7. Ivy

7

ivy

T onight had been perfect . The best first date in the history of first dates. Not that I was going to admit that to him. I couldn’t make this too easy for him. Besides, I had to protect my heart. If my stubbornness was all I had, I’d cling to it.

And that walk… With his jacket draped over my shoulders, surrounding me with his delicious scent, and the pathway lit with lights, I found myself hoping he would reach over and interlace our fingers together.

My keys were in my hand, and I looked between him and the door. His body blocked it, and the way he towered over me had me swallowing in a breath.

It was easy to forget how tall he was at the restaurant while we’d been sitting down. But now, every inch of difference felt more apparent to me. I came up to his shoulder, barely. I knew I was small, but he made me feel tiny .

If I invited him inside, would he kiss me? Did I want him to? Yes . I did. And that was the problem. If I invited him inside, I’d want him to kiss me. And if he kissed me, well… That couldn’t happen. Because I’d get attached. I always did .

And it would be so easy to fall for Teddy. I knew it would. Maybe that was why I’d been trying to avoid him.

Come home with me . Goosebumps rippled over my skin. Did I want to go? Yes .

I loved Christmastime, even if I’d never cared much for the day itself, celebrating alone. Sure, I had friends, but it wasn’t the same. It was just another reminder that I didn’t have a family, and I didn’t need that.

But with Teddy…

It was absolutely, completely insane to want to go with this man that I’d known for a week, but I did. When was the last time I’d taken a real vacation? I couldn’t afford to go on any extravagant trips, and besides, it was just me. I’d always wanted to see the world, but doing it alone seemed lonely. Maybe with someone by my side…

“Ivy...” He leaned in close.

“Yes?” I wasn’t sure I was breathing. In fact, I knew I wasn’t. Any second now, I was going to pass out from a lack of oxygen. Definitely.

But he didn’t kiss me.

“You don’t have to decide tonight,” he reassured me. “Just think about it. I haven’t even told my mom if I’m coming home yet.”

“But you want to go?” I didn’t want him to make this decision because of me.

He nodded.

“Okay,” I said, my words a soft whisper. It wasn’t an answer, not yet.

“Goodnight, Ivy Winters.” He leaned in to kiss me, and my brain short-circuited.

Was I ready for this? I turned my head slightly, and his lips grazed my cheek.

“You don’t want to come inside? ”

A strangled sound left his throat. “More than you know. But we’re not there yet.”

“Oh.” Why did I sound so disappointed? “But I’ll see you tomorrow?”

He chuckled, and the sound filled me inexplicably. “Sure, sweetheart.”

The nickname made my cheeks warm even more, but I turned away, not wanting to acknowledge why.

“Goodnight, Teddy,” I whispered to his disappearing form as he walked away.

21 days until christmas

“Good morning.” Teddy leaned against the door frame to my office, two cups of coffee in hand.

Did he know how desperately I needed that after last night? I’d tossed and turned all night thinking of his offer. I should have been floating on air after such a great first date—I’d laughed a lot and even wanted him to kiss me. It had been so long, and I’d gotten all dolled up… Even if I chickened out at the end.

Part of me wished he had come inside, but he was right not to. It was better not to get involved with him—not like that . Even if he’d invited me home for the holidays, he would still leave eventually.

Where would that leave me? Alone, just like I’d always been.

I was tired, cranky, and slightly irritable, but just the sight of his handsome face and the delicious smell of coffee in his hands made me perk up. “Is one of those for me? ”

“Yes.” He looked down at the cups in his hands, moving into my office while letting the door shut behind him. “Thought you could use one.”

He handed it over, and I took a deep inhale.

Peppermint mocha . Yum. My favorite.

“Like Christmas in a cup,” I said, doing my best to hold back the small moan as I took my first sip. Delicious. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

But how could I not? No man had ever gone to these lengths with me before. Especially not inviting me to Christmas with his family. It wasn’t like we were dating, but the offer made me feel warm and fuzzy. Though I tried not to let that show, putting on an air of professionalism.

“Did you mean what you said last night?”

“About you coming home with me?” He settled into the chair across from me, watching me with an amused look as I took another sip.

“Yes.” I nodded. “Because I appreciate the offer, but I couldn’t impose on your family.”

“Oh, believe me. They won’t mind.”

“Still. I couldn’t possibly—” I shook my head. “I have a job to do. No matter what your position is within the company, there’s no way you can replace me that quickly. I’d have to train someone, and?—”

“Why don’t you let me worry about that?” Mischief was written all over his face.

“When would we leave, anyway?”

“One week.”

“What?” I spit out my coffee, doing the mental math. “But that’s still two weeks until Christmas. I can’t take that many days off work. I have to pay my rent, Teddy. And my car payment. I know this might be a strange concept, but?—”

“Don’t do that.” He frowned. “Don’t treat me differently now that you know who my family is. I’m still the same me I was before I took you out to dinner.”

That was fair. He’d explicitly told me he hated how people treated him after finding out how much he was worth. Was I doing the same thing? It wasn’t like I was asking him to pay my rent.

“I just…”

“Please.” His green eyes bore into me with so much sincerity that the yes was on the tip of my tongue. “What do I have to say to convince you?”

“Where are you from again?” All I knew was he grew up in a small town up north, though I had no idea what that meant. Montana? Alaska? Canada? If every Christmas was a white one, it had to be somewhere up there.

“It’s a tiny town in… Northern Canada. You won’t find it on any map.” He chuckled. “No one’s ever heard of it.”

“Oh.” I gnawed on my lower lip. Why did I want to say yes so badly? “And it snows there.” It wasn’t really a question. I was just trying to find any reason to say no when I so desperately wanted to say yes.

Christmas in a tiny, snow covered town? It sounded like something out of my dreams—or maybe a romantic Christmas movie.

He laughed. “Yes, Ivy. It snows.”

“What are the chances said tiny town is obsessed with Christmas and has over-the-top decorations everywhere?”

“High.” Teddy gave me a smirk. “Come on, Ivy. Say yes. I know you want to.”

I frowned, holding up a hand. “Wait. I don’t even have a passport.” I’d never left the country. Had never really had a reason to before now.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything, sweetheart.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “Okay. Yes. I’ll come home with you for Christmas.” Definitely not what I meant to say. I meant to insist I couldn’t, absolutely not , but then I’d gone and opened my mouth and done it anyway.

“Great.” A grin split his face like he was pleased with himself. “And Ivy?”

“Hmm?” I asked, looking up from my paperwork to Teddy, who still stood in the doorway.

“Pack warm. I’ll pick you up.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, feeling flustered. “I can get a ride to the airport. Or I’ll call a ride. You’re already doing enough for me.”

“Nah.” A dimple popped in his left cheek. “I think I’m doing just the right amount.”

“What do you mean, you’re leaving for two weeks?” Sarah shrieked on the phone. As soon as Teddy had left my office, I’d called her. It was her day off, so I couldn’t go find her in the park.

“Um, well… You know how you’re always telling me I should go out more?”

I could practically feel her rolling her eyes. “This is definitely not what I meant.”

“He invited me home with him for Christmas, Sar. How could I say no?”

“I mean, yeah. Have you seen that man?” She whistled. Of course I had. I wasn’t blind. “But still. This is so not you.”

She was right. This was completely out of character for me. And yet… “It feels like I’ll regret it for the rest of my life if I don’t do this. If I don’t see where this thing is going.”

“You really like him, don’t you?”

“No.” My denial came way too fast, and I knew she’d see right through me. “I just… after our date… ”

“It’s okay,” she sighed. “I know you’re going to fall in love and leave me forever.”

Fall in love? That seemed like a bit of a leap.

“Why would I leave you?” I scrunched up my nose. “This is just for Christmas. Besides, he’s leaving eventually. The park is just a pit stop for him while he learns all the aspects of the business.”

Her tone was full of warning. “Ivy…”

“And he’s hot ,” I whispered, a confession that maybe I shouldn’t have given. Hot was an understatement. He was undeniably handsome. I’d never been this attracted to someone before Teddy.

“So hot,” Sarah agreed. “Do you trust him?”

I closed my eyes, staring up at the ceiling. Yes. I did. Maybe that was the problem. “Yes,” I finally answered her out loud. “I think I do.”

“Then I think you should go. It’s just two weeks, right?”

“Right.” Two weeks, and then I’d come back.

15 days until christmas

What did I think I was doing? I’d packed two suitcases with every warm article of clothing I owned—which was, unsurprisingly, not a lot, considering the usual climate of this state. Maybe there would be some sort of store wherever he was from where I could get a few other things to wear. I certainly couldn’t wear the same pair of jeans every day if I was going to be there for two weeks.

“This is a mistake. Oh, God. What am I even thinking? I can’t be gone for two weeks. ”

With a stranger. And okay, sure, he wasn’t really a stranger anymore. I’d known him for two weeks and tolerated his presence—okay, mostly liked him—for at least half of that. But I still barely knew him.

Did that matter when my heart sped up any time I was around him? I’d catch him coming into my office at random times during the day like he just wanted to see me.

And maybe I wanted to see him, too.

“But does that mean I’m not crazy?” I asked myself. Maybe I needed to get a dog. At least then it wouldn’t seem like I was talking to myself, which I was definitely doing.

My doorbell rang, and I let out a long breath before opening it.

Theodore was standing outside my door, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, a sweater thrown over his arm.

“Are you ready?” He asked me, looking at the bags I’d piled around the door.

I shrugged. “Honestly? No.” A nervous laugh bubbled free from my lips. “I had no idea what I should pack. I’ve never even been somewhere cold before.”

“You’re going to love it.”

“I hope so.”

He stepped inside, and my breath caught in my throat. Teddy was standing so close to me, his vibrant green gaze locked on mine, and it flickered down to my lips before meeting my eyes again.

“I know so,” he finally said.

“O-okay.” I let out a ragged exhale. “So, how are we getting there?”

“Flying, of course.”

I frowned. “Did you forget I don’t have a passport?”

“I said I’d take care of it, didn’t I?”

He had, but that didn’t mean he’d follow through. What kind of guy could take care of something like that in a week ?

Teddy reached behind his back, pulling out a folded blue booklet. I blinked.

“How did you even do this?” I flipped it open, looking at the page with my photo.

Somehow, it felt like I had more questions than answers for the strange things that Teddy did. Still, if it meant I could see the world—even a part of it, I guessed I shouldn’t complain. “Thank you.” I cradled the document against my heart. “This means so much to me. Truly, I don’t know how I can make this up to you.”

He chuckled. “Survive Christmas with my family, and that will be all the thank you I need.”

Survive? I was going to thrive . This sounded like the best vacation I’d had in years.

The only vacation I’d had in years. I was going to savor every moment. Especially the ones I spent with this man by my side.

I just hoped I could resist him long enough to protect my heart.