Page 37 of Saving Ian Pope

“Uh, sex.”

Her eyebrows shot up, and she clinked her glass against mine. “Yeah, I’ll miss that, too.”

I grinned. “I think I almost have you convinced. It’s the sex that’ll push you over. Oh, and I even have a dog, if that helps.”

“You do?” She crossed her hands over her heart. “A big dog?”

“Just a little thing.” I held my hands about two feet apart. “His name is Scruffy.”

“Scruffy? Un-ironically Scruffy?”

“Nope, just Scruffy. My daughter named him.”

“Then it’s a perfect name. I’ll think about it. I can’t leave with you this week, though.” She shoved me out of her way and padded to the kitchen table, set for breakfast in the usual charming manner.

I’d miss more than the sex. In fact, I had the desperate feeling that I wouldn’t be able to survive without her.

As she sat down, her phone rang, and she answered it. “What’s up, Chloe?”

I carried my breakfast to the table and sat across from her. “Tell Chloe...” I stopped when I got a look at Ivy’s pale face.

She stuttered. “A-are you sure?”

“What’s wrong?” I hunched forward, elbows on the table.

“It was awful. Yeah, I’ll have a look.” She paused. “No, I’m sure it’s okay. You’re right.” She leveled a finger at my laptop on the table, and I dragged it toward me.

“Thanks, Chloe. I’ll be fine. See you in a bit.”

“What was that all about?” I flipped open my laptop. “And what do you want me to do with this?”

She pressed her hands against her pink cheeks. “We’re online. Those freakin’ paps already sold our pictures.”

Chapter 13

IAN

I eased out a slow breath.

“Chloe said there are pictures of us from last night online. Go to those British sites.” Ivy stuffed her hands beneath her thighs, and her knees bounced up and down.

Bloody hell. That was fast. I knew exactly which sites to check, and I maneuvered to the first one. I scrolled down the right-hand side, and the thumbnail picture jumped out at me. I clicked on it, holding my breath. This had better have been worth it.

Good picture. I unclenched my jaw. I looked...normal, Ivy a beauty at my side. I skimmed through the shots, and they’d published the ones right after I’d noticed the paps with Ivy still smiling and laughing up at me, even one of us sharing a kiss.

I tilted the laptop toward her, so she could see. “Yeah, that’s us.”

“Ugh.” She covered her face with her hands. “What does it say?”

I cleared my throat. “Ian Pope snapped outside a Van Morrison concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with stunning auburn-haired mystery woman.” My lips twitched. Jack had almost nailed the headline.

“Stunning? Does that really look like me?” She leaned forward, squinting at the display. “I guess it does.”

“You look great. What are you worried about?”

Her lips tightened a fraction, and a shadow darkened her eyes. “What else does it say? Did they report on that photographer’s nasty questions?”

“Let’s see.” I tracked my finger along the words on the screen. “Former boybander, blah, blah, blah. Rehab, blah, blah. Troubled singer, blah, blah.” I raised my hand. “Ah-ha. Pope looked to be in good spirits, flashing his signature smile.” I grinned at Ivy, showing all my teeth. “He and his date seemed to be having a good time as he ushered her to his waiting limo. Well, it wasn’tmybloody limo, was it?”

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