Page 21 of Decked Out with Ivy

Karen’s eyes snapped to hers, and she bit her lip, though Ivy could see the smile fighting through. “You have the perfect tour guide, especially if you want that whole Christmas vibe. We call Ivy, Little Miss Christmas around here.”

“She’s doing a fine job so far, even got me in the snow to cut down her tree.”

Karen handed Ivy a cup, then handed Cody one. “Isn’t that something?” Ivy knew the look in her eye. She was about to be on a four-way call with her mom, her aunt, and Susan Wells. Lord help her when those texts started coming through the family chat.

“You two have fun now, you hear,” Karen said, and Ivy snaked her arm into Cody’s and hurried him away.

“She seems nice,” Cody said.

“She’s very nice, but she’s also one of my mom’s and my aunt's closest friends, and I can bet every penny to my name she’s on the phone right now, telling them everything.”

“You want to put on a show?” Cody asked, and Ivy slid her arm out of his just to smack his chest. “Absolutely not!”

He laughed, and the sound was as joyful as it was infectious.

“The only show we’re putting on is for the cameras. Let’s go see the reindeer, then get that tree to my house.”

“Whatever you say, Little Miss Christmas.”

She rolled her eyes as she made her way to the barn, but secretly she loved that he used the nickname she’d been blessed with when she was a kid.

Chapter 8

Ivy didn’t live far from the tree farm, but she insisted they stop on Main Street and look at the windows. Apparently, she was in competition with the woman who owned Sweet Dreams Bakery. Ivy admitted she didn’t want to beat her; she admired her work too much and thought the owner deserved the win.

Cody was tempted to offer the funds she needed to compete, but he realized it really wasn’t about the win for Ivy. She enjoyed the process of decorating and sharing that common love with other people. Which was why they didn’t just stop and look at the window of Sweet Dreams Bakery… but wound up inside the pink-covered building.

The glass cases were filled with many cupcakes, and Cody had to remind himself he hadn’t worked out in a few days. He had to maintain a certain physique, and since he already had a hard time getting the leading roles, he didn’t want to add to the list of reasons why he wasn’t castable.

“Ivy!” An attractive woman with a golden-brown complexion and black hair threw her arms in the air.

“Louise,” Ivy answered just as Louise’s eyes landed on him. Her smile dropped, and her eyes narrowed.

“You,” she growled.

Cody pointed to his chest, confusion swirling inside of him. “Me?”

“You were a jerk to my friend, then I see you two lip-locked across my socials. You might have won Ivy over, but I might need a little more convincing.”

“Ivy and I got off on the wrong foot,” he admitted.

“You could say that,” Ivy said. “But we’re good now. Better than good.”

“Liar,” Louise said.

Ivy’s eyes widened, and mouth dropped open into a perfect O. “I am not!”

“I’ve known you since we were five. You’re lying.”

Ivy’s teeth slid over that bottom lip he’d been thinking about all damn day. “Can I tell her? She’s one of my best friends. She’s not going to tell anyone.”

“Tell me what?” Louise asked.

He inhaled, completely aware that if the truth got out, his career was as good as done. But the way her light brown eyes pleaded with him, he couldn’t tell her no.

“As long as you trust her.”

“With my life,” Ivy said.

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