Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(51)

You could wrap your arms around her and keep her warm, Alex. This is very true. Okay, maybe it was a brilliant plan, after all.

“What would you like to drink, Ivy?”

“Champagne, please.”

To the side, I grab the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket and pop the cork, then pour us each a glass and place it back. The sound of the motors starting alerts us to the boat leaving the dock.

“Thank you for coming tonight,” I say, raising my glass to Ivy.

“Thank you for inviting me,” she replies, raising her glass back at me before taking a sip. We fall into a comfortable silence as we watch the city lights begin to move past us out the boat’s window. Ivy sighs and snuggles into me as we take in the view.

“How’s work going?” I ask, starting off the conversation.

“So busy. We’ve had heaps of press contacting us after the design nominations. Next week I have some press engagements to attend. I hate them so much. Being interviewed is right up there with my worst nightmares. I’m hoping to defer to one of my team, but as boss and the person whose name is on the door, I might not be able to delegate quite so easily.” She sighs.

“You’ve got this. You talk so passionately about your work that it will shine through, I promise,” I tell her, hoping to give her some encouragement.

“Urgh, I know. It’s a silly fear. It will be great for business, and it’s nice being acknowledged for my work.”

“I hate talking at board meetings,” I confess, which has her brows raising high. “The board is filled with my father’s stuffed-shirt friends. They are all like dads to me, and every time I stand in front of them, even though I’m their boss, I still feel like I’m being lectured to by my dad or worse, being called into the principal’s office. It’s like everything I know suddenly vanishes from my brain and is replaced with some sort of foggy mush.” My confession pulls a smile across Ivy’s lips.

“Never thought you’d ever be lost for words.”

“Never around you, that’s for sure.” I smirk then take a sip of my drink. Ivy smiles, and I love the fact I was able to make her cheeks blush pink. Leaning forward, my lips practically touch her ear. “My mind seems to always be overflowing with all the words I could say to you,” I say huskily as I watch her skin break out in goosebumps.

“Like what?” she asks, turning her face over her shoulder to me.

“Words like … you look ravishing tonight,” I mummer against her skin. “That I’m the luckiest man in London to be on a date with you. I can’t keep my eyes off your lips, especially because I know how much I loved them wrapped around my dick.” Those last words have Ivy choking on her drink at my forwardness. She did ask. I am about to continue with more lewd thoughts, but one of the staff members enters the room and lays down a seafood platter on the table with sides of fries, garden salad, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable medley before disappearing again.

“Wow! This smells divine,” Ivy muses as we sit back up and add food to our plates. Silently, we devour the delicious meal, talking about this and that between bites before it’s cleared away.

“How’s your friend’s wedding coming along?” I ask.

“It’s coming along, but not like she has much say in it.”

I love that she’s upset for her friend.

“It sucks because she doesn’t have many friends coming to support her. Friends should be there regardless of what you think about the choice Olivia has made. Seems like the only people who will attend are her parents’ friends. The friends who mean so much to her won’t attend, unfortunately, being Team Axel, and they definitely won’t show up no matter what.” She sighs.

I guess it’s understandable, but I also see Ivy’s point.

“Least you and your sister will be there to support her.” Ivy’s shoulders drop. Oh no, what did I say wrong?

“Cam’s not going. Her loyalties lie with the Dirty Texas crew. I mean, her best friend is married to Axel’s twin.”

Right, so that’s a little messy.

“I’m sure her friend would understand if she came to support you.”

Ivy looks up at me with her eyes wide. “You think?” she asks quietly.

“I would for my brother.”

“Yeah, maybe I’ll ask again.” She sighs. “Speaking of your brother … how are things going for The Paradise Club opening?”

“He assures me everything’s on track. Are you coming to the opening?”

“I haven’t been invited. I’m not a member of The Paradise Club.”

“Do you want to be a member?” I ask curiously.

“Maybe. Not going to lie, I’ve thought about it since coming home, but the thought of going alone is more than a little intimidating.”

“I could show you around,” I tell her.

“You would? I thought you said you wouldn’t share me when we got back to London,” she states with a smirk.

“There are so many things to do at the club that don’t involve other people. But if you do desire to be with someone else, then I can’t stop you. I would rather not watch or know about it,” I tell her honestly.

“Not sure if I could watch you with another woman, either,” she confesses, which surprises me.