Chapter 20

Waking up with Ivy snuggled into my side, her head on my chest, was something I could get used to. My phone vibrated once from the nightstand and I reached toward it, pausing when Ivy shifted. I opened the text from my brother.

Declan: How's the house in Phoenix coming?

Me: I have no idea. I haven't checked in.

Declan: You haven't checked in? It was your obsession.

What did I say? My current obsession was naked and lying in my arms?

I sent him back a guy shrugging emoji before a flash of white coming from the bathroom caught my eye. I looked over just as it disappeared under the bed.

What the hell was that?

I stiffened and tried to lean up on one elbow to see if whatever it came out from under the foot of the bed.

"Morning?" Her voice held a bit of a question in it. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head, not wanting to voice the thought in my head, but I did anyway, regardless of how crazy it sounded. "I think I just saw the ghost."

"There's no way you saw a ghost." She propped herself up on one arm, looking at me. "You're hallucinating."

"I'm not hallucinating. I'm telling you, I saw a white flash move across the room and dart under the bed."

She rolled her eyes. "Not you too."

I shrugged. I saw something. But what the hell was it?

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and glanced around. "Where's my tank top?"

I sat up, looking around the floor of the four-poster bed. "The ghost probably took it."

With a chuckle, she stood up and pulled her pajama shorts up over the globes of her ass. "There's no such thing as ghosts. Here, I'll prove it." She squatted down and then quickly stood back up. "Nothing under there but dust bunnies."

"Yeah, because it did its ghost thing and disappeared."

She placed her hands on her hips. "You're about as ridiculous as Kai."

"I'm not the one standing there topless because a ghost ran off with my shirt," I teased. With a snicker, I got up, picking my clothes up off the floor to put them on and feeling relieved that none of them were missing.

She sighed before going to the dresser and grabbing a T-shirt. I handed her the sweater she'd been wearing yesterday and hung from a bedpost. She took it from me with a smile before putting each arm through.

Shane had already left for school and Maia was doing Blair's hair when we came out into the living room. After getting everyone's breakfast, Maia headed out, and I sat with Blair, studying a few math facts and assuring her she'd do fine on her math test.

Once all the kids were off, Ivy and I took our spots at the kitchen table. She asked my opinion on a website she'd just finished designing, and I gave her some feedback before my phone rang.

I stepped into the kitchen to pour myself another cup of coffee as I answered the call from my contractor. "What's up?"

"Can you be here Monday for the inspection?"

"Wait…" Inspection? Were they done already? When was the last time I talked to him? He'd texted a couple of questions over the last few weeks, but other than that, I hadn't really checked in. Swallowing, I lifted my gaze to Ivy, who was still tuned in to what she was doing. "You're done?"

"Yeah, you told us five weeks wasn't fast enough, so we did it in three."

He was right. That was what I wanted. So why didn't I feel more excited about it?

"Ok. That's…" I frowned. "Fine." Shit, I was being an ass. "Great." I cleared my throat. "That's great."

"Uh…thanks." He probably thought I was a moron at this point.

"But I'll be there," I assured him before hanging up.

Ivy cocked her head as she turned to look at me. "What's the matter?

"I have to fly back home next week." I rubbed the back of my neck. I wasn't thrilled but what could I do?

"Why?" The word left her lips slowly, almost becoming two syllables. Her brow rose, and the question I knew she was asking was more about coming back.

"It will just be a day or two. Renovations are done, inspection is Monday at noon. And I have to be there for it."

"Oh."

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. For two months, I'd been looking forward to this day, waiting for this to be done. But now, the last thing I wanted to do was leave. Luckily, I had an excuse to come back.