Page 9 of By the Book

It’s difficult to focus on the road with Ivy overwhelming my senses. Her presence is sweet temptation, heightened in the close confines of my Defender. She smells of jasmine and vanilla, the same perfume Ruth sent Wes and I to pick up for her Christmas present a few years ago. I send up a silent prayer that it settles into the leather seats and remains long after she’s gone.

When we come to a red light, I steal a glance in her direction. Her hands are perfectly folded over that short little skirt, and she’s looking back at me with those bewitching copper eyes and a soft smile on her lush lips. I turn down the radio, needing tosay something after being caught staring. But only silence hangs in the air between us.

“Thank you for driving me home. I know it’s out of your way,” she offers.

“I’m happy to,” I reply, tearing my gaze away from her lips as the light turns green. “I hope tonight wasn’t too bad for you.”

“It wasn’t. The chocolates helped.” I can hear the smile in her voice. And in that moment, I vow to stock up on those boxes and always keep them handy for her. “It’s really just having to make small talk with all the guys from Dad’s work that gets to me.”

I can feel the scowl cross my face at the mention of the man shamelessly objectifying her tonight. “You shouldn’t have to deal with that.”

“My dad truly doesn’t hear them or notice.”

“Then tell him.” My voice comes out more clipped than I intended and when I look over again, her eyes have gone wide. “I’m sorry, I just hate that they think they can do that to you. And that comment he made after…”

“After?” She twists in her seat to face me.

Shit. I rub my hand up the back of my neck and think back to the moment I had walked by the bar and heard Reid running his mouth about Ivy. He had told his friend that he would bet a thousand dollars he’ll nail the hot daughter before the other guy wins his first case. I’d reacted without thinking.

“Yeah, I walked by him after and heard him make a comment to his buddy—” I swallow and the next words come out tense. “—a comment that I didn’t like. But you don’t need to worry about him.”

“Why?” her voice comes out as a whisper.

Because I had grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away from the party. I had pinned him against the side of the house and warned him that if he ever came near her, spoke to her, or spoke about her again, I’d hunt him down. I had alsoinformed Reid that on this occasion, I’d make an exception and forget that it’s my job to uphold the law. Then I had told him to leave the party immediately.

I blink away the memory, heat rolling inside my chest as we reach her brownstone. I park at the curb in front of her door and turn to face her as well. Settling on the right words that will be honest while ultimately vague, I reply, “I reminded him that it’s not okay to speak to or about women like he did.”

She stares at me in surprise, her lips parted. And I’m helpless to do anything but stare back at her.

“But—”

“Just don’t worry about it. Okay?”

She nods, regaining her poised composure. “Thank you for… everything,” she says quietly. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight. Sleep well.”

I stay parked on her street until she’s inside and I see her lights come on. And then I stay for another minute longer, waiting for the heat to subside.

Chapter 5

Tripp

“Are you allowed back there?” I throw a glance over my shoulder to Millie, who is busy helping herself behind the counter of Café Around the Corner.

“Of course I am,” she scoffs. “Now do you want chai apple or pumpkin?” She clicks the tongs at me as I turn to the display case.

“What’s a chai?”

My question earns an eye roll as she plucks two muffins from their place. I don’t dare ask which flavor she selected for me.

“What are you doing back here?”

My deputy and I turn in unison to see Vanessa walking towards us. “Told you,” I mutter.

“I couldn’t find you and we needed sustenance,” Millie explains, holding up the paper bag of muffins. Vanessa reaches her and they proceed to murmur together, something inaudible from my place on the customer side of the counter.

I cross my arms and lean back against the display case, waiting to be included in the conversation once again. It’s like they are in their own little world. It must be nice to have someone to get lost in conversation with, someone where you simply get lost in them.

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