Page 47 of Decked Out with Ivy

Ivy: What article?

Cynthia sent the link to the article, and Ivy tapped into it.

According to a source close to the actor, he wanted to show Ivy Parker, a proclaimed Christmas Queen, one of his own Christmas traditions. He brought her to the small-town theater, after calling in a favor to Hollywood and acquiring a 35mm film copy of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He bought the theater out, so the two of them could enjoy a very private and romantic date night.

“Watching the Christmas classic is one of the few memories Cody has from his childhood,” according to our source. “He wanted to share it with the small-town shop owner.”

She thought that was private.

Ivy’s lip trembled as she continued to read, a hollow ache spreading through her chest with each word. Her hands shook, breaths came in short gasps as panic, confusion and hurt swelled inside her. Another text came through.

Trey: I don’t think the guy deserves a medal or anything, but that’s cool.

Dad: Speaking of medal. Congrats on second place for the window display!

More texts of congratulations pinged.

She sent a quick thanks.

Was it all a stunt for the cameras? She hadn’t known him that well or for that long. Maybe this was something he did whenever the parts weren’t rolling in… find the most innocent, naïve girl and sweep her off her feet, conveniently during peak PR season.

The pain in her heart twisted and hardened, forming a red-hot shield. The too-happy, the too-sweet, the dumb blonde owner of the local Christmas shop was the easiest target. And he even gotsex out of it. The man did have one heck of a one-eighty in his personality. And she was only Ivy, not some miracle worker.

She banged her phone against her head, squeezing her eyes shut to stop the prickle of tears. She had been stupid all over again, her trusting nature allowing even the most obvious of players in. His reputation was the reddest flag, and she went color-blind just to spread Christmas cheer.

The shield around her heart begged for an accompanying sword. All of Cody’s words had felt so honest and real, but he was an actor. He literally got paid to put on a show. And he put on one hell of a show. Rudolph was nothing more than another publicity stunt. A way to get his name back in the tabloids. To make him look like a leading man off the screen.

She grabbed her keys, flipping the sign to closed as she swept through the door.

Now it was her turn to put on a show.

She had no idea what she was going to say to him when she saw him, but she would figure that out when she got there. Maybe they’d be lucky, and that asshole paparazzo would be there. Then the end of their fake relationship could unravel just as it had begun—on film.

Chapter 17

Cody and Bex were filming their final scene. Their characters just stopped the big mean corporation from destroying their town with a mega resort by declaring the inn a historical landmark. Now they were standing under the mistletoe, ready for their final kiss.

“Joyful,” Ang said. “We’re going for joyful. Show that emotion before locking eyes. Then I want love. Pure love. Think of someone else if you have to when you look into each other’s eyes. I want it to be palpable. Got it?” He clapped his hands together. “Good! Let’s get this shot.”

His mind immediately shifted to Ivy. That radiant smile that lit up her entire face. The way the fire and Christmas lights danced across her body last night. How after cuddling for a while, she reached for her knitting needles to finish a sweater she was working on.

He could do joyful with little to no effort. He was full of it these days.

“I was wrong about you,” Bex said as Ang spoke to one of the cameramen about angles.

Cody turned to her, and she pressed her lips together and leaned back on heels.

“I thought you were just another Hollywood asshole. Lord knows I’ve dealt with enough of them in my life. But you’re not. You just got swept up in the gossip machine, and I foolishly believed all the lies.

“Not all of it was lies, but most of it was.”

“I don’t need the tabloids to tell me your character. You’re a good person, Cody. And if you happen to become a resident of my small town, I wouldn’t be opposed to it. I might even introduce you to a great real estate agent.”

“I might take you up on that.” He tugged on the mittens Ivy made, he insisted he wore for the shot, and smiled. A lot had changed in the two weeks since he came to this little town in the White Mountains. On that first day, never did he imagine that he, the total Grinch of Christmas, would fall so hard for Little Miss Christmas herself.

“Speaking of…” Bex nodded toward the tape that roped off the scene from the public.

Ivy stood there in her down coat and matching mittens. Her nose was red, but it didn’t look like it was from the cold. Not when her eyes were the same shade.

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