Page 7 of Ivy

That bitch almost ruined me. She cheated on me and made me out to be the bad guy. I’m a big guy, which is why Peaches callsme ‘Beast’, but Tina used that to her advantage. She told people that I had cheated on her. I hated her for what she did. I carried a lot of rage inside me for months after. Boxing helped with the anger, which helped me build up the muscle.

Ellie slapped her across the face at a restaurant one night, and my family do not condone any type of violence, unless it’s warranted. I left town because I couldn’t deal with the stares and the whispering around me.

When the boys asked me to come back and join Castle Ink, I jumped at the chance. I thought enough time had passed that it was a good time to come back home. I bought my modest four-bedroom house, and it’s perfect for me. I added a drawing room and a gym. No need to pay membership when I can just walk up my stairs.

I lay in bed thinking about how to get Ivy to come to the party with me. I know my family will never let up until they meet her. I have never, not ever, taken a girl home to meet the family. Hell, I haven't even talked about my interest in a girl before. Poor Ivy, she won’t know what hit her when she meets the Baker family.

Chapter 4

Ivy

It’s Friday afternoon and I’m sitting in the storage cupboard at Castle Ink sorting through all the supplies. I do the inventory now, which Dex loves because he hated doing it. Addy used to do it, but now, with little Phoebe, she’s had to cut back her hours here, so I told them I would take on the job. It doesn’t bother me, and I’m happy to help family out.

Family.For so long it was just me and Mum, until Carter came along.

Now I have two brothers, two future sister-in-law’s, and a beautiful niece, who I love to pieces. I even see Liam and Penny and their three kids as family. My heart has grown a hundred times bigger in such a small amount of time. I love them all. My heart is lighter knowing I have them in my life.

My blissful thoughts are cut off when I hear the most obnoxious laugh ever to be heard by a human ear. I turn my upper body to see where it’s coming from and my heart freezes.

Luke stands just outside his room with a redheaded girl wrapped around him. My heart is once again torn in two directions. My head and my heart know I shouldn’t feel the way I do, but I can’t stop my body from responding.

I need to woman-up or let him go.

As if feeling me watching them, Luke lifts his eyes to mine and his body tenses up. He pulls away and whispers something in her ear. She giggles and walks away. I clench my fists and turn back to my job. Seeing him with these women should make me run a mile, but something holds me to him. I start counting the coloured ink on the shelf, when a shadow falls over me. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is. My body can sense him.

“What do you need, Beast?”

“Now isn’t that a loaded question. You keep asking me this, but you never like my answer, Peaches.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure there are plenty of other women who will be more than happy to help you out.” I take a deep breath, willing my overly-beating heart to calm the hell down. This man has me in knots. I’m sure he brings out the bitch in me. I can never stop my bitter responses to him.

“But I don’t want every woman,” he replies. I scoff and turn on my knees so I’m facing him. He smirks, and I notice the mistake I’ve made. I’m on my knees before this beast of a man, my eyes pretty much level with his dick. And what a dick it could possibly be. Even from this position I can see there is quite a bulge going on in his jeans. Holy shit. I love the way his tight jeans cling to his muscular thighs and outline his growing erection—which should not be happening in the workplace, but WOW!

“Peaches?” He says my name and I can’t stop the moan that slips from my throat. The way he says my nickname… hell, when he calls me by my birthday name, it’s like melted chocolate on a hot, sunny day. A growl sounds above me, and my head snaps up to meet his smouldering gaze locked on mine. His eyes darken, and my heart skips a beat as my knickers get uncomfortably wet. I shift on my knees, moving back an inch or two. I lick my lips and say his name, looking up at him.

“Beast...”

“Peaches, I—”

“Luke, where you at?” Jay’s voice cuts off his words.

“Fuck,” he growls out before storming off back to his room. I let out the breath I was holding—holding for what, I don’t know. For him to ask me out?God, get over yourself, Ivy. Luke Baker couldn’t ever want you as a girlfriend.

I shake the thought from my head and get up to go to my brother. I see him standing by the front desk with Cassie and Dex. I’m happy Luke went to his room rather than staying to see how much he’s affecting me.

“What’s up, big brother?” I ask in a cheerful lilt, trying to hide my inner struggles. Jay raises an eyebrow and studies me for a few moments, like he knows something is wrong, but I force a smile to show him I’m okay?even if it is a lie.

“You. Me. Kitten. We’re going out tonight. Dex and Ads are babysitting. Carter can stay at their house, so you can truly let loose, woman.” He winks at me before his gaze snags on something, or more accurately, someone, behind me.

“Do I get a say in the matter?”

“Nope,” Cassie says all too cheerfully. She is one chipper girl.

“Do I really have to go? I am more than happy for Carter to sleep out, but I can stay in and relax in the bath. I could do with a nice hot soak. Plus, I have a few books I could catch up on.”

“Pleeeeease,” Cassie says, drawing out the word like Carter does when he wants extra sweets or more time in the bath.

“But I’m not really—”

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