Decked Out with Ivy (Red Maple Falls #13)

Chapter 5

“What do you want?” Ivy asked, not even trying to hide the disdain in her tone. She was wearing an antler headband and a necklace of Christmas lights that blinked every few seconds. Kelly Clarkson belted out Underneath the Tree, and the scent of cinnamon filled the air.

Ang decided to film some exteriors, so Cody took advantage of the time. Instead of lounging in his trailer, he called Jim, the driver from the airport, and asked if he was available.

“Not happy to see me?” he asked Ivy, infusing his charm and trying to keep the asshole out of his tone. She was getting cuter by the second.

“That depends. Are you here to buy more sweaters and mittens?”

If she agreed with his proposal, he would buy her entire stock. But he didn’t want to look desperate yet. “I could use a scarf.”

She rolled her eyes and stepped out from behind the counter. Cody’s gaze immediately landed on the red and black plaid skirt that stopped above her knees and shy of her black boots, showing just enough skin. He stared for entirely too long as she strutted toward the rear of the store.

“Are you coming, or do you expect me to serve you like everyone else?”

“I don’t expect that.”

She spun around, eyebrow arched, blonde hair floating around her. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be… well… mean.”

“It’s all right.”

“Is that Jim again outside?” He glanced toward the door where Jim was waiting in the black SUV, focused on the crossword puzzle he had immediately grabbed when Cody hopped out.

“I hired Jim. He’s being paid. Generously, if I might add.” The man was grateful for the gig and told Cody he’d rather drive him around Red Maple Falls than make a million trips to the airport.

“Good. Jim is a good man. He moved to town only a couple of years ago after his wife died and immediately fit in with our little town.”

“His wife died?” Cody’s heart ached for the man. He’d lost people and even though they had terrible relationships, it still hurt. Cody had never loved someone enough to even consider a lifetime commitment, but he could imagine the heartache that would come to those who had. The loss must have been hard on him.

“Have you not spoken to the man at all?”

“I have. It’s never come up in our conversations.”

“Funny, because it’s one of the first things he told me.”

“Did you ever think that maybe it’s because you’re easy to talk to?”

“You think so? Because I feel like you provoke this beast in me, and I become so not nice.” Her lips turned downward and the sparkle in her eye dimmed. He barely knew her, but he hated to see it. He almost felt like he was the one dimming her light.

“If this is you being not nice, then I’d love to get to know you as nice.” If this was a movie, this would be the perfect segue into asking for what he truly needed, so he decided to go with it. “Speaking of which. I’m assuming you’ve seen the paparazzi pictures?”

“How could I have not? My entire family thread was buzzing. The whole town has asked me about it. It’s completely blown out of proportion. They think we’re in some sort of romantic relationship.” A loud, adorable laugh burst from her pouty lips. “Ridiculous.”

“It’s not that ridiculous.”

“Oh, come on. You couldn’t possibly get any more different than me and you.”

“That’s not true.”

She popped a hip, his eyes lingering on the curve. “You’re a movie star. I don’t even own a television.” She held up a finger and ticked it off with her other finger. “You’ve traveled the world. I never left the east coast.” She held up another finger and tapped it. “You have a driver. I have a twenty-year-old car where the dash lights up like a Christmas tree when it goes below half a tank.” She went to whack another finger, and he reached out, wrapping his hand around hers.

Electric current ran hot and fast through his veins. She sucked in a breath, her light brown eyes widening.

“You have an entire town that loves you,” he said. “The only family I have is my agent. You love Christmas. I hate it. But just because we’ve lived very different lives and are the complete opposite on most things, doesn’t mean that the idea of us together is ridiculous.” He stepped closer to her. Heat radiated off her, mixing with his own. Her breath caught, her lips parted, and he wanted to capture that bottom lip between his teeth.

“Opposites attract, after all.”

Her teeth slid over her bottom lip, and he swallowed as the sight made his dick jump. God, she was fucking beautiful. And with her sugar cookie and sweet vanilla scent wrapping around him, every thought about swearing off women fled from his mind.

She slipped her hand out from his and stepped back.

Smart. At least one of them still had their brains functioning. He inhaled, centering himself, and getting back to the reason he was here.

“My agent told me that picture is going viral, and people are loving the idea of me with someone like you.”

“Someone like me? What the heck is that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged and met her gaze head on. “Someone who hasn’t been poisoned by fame and fortune. Someone who can look at a Christmas decoration and smile. Someone who isn’t afraid to stand up to me.”

“What do I get out of this?”

“The pleasure of my company.”

A laugh burst from her mouth, and it was better than any sound he’d ever heard. “I know you think very highly of yourself, so I hate to break this to you, but not everyone cares who you are.”

“Fair, but my agent asked me to do this, and whatever she asks me, I do.”

“Why?” Ivy’s eyebrows drew together, curiosity pulling at the edges of her eyes.

“Because she’s the only one who has ever believed in me.”

The tight-knit between her eyebrows eased, her eyes softening as she looked at him. She leaned toward him as if she wanted to hug him, but thought better of it. “Fine. But only if you give me the chance to make you fall in love with Christmas.”

He was starting to question if she was out of her mind. “That’ll never happen.”

“Give me the chance, or no deal.”

His eyebrow arched, curiosity piqued. “Why do you care?”

“Christmas is my favorite holiday.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s answer enough for me. Do we have a deal or not?” She held out her hand and waited.

He stared at it, wondering if he took that small hand into his, he’d be making a deal with the devil. His eyes drifted up at the woman with the Christmas antler headband on her head, and he suppressed a laugh. Ivy Parker was far from the devil.

He wrapped his hand around hers and shook, hoping this little Christmas freak wasn’t going to make him regret this.