Page 11 of Decked Out with Ivy

“Didn’t they rename it?” Betty asked. “It’s just a letter now, right?”

Terry swiped her hand through the air. “Letter, number, it doesn’t matter. Our very own Ivy is all over it.”

Great. That’s the last thing Ivy needed. She lived a simple life. Heck, she didn’t even have a TV. The last thing she needed was for strangers to know who she was.

“You still haven’t answered the question,” Terry said.

“She’s right,” Betty added. “You haven’t.”

“Because there is nothing to answer. Cody Chance and I are not ‘shacking up’ together.”

“Why not? He’s hot,” Betty said, flashing a smile.

“Betty, you are a happily married woman of sixty years.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m dead!”

“Just admit it,” Terry said. “He’s hot.”

Ivy loved these two women to death, but if she didn’t placate them, they would never leave, and she had a ball of yarn with her name on it just waiting to be turned into something Christmasy and fun. “Fine,” she said. “Cody Chance is hot.”

The bell chimed above the door, and of course, the man of the hour stepped through. Ivy’s heart stuttered in her chest, her mouth dried, and her mind blanked as the man shook the snow from his brown strands. He pushed his hair back with a hand, revealing those Christmas tree green eyes.

A huge smile spread across his too handsome face. “I didn’t know you felt that way about me,” Cody said, and Ivy immediately wished the floor would swallow her whole.

“What a coincidence,” Betty said, glancing between Ivy and Cody.

“No coincidence,” Ivy announced. She did not need Betty Hayes meddling. “Ladies, it’s been lovely chatting, but I have a store to run.”

“And a hottie to talk to.” Terry giggled as she and Betty made their way to the front of the store. Terry stopped in front of Cody and held her hand out. He lifted her knuckles to his lips, pressing a kiss. “I’m Terry. Owner of the Happy Apple. Come by and taste my pie. You won’t be disappointed.”

“Terry, don’t make me tell Walt on you!” Ivy said, not that Terry’s husband would care. He’d probably tell Cody to take his chances. Ivy smiled at the thought. Walt was all talk. He loved that woman with every ounce of his being.

“You are no fun,” Terry said before she directed her attention to Cody. “Unfortunately, I’m married, and so is Betty here, but Ivy is very, very single. You can’t get more single than her.”

“Terry!” Ivy exclaimed.

“What? I’m just telling him the truth.” She turned to Cody. “She’s lovely. Everyone in this town just adores her.”

Terry waved a dainty hand at Cody, and she and Betty disappeared out the door, leaving Ivy alone once again with Cody Chance.

Chapter 5

“What do you want?” Ivy asked, not even trying to hide the disdain in her tone. She was wearing an antler headband and a necklace of Christmas lights that blinked every few seconds. Kelly Clarkson belted outUnderneath the Tree,and the scent of cinnamon filled the air.

Ang decided to film some exteriors, so Cody took advantage of the time. Instead of lounging in his trailer, he called Jim, the driver from the airport, and asked if he was available.

“Not happy to see me?” he asked Ivy, infusing his charm and trying to keep the asshole out of his tone. She was getting cuter by the second.

“That depends. Are you here to buy more sweaters and mittens?”

If she agreed with his proposal, he would buy her entire stock. But he didn’t want to look desperate yet. “I could use a scarf.”

She rolled her eyes and stepped out from behind the counter. Cody’s gaze immediately landed on the red and black plaid skirt that stopped above her knees and shy of her black boots, showing just enough skin. He stared for entirely too long as she strutted toward the rear of the store.

“Are you coming, or do you expect me to serve you like everyone else?”

“I don’t expect that.”

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