Love to Hate You (Hope Valley #9) - Jessica Prince Page 0,64

go. You make it grow until it burns wild and out of control, scorching everything in its path.”

I released a shaky breath, my eyes darting down to Micah’s lips, desperate to taste them. “That sounds dangerous.”

“Only way to live. You soak what you can out of life and burn wild, baby. Anything less is only half a life, and what’s the point of that?”

Pressing harder against him, I lifted my face just a bit closer, whispering, “So you’re gonna hold on and let me burn?”

“Not a chance, Red,” he said emphatically. “I intend to get caught in your flames.”

Then he kissed me, igniting a fire deep in my belly I wasn’t sure would ever go out.

Chapter Twenty

Hayden

My stomach sank as soon as I spotted that red Mercedes turning onto our street.

“There he is! Look, Mommy!”

“I see, love bug.” I smiled, careful not to show how sad I was that my girl was going to be gone for another weekend. I was looking forward to some quality time with Micah over the next couple of days, but what I’d told Sylvia a couple weeks back still rang true. Handing Ivy off for a weekend wasn’t ever going to get easier.

He pulled up to the curb, and sure enough the bitch formerly known as my best friend was sitting right beside him, her large sunglasses doing nothing to hide the glower she was directing at me through the window, like I’d done something to her.

Alex climbed out of the car and rounded the hood, scooping Ivy up as soon as he reached her. As much as I couldn’t stand the sight of him, I’d always count my blessings that he was a good dad to our daughter. Even though our marriage failed, she still had us both, and that was all that mattered to me.

“Hey, monkey. It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too, Daddy!” She hugged his neck tight before pulling back quickly. “Can we gets ice cream for dessert again?”

He looked down at her and let out a small laugh. “We’ll see, honey. Did you have a good week?”

Yuh-huh! I gots to play with my friends at daycare and go in with Mommy to the flower shop. Oh, and I gots a new treehouse!”

Alex looked a bit baffled as he turned to me. “You built her a treehouse?”

Ivy got there before I could answer. “My best friend Mike made it. And he gave me six dollars for the swear jar, but Mommy made me give it back,” she added with a mild pout.

“Mike? Who’s Mike?”

“Mike is—” I began, but before I could get anything else out, Ivy began to squirm, demanding her father put her down, and shouted, “There’s Mike!”

Micah’s truck came growling around Alex’s car and turned into his driveway. Instead of pulling all the way in, he stopped close to the street and climbed out. He was still dressed for work in a pair of gray slacks and a sage green button-down that did incredible things for his eyes. His badge was still hooked to his belt, adding an element of authority to his already drop-dead gorgeous appearance. Taking in all that was him just then, it was a wonder I didn’t spontaneously orgasm.

“Hey, Monster,” he greeted as she ran up to him. She launched herself into the air, and he caught her with ease, spinning her in a circle that made her squeal before settling her on his hip and closing the rest of the distance between us. Watching that, I nearly swooned into a puddle right there on the walkway.

Before I had a chance to do that, he moved right into me. Looping his free arm around my waist, he pulled me into his chest and bent his neck, pressing a lingering, claiming kiss to my lips. When he pulled back, he still didn’t bother acknowledging Alex’s presence as he asked, “You have a good day, baby?”

“Uh.” It took practically nothing for this sexy man to leave me tongue-tied. “Y-yeah. It was good.”

“And what about you, Monster? Good day?”

“Yep!” Ivy told him.

Alex cleared his throat then, demanding attention. He looked at me incredulously. “This is Mike?”

“Micah, actually. Only Ivy calls me Mike.” Oh damn. I curled my lips between my teeth and had to lower my head to hide my laughter. “And you are?”

“Alex,” my ex grated out. “Ivy’s dad.” His gaze bounced between the two of us a few times before finally settling on me, his tone almost accusatory as he