6. Teddy

6

teddy

M y palms were sweating as I gripped the steering wheel, trying to distract myself from the beauty of a woman sitting in the passenger seat. Wow was an understatement. She was stunning. An absolute bombshell. She’d done something different with her eyes, and those pouty red lips begged to be kissed. We hadn’t really touched, skin to skin, where we were open and vulnerable with each other.

But did I want to? Yes .

Fuck, I needed to pace myself. Maybe I was doing too much, trying to impress her. But the way her eyes had lit up when she saw the truck told me it was a good use of magic. Though I only had so much before I had to return to the Pole.

Still, she was here with me, and I knew I hadn’t made up this attraction between us. It was almost electric, and I wanted to explore it. Which meant I needed an excuse to spend more time with her. Maybe then I could figure out what ran through her veins and the reason it felt like something in her called to me .

It had to be the magic I detected inside of her. It couldn’t be anything else.

I pulled up to the restaurant, and her eyes lit up. “Are you kidding?” Her jaw dropped open. “This place is so nice. And expensive .”

“I can afford it,” I said with a chuckle. “Part of the perks of being a stuffy executive.”

She blushed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry for assuming?—”

“It’s fine,” I reassured her. “Besides, you’re not completely wrong. Lots of people in positions like mine have lost touch with the company. They lose sight of what’s important.” Turning to face her fully, I locked my gaze on hers. “I won’t ever lose sight of what’s important, Ivy.”

Ivy shifted in her seat, and I got out, going around and opening the door for her.

“Oh.”

“I believe the words you’re looking for are, thank you, Teddy ,” I said with a wink, holding out my hand to her to help her out of the truck.

“Thank you, Teddy,” Ivy parroted back, mocking me.

I caught her eyes and grinned. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“I believe the words you’re looking for are, you’re welcome, Ivy .”

Catching her hand, I brought it up to my mouth and kissed it. “You’re welcome, Ivy.” There wasn’t even a hint of teasing in my voice.

Her cheeks were tinged the slightest shade of pink. “Should we go in?”

With a nod, I guided her into the restaurant, the palm of my hand resting on the small of her back possessively. That tight red dress that clung to her curves dipped low in her back, showing a sliver of bare skin, and it made me feel a little crazy.

After telling the hostess my name, we were quickly seated at an intimate two-person table in the corner, and I did my best to take my eyes off of her. It was hard, though, because I finally had an excuse to study her in excruciating detail.

Those gorgeous reddish-blonde waves. Her beautiful blue eyes peeked up at me through long lashes. Full, soft-looking lips painted red.

She slid her snowflake necklace pendant back and forth on the chain as she studied the menu. I’d ordered a bottle of wine when we sat down, not wanting to get interrupted again too quickly.

Because I was telling Ivy the truth when I told her I wanted to get to know her. I wanted to know everything there was about her. Maybe then I could understand why she fascinated me so.

“What are you getting?” Ivy asked, looking up at me. “I have to admit, I’m a little overwhelmed.”

“Probably the pot roast with potatoes and carrots,” I said, clearing my throat and trying not to make it seem like I’d just been staring at her. “But I heard the steak is good, too.”

“Carrots? What are you, a reindeer?”

I laughed. “If only.” She really had no idea where I’d grown up.

“Huh?”

“Nothing.” I shook my head.

The waitress came over with the wine I’d ordered and a basket of bread, saving me from further questioning, and we both ordered our meals before she scurried away.

Once she was gone, Ivy propped her chin up on her hands, her elbows on the table as she studied me. “Tell me more about yourself. ”

“What do you want to know?” I asked, running my fingers through my brown hair.

Ivy shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel like I’ve told you lots of things about myself, but what do I know about you?”

Chuckling, I took a sip of my wine. Where would I even start? “I’m from a tiny town, so when I turned eighteen, I went in the exact opposite direction and moved to a big city for college. I had all these plans.” That seemed safe.

She nodded, encouraging me. “And?”

“And I hated it. The noise, the traffic, how it felt like I was surrounded by a million people, and yet no one really knew me.” And wasn’t that still the case? Who really knew me? Even my parents only knew the part of me I showed them.

Everything else—everything I kept inside? That was the real me. The one who longed for all the things I knew I couldn’t have.

“So what happened?”

“I graduated at twenty-two. Left the city. Went to work at my family’s company. I started in the Finance Department and worked my way up to where I am now.”

“Wait. Your family’s company?”

I tilted my head to the side. “Yeah. Didn’t you know?”

“No.” She frowned. “Was it common knowledge or something?”

“Suppose not. But Clausen and Claus Family?—”

“Oh.” Ivy slapped her forehead, interrupting me. “Duh. That should have been so obvious, huh?”

“If it helps, I didn’t want it to be. I could have started at the top, but I like this part. Getting to see how the company actually works. It helps me determine where I can make changes to improve efficiency. I’m always working on developing our ventures and finding new ways to create capital. I couldn’t do that if everyone constantly fell over my feet, knowing I was the heir to the family enterprise.” Because when people realized I was worth millions—potentially billions—of dollars, they treated me differently. Thankfully, no one back home cared about that.

“Huh.”

“What?”

She shook her head. “I just couldn’t help but think how different our lives have been. And yet… here we both are.”

“Here we are,” I agreed. Reaching my hand across the table, I laid my hand over hers and then squeezed slightly. “And I’m grateful you’re here, Ivy.”

Our food arrived, and I reluctantly drew my hand away as we started eating. It smelled amazing, and I was glad to have a moment of reprieve from the conversation. It led to a discussion I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

We shared some small talk as we ate—Ivy’s favorite parts of the park and the places she loved to visit in the surrounding area. In return, I shared my favorite places from my travels around the country, visiting the different businesses my family owned. If she thought it was strange that they all had one thing in common, Ivy didn’t mention it.

Switching topics, I drew our conversation back to her. “You said you didn’t know much about your parents?”

“No.” Hurt seeped from her. “Just that they’re gone. Both of them.”

“But you don’t know where they came from?”

She shook her head. “I would assume the government did, but… they never told me. My dad was in the military, so they moved all over, and all I know is there was no other family to take me in. That’s how I ended up in foster care.”

I rested my hand over hers. “I’m sorry, Ivy.”

“That’s just life, isn’t it?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I mean, I’m sorry that no one was there for you. If, for any moment in your life, you felt unwanted.”

“Oh.” A blush covered her cheeks. “I—Thank you.”

“Of course.” I nodded, taking my hand back. “So, I told you about my career path. What about you? Why management?”

Ivy looked relieved at the change in topic, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean? It makes sense. And I knew I’d have a stable job.”

“You don’t strike me as the kind of girl to pick a career because it’s practical, Ivy.”

Not when she was this fiery spitball who loved to argue with me. I could already tell she wouldn’t back down from a fight. She might have fit right in at the park, but that didn’t mean she was flourishing here. Eventually, it would kill her spirit. Maybe it already had. Maybe there was something more out there for her.

“Well… I originally wanted to major in art. My favorite activities growing up always included making things. And maybe I could have become an art teacher or something eventually if I’d gone with it. But Christmasland… it’s been good to me.” She poked around her dish with her fork. “So I can’t complain.”

“But you’re not happy.”

“What do you mean?” Her brows furrowed. “Of course I’m happy. I just do that stuff as a hobby now. I have a little craft corner in my apartment, and it’s great.”

I’d noticed that before, when she’d let me inside her space. The space that was devoid of decorations.

“What do you like to make?”

A smile broke out on her face. “This might sound dumb, but…”

“Believe me, sweetheart. Nothing is going to sound dumb from you.” Not when I was hanging on her every word .

“Christmas ornaments.” Her face lit up when she was talking about this—something she loved. “My friends are always trying to get me to sell them at markets, but I feel like taking something from a hobby to a job can ruin the fun, you know?”

Ornaments . That was adorable.

An idea was already forming in my head. But did I have the will to upend her entire life? If what I believed to be true was correct, everything she knew about herself was about to change.

How I was going to convince her to come with me, though… That was a separate problem.

Our dessert, though delicious, didn’t compete with my mom’s white chocolate peppermint cheesecake.

Would Ivy like it? If she even agreed to my idea.

“Should we walk?” I asked her, standing outside the restaurant. It was nice outside for an early December day, even in Florida.

She nodded. “Sure. Why not?” The street was lined with trees covered in string lights, giving it a cozy ambiance.

Ivy shivered, and I draped my jacket around her shoulders.

“Oh.” Ivy looked up at me, cheeks pink. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Besides, I’m not even cold.”

“I bet it’s way warmer here than where you’re from, huh?”

Definitely. That was an understatement. “It’s not so bad,” I said instead. “I’ve got a fireplace in my house. It’s cozy to sit in front of on the cold winter nights.”

Ivy let out a small sigh. “That sounds nice. I have to admit, I’m jealous.”

“The perfect Christmas,” I agreed.

“Tell me more about it,” Ivy asked, her eyes lit up.

I froze, my heart beating a million miles in my chest as I sputtered, “What?”

“What was it like for you growing up? You said you always had a white Christmas, didn’t you?”

Oh . Letting out my breath, I nodded. “Yeah. My dad worked a lot during this season—always has—but Christmas Day was always my favorite day of the year. Finding that special present under the tree, playing with it all day, eating cookies, and watching movies by the fire… Those are some of my favorite memories.”

Ivy gave me a hesitant smile. “That sounds amazing.”

“What about you? What are you doing for Christmas?”

“Honestly, the last few years, I’ve just worked.”

I frowned. “Where’s your Christmas Spirit ?” That and the bare apartment seemed so at odds with the girl I was beginning to know.

She shrugged. “Perks of working for an amusement park that’s open three hundred and sixty-five days a year. Barring any major hurricanes, you work on holidays.”

“I suppose you’re right.” I let out a sigh.

“What are you doing?” She asked, throwing my question back at me.

I blinked, not expecting that. “Well… I hadn’t decided yet. It’s always been my dad’s busy season, and I guess I’ve adopted his work ethic.”

“But you’re not spending it with your family?”

“I might. My mom’s working hard to get me to come home for Christmas. I’ve never spent one anywhere else.”

“I’m sure that will be amazing.” A small smile formed on her lips, but it felt sad. Like my words were a reminder of what she didn’t have.

I could change that . Stopping on the sidewalk, I turned to face her. “Come home with me.”

“What?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not going to?—”

“For Christmas,” I clarified, cutting her off. “Come back with me. You can experience all of it.”

“Are you crazy?”

For you.

“No.” I let out a small chuckle. “But I want to spend more time with you. And I want you to know what it’s like. A real Christmas.”

She looked away, that curtain of strawberry blonde hair covering her face so I couldn’t see her reaction. “I don’t know, Teddy. That’s a lot. And even if I wanted to, I have my job, and I can’t just leave right before the busiest time of the year.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it. Like you said, I’m the big boss, remember?” I winked.

“You might just be the most stubborn, frustrating man I’ve ever met. Do you even know how to take no for an answer?”

“Not when I know what I want.” And what I wanted was to see her eyes light up as she watched the snow fall on Christmas Eve. Among other things that I knew I shouldn’t. “That’s why I’m so good at business.”

She bit her lip. “Just business?”

“No, Ivy,” I said, leaning in closer to her. “Not just business.”

Her breath caught in her throat, and I stepped backward, out of her personal space. Even though I desperately wanted to wrap my arm around her waist and pull her tight against my body.

“I don’t know why I keep saying yes to you.”

I flashed her a grin. “I do. It’s because you like me. ”

“Absolutely not.” She wrinkled her nose. “I definitely do not like you.”

“Admit it, sweetheart.”

“No.” Ivy crossed her arms over her chest, a small scowl on her face.

I sighed. “Fine. You’re going to make me do this the hard way, aren’t you?”

“Do what?” she looked genuinely confused.

“Win you over.”

And win her heart.