word from New York?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
“Brooks is making some phone calls, so we’ll see what happens. I know we’d all like to stay, but tomorrow we need to go. You can stay a few days if that’s what you guys want, but I wouldn’t stay too long, makes it look like you’re hiding,” he says.
“I’ll try to talk to her and see what she really wants.”
The next few hours are nothing but laughing, drinking, and talking. It’s relaxed and fun, something we haven’t had. Mia and Finn have been flirting and Riley has had no problem pointing it out. Ivy, Harper, and Mia talked for a while in the bedroom and it took all my restraint from going in there to demand they include me.
“It’s been great meeting you all, but I need to get going,” Mia says. “Ivy, call me when you get your phone tomorrow.”
“I guess we’ll go find a hotel,” Zane says, standing up.
“No, you guys can stay here,” Ivy says.
Riley laughs as he stands with Zane. “You’re nice Ivy, but my ass isn’t sleeping on the floor.”
“I’ll stay on the couch,” I say, crossing my arms.
Ivy says goodbye to everyone and when she closes the door, she leans against it. “You don’t have to stay. I’m fine, you can be with your friends.”
I slowly walk toward her, her brown eyes following my every step. When I reach her, I put my hands flat on the door above her head and look down at her. “I don’t want to be with them, I want to be here with you,” I whisper. She gives a visible shiver and I grin. “I want to talk to you without fighting.”
She searches my eyes and nods. “I’d like that.”
I push off the door and take her hand in mine, leading her to the couch. When we sit down, I turn to face her. “I know it’s late and you’re probably tired, so if you want to talk in the morning, we can do that.”
“No, I’d like to talk now,” she says.
I nod and run my hand through my hair. “Tell me what you want Ivy.”
She looks down for a minute, but before I can force her to look at me, she lifts her head. “I wanted to move here and start a new life. I wanted a fresh start, but it seems everything is all but forcing me back to Vegas. I’m jobless and don’t have enough money to survive. I won’t be able to get a job that will allow me to afford this beautiful apartment and view.” She takes a deep breath and bites her lip. “I don’t want to be here raising the baby by myself. You want to be in his or her life and I don’t want to be the reason you aren’t. Harper said she’d hire me back at Souls Two and I’ll look for a place while I try to get out of my lease here.”
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face as I look at her. It’s almost everything I wanted. I reach across and grab her hand and this time she doesn’t pull away. “We all want a fresh start, sweetheart, but running from it never works. I’m sorry it didn’t work out how you wanted, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy you’re moving back. You don’t need to look for a place to stay, you’ll stay with me. I already told you I want you there.” I pull her closer to me and grip onto her hips. Her breathing hitches and it makes my cock take notice. “I pushed you away because I have trust issues, not because I didn’t want you. I’ve never been more attracted to another woman. You’ve gotten under my skin without me even noticing and I’d like to see where this goes.”
A tear runs down her face and I quickly wipe it away. “I’m not scared of you Kace, I’m scared of falling for you and losing you.” She dips her head biting her lip. “I owed you that truth.”
I reach up and pull her lip from her teeth. “I’m not gonna walk away, sweetheart. I’m not that guy.”
She lifts her head and her sad eyes slam into mine. “I’m scared you’ll be killed, not walk away.”
The realization hits me hard and I close my eyes. I lean forward and rest my forehead against hers. “I’m not going to be killed. You’re giving me