Alder

I t’s Christmas. Since our shopping trip, Ivy has been—elusive. I haven’t seen her except for the very small glimpses I’ve caught of her around the lodge. She’s avoiding me. At first, I just assumed we were missing each other in passing, but after this past week, I can take a hint. She’s kept her office door closed, and yesterday, I actually made eye contact with her through the main cabin's window, and she physically ducked out of view. Just a flash of her hair and then nothing. I want her to come to dinner tonight. I also don’t want to push her into something she isn’t ready for. She’s already so skittish. Skittish in the way you’d also describe a wild animal that’s been cornered.

I’m just out of the shower when I hear a knock on my door and rush to answer. I tug my towel tighter around my waist and narrowly miss my hip on the kitchen island. Running my hand through my wet hair, I open the door. I see Ivy’s SUV driving down the road, back toward her cabin, and then look down to see a meticulously wrapped set of gifts .

I pick them up and see the names written in cursive on each one. There’s one that says Mary and three that say Hazel. There’s even a present for Winnie. I smile. They’re beautiful, and it, honest to God, warms my heart to see her think of my family. Does this woman really believe she can drop these off and not make an appearance at dinner? My mother will never let that slide.

I’m dressed and out my front door in record time. I stash the gifts Ivy brought in the back of my truck, and then I’m off to my family’s Christmas. I just have to pick up something or someone, on the way. I chuckle, thinking about how she thought she was getting away with that stunt. As if I would let her spend Christmas alone, with her ex-husband and his new fiancée on the property.

I pull up to her cabin, and I see the curtain move in the front room. When I knock on the door, I expect her to ignore me, but to my surprise, she opens it immediately.

“What are you doing here, ?” I can see her attitude is visibly and firmly in place by the tilt of her hips.

I sigh. “I think you know, Ivy.”

“It was really sweet for your mom to invite me to your family Christmas, but very unnecessary. I’ll be just fine here,” she tells me.

“Do I need to remind you how fun unnecessary things can be?” I ask, and her cheeks pink slightly. “I have no doubt you’ll be fine, but how will it look if I show up without you at Christmas or if Noah sees you here without me?” I hedge. “I just really want to make sure I look like the boyfriend you deserve,” I say with my hand pressed over my heart. She crosses her arms over her chest and leans into her doorway. Popping her hip out. A hip I’ve seen bare, one I want to sink my fingers into again. Ivy’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

“What’s that look?” she asks.

I tell her the truth. “I’ll give you one guess, and it has to do with how we met.”

Her slightly pink cheeks turn rosy, and I smile. She’s so incredibly beautiful.

“Now, are you ready to go? My family will be expecting us,” I say sweetly. She bites her lip. “It won’t be so bad. You’ll get a good home-cooked meal, my family will probably dote on you, and Hazel will probably want you to hold her the whole time, or at least when she doesn’t want me holding her.” I wink. “What’s the worst that could happen?” I thought I would have to beg on her front porch for longer, but she surprises me, yet again, when she speaks.

“Fine. I don’t have anything to bring though. Shouldn’t I bring something?” she asks nervously, and it’s adorable.

“No, my mom will have everything we need. The only other person who will bring anything is Winnie, and that’s because she refuses not to bring baked goods everywhere she goes.”

“Let me grab my coat then.”

“Perfect. I’ll wait here for you. Just in case you get the urge to run,” I tell her, blocking the doorway with a smile.

“If I remember correctly, and I usually do, you were the one with the urge to run off the next morning.” I hear her call from the other room. I’m surprised she brought it up. Since our night together, it seems she wants to avoid talking about it at all costs. Ivy walks back into the room, and I feel my heart rate tick up. She’s drop-dead gorgeous. Her long hair is tucked into her full- length tan coat. It matches the cream pants and sweater she’s wearing underneath. She likes wearing the same shade a lot.

When she walks outside, I grip her elbow gently, halting her steps. I slide both my hands up her arms to her neck, and her breath hitches. I lean in, and her eyes widen for a moment before closing. Does she think I’m going to kiss her? Would she let me? I reach under her collar and pull the hair out from inside her coat. Her eyes pop back open, and I can see it in them. She wants me to kiss her, but she’s going to have to learn to start asking for the things she wants rather than expecting me to read her mind.

I pull my hands back and smile at her slight pout. I’ve felt those pouty lips on mine, on my skin. I want to feel them again. “If you want something, Ivy, just ask me,” I say, working to keep my voice even.

“Nope.” She shakes her head, sending a curtain of dark-red hair over her shoulder. “I’m good. I don’t want anything.” She stonewalls me. So fucking stubborn.

“Alright. Well, if you change your mind. I’m open to any and all requests,” I state, then lead the way to my still-running truck and open her door so she can get inside where it’s warm. It will smell like her by the time I get in the driver's seat. Her scent had only just faded from our shopping trip. I want it to always smell like her. I want a lot of things that I probably shouldn’t when it comes to her. Things she may not be ready to give. For now, I’ll take what she’ll give me and deal with the fallout later.