Wicked Respite

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Do I even want to know where you guys have been?” he asked, wrinkling his forehead. “I mean ... Ivy looks all glow-y. That usually means you guys have been doing something dirty.”

  “Unless you count shopping for camping supplies as dirty, we’ve been angels,” Jack countered, pointing himself toward the back of the truck. “I think your sister bought out the store.”

  “She’s always been a big fan of camping supplies,” Max agreed, licking his lips. “It’s weird that you were just out shopping for your trip because that’s kind of why I’m here. I want to talk to you about it.”

  Ivy sensed trouble. “Dad can still watch the nursery, right?” She owned her own plant nursery, which happened to bump up against the cottage property, and her father worked for her in the summers because he enjoyed talking to the customers and was thrilled with the business Ivy had built for herself.

  “Please.” Max made a dismissive gesture. “Dad is so excited to be in charge for several days that he’s considering making all your employees refer to him as Boss Man Michael. No, seriously. I heard him telling Mom that.”

  Ivy smirked at the notion. “They’ll probably think that’s funny. I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

  “Definitely not.” Max licked his lips and shifted from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable. “The thing is ... um ... .”

  Jack was familiar enough with Max’s attitude that he understood when the gregarious man was about to drop a bomb on them. “What did you do? If I have to cancel this trip to keep you out of jail, I’m not going to be a happy camper.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” Max said hurriedly. “Er, well, almost nothing. In fact, the thing I did is so minor you guys are going to laugh about it ... eventually.”

  Ivy knew her brother’s demeanor so well she couldn’t help assuming that he was dragging things out for a particular purpose. “What did you do? You didn’t kill someone, did you? I’m not in the mood to hide a body.”

  Jack pinned her with an annoyed look. “There’s little more that I love as much as murder jokes,” he drawled.

  Ivy ignored him. “Seriously, Max, what did you do? Just tell us.”

  “I ... well ... you know Amy, right?”

  Ivy’s lips curved down. “As a matter of fact, I don’t know Amy. You disappeared from the farmers’ market before I could meet her. That was convenient, by the way.”

  Jack shot her a quelling look. He recognized that Max was struggling with something very real. “Just tell us what’s wrong. Is she pregnant?”

  Ivy’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, my ... is she pregnant? Mom is going to rip your head off.”

  Max made an exaggerated face. “She’s not pregnant. Stop looking at me that way. She’s not. It’s something else.”

  “Then what is it?” Jack prodded. “You’ll feel better when you tell us ... and we’ll feel better when we know the truth and can figure out a way to help you.”

  “Okay. Here it is.” Max exhaled heavily. “I was talking to Amy and I mentioned your camping trip. She said she’s never been camping and it’s something she’s always wanted to do. Before I realized what was happening — I mean, it was a total fluke — I told her we were invited to go with the two of you and she’s so excited she’s already home packing.”

  Max, perhaps reading the way Jack’s expression shifted, increased the distance between himself and his future brother-in-law as he hurried toward his truck. “So ... we’re coming with you and we’re really looking forward to it. Make sure you buy enough food for four, Ivy. Um ... and thanks.”

  “Come back here!” Ivy planted her hands on her hips as Max scurried toward his truck. “You are not coming with us. This is a private trip.”

  “Private,” Jack echoed, annoyance rumbling through him. “I have plans for your sister that you’re not going to like and I’m not adjusting them. You guys are not invited. I’m sorry if it makes you look stupid.”

  “We’ll be here at seven in the morning the day after tomorrow,” Max called out. “I thought we could take separate vehicles because it will allow us to break apart and go to dinner without the other couple whenever the opportunity arises … or run errands and stuff. Isn’t that a great idea? Thanks so much for understanding, guys. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

  “Max!” Ivy was a screechy mess as her brother threw himself into his truck to avoid her tone. “We’re not finished. You’re not going with us.”

  He merely waved. “This is going to be the best trip ever. Just you wait.”

  Two

  Jack was still bitter two days later when he checked the rearview mirror to make sure Max was following them as they trucked along the two-lane highway that led to a state park he’d never heard of. Ivy mentioned it was one of her favorites – apparently her parents took her and Max there on a regular basis when they were kids – and Jack was excited to visit thanks to her enthusiasm.

  Some of that excitement had died when he realized Ivy had capitulated and allowed her brother to tag along on what was supposed to be their private getaway.

  “If you want to yell, you can yell,” Ivy offered. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail and her face was devoid of makeup. She’d been watching Jack silently pout for the past two hours – ever since they pulled out of the driveway – and she was essentially at her limit. She would rather fight and get it over with than allow him to wallow.

  “I’m not going to yell.” His tone was bland, flat.

  “Why not?”

  “You don’t like it when I yell.”

  “That’s not true. I don’t like it when you order me around. Occasionally I like it when you yell because it means we’ll have a ton of fun making up.”

  His lips quirked, but he managed to keep his stern expression in place. “I’m not going to yell.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Actually, I’m not.”

  Ivy felt triumphant. “Then go ahead and unload on me.”

  “I’m not doing that if I can help it.” Jack kept his eyes on the highway. There was very little traffic and yet he seemed intent on reading every sign, something Ivy found fascinating. Jack was out of his element when it came to the wilderness. The fact that he wanted to do this at all was a testament to the sort of man he was … and Ivy absolutely adored that man. Er, well, most of the time.

  “Jack, you’ll feel better if you yell,” she prodded. “You need to get it out of your system. I would prefer you yell now rather than erupt when we reach the campsite. I don’t want to be dressed down in front of Max and his new girlfriend.”

  Jack let loose a long sigh. “Ivy, I don’t want to dress you down at all. Believe it or not, I’m not a fan of acting like an ogre. It’s just … this was supposed to be private time for the two of us. We’re getting married in two months. Do you know what that means?”

  Ivy nodded without hesitation. “I do. It means I’m going to be able to introduce you as my husband and then watch the way the other women drool when they realize you’re all mine.”

  He told himself that he wouldn’t laugh. It would only encourage her. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling, though. “You are impossible to stay angry at.”

  “I believe that’s why we make up so often.”

  “Probably.”

  Instinctively, Ivy reached over the console and rested her hand on Jack’s thigh. “I’m sorry. I know I said I was going to get rid of him, but when I tried to explain our plans he just went on and on about how Amy has never been camping and he wants to show her a good time. I’ve never seen him this way about a girl before … or at least not since he was in high school and couldn’t control his hormones. He practically begged.”

  “At which point you still should’ve told him no.”

  “I get that but … he’s my brother. I love him. He’s done a lot for me over the years. Before you came along, he was the only one I spent any time with because I couldn’t make friends I wasn’t related to. He was my best frien
d.”

  “He’s still your best friend,” Jack muttered darkly.

  “No, you’re my best friend.”

  He slid his eyes to her. “Oh, really?”

  She nodded without hesitation. “You’re the one person I always want to spend time with no matter what. You listen to me … and want what’s best for me … and go out of your way to make sure I’m safe and taken care of. If that’s not a best friend, I don’t know what is.”

  “Oh, geez.” Jack pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration practically rolling off him in waves. “You know exactly how to get what you want from me, don’t you? It’s unbelievable.”

  “Just wait until we have a little girl. She’ll have you wrapped around her finger faster than you can say ‘daddy, will you buy me a pony’ and you’ll roll over and show her your belly.”

  Despite himself, Jack laughed. “You’re probably right,” he acknowledged. “I just picture a little you pointing to every stuffed animal in the store and me walking out with my arms full.”

  Ivy relaxed, although only marginally. Jack was finally starting to thaw and she wanted to keep the forward momentum going. “When do you want to have kids? I mean … we haven’t really talked about it much.”

  “When do you want to have kids?”

  “I would like to wait a year or two so we can have some time with just us, but I’m open to talking about it if you want to get a jump on things.”

  “Actually, I like the idea of waiting a year or two as well. I’m perfectly happy with it being just the two of us for the foreseeable future.”

  Ivy smiled. “That sounds nice.”

  “Yes. Unfortunately, your brother will probably move in and we’ll become a trio until I’m old and gray.”

  Ivy’s smile slipped. “Can’t you please let it go? There’s nothing you can do to change it. Max is right behind us. I already told him we have romantic plans and he has to put his tent as far away from ours as possible. He doesn’t want to be right on top of us any more than we want him to be. I promise you that.”

  “Oh, I guarantee I want the distance more than he does.”

  “Jack.” The one word carried a mountain of torment. “We’re still going to have a great time. I promise. It’s going to be all romance, all of the time. You’ll have to pry my lips off you.”

  Even though he fought the effort, Jack’s eyes softened. “I’m going to beat him up the first time he interrupts us. I’m not kidding.”

  “I think that’s more than fair.”

  He moved his hand so it rested on top of hers. “We’re going to have a good time. I promise I won’t let my bad attitude ruin anything. It’s just … I had big plans for this trip. We’ve never been away on our own to just relax. The few trips we’ve taken have ended up with murder and mayhem following us. Now, granted, your brother isn’t a murderer. He is all about the mayhem, though.”

  “It’s going to be fine. He wants to romance Amy as much as you want to romance me. We’ll probably never see him.”

  “That would be a nice change of pace.” He hit the turn signal when the sign he was looking for popped into view. “Here it is. This is the right campground, right?”

  Ivy’s expression turned dreamy. “Yeah. I haven’t been here since I was a teenager. I can’t tell you how excited I am.”

  “I’m glad.” He squeezed her hand before moving both his hands to the wheel. “Don’t bother to shine me on about ignoring your brother, though. I happen to know that you’re going to be all up in Amy’s business because you’re dying to learn more about her.”

  “That’s not true. I plan on minding my own business.”

  Jack snorted. “Whatever. I’ve got twenty bucks that says you’re peppering her with questions before the end of the night.”

  “You’re on.”

  AMY JOHNSON WAS BLOND, petite, and obviously nervous as she helped Max unload his truck. The way the campsite was arranged, there were large expanses on either side of the bonfire pit. That allowed the two couples to set up shop a decent distance from one another. Ivy was relieved when she saw the site, and despite Jack’s earlier teasing, she immediately tapped Amy to help her unload the kitchen stuff for the center table and fire area. Unfortunately for her, Amy was the nervous sort and opted to help Max instead. Ivy wasn’t the type to make rash judgments, but the woman’s insistence on brushing her off was agitating.

  For his part, Max seemed to be having a good time. He laughed as Amy pulled out the instructions for the tent and sat cross-legged on the ground to read them. “You don’t need those. I know exactly what I’m doing when it comes to putting up tents. In fact, I’m the best in the business.”

  Ivy rolled her eyes as she lifted one of the coolers to the top of the picnic table. There were two – one on either side – and she was glad to realize that not every meal would have to be a group affair. “Please. I was the one who put up both our tents when I was a kid.”

  “That’s because I was lazy, not inefficient,” her brother shot back, causing Amy to giggle.

  She did that a lot, Ivy noted. She giggled … and shuffled her feet back and forth … and constantly glanced over her shoulder to make sure nobody was coming up behind her. She was a pretty woman, slim hips and waist setting off slight shoulders. She had big brown eyes, the sort that reminded Ivy of what a puppy would point in her direction, and she seemed enamored with everything Max did.

  “What do you think?” Jack asked, sidling up to Ivy and sliding his arm around her shoulders. He’d managed to remove everything from the truck and was now ready to set up their home away from home.

  “I think I love you.” It was an automatic answer but that didn’t mean Ivy didn’t mean it.

  Jack rolled his eyes. “So sweet.” He dropped his arm and lightly pinched her behind, causing her to squeal. “I was talking about your brother’s new girlfriend. Do you approve?”

  That question wasn’t as easy to answer as Ivy would’ve liked. “I don’t know. She seems really … nervous.”

  “Do you blame her?”

  “Yeah. I’m a delight. She should want to spend all her time getting to know me.”

  Jack barked out a laugh as he shook his head and turned toward their tent. “You are an absolute delight. I’ll fight whomever says otherwise to the death.”

  Ivy heard something in his words that he didn’t say aloud. “But?” she prodded.

  “But you have a big personality,” he replied without hesitation. “Your brother also has a big personality. She’s clearly attracted to that. I’m sure she has her own personality buried under all those giggles. It’s not always easy to warm up to people at the drop of a hat, though. You need to give her some time.”

  Instead of agreeing, Ivy jabbed her finger in his ribs. “I think you’re saying that I’m a loudmouth.”

  “I’m saying that amongst the litany of wonderful traits you have, one of them might be the tendency to take over a room.” Jack’s smile didn’t budge as he grabbed the canvas bag carrying their tent from the ground. “That drew me to you. It was as if you were the only person in the world when we were close to one another. Amy might need a few hours or so to come to grips with that.”

  Ivy was convinced that was a dig, but she couldn’t quite work out how she could pick a fight with him over it. Instead, she took the bag from him. “I’m putting up the tent. I remember what happened last time when you tried it.”

  “I believe we ended up working together to put up the tent last time, and that’s what I want to do this time. I don’t want you doing all the work. We’re a team.”

  Even though she wanted to remain petulant, she melted a bit. “We are a team. We’re the best team in the world. I think we’re always going to be this great of a team. How about you?”

  “I happen to agree. Now … give me a kiss.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I need it.”

  She rolled her eyes, but it was only for form’s sake as she pressed her lips to the co
rner of his mouth. He returned the kiss with gusto, which earned a gagging noise from Max across the way. Jack jabbed a derogatory finger in his future brother-in-law’s direction.

  “I wouldn’t push me if I were you,” he warned, his eyes never leaving Ivy’s face. “Just stay on your side of the campsite and everything will be fine.”

  Max kicked his heels together and offered up a saucy salute. “Yes, sir.”

  AS JACK AND IVY WENT TO WORK on their tent, Max turned his full attention to Amy. She was eager to help and intent on learning the ropes when it came to camping etiquette. It was obvious she was nervous, though, and he wanted more than anything to make her feel comfortable.

  From the first moment he saw her several weeks before – she worked at a bar he frequented and he asked her out four times before she reluctantly agreed, something that caused them to laugh when they looked back on the event – he’d been drawn to her. He didn’t even know it was possible to feel an instant connection to a person … at least not like this.

  Oh, he’d listen to his sister and Jack wax poetic on how the atmosphere practically crackled the first time they met. He knew while they didn’t exactly believe in love at first sight, they did believe something snapped together that first day. He thought they were full of it until he met Amy. Now he understood.

  She wasn’t the type he normally went for. He typically liked a woman who commanded every eye in a particular establishment be on her. Amy was quiet and demure, though. She listened well and laughed a lot. She didn’t open up much, though, and that was wearing on him. That was one of the reasons he insisted on camping with Ivy and Jack. He thought if anything could draw Amy out, it was seeing him interact with his sister. Ivy had a way with people – even though she didn’t see it no matter how hard she looked – and she inspired trust. He hoped Ivy would be able to work her magic on Amy and help the woman to relax a bit.

  If he had one complaint, that would be it. Max wanted Amy to trust him implicitly. It seemed that was something she was still working on.