by Mia Ford
The peace and quiet of them working together was ruined again. She wished she hadn’t started cleaning the dishes.
“It doesn’t work that way.” He said, surprising her with his words. She hadn’t expected him to answer her statement. When she looked at him, he was running his fingers through his hair again.
“What do you mean by that?” She asked him, and he only stared at her blankly.
“What you said. About the woman I used to love, and having her back. It doesn’t work that way.” He replied, facing her now with saddened eyes.
“Leon.” Ivy whispered, her heart beating rapidly against her chest in the silence of the mansion. “Will you please tell me what happened? I’m leaving tomorrow, we’ll never see each other once I leave town. Just tell me what happened and get it off your chest.” She implored him, and he could see it in her eyes.
She watched as he licked his lips, took in a deep breath and then sat back down at the table again.
Ivy joined him at the table, sitting across from him, but said nothing more to urge him on. It was evident to her that he was the kind of man who spoke very little about his feelings. He disclosed nothing to anybody, so he needed to take his time.
They sat silently for some time, while Leon seemed to be arranging his thoughts.
“Her name is Vivian.” He began, and Ivy clenched her jaws. She didn’t realize how jealous it would make her feel, just to hear the name of the “another woman.”
“She was my daddy’s secretary’s daughter, so she grew up at our ranch. We used to play together as kids. She was a little older than me, by a few years, but we got along well.” He continued.
Leon wasn’t looking at her as he spoke, but Ivy kept her eyes trained on him. She wanted to see his every muscle move, she wanted to drink in the handsomeness as much as she could now. She wanted to burn his image in her brain so that she could remember it clearly later.
“As we grew up, grew into teenagers, I couldn’t help but fall madly in love with her. Vivian with her wild red hair, her green cat eyes…she was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. She was also one of the only girls I was friends with. That could have been the problem.” He said.
Ivy could feel the jealousy coursing through her veins now. She hadn’t expected him to describe the other woman in such great detail. She didn’t want to picture this beautiful Vivian, Leon as a teenager, chasing after her. She had to clench her fists on her lap to stop herself from saying something. She wanted to be a good listener to him.
“Anyway, she led me on.” He said, and quickly exchanged a look with her.
“How did she lead you on?” Ivy asked, finally breaking her silence.
“She knew I loved her. And she wanted my money, my daddy’s money. Even as a young sixteen-year-old, she knew that if she married me she would be able to make use of my inheritance.” He said, running his fingers through his hair again, out of nervousness.
“And how did she lead you on?” Ivy asked again, knowing fully well that her cheeks were burning up from jealousy now. But Leon didn’t seem to have noticed it.
“She used her body, how else?” He said, looking at her again. Ivy saw the rage in his eyes. He looked away, trying to control it.
“She knew I was young, foolish, a stupid fourteen-year-old. She gave her body to me and I made her a promise that I would marry her the day I turned twenty-one.” He continued.
“And did you?” Ivy asked, now her jealousy was bubbling up to her throat. She was afraid she was going to scream. So, this was why, Leon had reacted so terribly to her seduction! He thought she was using him too. That she was after his money.
“No, she married my cousin instead.” He said flatly.
Ivy’s mouth fell open.
“She married your cousin?” She asked, her hands flying to her mouth.
“It was a family business. My daddy’s brother owned it jointly, and he had an only son. My cousin, Michael. Michael was older than me, older than Vivian and she seduced him too. They were married on my twenty-first birthday. She did it to spite me.” His voice was shaking now as he spoke. Ivy gulped, her brows were crossed. She could see the pain and rage in his eyes. He was forcing himself to talk about it.
“So, what did you do?” She asked softly.
“I tried to forget her. What else could I do? She lived with Michael, in our joint house, while I worked on the ranch every day. Trying to forget my feelings for her. How she had betrayed me.” He said, and banged his fists on the table.
Ivy didn’t know what to say any more. She didn’t know what to ask him. What could she possibly ask him now? She could see how he was feeling.
“I did ask her, why she couldn’t wait a day and marry me instead.” He said, in a much softer voice. He was still struggling with his emotions. Ivy held her breath for the answer. A part of her didn’t want to know any more. She didn’t want to know how much he was hurting. How she had mis-judged him.
“She said that Michael made her feel good. He was a man, while I was just a boy. She had a smile on her face when she said that.” Leon said. Just as Ivy gasped, he picked a plate up from the table and flung it to the floor. It crashed and broke into a million pieces and Ivy jumped off the chair.
“She’s a bitch, Leon. She lied. She never loved you.” Ivy was saying, the words were tumbling out of her. But Leon had lost control of his senses now.
He too jumped off his chair and was rushing towards the kitchen door.
“Leon! She was a liar!” Ivy screamed after him, but he was gone.
She didn’t know what to do but remain standing where she was, looking after him. The front door opened and closed and she knew he was gone, out of the house and to his horses. She needed to give him his space, the time he needed to recover. But it was approaching night again, and the next morning her father would be there.
She wanted to talk to Leon some more. Explain to him that Vivian had purposely manipulated the family, that he had to forget about her and move on. But how could she when all he did was push her away?
Ivy didn’t see Leon till the next morning again. She was giving him the space she thought he needed.
But she was awake at the crack of dawn the next morning, showered and packed and ready to go. She had finally replied to her father’s text messages to tell him that she was expecting him. He had told her that he would arrive by mid-day to pick her up.
She could hear Leon walking around the house, and when she stepped out she found him in the kitchen again. He hadn’t changed, or showered and wasn’t looking fresh like he did the previous day. He had clearly had a rough night.
But he couldn’t stop himself from looking at her. At the polka dotted vintage style yellow dress she was wearing. He had noticed the yellow ribbon she had tied to the top of her head; his eyes had glittered when he took in the sight of the golden tight ringlets adorning her head like a crown.
Ivy had taken care to present herself well. She wanted him to remember her like this, to remember her the way she did when she looked her best.
“Good morning, Ivy. I hope you slept well.” She heard him say.
She could smell eggs being fried, and melting buttered toast. She realized she hadn’t eaten in a long time and her stomach was rumbling.
“Good morning, Leon.” She said, walking into the kitchen.
“Take a seat. I’ve made us breakfast. I wanted to give you a good send off.” He said, looking tired and ill rested.
Ivy took one of the chairs at the dining table and waited for him to join her. The sun was just rising and it filled the kitchen with a golden orange hue, in which Leon’s dark brown eyes shone, and caught the brilliance of his sandy blonde hair. She could still feel the texture of his hair on her fingertips, when she had run her hands through them, when he was kissing her neck.
She felt her belly twitch, and she couldn’t be certain if it was because she was hungry, or because of how handsome he looked.
Leon placed a plate of fried eggs,
toast and sausages in front of her, and did the same for himself. When he settled into a chair in front of her, he cleared his throat, finally meeting her eyes.
“I wanted to apologize for my behavior last evening. I know you were just trying to be friendly.” He said.
Ivy stared at the food in front of her, suddenly she wasn’t hungry any more. The realization had struck her like a rock slapping her on her face, she was going to leave this place soon. She was going to miss him. She was going to miss her need for him.
“It was my fault for pushing you. I shouldn’t have forced you to talk about something that hurts you so much.” Ivy said, without looking up at him. She didn’t want his emotions to spiral out of control again, not so soon before she was about to leave.
“No, it wasn’t your fault. I need to learn to be able to put things in the past. But now you can see why I can’t have you here, in my house.” He said.
Ivy could sense his eyes on her, she knew he was studying her face, but she refused to look up at him. There were so many undercurrents of emotions in the room, she was afraid of cracking and spilling everything out.
She only nodded her head.
“I can’t have another woman in my life right now. I left Minnesota, the home I grew up in…to get away from Vivian. And as much as I’m attracted to you, as much as I want you, I can’t let you in.” He continued.
Ivy nodded her head again. She understood what he was saying, even if she didn’t agree with him, she understood.
“But not every woman is like her, you know.” She blurted out before she could stop herself. She looked up at him, just as he took a bite of his toast. His eyes looked wild, like he hadn’t had any sleep for several days. His heart was at war with his brain, and she wished she could make him see how good they were for each other.
When he didn’t respond, she continued.
“I am not Vivian. I don’t want your money. I slept with you, because I wanted you, not all this.”
Ivy looked around her to indicate the house, and Leon watched her movements with steady dark and narrowed eyes.
“I know, but I can’t just take your word for it.” He said harshly. Ivy opened her mouth to speak, but he raised a palm to stop her.
“I know what you’re about to say. But, Ivy you are very young. You have a good opportunity to begin a career. I can’t allow you to stay here, live with me and ruin your life. As a test.” He said, in a louder stricter voice. It was as though he was trying to convince himself, just as much as he was trying to convince her.
Ivy shut her mouth close again, and started eating her breakfast. She knew she had no chance to explain her point of view. Leon Cooper was not the kind of man who would sit down and listen to what she had to say. He had made up his mind and there was no way that she could change it.
They ate in silence, and then waited in silence for her father. Ivy only tried to enjoy the few hours that she had with him, in his company. She was grateful that even without explanation, he was willing to give up his work for the day and pass the waiting time with her. It was his own private way of demonstrating to her, that he would miss having her around.
They both heard the honk of Ivy’s father’s jeep in the distance, together. She leaped out of her chair, and hurried to her room to collect her bags.
Leon followed her, and picked up both the bags himself.
“I’ll show you out of course.” He said as they made their way towards the front door of the house.
Ivy followed him silently a little of the way, and then she stopped.
“Leon, you don’t need to do this.” She said, unable to control herself any longer. He was only punishing himself, and punishing her in the process too.
She watched as he straightened his shoulders and clenched his jaws.
“Your father is waiting, Ivy.” He said, in all seriousness. Refusing to respond to what she had just said.
She was fighting the tears, as he carried the bags out of the house, she was following him slowly, keeping her distance.
It was eleven now, and hotter than it was the day she had first arrived at The Old Marigold Ranch. The place she had slowly started to fall in love with. Heck, she’d even miss Mocha. She’d miss the sound of horses in the ranch, the sound of their hooves as Leon rode them behind the mansion, the sound of the ceiling fan in her bedroom, the scent of his cologne as he walked around the house, the full pantry, the silences they had shared within these walls. As harsh as he had been to her, he had also been kind in his own way. He had been respectful; he had made her feel important and beautiful. And now, by denying her the employment, he was punishing them both.
She could see her father’s happy smiling face in his jeep, with his one arm hanging out of the window. He was happy to see his daughter, and waved.
Neither Leon nor Ivy waved back at him. How was he supposed to know what had happened in these past few days, the myriad of emotions they had both felt, the real reason why she was leaving the ranch?
“Changed your mind then, Mr. Cooper?” Her father’s voice rang through the air, as they approached his jeep. Leon was walking ahead of her, carrying the two heavy bags and making them look like they were as light as feathers.
“Sure did. I didn’t have enough work to give her, and I didn’t want to waste her time.” Leon said.
Ivy felt the same emotions again, as she had felt when he had first walked into the pub. She couldn’t see his face, but she wanted him desperately to turn around and look at her. She wanted to see his jaws move, the strength in his cheekbones, how his neck looked strong and masculine.
Her father gave a chuckle and then shook his head.
“I hope she’s been no trouble to you.” Her father said, looking from her to Leon, and then back at Ivy again.
She held her breath, anxious to hear what Leon might have to say.
“No trouble at all. It’s been a pleasure having her.” He said and they finally came to a stop, still several feet away from the jeep.
Leon dropped the bags to the dusty ground, and Ivy turned to him. She knew he could see the fat tears at the corners of her eyes, and she didn’t care anymore what her father could see nor what he thought was going on between them.
“Leon!” She cried and lunged at him. She was surprised to find that he had his arms wide open to receive her and she fell into them, her face pressing against his chest as he held her close.
“Ivy?” She heard her father’s voice in the background but she didn’t pay any heed to it.
“Leon, you are being too harsh. I wish you could see that I’m not Vivian. That I want you, I actually want you.” She cried, looking up at his face. He towered over her, shielding the glare of the sun with his head and shaggy blonde hair.
His eyes were narrowed, sparkling, studying her own large green eyes. Then she felt his thick rough thumbs on her cheeks, wiping the tears away.
“I know you’re not her. But I don’t want you to regret this, Ivy.” He said, softly.
“Mr. Cooper? Ivy?” Her father was still calling out to them.
“It’s just a job. Can I not leave whenever I want? What would you do without me?” Ivy asked, still crying. He was still brushing the tears away from her cheeks.
Then, after several seconds of silence, he shook his head.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’m being foolish.” He said and pulled her to him in a tighter embrace.
“There’s been a mistake, Mr. Hart. I’m sorry for making you come here all this way, but Ivy will be staying with me for a little while longer. I’ve found a few new tasks for her.” He called out to her father.
Ivy had a beaming smile on her face when she turned to look at him. She could see that he had got out of his car and was standing with his arms flailing, confused and bordering on anger.
“Ivy? What the Hell is going on?” Her father asked.
Ivy shook her head and then slowly wriggled out of Leon’s arms.
“Sorry daddy, I’m not go
ing home with you. You can go back home now. Thank you for not coming to pick me up when he first called.” She said and went over to hug her father as well.
He was still confused, still at a loss for what to do.
“Ivy, maybe you should just come home. I think you’re confused, my darling.” He said as she pulled away.
“I’m not confused daddy. I have never been surer of anything as much as this. You can leave now, daddy. We have a lot of work to do.” She was beaming as she said it. Her life was just about to begin, and she was glad now that she had never replied to that email.
Leon had carried her bags back to the house, and now they were both standing in her bedroom with several feet of distance between them.
Ivy could feel her shoulders rising and falling, her breasts heaving with anticipation. Neither of them had said a word since they returned back to the house. They just stood there, staring at each other. This was actually happening. She was actually going to be here in this house with him. She couldn’t believe it.
“Leon…” She began, breaking the silence.
“Ivy, this is just a job for now.” He interrupted her.
She shook her head, with a broad smile on her face. She would take anything. She would agree to anything, just to be close to him.
“I can’t promise you anything more than an employment for now.” He continued and she shook her head some more.
“I don’t expect anything more, Leon. We don’t even know each other. All I want is to be able to work for you, to make some kind of living, and to be close to you.” She said, and he took a few steps closer to her.
Just that movement was enough to set her body ablaze. Ivy felt like all her limbs had turned to soft clay and like her knees were going to buckle. She had hyped herself to accept that she would never see Leon again in her life, to be back in the room, to have him so close to her, close enough to touch him…felt like it was too good to be true.