Page 118 of The SEAL's Duchess
Ivy sagged against him—relief, not weakness.
“Thank you,” Ivy said.
Sarah nodded. “Just doing my job. But...” She looked between them. “I’m glad you’re both here to see it.” She took a step back and touched Ryder’s cheek briefly. “I’m glad you listened.”
That conversation when she’d told him point-blank to tell Ivy how he felt.
“Me too,” he said.
“Love you, little brother.” She looked at Ivy. “And Ivy—for what it’s worth? You’re family now. Mom and Dad feel the same. We all do.”
Ivy blinked. “Thank you, Sarah.”
Sarah smiled. “See you Sunday.”
Her cruiser disappeared down the road, and the house was quiet again except for Ellie’s giggles coming from her room. Ivy turned to him, eyes shining. He drew her close with his good arm.
“I love you,” she said softly. “And your family.”
“They’re yours now too.”
For too long, survival had meant keeping the world at arm’s length.
Now it meant this—arms full, heart steady, future wide open.
Ivy rested her head against his chest, smelling of his shampoo and vanilla. He drew in a slow breath, memorizing the weight of her against him, the sound of Ellie laughing.
This. This was everything.
His forever.
42
Ivy pausedwith the basket of chopped firewood in her arms. The familiar rattle of an ancient Ford, engine knocking like it had opinions about still being alive, cut through the chill air.
She grinned. “Jack.”
Ryder downed his ax and wiped his brow. “With your brother?”
“She offered to collect him from the airport.” Jack’s battered blue Ford lurched into the driveway. “I think she wanted to vet him up close.”
“Christ,” Ryder muttered. “Poor bastard.”
Ivy laughed. “You’re not wrong.”
The truck screeched to a halt and the passenger door opened. George pitched out, his green coat flapping, hair askew.
Jack hopped out of the driver’s side, grinning. She wore her usual—faded jeans, work boots, flannel shirt under a canvas jacket that had seen better decades. The bruises on her face had faded to yellow-green shadows, and her ribs were healed enough that she moved without wincing.
“Delivered him in one piece.” She patted the hood of her truck affectionately and then yanked open the back door. Eighty pounds of enthusiastic dog launched itself onto the drive.
“Deezle!” Ellie shrieked from the front door.
She jammed her feet into her rain boots and shot down the porch steps. Diesel met her halfway, tail whipping back and forth hard enough to throw off his balance. Ellie threw her arms around the dog’s neck. “Me lub, Deezel.”
George stepped carefully around the reunion, brushing dog hair off his coat. He pulled Ivy into a tight hug and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Missed you, Ives.”
She hugged him back, breathing in his familiar scent of wool and citrus cologne. “You too.”
