anywhere.
“Ivy? What’s wrong?” I cut to the chase. In just her one-word greeting, I can tell she’s in some kind of trouble.
“Eric, hey.” She swallows on the other end in attempt to compose herself. “I thought I’d call and see how you’re doing.”
The caller ID is displaying the digits to her cell and I write them on the back of my hand in case we get disconnected or something. I’m not losing contact with her, not again. Her reaching out to me is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. I’m not going to mess this up. It’s too important.
“I’m fine, but you don’t sound so good. Where are you? Not still at the office I hope.” Lauren works some crazy hours and I wouldn’t be surprised if she was burning the midnight oil while simultaneously running Ivy into the ground.
“No.” There’s an unmistakable pause like she’s debating whether or not to tell me where she is. “I’m actually behind the pizzeria in the Midland Shopping Center. Don’t ask why. I needed to get away from someone, that’s all.”
“What? Do you need me to come and get you?” Adrenaline courses through me. What if she’s hurt? What if someone attempted to hurt her? What the hell is she doing there?
“It’s cool, Eric, really. I had a killer of a day and then an old friend told me something that upset me and I just couldn’t deal with it. I’m probably blowing things way out of proportion and getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes, but I needed some space. I felt like life was suffocating me.” She lets out a sigh and an ache surrounds my heart. “But I already feel better talking to you. That’s why I called. I know things have been weird between us and I don’t want to get in the way of anything you have going on with Lauren, but I needed to…”
“You don’t have to explain. I get it.” I quickly transfer the call to my cell phone, pulling it out of my pocket. She continues talking as I rush back to the washroom, shoving my feet in my dirty boots. Turning off the light, I lock the door of the garden center and jump in my truck.
“What’s that?” The roar of the engine in the background startles her. “Eric, please tell me you’re not doing what I think you’re doing.”
“Of course I am. I’m coming to get you.” The cab rattles as I drive a little too fast over the bumpy road.
“Turn around, or I swear I’ll be gone by the time you get here.” She’s threatening me, but I think she’s bluffing. I just have to keep her talking in order to distract her. I need her to be there when I arrive. I have to see her again.
“Oh no, you don’t. You called me out of the blue needing help. Do you really think I’m going to turn you down?” My tone is adamant. She has to realize how much I care about her. I’m not the type of guy who plays games with women. If she wants me, I’m all hers.
“Are you bringing your wonder dog, too?” There’s a hint of a chuckle in her voice, and I can’t help but think back to how we first met and how I cradled her in my arms.
“Nope, Shep’s most likely snoring away on my feather bed, muddy paws and all.” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. I’ve got no game whatsoever. There’s nothing sexier than telling the girl you can’t stop thinking about that your sheets are stained with paw prints.
“Awww…” And her reaction unthaws a piece of my heart I never thought would melt. She’s a good person through and through and that’s the reason I’m falling so hard for her. Sure, she has a killer body, and the kiss we shared made me want to take her right there against the porch railing, but it’s more than just the physical with her. She makes me want to live again.
“So tell me about the dress you’re wearing to the gala. Don’t girls like to talk about clothes and stuff?” She laughs and I hope I’ve bought myself a few more minutes. I’m barreling down these dark country lanes with my high beams on. If a deer happens to
“Ivy? What’s wrong?” I cut to the chase. In just her one-word greeting, I can tell she’s in some kind of trouble.
“Eric, hey.” She swallows on the other end in attempt to compose herself. “I thought I’d call and see how you’re doing.”
The caller ID is displaying the digits to her cell and I write them on the back of my hand in case we get disconnected or something. I’m not losing contact with her, not again. Her reaching out to me is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. I’m not going to mess this up. It’s too important.
“I’m fine, but you don’t sound so good. Where are you? Not still at the office I hope.” Lauren works some crazy hours and I wouldn’t be surprised if she was burning the midnight oil while simultaneously running Ivy into the ground.
“No.” There’s an unmistakable pause like she’s debating whether or not to tell me where she is. “I’m actually behind the pizzeria in the Midland Shopping Center. Don’t ask why. I needed to get away from someone, that’s all.”
“What? Do you need me to come and get you?” Adrenaline courses through me. What if she’s hurt? What if someone attempted to hurt her? What the hell is she doing there?
“It’s cool, Eric, really. I had a killer of a day and then an old friend told me something that upset me and I just couldn’t deal with it. I’m probably blowing things way out of proportion and getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes, but I needed some space. I felt like life was suffocating me.” She lets out a sigh and an ache surrounds my heart. “But I already feel better talking to you. That’s why I called. I know things have been weird between us and I don’t want to get in the way of anything you have going on with Lauren, but I needed to…”
“You don’t have to explain. I get it.” I quickly transfer the call to my cell phone, pulling it out of my pocket. She continues talking as I rush back to the washroom, shoving my feet in my dirty boots. Turning off the light, I lock the door of the garden center and jump in my truck.
“What’s that?” The roar of the engine in the background startles her. “Eric, please tell me you’re not doing what I think you’re doing.”
“Of course I am. I’m coming to get you.” The cab rattles as I drive a little too fast over the bumpy road.
“Turn around, or I swear I’ll be gone by the time you get here.” She’s threatening me, but I think she’s bluffing. I just have to keep her talking in order to distract her. I need her to be there when I arrive. I have to see her again.
“Oh no, you don’t. You called me out of the blue needing help. Do you really think I’m going to turn you down?” My tone is adamant. She has to realize how much I care about her. I’m not the type of guy who plays games with women. If she wants me, I’m all hers.
“Are you bringing your wonder dog, too?” There’s a hint of a chuckle in her voice, and I can’t help but think back to how we first met and how I cradled her in my arms.
“Nope, Shep’s most likely snoring away on my feather bed, muddy paws and all.” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. I’ve got no game whatsoever. There’s nothing sexier than telling the girl you can’t stop thinking about that your sheets are stained with paw prints.
“Awww…” And her reaction unthaws a piece of my heart I never thought would melt. She’s a good person through and through and that’s the reason I’m falling so hard for her. Sure, she has a killer body, and the kiss we shared made me want to take her right there against the porch railing, but it’s more than just the physical with her. She makes me want to live again.
“So tell me about the dress you’re wearing to the gala. Don’t girls like to talk about clothes and stuff?” She laughs and I hope I’ve bought myself a few more minutes. I’m barreling down these dark country lanes with my high beams on. If a deer happens to
Similar Books
