Chapter Forty-Five Ivy

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Ivy

S trong, warm arms wrap around my waist, pulling me close, my back to his front. I open one eye; it's dark out still. I peer at the clock that tells me what I already know. It's after 4:30 and Wade is pulling me close to say his usual good morning. The scruff of his jaw kisses through my hair onto my shoulder, and goosebumps follow in the wake of his lips.

"Fuck, I wish I hadn't set the time so early to be there," he groans into my skin, and I smile. Wade's voice is always devastatingly deep and sexy, but in the morning? God, it's on a whole other level.

"You sleep another hour. I'm meeting Dusty and Brent to unload," he tells me.

Thank God . He's wearing me out these days, I've never been one to sleep in but lately I'm stealing any extra sleep I can.

I know he's having a huge fence delivery today to start replacing a large section on the property, and I can easily sneak another hour of sleep in.

I settle my naked skin against him and sigh, my eyes still closed.

"I thought you had no time for that this morning, Mr. Ashby?" I mutter, feeling him hard and pressing against me.

"Fuck … I don't. And today, it's going to be a long-ass day without you," he grumbles into my skin. It's out of the ordinary; we aren't usually apart for more than thirty minutes on any given day.

"Mmhmm," I hum into my pillow. Wade's bed might be the biggest most comfortable bed on earth, always smelling as delicious as he does.

"I am going to get through everything this morning to meet the boys at noon for ax throwing," he tells me.

I nod, still sleepy.

Christmas may be over but it seems there is always something to celebrate on this ranch. Today is CeCe's bridal shower, and I'm surprised they haven't shut the whole town down for it. Wade is meeting Nash and Cole later, and I have my own tasks with Rowan and Angel before heading to the big house for the party.

I rock my ass against him, suddenly feeling a little more awake.

Wade groans into my shoulder as he peppers it with kisses. These are my favorite moments, before the sun is up, cradled in his strong arms, and my heart aches with the feelings that overwhelm me daily. The constant question of how long will I have this for?

A light tap comes down on my ass cheek as he grunts.

"Have to be there by five, Trouble, and you know it. Stop being a little brat or you'll be paying for it later." I feel him slide out of bed with a final kiss on my shoulder.

"Can't fucking wait, Chief," I mutter.

I listen to the comforting sounds of Wade moving around the cabin, and when the front door closes, I hear the sound of my coffee brewing as I let sleep take me for another thirty minutes.

"What time is too early for mimosas? I mean, it is a bridal shower and I'm still single, so I figure now?" Olivia asks, and shrugs as she considers cracking open a bottle of Mo?t and Chandon mid-morning.

Ginger swipes the bottle from Olivia's hand and giggles as she passes it behind her to Cole, then straightens out her maid-of-honor floral pin above her left breast.

Cole blurts out, "Now's a bit early," at the same time Ginger says, "Never too early."

I grin and watch the two of them lock eyes for all of one second before Cole grimaces at her, but he begins untwisting the wire around the bottle anyway. Ginger's either really good at pretending she doesn't notice the way he looks at her, or she's truly oblivious.

"Just need you to use a little muscle before you go, baby." Ginger smiles sweetly.

Cole's grimace dies as he continues to work on the cap for her. She's just really good at pretending, I decide.

The faint slow pop from the champagne echoes in the big house living room, which has been turned into a sort of whimsical, rustic lounge for CeCe's winter-themed bridal shower. White flowers are everywhere, and comfortable pastel lilac and muted mint chairs are placed throughout; twine lanterns grace every flat surface with flickering flameless candles even though it's only 11:30 a.m.

CeCe is checking on every single detail with Jo, both of them moving in sync together, laughing and chatting as they straighten out every glass and ensure the dessert bar is laid out perfectly. Spicer's Sweets has outdone themselves. Cupcakes and cake pops line the table, chocolate-covered fruit and cookies are abundant. Everything is a picture of simple, rustic perfection.

"She's the easiest bride on earth to stand up for because she insists on planning everything herself." Olivia leans into me and giggles as Nash gulps beside her.

"This is just the beginning, my friend." Cole smirks at Nash as he passes Ginger back the open bottle. "You're just along for the ride, bud. Watch this."

Nash's eyes widen like he's truly a little afraid of what Cole will do.

"Nash doesn't like where you've placed the gift table, he thinks it should be closer to the window, so we'll just go ahead and move it?" Cole asks CeCe as he chuckles.

CeCe spins around, looking for Nash in our small group, her eyes narrowed like she's on a mission to set him straight. Nash raises his hands to her before she can speak.

"He's just kidding, baby, the gift table looks perfect where it is. I'd never dream of moving it," Nash says quickly, cuffing Cole around the back of his head as Cole laughs. "You trying to put me in the shit house? Fuck."

"Should've eloped," Cole retorts.

The doorbell rings, and CeCe smiles wide as she makes her way over to us to shoo the boys out. She's the picture of grace in a white, linen dress that reaches the floor. It's strapless, elegant and flowy. I don't think I've ever seen her look so beautiful. The rest of us are wearing soft pastel colors as requested.

"That's our cue to go meet Wade," Nash says as he pulls CeCe close and kisses the top of her head, muttering something the rest of us can't hear. The look in his eyes is intentional and full of so much love.

"It's time! Let's go, girls!" Jo says like she's Shania herself, as she cocks a hip and raises her arms up before she lets in the first guests.

"Don't forget to make sure you're back at three-ish," CeCe instructs Nash and Cole in a voice that says don't mess with the bride .

"Around when? Seven? I got it," Cole says without missing a beat, as Ginger grabs his hat off the sofa and stuffs it into his chest.

"Stop trying to wake the matrimonial beast and do as you're told," she scolds.

"You need to let out some aggression, Vixen? Where are your manners?" Cole chuckles.

Ginger gives him a look of you're done for as he pulls one of her long curls then puts on his baseball hat. He acts cocky, but something tells me he knows he could never take her on.

My phone lights up in my hand with Wade's name.

CHIEF

Five hours to go until I get you alone, the day isn't the same without you Trouble.

Ginger scoffs from beside me when she sees it and my smile, her chocolate-colored eyes dancing with our secret.

"My only question is, why? We all know. We're all adults here." She nudges me and looks at me expectantly. There's no arguing with her that Wade and I definitely have something serious happening.

"It's not a secret, I just think it's almost like if we have the talk, it's real, and then he takes the risk of putting his heart out there, if that makes sense? And Wade's just private. I think we were just both planning on … having fun, and now … I don't know what we are. I don't know what to tell you."

Ginger's giggle is contagious, and I have no choice but to smile back.

"Listen, Janelle did a number on him, hurt him and left him when he needed her most," Ginger admits.

I nod. "I know the feeling, maybe that's why I haven't forced the talk either," I say honestly.

"He is private, always has been, but the way he looks at you … the way you look at him … Gawd … it has to be hot. Tell me it is?" she asks as she grins.

I smile back, loving the way that I can actually speak freely about him to someone.

"The hottest fucking thing ever. Wade is … fuck … I have no words," I gush.

Ginger squeals and then leans in, whispering, "I knew it. Goddamn, I knew Wade was a freak under that serious mask he wears. Don't you know? There's an old wives' tale that says once a girl has a bossy rancher, no other kind of man will do?"

I laugh. "I am starting to believe that."

"Look, maybe a couple of months ago you were having fun, and now that you've had that fun, I think you have to talk about it. Wade Ashby isn't the ‘let people in' type of guy, so if you're in his inner circle, I would plan to stick around for a while. In other words, that man is not letting you leave this ranch."

I sigh—it feels so fucking good to be honest.

"I would love to stay. In fact, I'm dreading leaving. Once we get Angel's nomination squared away, maybe then we'll talk. I want to, I just, fuck, how do you even start that conversation?"

Ginger blows out a deep breath "You need a girls' day. When do you leave for Florida to get Angel's gate card?

"A week from now, next Wednesday," I breathe out in a sigh.

"I think you need a day out, manis and pedis on Saturday maybe? Just the two of us? You can settle the mystery then."

I look at her, narrowing my eyes to understand what she means.

"BDE?" she says, using her hands, pulling them apart to gauge Wade's size. "Tell me when."

I laugh at her; she never seems to worry about a thing, and just being around her is calming.

"You don't really need to tell me … towels don't hide much." She winks then giggles, and I laugh back as she hands me a mimosa. It must be too early because the smell turns my stomach. "For what it's worth, I've never seen Wade this"—she searches for the word, tapping her bottom lip with her first finger—"settled, happy." Ginger winks at me as she lifts her glass.

"So, to being happy." She takes a sip, and I follow suit as she shrugs the conversation off as if she has no doubt everything will just work itself out.

I swallow another sip but it almost makes me gag. I decide that's enough morning champagne as I watch the guests start to pile in, setting gifts down and hugging each other.

Ginger turns and squeezes a tiny woman she calls "Nana" as the lump in my throat grows. A pang of want washes over me. I never envy much, my fate is my fate, but what I wouldn't give to have a family like this to stand beside me, to be there for me when I need them.

"Come on, newbie, time to meet the town," Olivia says, appearing from behind me. She locks arms with me, grinning and pulling me right into the crowd.

Two hours later, the living room at the big house is filled with laughter and squeals as CeCe puts her head in her hands and her cheeks turn a deep shade of pink. She's front and center amidst a sea of boxes and wrapping paper, on her second-to-last gift.

Ginger is writing down the items received in every single card dutifully beside her so CeCe—and Nash, CeCe is convinced—will have an easy time writing thank-you cards out later. Jo is on the other side, playing a gift Santa of sorts. I crane my neck to try to see what is so funny about the gift CeCe is holding. She holds open her palm at Ginger's coaxing. It looks like a tiny silicone rose. Ginger's endearing and very innocent little grandmother smiles and speaks up over the crowd.

"It's the newest model, dear."

"Granny Dan! You … shouldn't have." CeCe laughs, still blushing and trying to hide the gift from her mother's prying eyes.

"I'm your mama and I'm old but I'm not stupid," Jo giggles.

Granny Dan holds up a finger as if she's trying to sell the device CeCe is cradling in her hand for a living. I grin instantly, knowing what it is finally, and can't believe this little old woman that looks like the Queen of England purchased a vibrator from God knows where? Would a woman that age use the internet?

"The best part about it is that it's very tiny and inconspicuous, a lot easier to keep in small spaces, and if you ever lose it the average person won't even know what it is." She winks as a doubled-over Ginger starts into a story about CeCe losing her not-so-inconspicuous vibrator in the town's car depot.

I laugh along with them. Ginger's story and CeCe's guests' laughter fade to the background as I see my phone light up in my lap with Wade's name again. Just his name on my screen ignites something in me. I'm not used to spending the day apart from him.

After almost three months of working side by side, day in and day out, it feels odd.

A tsunami of emotion I know I've been fighting washes over me, crushing me. It settles deep into my bones. I can't figure out why I'm so damn sappy all of a sudden. Is it the setting of being at a bridal shower? Whatever it is, I can't shake Ginger's words as I open my phone. She not only said that Wade is happy, he's settled, because of me.

A thousand moments flash through my mind as I search for that truth. The way he brushes my hair off my face in the morning, to kiss me on the forehead; how he is now the proud owner of every streaming service known to man, so our well of movies doesn't run dry. How he drives all the way to Lexington to buy M&M's in bulk from Costco for our ice cream nights. My fresh towels in the bathroom for my shower and my coffee brewed for me before he goes to the barn on the mornings when he's got to be out there earlier than I do. Even just those moments when I hear his voice in any given space, it makes me feel warm and whole just knowing he's around, and it hits me sure and swift. That is real happiness.

A kind I've never felt. I open his text up and smile. It's taken me way too long to admit it to myself but I think I'm in love with Wade Ashby, desperately in love. And if I do, in fact, have to leave him and Silver Pines behind anytime soon, it might just threaten to destroy me.