Chapter 25

“Bloody hell, Ivan. What have you got in here, cement blocks?” I lift another box to take into the house. We’re leaving most of the furniture in his house, but only because he admitted it’s old shit he doesn’t care about. Not because I’m insisting on new or my furniture from the London house.

“It’s just books and stuff. No cement, I promise.” He grins, his eyes twinkling. “You’re a big, strong man. You can manage it.”

With an eye roll, I carry the box into the living room. He can unpack it and fill up the rest of the fitted bookcases on one side of the fireplace. With the remainder of the boxes placed haphazardly on the floor, the room looks the same as when I had my belongings turned up.

Merrick sidles up to me and links his arm through mine. “It’s déjà vu, isn’t it? We seem to have done nothing but move house for a year.” He bumps his shoulder into mine. “It’s good to see you so happy, Brode. You shocked the hell out of me, but it’s good.”

Now’s the time to tell him about Ivan. I’ve kept it a secret for too long, and it doesn’t matter what he thinks. “Would you believe me if I said Ivan was the man I hooked up with in London?”

Merrick drops his arm. I try not to laugh as he gapes like a goldfish. “I, um, what the hell, Brodie? And you kept this to yourself since December? Does anyone else know it? Does Drew?”

I rub my nape.

Merrick narrows his eyes. “Drew knows? You told him before me?”

“I didn’t mean to tell him. It just sort of happened. Drew pushed a few buttons about my relationship with Ivan, and I told him. It isn’t a secret, just something that doesn’t matter anymore. We’re together and committed to each other. That’s all that’s important.”

“It must have been one hell of a surprise to see him at my house. Is that why you left as soon as you could? Did he follow you?” He shakes his head. “I can’t believe it. I mean, what are the chances of Ivan being in the same place as you in London? Then you being here. That is some cosmic shit. No wonder you look so happy with him. It’s fate.”

“What’s fate?” Ivan asks as he walks in with another box and places it on top of another one.

“You two getting together.” Merrick smiles. He seems to be over being left out of the loop.

Ivan looks at me, the softest smile on his lips and in his eyes. “It sure was. Best night I’ve ever had.” He leans in and kisses me. Butterflies swirl lazily in my stomach. God, I want to be alone with him.

Luckily, it’s only another hour before we have carried the last boxes into the house and Drew and Merrick drive away in his truck. As Ivan opens one of the boxes, I wrap my arms around him and kiss the back of his neck. “Hmm, alone at last. I thought they’d never leave. Which room do you want to christen first?” I scrape my teeth up his neck, revelling in the shudder running through him.

He twists around to face me. “As wonderful as that sounds, and trust me, we’ll be doing that, I’m hungry. Let’s go and get some food.”

I want to protest, but my stomach lets out a growl a lion would be proud of. “Fine. But you’d better make good on your promise.”

“It will be my absolute pleasure, baby.” His kiss has my toes curling and my knees weakening.

How have I lived through so many mediocre relationships, unaware of what being in love truly feels like? I lose myself in him, his touch, his taste. The feel of his skin against mine can make time stand still. Sometimes he only has to glance at me, and I stop what I’m doing and just watch him. He gives me a smug look. Damn him. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

He takes my hand and waggles his eyebrows. “Are you up for some meat?”

“I was hoping for that, but I’ll just have to settle for a steak. Come on, lover boy. Let’s go and fill your stomach.”

I wake up as Ivan kisses my cheek. “Surf’s up. I’m going to catch the waves for a couple of hours. Do you want to meet me on the beach later?”

“What time is it?” I mumble, my mouth not quite in tune with my brain.

“Seven thirty.”

“Okay, be careful.”

“Always.”

I close my eyes and go back to sleep.

When I walk down the beach, I can’t see Ivan or any other boards out on the water. Near the rocks, a group of about six people are chatting and laughing. One of them is Ivan, his wetsuit down to his hips, the arms tied around his waist. Does he know them? Is he teaching them? The crowd disperses until it’s just Ivan and a tall, dark-haired woman. She runs her hand down his bare chest. Ivan tenses and takes a step back. I stop walking, my heart in my throat, waiting to see what he does. Could this be Kate coming back to claim him?

Ivan shakes his head and looks around. When he sees me, he visibly relaxes and smiles. The woman follows his gaze, and her earlier flirty expression turns into disappointment. Ivan strides to me, his long legs covering the space between us.

“Hi.” He pulls me to him. He smells of the sea and his shampoo, a scent I’m getting familiar with. “I’m done. Unless you want a go? The swell is down now, perfect for a beginner.”

Before I can turn him down, the woman snickers. Ivan lets his arms drop from around me. “Brodie, this is Emma. She’s been coming here for the last four or five years. She started as a complete beginner but has moved up to tackle the biggest waves.”

“It’s been six years, Ivan. I’m sure you remember.” She bats her eyelashes. I’m pretty sure they’ve hooked up in the past, and she seems to want to again, but my man is having none of it.

“It’s a no from me, for today anyway. I’ve got a class later.”

“You’re a teacher?” Emma asks me. “I bet the kids love you.”

“I’m a gym instructor.” I’m so ready to get the hell away from her.

“Oh, so you’re the hot instructor everyone’s talking about. Maybe I’ll come to a class while I’m here.”

I don’t like the vibe she’s giving off. She needs to get away from me and my man. “Sorry, but my classes are full, and I’m not doing any taster classes to assess your fitness.” I hold out my hand to Ivan. “Shall we go?”

Ivan takes my hand. “See you around, Emma.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will. It was good to meet my competition, Brodie.”

Ivan’s face hardens to an expression I haven’t seen before. “There’s no competition, Emma.”

We walk away, but I feel her eyes on my back as we get farther away from her. “She’s not going to give you up that easily, darling.”

“She can try all she likes. I’m not interested in anyone but you.”