Page 27 of Ajax

“That’s no reason to treat you the way they do. You don’t work for them.”

“I know,” she whispers. “I’m glad I’m here, but it’s not easy to leave.”

She meets my gaze. The internal fight is obvious. I’m sure she loves her family, but if I had any idea they were so awful to her, I would have swooped in a long time ago.

“Whatever relationship you have with them going forward, it’s up to you.”

She swallows hard. “My dad …”

“Can look after himself. You said it yourself. Both he and your brother are grown men. This is the guilt kicking in.”

Ivy nods.

“I love your eyes. They remind me of my favourite cow. All big and brown.”

Ivy’s lips quiver, and she lets out a bark of laugh that fills my heart.

“Thanks for that.”

“Made you laugh.”

She nods. “You’re really not what I expected.”

I quirk a brow. “What did you expect?”

Ivy shrugs. “I knew there had to be more to you than the big, silent man who only spoke to me when he ordered a drink.”

“Is that how you thought of me?”

Her smile is so gentle. “Digby, Cookie, and even Shane talk a lot more than you do. It always looked like you were taking part in the conversations without talking. If that makes sense.”

“Do you want to know the truth?” I ask.

She laughs. “Of course.”

“I usually wasn’t listening. My focus was on your arse as you went from table to table.”

She snorts. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve had my eye on you for a long time. I never thought …” My throat tightens. “I never imagined you’d given me a second thought.”

“Really?”

“You’re younger than me, and gorgeous as hell. What would you want with a miserable, scarred fool like me?”

Ivy brushes her hand down my torso until she reaches my cock—my cock that’s hardened with her soft body being in my arms.

“I can think of a thing or two,” she whispers.

“You only want me for my body,” I chuckle

Her grip tightens, and I suck in a breath. This woman undoes me. I’ve never met anyone like her.

And now I’ve got her, I’ll never let her go.

TWELVE

IVY

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