Page 43 of Start With A Slap

“I’m not worrying, Sever. Forget it.”

He squinted at her. “It’s a girl.”

Ivy gave up. “Did you sell your soul for that ability?”

“Another woman,” he awed with a smug chuckle. “Well, that makes things simpler for me.”

“Wh— No! You don’t understand; he didn’t do anything. Hewon’tdo anything.”

Sever cocked his head, presumably for a better view of her brain. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes!” She let out a sigh. “I trust him. I just... don’t trust her.”

“‘Her’ being...”

“This evil lawyer; they have a history.” She knew she shouldn’t be telling him this; but she was on her second cocktail and she wanted to get it off her chest. “The first time we met she told me they had hot angry sex whenever they worked together.”

“And he’s working with her right now.”

“Yeah.” She noticed a young couple kissing as they walked down the cobblestone street. “Go ahead, say what you’re dying to say.”

For a long moment, Sever was silent. Finally, he picked up his wine glass, gazed into it and said, “He wouldn’t dare to lose you. You’ve nothing to worry about, Ivy.”

Their gazes met; his begrudgingly sincere.

He focused on cutting his duck fillet. “He knows what you’re worth. I’ll give him that.”

This uncharacteristic display of altruism — of a pink, beating heart under all the raisined black — confused her more than ever.

To the point that she had an intense vision of crawling over the table and shoving her tongue into his mouth.

“...You all right?”

“Uh-huh,” she said, voice cracking. “Fine. I think um, I’m tired.”

He waved for the bill. “Let’s get you home.”

Home.She knew he meant her temporary home, but for a moment, she envisioned living in Paris and felt a pang of discontent.

In the ride back to the hotel, Sever’s phone rang. He sighed and apologized, he had to take it. He gave her a glance now and then while he talked, but left it at that. He wasn’t putting on a show or ignoring her, he was simply being …normal. It was weird, but welcome.

“Thanks,” Ivy said when he helped her out of the car. “I appreciate that you’re, you know, keeping up your end.”

Her hand still in his, he glanced at her lips. “Bit tougher than I thought, but...” His adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. “You deserve some respect, I suppose.”

Ivy smirked. “Thanks, I think.” He was softly, absently running his thumb over her palm, but she didn’t stop him. “What time do I start tomorrow?”

“Bright and early,” he said. “Noon.”

She chuckled, and their hands detached. “I’ll see you then.”

“Don’t be late.”

“I won’t.”

When she got to the elevator, she hazarded a glance at the revolving doors and saw that the car was only then driving away.

CHAPTER 13

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