Wrapped Up in You (Heartbreaker Bay, #8)(79)

It was her aunt Cathy’s necklace. She stared at it, throat tight as the implications hit her. “He said he didn’t have it anymore.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time he’s lied to you.”

She pressed the necklace to her heart. “No.”

“But I happen to know he went back to the pawn shop and bought it back.” He lifted a shoulder. “He finally put you first.”

Nodding, she smiled through a thick throat. “I’m worried about him. I know that’s stupid.”

“It’s not.” He looked at her for a long moment. “I was asked not to tell you this, but I’m not going to start our life together with a lie.”

Time stopped as she stared at him. “What?”

“He turned himself in, Ivy. A few hours ago. He was the anonymous caller that allowed us to get the bigger fish, by the way. He’s being charged and processed. He’s pleading guilty and cooperating fully. He says he wants to do his time so he can have a fresh start with a clean slate.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered, stunned.

“That’s how I got the necklace. He wanted you to have it. And this.” He handed her a folded piece of paper that turned out to be a handwritten letter.

Dear Ivy,

I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear from right now, but I had to write this. Had to make sure you know that when I was bleeding in your living room and you were doing everything in your power to save my sorry ass, that it did something to me.

It made me realize that I wasn’t hurting just me by my lifestyle, but you too. I dragged you into my mess and you could have been hurt. Thank God you weren’t.

I’m sorry. I know those two words don’t mean shit, but I intend to back them up with actions. I mean, obviously it’s going to be a while before I can prove myself. But I won’t forget you or what you’ve done for me.

You said if I left, I was no longer your family. And I deserve that. But I’m going to hope like hell to make amends and change that.

Forever your brother,

Brandon



Ivy lifted her head. “I want to see him.”

Kel shook his head. “You can’t, at least not yet. Soon as it’s possible though.”

Brandon had turned himself in, for her. Shock and grief spilled into regrets. And relief. “He finally chose me. I actually . . . have a brother.”

Kel nodded and his gaze softened as he stroked a strand of hair from her face. “That’s not all you have.”

She marveled over that as Kel pulled her into him. “I have you.”

“You have me,” he agreed huskily, pressing his lips to her temple.

This was greeted by cheers and catcalls, reminding her they had an audience. An audience filled with people who loved and cared about her, which gave her such a feeling of joy, her eyes prickled with happy tears.

He’d warmed her from the inside out. And she figured, hoped, that while nothing was a guarantee, it was worth the risk. He was worth the risk.

He tilted her head up to look into her eyes and said, “You’re worth the risk,” making her realize she’d spoken out loud. “I’ve never felt like this for someone, Ivy. Never.”

Her breath caught at the way he looked at her, held her. “Me either. But we started so fast, what if we . . . burn out?”

“Not going to happen,” he said fiercely. “We started strong, we stay strong.” He pulled back just enough to shoot her a melt-her-heart smile. “I’m all yours, Ivy. For as long as you’ll have me.”

Which was going to be a good long time, she thought happily, and then she pulled him down for a kiss to seal the deal.





Epilogue





Five years later



Ivy stood against the farthest fencing of Kel’s—their—Sonoma horse ranch, staring out in wonder and surprise as tiny little snowflakes drifted from the sky. It never snowed here, or in the city where she and Kel spent most of their time, and she couldn’t stop smiling.

“Look, Kenzie,” she whispered to the three-month-old in a baby carrier against her chest. “It’s snowing for Christmas Eve.”

Her baby girl wasn’t at all moved by the snow, or her mama’s excitement. Nothing disturbed Kenzie when she was napping. Ivy ran a finger over the baby’s forehead and felt her entire being soften as it always did whenever she looked at her daughter.

The daughter who looked exactly like Kel, right down to the satisfied smile on her face as she snoozed.

She loved it here. Kel had taken her to Idaho, plenty of times, and she loved it there too, but he’d taken the job with Caleb and sold the Sunshine property.

They were a California family now, splitting their time between the city and her still beloved Taco Truck—which had a legal permit now, thank you very much—and here.

And here . . . owned her heart.

She heard the crunching of footsteps coming her way, two sets. Knowing it was Kel and probably Donovan, she didn’t take her eyes off the gently falling snow.

Two strong warm arms came around both her and the baby, and Kel kissed Ivy’s jaw. “Cold?”

“Not at all. The horses okay?”

“Yes. One of your Christmas presents came early.”