Page 309 of Screwged for Christmas

Aspen reached between them and tugged a chunk of hair. “You always did like to play dirty.”

“This recipe landed me several dates with the fine females of the fine UA.”

“You mean the University of Alaska actually let you in?”

Kade straightened an invisible necktie and raised a pinky finger as he sliced several pieces. She snatched another slice up and teased Aspen with his before handing it over.

“If Aspen could get in, I was a shoe-in.” Kade winked at her.

A phone chirped from the office and Kade excused himself.

Alone, Aspen turned to her. “I guess a dinner date turned into a lunch date plus guest after all. See, things tend to work out after all.”

She focused on the bread she had in her hands and pulled a piece off to nibble. “You always did get your way in high school.”

“To be fair, you crashed into my Santa. I should get something for that.”

“If anyone were to ever plan an accident, what better place than in front of a fire station?”

“Almost kismet, if you ask me.”

Ivy’s brows knitted together. “That’s a heavy word to be tossing around. You sure you want to use it?”

He leaned a little closer until she could feel his warmth. She put more effort into tearing off another chunk of bread than needed.

“Unless you want me to use serendipity.”

She scrunched up her nose.

“What else would you call it, then?”

“The Ivy Effect in retro.”

His brow arched in puzzlement.

“Never mind. Just lucky. I guess if you have enough bad luck, some good is bound to come around.”

That earned her another quizzical look. “What do you mean by bad luck?”

She huffed a sigh. “Don’t laugh, okay, but it started way back in kindergarten. But I swear the day I walked from our wedding it grew tenfold.”

He gave a deep sound. A grunt of understanding she guessed.

When she brought her eyes up to his they were focused and full of understanding. “You know, Ivy Sunday, don’t have to talk about if you don’t want to, sweetheart. Nobody here is holding grudges.”

She didn’t deserve him. He was too fucking good for anyone. Damn him.

“At some point, we need to though. I hurt you.” To be honest it started the day she was born. Why she didn’t know. Bad luck of being the first-born girl of the family. Who knew? It only seemed to get worse the day she said goodbye to him. That deserved a deeper look now that she thought about it, but later when she could focus on more than his tantalizing cologne or whatever he used that had her wanting to lean a little closer and breathe a little deeper.

“You did. Don’t expect me to lie about that. I can’t. But you had to do what was best for you. I can’t hold that against you.”

Silence fell between them. If she could feel any lower it would be a fucking surprise.

“I hate the idea of you at the B&B all alone and with no help. Let’s recap the situation.” He served them each a glass of apple juice, brushing her shoulder with his arm as he replaced the pitcher on the table.

“Sorry. No wine. On duty and all that.”

She nodded her understanding.

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