Page 65 of Redeem Me

I hold my breath, scanning her ankles and her wrists for any signs she’d been tied to her bed only a few minutes ago. The silk ties were a good call. There isn’t a single mark on her.

‘I don’t need checking up on,’ she huffs, her frustration creeping into her tone. ‘As you can see, I’m fine.’ She sweeps her hands over her body in an exaggerated motion.

Dermot steps back, scrutinising his sister from head to toe. ‘Well, maybe return my phone calls every now and again and I won’t have to worry. You’re my kid sister. I can’t help it.’

Ivy rolls her big blue eyes dramatically. ‘The only thing you should be worried about is that I haven’t had my caffeine fix today and I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.’ Her eyes cut to mine, devilment dancing in her irises.

‘I’ll fix that for you.’ I leap to my feet, eager to escape the awkward atmosphere that comes from shagging your best friend’s sister, and being in punching distance of both of them.

‘Another espresso?’

‘No thanks,’ Dermot says. ‘I’d better go. It was a flying visit.’ He drains his coffee and hands me the cup. ‘Are you free for lunch next Sunday?’ he asks Ivy. ‘I can’t do this week. I’m golfing with the guys, but I could do the following Sunday?’

Ivy’s not free. The kids are going to Jocelyn’s and while she won’t be working per se, I have plans for her. Plans which I spent concocting while I was cooped up in the hotel in Monaco.

‘Maybe, if you promise not to spend the entire duration asking me what I’m going to do with my life.’ She folds her arms across her chest.

‘Ivy, I hate to spoil your Sunday fun, but the kids havethat thingon next weekend. I know it’s your day off but…’

Ivy’s eyes flare with understanding. ‘Oh, course, I forgot.’

I swear she’s relieved to be handed an excuse. ‘Maybe Dermot can take me out for a drink instead.’ She arches a defiant eyebrow.

Brat.

If she thinks she’s escaping to a bar without me, she’s wrong. It’s not that I don’t trust her. It’s the men I don’t trust to keep their filthy hands off my woman. They can look, but if any of them so much as lays a finger on her, I’ll rip their head from their neck.

‘We were actually arranging to go out for a drink ourselves.’ I can’t pretend to be apologetic about it.

‘Well, that’s convenient,’ Ivy splutters.

Dermot’s beady eyes dart between us. ‘Jesus, you two are like an old married couple.’

‘Rian’s bought a new club and we’re going, right, Dermot?’

‘What club?’ Ivy perks up at the prospect.

If she is hoping for an invite, it’s not going to happen. Women aren’t allowed at the Luxor Lounge, unless they’re topless on one of the podiums, which Ivy will never be because I don’t share.

At the mention of the gentlemen’s club, Dermot’s gaze drops to the floor as if he’s realised his hypocrisy. How can he stand there being so protective of his little sister, while planning on a trip to the Luxor to ogle what could be someone else’s little sister? ‘It’s male members only. Sorry, Ivy.’

‘Male members?’ Ivy snorts. ‘So, it’s a strip club?’

‘Rian prefers the term, ‘gentlemen’s club.’ I interject.

‘What’s Rian got to do with it?’ A tiny crease forms on her forehead.

I glance at my watch. ‘As of six pm yesterday, he owns it.’

‘Sounds like Rian.’ Ivy chuckles. ‘Don’t worry, Dermot, I won’t grass you up to our parents. This time.’ She winks. ‘We’ll catch up soon.’

‘Call me if you need anything.’ Dermot’s hand brushes Ivy’s bicep.

She tilts her head upwards and rises on her tiptoes to kiss her brother’s cheek. At that second, a gentle breeze blows, across the lawn, wafting her wet, wavy hair back from her neck. The same neck that I sank my teeth into over and over again the past few hours.

Even from ten feet away, the hickey on her neck is unmissable.

Fuck.

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