by Jenna Jacob
Noble lifted his head, peered down at her, and wrinkled his brow. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
Not yet.
But there was a ninety-nine-point-nine-nine-nine percent probability he would in the future.
Stop it!
She gaped at him, groping for some little white lie to mitigate his concern. Suddenly, his words blared through her head. I don’t lie and I don’t ever want to be lied to. Noble had been right by her side, all night, helping her navigate through the shit show McMillian had brought down on her. She owed the man still wrapping her in warmth and compassion the truth.
“I’m just worried that eventually I won’t be enough for you.”
A sad smile curled over his lips. “A life filled with guarantees would be a wonderful thing, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, we don’t have that. All we have is gut feelings, faith, and trust.”
She couldn’t help but smile. Ivy would have never imagined that inside this sexy-as-sin cowboy lurked such an insightful philosopher.
“My gut tells me you’re the one I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with,” Noble continued. “So I decided to take that big leap of faith, praying you feel the same about me. I trust you, Ivy Addison. Trust you with my life, because I know in my heart you’re a kind and loving soul. But if you’re asking if I trust we’ll make it till we’re old and gray? The only way we’ll find the answer to that one is through time, sweetheart.”
“How can you be so sure I’m the one?”
He caressed a finger along her cheek. “How can you question the connection we share? Do you trust me, Ivy?”
Either you’re all the way in or out. But you’re going to have to make up your mind…now! the voice in her head vehemently repeated.
The time had come.
Ivy either had to take the plunge or grab her towel and pool noodle and run away.
Did she want to block him from her life, their baby’s life, forever? The idea of never spending another night like this, wrapped in his arms, gazing at his handsome face, and openly sharing fears and insecurities ripped a gaping hole in her heart.
Trust took bravery, too.
Ivy had already proven to herself that she was brave. She’d proven that to herself by opening Sweet Flours. Proved it by knocking Harvey—the misogynistic prick from hell—Hays, the fuck out.
Woman’s intuition told her she was destined to be with Noble, because no man had ever touched her heart, mind, body, or soul so deeply or profoundly.
Faith was that invisible conviction that sparked hope in those who discovered their own limitations. It took some soul searching, but Ivy possessed that spark, the one Noble had ignited inside her. If five days, five months, or five years from now he walked out of her life, she’d be crushed, without a doubt, but she’d be okay. Ivy was a survivor.
Trust was a fragile, priceless gift. One that time made stronger and sturdier. Noble had already handed her the priceless gift of trust. It was time for her to place hers in his strong, capable hands.
Ivy cupped his face, lifted her head from the pillow, and softly kissed his lips. “Yes, Noble Grayson, I trust you. Trust you with my life.”
His nostrils flared.
Tears glistened in his eyes.
He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and swallowed tightly. “I won’t hurt you.”
His promise was wrapped in such raw emotion that Ivy knew he’d never made such a vow to anyone else before. Tears sprang out of nowhere.
“Don’t cry, love. And please don’t be afraid to let me in. I’d rather cut off my arm than ever hurt you. But for now, we’ll start out like you said…one day at a time and see where life leads us,” he whispered gently.
Holding back her sobs of happiness mixed with fear, Ivy simply nodded.
Noble wrapped his arms around her and slowly eased from her pussy before he rolled to his side, taking her with him. Tucking her in against his chest, he brushed a sweet kiss to her head and sighed.
“Close your eyes, darlin’, and go to sleep now. I’ll be right here with you, keeping you safe and sound.”
With a tiny nod, she let her wet lashes drift shut.
Soothed by the rhythmic beat of his heart, the security of his strong arms, and the delicious heat of his rugged body, Ivy stopped crying and floated away into the inky darkness.
When she woke, sunlight spilled through a gap in the curtains, illuminating an unfamiliar room. Noble lay beside her, snoring softly, with one hand still draped over her hip. Their legs were as tangled as the sheet bunched around them. The familiar ache between her legs, the one she hadn’t felt since Vegas, throbbed. It was a sweet pain she could easily become accustomed to. A shiver of anticipation raced up her spine.
As memories of the devastating fire raked her with brutal anguish, Ivy splayed a hand across her stomach. She was alive. The baby was alive. That was all that mattered. She gently stroked her palm over her distended belly and issued a grateful sigh.
It’s the start of a new day, peanut. We might be down, but we’re not out. We’ll be fine. Mommy…and Daddy will make sure of that.
Daddy. Wow! The word sounded so foreign, but she didn’t bother holding back the hopeful smile spreading over her lips.
A light tap came from the bedroom door. Ivy snapped her head toward the sound and quickly tugged the sheet up to her neck.
“Noble, honey? It’s Mom. Are you up?”
Ivy glanced over to see the man lying beside her, still sound asleep, snoring contently. She jabbed him with her elbow and hissed, “Noble. Wake up. Your mom’s at the door.”
“Huh?” He sat up, blinking, clearly disoriented.
“Your mom is at the door,” Ivy whispered again.
“Ma?” he called out in a rough, sleepy voice that made her stomach flip-flop.
Damn hormones.
“Yes, honey. Can I come in?”
“No,” he barked. Noble cleared his throat and launched out of bed, frantically searching the floor. “Hang on a second. Where the fuck are my… What do you need, Ma?”
“I brought Ivy some clean clothes and wanted to let you both know that breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes.”
Ivy bit back a grin.
Noble was standing in the middle of the room, buck-assed naked, sporting a most glorious hard-on, and scrubbing a hand over his face.
“Where the hell are my jeans?” he whispered to her.
Ivy shrugged.
“No clue. You were naked, like now, when I climbed into bed with you,” she said, keeping her voice low so Nola wouldn’t hear.
“Shit,” he hissed. “Just leave ’em outside the door, Ma. We’ll get ’em in a minute.”
“Fine, but don’t make Ivy late for breakfast. That baby needs a well-balanced meal so he or she can grow into the Grayson name.”
“I told you so! If Grayson isn’t on that birth certificate, she’ll skin us both alive,” he whispered, flashing Ivy a crooked grin.
“Noble Franklin Grayson, just because I’m getting older doesn’t mean I’ve lost my mother hearing. You’re right I’ll skin you both if any name but Grayson is given that baby. You hear?”
“We hear, Ma. We’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Noble Franklin, huh?” Ivy smirked.
“Yes.” He puffed up proudly. God, he was so damn gorgeous in all his naked glory. “What’s your middle name?”
Oh, shit. No. No. No.
“I’ll tell your mom the Grayson name is perfectly fine for the birth certificate,” Ivy ceded, blatantly changing the subject.
“Good. I like that. So will she. Now what’s your middle name?” he pressed, growling and prowling onto the bed like a lion.
She giggled as he hovered over her, boxing her in with his arms and legs. “It’s Ivy.”
“Oh. Okay, so what’s your first name?”
She shook her head vehemently.
“You’re not going to tell me?”
“No. I hate my given name.”
> “Why? Is it Rumpelstiltskin?”
“Close.” Ivy groaned.
“Eugenia?”
“What?” She laughed. “Do I look like a Eugenia?”
Noble shrugged. “No, but you don’t look like a Rumpelstiltskin either.”
“Thank god.”
“Twenty minutes,” Nola called from outside the door.
“Tell me.” Noble cocked his head and gave her a warning glare.
“You’re so cute when you do that,” she taunted.
“Dammit. That’s my intimidating face.”
“No it’s not, it’s cute.”
“God help me. What have I gotten myself into?” he said, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
“You can always back out,” she countered with a sassy smile.
“Not on your life, sweetheart.” He leaned in, kissing her hard and fast before jumping off the bed. “I’ll grab your clothes so you can run across the hall and take a shower before breakfast. Just do me a favor and don’t put that damn nightgown on again, okay, Eugenia?”
“You keep calling me Eugenia, and I’ll put it on and parade down Main Street in it.”
He flashed her a knee-knocking smile that made her toes curl. “God! We’re going to have so much fun.”
After Noble retrieved her clothes, he peeked his head out of the door, glancing left and right before waving her to him.
“Coast is clear. You can streak to the bathroom.”
“Streak?”
“Yeah. Because you’re not putting that fucking old-lady nightgown back on while I’m around.”
“What if I like that old-lady nightgown?” she asked forcing herself not to smile.
Noble shook his head, snagged her wrist and plopped the stack of clothes into her hands before shoving her bare body out into the hallway.
“Noble!” she yelped.
“What’s goin’… Oh, damn. Now that’s a wake-up call,” Norris exclaimed, coming around the corner and skimming a stare over her naked flesh with a wolfish grin. “This is hella better than a damn alarm clock.”
Ivy let out another yelp and quickly hugged her arms over her breasts while slapping a hand to her crotch, dumping the clothes all over the floor.
Noble jumped from his room and blocked Ivy’s naked body with his naked body.
“Stop looking at her and get the hell out of here!” he bellowed.
Ivy raced to the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind her before pressing her forehead against the wood. Embarrassment scalded her entire body as she listened to the conversation taking place in the hall.
“She’s smokin’-hot, man. She got any sisters… any younger sisters?”
“Go stroke a load in your room and get out of here, you little perv,” Noble scolded.
“Bet you’re not strokin’ it alone anymore, are you?” Norris taunted.
“Next time I’m putting the old granny gown on,” Ivy huffed under her breath.
“Go!” Noble barked. Several seconds later, there was a tap on the bathroom door. “Open up, sweetheart. I got your clothes for you.”
“Ten minutes,” Nola hollered from the opposite end of the hall.
“Better hurry.” Noble grinned as he kissed her quickly and shut the door.
After scrubbing the embarrassment from her skin beneath the shower, Ivy quickly dressed and raced through brushing her teeth and hair before rushing to the kitchen.
“Morning, Miss Ivy,” Norris greeted with a knowing grin.
Noble stood. As he strode past the youngest Grayson, he smacked his brother on the back of the head before wrapping an arm around Ivy’s waist and leading her to the table.
When breakfast was done, sans any additional awkward nudity, Ivy thanked Nola for the delicious spread of orange juice, coffee, bacon, eggs, biscuits, grits, and pancakes. Then she and Noble climbed into his truck and headed toward Haven.
Ivy wasn’t sure if she was mentally or emotionally prepared to see the destruction to her bakery in the light of day or deal with the news crews that had arrived last night.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have a choice in the matter.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
As the truck ate up the pavement, Ivy’s anxiety and fear quadrupled.
“Do you want me to turn around?” He squeezed her thigh with his wide hand.
Every cell in Ivy’s body screamed yes! But the fact that Noble knew she was an angst-ridden mess and was offering to save her from, well, from herself warmed her soul and melted her heart.
Without a doubt, he was living up to his name. Ivy knew there was never a more gallant or gorgeous knight willing to slay her dragons of insecurity. Still, she wasn’t a helpless princess, locked in the tower of some evil queen. She was simply letting her weaknesses overshadow her strengths.
“No. Keep going.”
“You sure? Because the worry rolling off you is going to give you an ulcer before we reach town.”
“I know. I can’t help it. I’m not sure I’m ready to see what McMillian did to my shop or face the reporters. There’s so much work to be done and so many outside forces pulling at me, I’m not sure where to start.”
“We start with contacting your insurance company. Then we’ll hire a structural engineer to come out and see if the structure is sound enough to rebuild. If it is, we’ll get a crew in to gut it and start putting it back together. We’ll figure out the rest as it comes.”
His steady reassurance was like a balm. Ivy laid her head on his shoulder and threaded her fingers through his. “You kept saying we through all that.”
Noble lifted their entwined hands to his lips and kissed the flesh beneath her knuckles. “We’re a team, darlin’. I’m in for the long haul. Don’t you ever doubt or forget that. Got it?”
“I won’t. Thank you.”
Before Noble had turned onto Main Street, the acrid scent of smoke wafted into the cab of the truck. Ivy leaned up and peered past him, catching sight of not one but three news vans parked at the curb in front what used to be Sweet Flours.
A spike of panic pounded through her system. “I’m not ready for this.”
“I know. That’s why I called Nate while you were in the shower. I’m going to pull into the alley behind the bar. He and Gina are awake and waiting for us.”
“No,” she blurted out, blindsided by gratitude and fury. She knew Noble’s preparations hadn’t been contrived maliciously, but the sense that he was stripping control from her thundered through her. “Park in front of the bar and we’ll walk in together. I’m through hiding from those people. They’re not going to force me to cower in fear anymore.”
A slow smile of admiration spread over his lips. “Do you have any idea how strong, brave, and independent you are?”
“I’m trying,” she whispered.
“You’re succeeding,” he said beaming before claiming her mouth in a potent and powerful kiss. “Let’s do this.”
As Noble turned and eased onto Main Street, Ivy scooched across the bench seat—instantly mourning the loss of his body heat—and peered out the passenger window. Ignoring the news crews lingering next to their trucks, Ivy took in the sight of her gutted and charred business. Tears stung her eyes. But when she spotted Emmett Hill, sitting alone on the wooden bench beside the remnants of Sweet Flours, wearing a lost and forlorn expression, a sob slid off her lips.
Grief, thick and suffocating, pressed in all around her.
“Pull over,” she instructed in a voice that sounded like sandpaper.
“Here?” She nodded. “But the news crews…”
“Pull over. I need to talk to Emmett.” She pointed, drawing Noble’s attention to the old man.
“Aw, hell,” he muttered and swung the truck in alongside a big white news van.
Ivy hopped out and rushed to the bench. Emmett lifted his head and sent her a forlorn smile.
“You’re a damn good sight for sore eyes, missy.” He patted the wood beside him.
“Ivy, what
do you have to say about Eugene McMillian’s claims that you killed his wife?” a woman yelled out to her.
“Miss Addison, do you know why Eugene McMillian was handcuffed and taken to the Dallas County PD this morning?” another woman shouted.
“Does his arrest have anything to do with the fire at your bakery?” a male reporter yelled.
In a frenzy, the reporters started rapid-firing questions at her.
Ivy ignored them, focusing only on Emmett. “What are you doing here?”
“Back the fuck off…all of you,” Noble bellowed from behind her. “Now!”
“Who are you?” another reporter asked him.
“I’m your worst nightmare if you don’t get those goddamn cameras and microphones out of my face,” Noble snarled.
Ivy smirked and sat down beside Emmett.
Glancing up, she saw that Noble had his back to her. His legs were slightly spread, shoulders thrust back, and arms stretched wide to keep the press back. He reminded her of an impenetrable wall. She could only imagine the intimidating expression chiseled into his handsome face. Over his shoulder she saw Nate and Gina sprinting toward them from across the street.
“Looks like you could use some reinforcements.” Nate chuckled, assuming the same stance next to his brother.
“Morning, sugar,” Gina called to Ivy with a wink before sidling in next to Nate, twirling the end of her Louisville slugger, Martha, in her fingers.
Emmett chuckled beside her and slapped his knees. “I was waiting for you to get here. And now that you are, I’m enjoying this here circus somethin’ fierce.”
As the reporters pelted more questions, Noble, Nate, and Gina lobbed insults and warnings for them to pack up and leave town.
“Yeah, well, it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” Ivy cringed. “Hang tight. I’m going to go calm the masses.”
“Aw, just when it was beginning to get interesting. I wanted to see Gina start doing a little batting practice.” Emmett chuckled.
“You’re incorrigible.” Ivy rolled her eyes, stood, and stepped in beside Noble.
“That’s enough!” She glared at the faces of the anxious reporters clamoring in all around her. “I’ll say this one time and one time only… No comment.”