Wrapped Up in You (Heartbreaker Bay, #8)(57)

“Quiet and broody?” she asked the window.

“I was going to say I turn into a dick, but that works too.”

She snorted. Still didn’t look at him, but she squeezed his hand back. “Well then, I guess I could also share that when I’m forced into doing something I don’t want to do, I usually bail.” Finally, she turned her head and met his gaze. “Which I believe makes you the better person. Because you might be feeling . . . dick-ish, but at least you’re going. To be there for your sister, for your family.”

“Actually, I’m going because Caleb threatened to hunt me down if I don’t.”

She laughed. “You’re not afraid of Caleb.”

Lucky enough to find a parking spot in front of Remy’s building, Kel turned off the engine and turned to her. “How do you know?”

“Because I’ve seen you. You’re like brothers. He loves and adores you. And I see why he wanted you here.” She paused. “I looked you up. You’ve got an impressive record on the job.”

This had him giving her a second glance. “Do I?”

“You know you do.”

“I work in a small ranching town in Idaho, Ivy. I scare bears out of neighborhood parks. I help rescue runaway horses. I roust drunks off the sidewalks on cold winter nights so they don’t freeze to the benches they’re sleeping on and die.”

“You helped a woman give birth a few months back in a fast-food parking lot. At gunpoint. The place was being held up.”

He gave her a look.

She shrugged. “Blame Caleb. He told Sadie and she told me while we were kicking each other’s ass this morning at the gym. Most people are terrified of bears, drunks, and birthing babies, you know.”

“I had very little to do with the actual birthing part.”

“True,” she said quietly. “But I have a feeling you’d face anything head-on and get through it. And look what happened to you not that long ago.” She set a gentle hand on his side. “You could have died.”

“But I didn’t.”

“But you could have. My point is that you’re fearless.”

He ran a finger along her temple, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear just for the excuse of touching her. “I’m afraid of plenty, believe me.”

“Name one thing.”

Walking away and losing you . . . “My sister’s reaction to tonight, for starters. She hates surprises.”

She held his gaze for a beat and there was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes before she smiled. “But the good news is that tonight wasn’t your idea.” She turned to get out and he caught her, pulling her back around to face him.

“What?” she whispered, then gasped as he pulled her over the console and kissed her.

She froze for a single beat before melting into him, sliding her fingers into his hair while letting out that soft sexy little sound she made when he kissed her deep, like she couldn’t get enough of him.

“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly when he pulled free.

For letting me in . . . “For coming with me tonight. But brace yourself. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”



Ivy wasn’t about to admit she was also nervous as hell. This was Kel’s family, which made it personal, which in turn made it intimate. She didn’t do intimate. “It’ll be fun,” she said out loud for Kel’s sake.

His smile was a little grim. “Yeah. And maybe hell will freeze over.”

She looked at him and knew she’d been right to encourage him to come here. “I know this is hard on you. But things change. People change. And think of it this way. Your mom actually wants you in her life. Think about how you might feel if she didn’t.”

His gaze softened and he brought their joined hands up to his mouth. “Your mom doesn’t know what she’s missing.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “This isn’t about me.”

“I’m okay,” he said. “And though I appreciate what you’re doing, you don’t have to try and comfort me here. I’m a big boy.”

“As I well know,” she said and absorbed his small laugh. “But also . . . I’m not all that good at comforting.”

“Actually . . .” He sank his fingers into her hair and held her gaze. “You’re much better at it than you think.”

Her heart skipped another beat. At this point, she was going to get arrhythmia from her feelings for him. “Come on,” she said, tugging him up the walk. “And hey, look at it this way, it can’t possibly be as bad as you’re imagining. Plus, don’t look now but we’ve been spotted.” She nodded her chin to the picture window of the small, pretty, and decorated for the holidays Victorian, where his mom stood looking out, smiling at them. When Kel tensed, Ivy tightened her grip on his hand. “Too late to run now. And smile. You look like you’re headed to the guillotine.”

He spared her a quick look and found her smiling. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Oh yeah.”

They were quickly ushered into the house by Remy’s husband, Ethan, who looked like a nervous wreck. “Tell me the truth,” he said. “Am I crazy for allowing this? She’s going to be surprised, and she hates surprises. And I hate our couch. I really don’t want to be sleeping on our couch for the next ten years, which is how long she can hold a grudge.”