He sighed, the sound long and drawn out. “You’re not a hardened criminal. Why do you keep saying things like that?”
“My prints are on record. I have a black mark next to my name in your little police ledger now. You heard Detective Archibald. I’m a suspect simply because of what I’ve done.”
“No, that guy is the king of the douches. I don’t know what his problem is. No cop worth anything would believe you’re a suspect. He was just looking for attention.”
“And what if he takes his pathological need for attention to the prosecutor and somehow convinces him to bring charges?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Because you’re a good cop and would never do that?”
Jack hesitated. He knew what she was really asking. “You’re going to be fine,” he insisted after a beat. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Ivy.”
It was a nice sentiment, but they both knew it was a promise he couldn’t keep. Something had already happened to her. The odds of her remaining out of the eye of the storm for the rest of her life were slim.
They made the rest of the drive in silence and Ivy was eager to get out of her ruined clothes. Jack collected them in a trash bag as she hopped in the shower. All traces of her terrible day had been rubbed away by the time she returned to the bedroom.
“Feel better?” Jack asked. He’d stripped down to his boxer shorts and was holding up the covers on the bed.
She nodded, furrowing her brow. “You want to play undercover games now?” She was obviously dubious.
He shot her a withering look. “No. I don’t want to play games. I want you to close your eyes and rest for a bit.”
Ivy wasn’t sure that was possible. “I think I’ll keep seeing it over and over again if I try to nap, Jack.”
“That’s why we’re going in together.” He flashed a warm smile. “I was thinking we could take a trip to Hawaii and scout it out for honeymoon ideas.” He lifted the catalog he’d retrieved from the living room while she was cleani
ng up.
“You want to dream walk?” Ivy couldn’t contain her surprise.
“Yup.”
“But it’s the middle of the afternoon.”
“And we both need to shut out the world for a few hours.” In truth, what he really needed was to hold her for an extended period of time. When he thought about what could’ve happened to her it turned his blood cold. “Give it a try, honey,” he prodded. “It will be good for both of us.”
She eyed him speculatively for a moment and then nodded. “Okay, but I want it made clear that there will be no coconut bras. This is an information-gathering trip and nothing more.”
He managed a grin. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, huh?”
SURPRISINGLY, A TWO-HOUR NAP IN THE middle of the day did them a world of good. They were calm after the fact, collected, and much more in tune with one another.
“I definitely think we should consider Hawaii,” Ivy said as she walked with Jack in front of the diner. She had a glow about her that made him smile. “I think we would have a lot of fun.”
“I know I would.” His finger was light as it played with the hem of her peasant blouse. “I’m fine with Hawaii. In fact, I think it’s an inspired choice. If you want to choose someplace else, though ... .”
“Why would I?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. You don’t have to settle on something right now. We can bandy about a few ideas — make a few more dream trips if you like — and then make the decision in two weeks or something.”
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. “Why two weeks?”
“I don’t know. I’ve always found having a time limit to be a great motivator.”
“I guess.” She pursed her lips. “Okay. How about we both come up with two more ideas each, visit them, and then vote at the end of two weeks?”
“I think that sounds like a fun and dirty way to choose a honeymoon,” he teased, slinging an arm around her shoulders as they walked through the door. His mood was upbeat ... right up until the moment he realized Ivy’s entire family was seated at the big table in the corner. “Oh, crap.”
Ivy jerked up her head at the words, frowning when she realized who had caught his attention. “Why?” She knew she sounded whiny, but she couldn’t help it as she turned and pressed her forehead to Jack’s chest. “I told you I have bad karma juju.”
He chuckled as he stroked the back of her head. “Maybe this is something else,” he suggested after a beat. “Maybe this is a good chance for you to make up with your mother.”
Ivy’s expression darkened. She’d been on the outs with her mother for several weeks now, ever since Luna attacked Jack in the wake of a murder investigation that briefly focused on Felicity. Since Luna and Felicity were sisters — and closer than close — Luna had taken it upon herself to fight for her family. That meant Jack was a victim of her wrath, and Ivy was still bitter about it.
“I don’t think so.” Ivy tugged on his arm. “I think we should go.”
Jack’s heart rolled at her reaction. One of the things he loved most about Ivy — and that list was long and involved — was her close relationship with her family. While Luna wasn’t the one Ivy went to when she was upset — her father had that distinction — they were still close ... until recently. “Ivy—” He didn’t get a chance to finish because Max, Ivy’s brother, had noticed them and decided to take matters into his own hands.
“Well, look who it is,” Max called out loudly, causing Ivy’s glare to deepen. “It’s my favorite sister and future brother-in-law. This is a positively magical meeting of the minds. Wouldn’t you say so, Mom?”
Luna’s back was to them but, when she turned, there was resignation on her pretty features.
“This is indeed magical,” Michael Morgan agreed, squeezing his wife’s shoulder and winking at Ivy. He had a particularly close relationship with his daughter and wasn’t in the mood for this fight to drag out. “Come and join us, guys.”
Because they had an audience, Ivy didn’t see where she had a choice. She scraped her feet against the floor as she trudged toward the table. This wasn’t how she wanted to spend her evening.
Max’s girlfriend Amy was the first to stand and she gave the pink-haired pouter a hard hug. “I’m so glad to see you,” she enthused brightly. “I’ve been wanting to get together but ... .” She trailed off.
“You didn’t want to risk my mother hating you by extension,” Ivy finished for her. “I get it. No worries.”
“Oh, don’t be like that,” Luna snapped, her eyes flashing with irritation as she looked first at Ivy and then at Jack. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to stop by and visit with the two of you.” She was stiff as she stood and Jack didn’t miss the fact that Michael’s hand was at her waist, essentially forcing her to stand. “I thought we should have a talk or something.”
“Oh, good,” Ivy drawled. “There’s nothing I like better than a talk.”
Luna opened her mouth in such a manner that Jack was convinced she was going to say something awful. A firm head shake from Michael had her changing course, though. It was obvious to Jack that the couple had been at odds and the patriarch had somehow won the fight.
“So, um ... I want to apologize, Jack.” Luna looked legitimately contrite as she flicked her eyes to him. “It’s been brought to my attention that I was rather cruel to you a few weeks ago when you were only doing your job.”
“He cleared Aunt Felicity,” Max pointed out helpfully.
“Yes, but only a ninny would’ve ever looked at her as a suspect in the first place,” Luna shot back.
Ivy pinned her mother with a dark look. “Is this really your attempt at an apology? You don’t even sound sincere.”
Luna balked. “I’m sincere. I’m sorry for what I said to Jack. You’re the one I’m still annoyed with.”
Ivy matched her mother’s outraged expression. “Me? What did I do?”
Jack sensed the conversation getting away from them and had no idea what to do. Instead of injecting himself into the argument, he rubbed his head ... and hoped against hope that things would somehow magically get better. Inevitably, they got worse.
“You didn’t take your aunt’s side,” Luna replied without hesitation. “You took Jack’s side.”
“Because Jack was right. He did his job. There was no choice in the matter. You’re just being a pain in the butt is what you’re being. You hate being wrong.” Ivy folded her arms over her chest and jutted out her lower lip. “You’ve been this way since I was a little kid and it’s annoying.”
“I am not annoying.”
“I didn’t say you were annoying. I said this behavior was annoying. Ask Dad. He happens to agree.”
Luna’s eyes shifted to her husband. “Is that true? Am I annoying?”
“I think your tendency to refuse to admit when you’re wrong is your worst attribute,” Michael replied, unruffled. “I love you regardless, but I hate the way you treated Jack and I’m not thrilled with your behavior regarding Ivy. Can’t you just suck it up and admit you’re sorry?”
Luna was obviously surprised by the statement. She worked her jaw for a long beat and then blew out a sigh. “Fine. I’m sorry ... although I don’t know that I should be.” This time when she turned to Jack her eyes were clear. “I didn’t mean to treat you poorly. That’s not who I am. That’s not who I want to be as a person ... ever. I mean ... ever. I know it seems like a lame apology, but I really am sorry and hope there are no hard feelings.”
Jack pursed his lips and nodded. “You don’t have to worry. I am not angry. I never was.”
“I was,” Ivy grumbled.
“Knock that off,” Michael warned, extending a finger in Ivy’s direction. “Your mother has apologized. The gracious thing to do is forgive her. We raised you to be gracious.”
Ivy could never hold out in the face of her father’s disappointment and this conversation wasn’t suddenly going to break the mold. “Fine.” She threw her hands up in the air
. “I’m not mad any longer. Everything is great. Can we sit down and get dinner? I’m starving.”
“Absolutely.” Michael bobbed his head. “Just as soon as you and your mother hug it out.”
Ivy wanted to argue but knew it was a moot point. “Ugh. I hate hugging it out.” Still, she did as her father asked, and by the time she separated from her mother she was feeling much better. Then Max, as was his way, made things worse again.
“So, I hear you’re going to be picking up trash along the highway as your community service,” Max offered. “Maisie has been spreading the word. I can’t wait to see you in one of those orange jumpsuits. I’m thinking I’m going to find inspiration for my Christmas cards this year.”
At first, Luna glared at Max. She assumed he was playing some odd joke on his sister. When Ivy averted her gaze and started shuffling from one foot to the other, though, she exploded.
“What is he talking about? Why are you doing community service?”
Jack exhaled heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Well, that was the shortest truce ever.”
Michael nodded in agreement. “I know, right? We didn’t even get to enjoy it.”
“Maybe the next one will be better.”
“That’s something to look forward to.”
5
Five
Jack was feeling surprisingly rested when he woke the next morning. That probably had something to do with the dream honeymoon he took with Ivy the previous evening. In truth, they’d made a conscious effort to limit the amount of time they dream walked because he didn’t want them to spend so much time in a fake world that they forgot the real world, but they both seemed to need it ... and then some.
Ivy was still asleep next to him, her head curled against his shoulder. She was warm, supple, and cuddly ... and he was in no hurry to rouse her. When he shifted his head and spied her feet poking out from beneath the covers — as was her way — he could do nothing but smile. He’d spent months getting up and covering her feet, especially in the dead of winter because he didn’t want her to catch a chill, but he knew it was a lost cause. She couldn’t seem to help herself.
Wicked Reunion Page 4
