Wrapped Up in You - Jill Shalvis Page 0,67
hates surprises.”
She held his gaze for a beat and there was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes before she smiled. “But the good news is that tonight wasn’t your idea.” She turned to get out and he caught her, pulling her back around to face him.
“What?” she whispered, then gasped as he pulled her over the console and kissed her.
She froze for a single beat before melting into him, sliding her fingers into his hair while letting out that soft sexy little sound she made when he kissed her deep, like she couldn’t get enough of him.
“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly when he pulled free.
For letting me in . . . “For coming with me tonight. But brace yourself. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
Ivy wasn’t about to admit she was also nervous as hell. This was Kel’s family, which made it personal, which in turn made it intimate. She didn’t do intimate. “It’ll be fun,” she said out loud for Kel’s sake.
His smile was a little grim. “Yeah. And maybe hell will freeze over.”
She looked at him and knew she’d been right to encourage him to come here. “I know this is hard on you. But things change. People change. And think of it this way. Your mom actually wants you in her life. Think about how you might feel if she didn’t.”
His gaze softened and he brought their joined hands up to his mouth. “Your mom doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “This isn’t about me.”
“I’m okay,” he said. “And though I appreciate what you’re doing, you don’t have to try and comfort me here. I’m a big boy.”
“As I well know,” she said and absorbed his small laugh. “But also . . . I’m not all that good at comforting.”
“Actually . . .” He sank his fingers into her hair and held her gaze. “You’re much better at it than you think.”
Her heart skipped another beat. At this point, she was going to get arrhythmia from her feelings for him. “Come on,” she said, tugging him up the walk. “And hey, look at it this way, it can’t possibly be as bad as you’re imagining. Plus, don’t look now but we’ve been spotted.” She nodded her chin to the picture window of the small, pretty, and decorated for the holidays Victorian, where his mom stood looking out, smiling at them. When Kel tensed, Ivy tightened her grip on his hand. “Too late to run now. And smile. You look like you’re headed to the guillotine.”
He spared her a quick look and found her smiling. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Oh yeah.”
They were quickly ushered into the house by Remy’s husband, Ethan, who looked like a nervous wreck. “Tell me the truth,” he said. “Am I crazy for allowing this? She’s going to be surprised, and she hates surprises. And I hate our couch. I really don’t want to be sleeping on our couch for the next ten years, which is how long she can hold a grudge.”
Kel clapped him on the shoulder. “Look at it this way. It’s too late to run now.”
Ivy slid him a laughing gaze, and when he flashed her a grin, she felt her heart catch. Damn. He was potent.
“Great,” Ethan muttered, making Kel laugh.
He had such a great laugh, one that somehow never failed to soften her from the inside out. As did watching his easy relationship with Ethan. She might not have had close relationships with any blood family to count on, but she could appreciate one when she saw it.
Ethan drew a deep breath. “Okay, so here’s where we’re at. We’ve got ten minutes before we all hide in the dark living room and give my wife the shock of her life.”
Kel nodded and turned to tug Ivy into the kitchen to get a drink. They nearly ran right into his mom.
She clasped her hands tight and smiled bright. Too bright. She was clearly every bit as nervous as Kel. “Son,” she said quietly. “I’m so happy you came.”
Kel had gone still, showing no reaction at all. Unless you knew him. If you knew him, there was the slight tightness to his mouth and the purposefully blank eyes.
Ivy “accidentally” stepped on his foot.
He sucked in a breath, “Me too.”
Ivy removed her heel from the top of his toes and smiled at him.
His mom’s husband, Henry, came up beside her, sliding an arm around her, extending his other hand to Kel.
There was a terribly awkward