Wrapping my arms around her, I pull Ivy into my chest. “Always, Poison.”
We make love that morning, and I make sure to make her come. The look on Ivy’s face when she orgasms with me inside her is something I cherish. I can’t stop staring at Ivy’s smile, her eyes, the light shining from her. When it’s over, she lays back in bed and lets out a sigh. Reaching for her phone, Ivy grins at me.
“Spoonful of Sugar has over five thousand followers on Instagram already! We haven’t even sold a single pastry yet. There’s such a big buzz for the opening. I think all those free samples we gave out have worked.” She glances at me, grinning. “And maybe all those rumors flying around that you’ve been in the bakery have helped, too.”
“It’s all you,” I respond, kissing the tip of her nose.
Ivy leaves before I do, and I take my time getting ready. I don’t want to steal her thunder by bringing paparazzi to the bakery, but I want to be supportive of her. Using the back streets, I make my way to the bakery. I pull a hat onto my head and slip some sunglasses on, rounding the corner right as Ivy opens the doors.
A smile drifts over my lips when I see the lineup of people waiting outside.
Ivy is beaming. She’s wearing a red ribbon in her hair, and a t-shirt with her new bakery’s logo on the front. Sweeping her arm toward the door, she welcomes the waiting customers in. Taking a few steps forward, I shake my head.
When we set up the interior of the bakery, Ivy insisted on having one corner of the room dedicated to social media. I thought it was silly, but she shook her head, and told me that she’d learned a thing or two in her time being Margot’s assistant.
She had a swing installed in one corner, with a backdrop wall full of flowers. Lighting was installed especially with selfies in mind. People can sit on the swing with a cupcake in their hand, getting the perfect picture to post online.
I thought it was stupid—but I was wrong.
As I get closer to the building, I can already see influencers with multi-colored cupcakes posing next to the wall. Ivy has moved behind the counter, and is serving clients with an ear-to-ear smile.
I slip inside the doorway, keeping my sunglasses on. Ivy’s eyes lift up to mine, and her smile somehow widens. There’s a hum of energy inside the bakery that warms my heart. She’s already sold out of her special apple cinnamon buns, and a lot of the muffins and pastries are flying off the shelves.
George appears from the kitchen with another tray of baked goods, beaming at Ivy. Bread is stacked behind her, and the twins Georgina and Giselle are making coffee after coffee after coffee.
My heart feels light.
For the first time in years, I helped achieve something that wasn’t for myself. Even the small part that I played in making this bakery come to life makes me feel like I’ve done something good, for once.
I slip out of the bakery again, and let my feet carry me down the main street. I glance at shops, restaurants, cafes, and I revel in being normal. No one is mobbing me, I don’t have bodyguards, there aren’t any paparazzi following me around.
I’m happier than I’ve been in years, and it’s all because of Ivy.
31
Ivy
At the end of the opening day of Spoonful of Sugar, my feet hurt, my whole body aches, and I can’t keep the smile off my face. When the last customer leaves, I sink down into a chair and let out a sigh.
Giselle grins at me from the other side of the counter. She’s leaning against it, her bright orange hair tied in two pigtails, with different silver rings on every finger.
“Not bad, Ivy. Sold out of almost everything except the fig and almond tarts.”
“A few loaves of bread left, too,” Georgina says, nodding at the baskets displayed behind her.
I shake my head. “If every day goes by like that, I don’t know how I’m going to keep up.”
“Well, you can always take us on full-time,” Giselle grins. “I wouldn’t mind working here a few days a week. Those influencers were hot.” She grins, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Keep it in your pants,” her twin replies, nudging her with her shoulder. “But seriously, we could ask the boys if they want to help out.” ‘The boys