"I'm not really sure," Steve says. "Ivy kind of surprised me with this and I haven't had time to give it much thought."
"I can offer up some ideas once I check it out."
"That'd be great. Thanks."
"No problem."
"It's right down the hall." Steve gets up and walks in front of Ivy and me. His back must hurt because he's walking really slow, hunched over, and putting more weight on his right side.
I glance at Ivy. She's watching her dad with concern on her face. It's the same look I get whenever my dad gets sick, or hurt on the job. I always think something's going to happen to him to take him away from us, just like my mom was. I can see Ivy has that same fear about her dad. Ivy and I both lost our moms way too soon, and after that happens, you always worry you'll lose your other parent too.
I take her hand and gently rub it. She looks over at me and forces out a smile and when our eyes meet, I can tell she knows what I'm thinking. That we have this in common and I know how she feels. I understand. Sometimes a look or a touch can say more than hundreds of words.
"So this is it," Steve says. "As you can see, it's small so you can't do a whole lot."
He's right. It's really small, but I've worked with small spaces before.
"So Ivy said we'd be replacing the tub with a walk-in shower," I say. "You still good with that?"
"Yes, I'd prefer a shower, but with my back, sometimes I need to sit down."
"They have showers with built-in seats. Would something like that work?"
"Yes, that's a good idea. How much does something like that cost?"
"It might not cost you anything. I've already got one in our storage warehouse that this lady decided she didn't want after she ordered it. I can send you a photo and if you like it, you can have it. Let me just measure to make sure it'll fit." I get my pad of paper out and a pen and hand it to Ivy. "Can you write it down?"
"Sure." She's smiling at me, so I smile back. I don't know want she's smiling about, but after the argument we had earlier, I'll take it. I'd much rather see her smile than have her angry with me.
I take measurements of the entire bathroom, then assess the space again, trying to come up with a plan.
"I got some ideas," I say to Steve. "Should we sit down and go over them?"
He agrees, and the three of us go sit in the living room. I lay out my plan for what we should do, which includes replacing the vanity and mirror, which are really old, and installing a cabinet above the toilet to add storage because right now, they have almost none.
"Sounds perfect," Steve says when I'm done. "You sure you want to do all that?"
"I'm happy to. And I'm making my brothers help, so we should be able to get this done in a weekend."
"Jake, I don't want to take up their time," he says. "It's bad enough I'm taking up yours."
"They won't mind. We like working together on projects like this. But I need to check their schedules. It may be a few weeks before we do this."
"There's no rush," he says. "Any estimate on the cost of materials?"
"I've got it covered. Like I said, we have a warehouse full of leftover materials so I'll take what I can from that."
"I'll pay him for the rest," Ivy says to her dad.
I'm about to tell her she doesn't have to, but she gives me a look to keep quiet about it, so instead I just say, "It shouldn't be much."
"Thanks for doing this," Steve says, "and coming over here tonight." He checks the clock. "I didn't realize it was so late. You haven't even had dinner. How about I take you two out somewhere?"
Ivy sits up straighter. "Oh, um, you don't need to, Dad. I'm sure Jake has things to do."
"I'm free for dinner," I say, smiling at her.
"Good." Steve stands up. "Then let's go. We'll go to the pizza place Ivy used to like when she was a kid."
"I'd love to hear what Ivy was like as a kid." I wink at her.
"I've got some good stories," Steve says. "I'll tell you a few as we eat."
"Dad. Please don't," Ivy says. "Jake doesn't want to hear those."
"I just said I did." I keep smiling at her because she's cute when she's annoyed.
We all go out to the car. Ivy's just shaking her head. Going to dinner with her dad? It's the last thing she wanted to do. But I like her dad, so why not have dinner with him? If we don't, the guy will be stuck eating alone. And getting on the good side of her dad may help me win Ivy over. I could use all the help I could get. Ivy isn't making this easy.
I thought it'd be difficult to get her to go out with me, but it turns out that wasn't the hard part. The hard part is convincing her to keep going out with me. It's already proven to be difficult, and I have a feeling it'll only get harder.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ivy
Jake and I just got back from having dinner with my dad. It's now ten o'clock. We spent a couple hours at the pizza place because the two of them wouldn't stop talking.
Who knew my dad would like Jake so much? He never likes anyone I date. Even the guy I went out with my junior year of high school just to please my dad. He kept saying I was going out with boys who were nothing but trouble—which I admit was true—so I went on a date with this smart, studious guy who'd never even kissed a girl, and my dad still didn't like him. But wild, ladies-man Jake, he likes. Go figure.
"That seemed to go well," Jake says as he stands in my lobby.
Maybe I should invite him up to my apartment. Standing in the lobby feels weird. Like people are watching us. No one's here, but there are security cameras everywhere.
"Yeah, my dad really likes you. But I'm sure it's only because you're remodeling his bathroom." I smile.
"You think so? And here I thought he really did like me."
"He does. I'm kidding." I glance at the elevator. "You want to go upstairs?"
He pauses, then shakes his head. "I can't stay."
"Oh. Okay. Then I guess I'll see you on Saturday."
Today is Thursday but I didn't want to assume Jake would take me out tomorrow night too.
"What about tomorrow?" he asks.
"What about it?"
"It's Friday night. That's date night. I need a date. And since we're dating, that means you're my date."
"I guess that's true. All right. See you tomorrow." I reach up and kiss his cheek. "Goodnight."
"Now who's the bad kisser?" He grasps me around the waist and yanks me into him. "Try again."
He leans down and I put my lips to his and kiss him. He kisses me back, but then lets me take the lead again. And we keep taking turns until our kisses become continuous, seamless, sheer perfection. The way all kisses should be, and yet I never knew a kiss could be like this until I kissed Jake. From here on out, I'll judge all other guys' kisses by Jake's and I'm sure that none of them will even come close to being as good as his. Because it's not just the kiss itself, the way Jake's lips move over mine. It's also him, and whatever this is between us that seems to work so incredibly well. Why did this have to happen? Why did we have to be so damn compatible?
His lips touch mine one last time before he slowly backs away. "Goodnight, Ivy."
We're done? But I want to keep kissing him.
"Goodnight," I say.
He leaves and I get on the elevator, leaning back against the wall because my legs feel weak, probably because of the throbbing sensation between my thighs. Whenever he kisses me, or is even just near me, my body reacts. It wants him. My body wants Jake. Like really, really wants him. But my head says no. Don't do it. I still don't trust him. I want to, but I don't.
The next morning at work, Callie calls. "Hi. I just wanted to call quick to see how last night went."
"It was good." I smile as I say it.
"Good? I thought you broke up with him."
After our lunch yesterday, I told Callie and Jen that I was done dating Jake. That he'd been with too many girls and I couldn't see a future with us. I told them this as the three of us sat in the car in the library par
king lot, trying to calm down after hearing those sorority girls talking about our guys. Callie knows Nash would never cheat on her so she calmed down pretty fast. Jen was mostly quiet. She's not dating Bryce, so she can't be mad at him for being with other girls, but she doesn't want to hear about it. As for me, I was going off on Jake, saying how he never should've asked me out just days after sleeping with some other girl. Jen and Callie both tried to convince me to give Jake a chance, but I wouldn't agree to it. I told them I was done with Jake.
"I didn't break up with him," I say. "He came over last night and we talked it out."
"Really? What did he say?"
"That he wants to try being in a relationship. He said he wants to change."
"Wow. He really likes you."
He really does. I wasn't sure before, but after our talk last night, I feel like he really does care about me and has for months. When he listed off all the things he knew about me, I got a little teary-eyed, which I never do. I didn't know he'd paid that much attention to me. And that comment he made about my work, and how important it is to me, and how angry it makes me that I get no credit because I'm a woman, shows how much Jake understands me. Even my dad doesn't know how much it bothers me that the guys at work don't respect me and what I do, because I don't tell my dad. I don't tell anyone. I always try to hide how much it bothers me. But Jake knew without me even telling him. And then he said all that other stuff about wanting to be with me, and the way he said it was so sincere and so sweet that I couldn't be mad at him anymore. I was mad at the old Jake, the one who had sex with that sorority girl and couldn't even remember her name. But the Jake I was with last night was someone else. He's the Jake I want to go out with, at least for a little bit longer.
"So did Jake go over and meet your dad?" Callie asks.
"Yeah. They really hit it off. They wouldn't stop talking, and then my dad insisted on taking us to dinner, so we ended up spending the whole night with my dad. But it was good for Jake and my dad to talk, and it's always good to get my dad out of the house."
"How's he doing?"
"I'm not sure. He won't tell me. Last night he was really hunched over and he was walking really slow so I know he was in pain."
"It's too bad they can't do more for him."
I glance out the door and see Nick walking by. "Callie, can we talk later? I shouldn't be on the phone during work hours."
She laughs. "I know your boss. Trust me, you won't get in trouble. But yeah, we can talk later."
"Okay. Bye." I end the call and put my phone down.
"Talking to your boyfriend?" Nick comes into the room. He must've been lingering in the hall.
"I was talking to Callie." Why did I tell him that? It's none of his business.
"Nash's girlfriend?"
"Yeah," I mutter as I pretend to search for something in my toolbox, hoping Nick will get the hint that I'm busy and go away.
"I saw you guys going to lunch yesterday," Nick says.
"You were spying on me?" I find a sharp tool and hold it in my hand.
"I was outside taking a smoke and saw you and Callie and that other girl leaving. Then I saw you come back when I was out dumping the garbage. Nash gives you an hour lunch now, huh?"
"Are you making a point here?" I ask, glaring at him. "Because I need to get back to work."
"Did you think about my offer?"
"I don't need to. I told you, I'm not interested."
"Then how do you plan to pay your bills when this job ends?"
"Not that it's any of your business, but I already have a job lined up."
My next job is at a museum. It's Nash's project and he already asked me to work on it. I hope he didn't ask Tom and Nick to work on it too.
"Who's the job with?" Nick asks.
"Why do you care?"
"I'm just curious. Is it one of Jake's projects? I heard you two are dating."
How did he know that? I don't want him, or anyone else here, knowing I'm dating Jake.
"We're not dating. Whoever told you that is wrong."
"Lance said he saw you and Jake getting cozy on the dance floor at Rodeo Freddy's the other night." Lance is Nick's friend. He's a plumber, and was working here when the project started but finished up a few weeks ago. "He said Callie and Nash were there too. Sucking up to the whole Wheeler family, huh?" Nick shrugs. "I guess you do whatever you have to do to get work, even if that means doing the owner's son." He laughs.
"You're disgusting, you know that?" I point to the door. "Get the fuck out of here and don't talk to me anymore."
"That's bad language from such a pretty girl." He smirks. "Guess you're not as sweet and innocent as you look."
"Everything okay in here?" Nash walks in. He probably heard me raise my voice. I didn't mean to, but I was so freaking angry I couldn't help it.
"I'm trying to work and Nick won't leave," I say, not giving a shit if Nick gets mad at me later for saying it. He can go to hell. I only have a few weeks left on this project anyway.
Nash nods toward the door. "Nick, get back to work."
"Sure thing, boss." He grins at Nash and saunters out the door, like a cocky SOB.
"What happened?" Nash asks, shutting the door.
"Nick was just being his usual asshole self. You didn't hire him and Tom for the museum, did you?"
"No, I have someone else lined up. So what did Nick say to you?"
"Never mind. It's not worth repeating."
"Ivy, I need to know. Did he harass you? Come on to you?"
"No. He was just making comments about me being friends with Callie and going out with Jake. He accused me of trying to get close to your family in order to get more work."
Nash shakes his head. "He seriously said that?"
"Yeah. That's why I told him to get out of here."
"How does he know you're friends with Callie?"
"He saw us go to lunch together. And Lance saw me with Jake at Rodeo Freddy's the other night. Nash, please don't make a big deal out of this. It'll just make things harder for me. This job is almost over and then I won't have to deal with Nick anymore. Until then, I'll just ignore him and not talk to him."
"Okay, but if he bothers you again, you let me know."
"I will."
"So uh...you and Jake. Callie said you two aren't going out anymore?"
"We're still going out." I smile. "Talk to your girlfriend. She'll fill you in."
"Will do." He chuckles. "She always knows things about my family before I do." He pauses. "I know you don't fully trust Jake yet, but he's not someone who would cheat. If that's what you're worried about, he wouldn't do that to you. My ex-girlfriend cheated on me last year, before I met Callie, and Jake saw the hell I went through after that. He knows what it does to someone and he'd never put someone through that."
"He told me that last night. I just...it's hard when he's never really dated anyone before."
"Which is all the more reason not to assume how he'll act in a relationship. He doesn't have a history in this area and I don't think it's fair for any of us to give him one by making assumptions. Jake's a good guy, Ivy. He really is. He's a good brother and he'll help most anyone who needs it. Just something to keep in mind." He walks to the door. "I'll let you get back to work."
"Yeah. See ya."
I agree that Jake's a good guy, but that doesn't mean he'll be a good boyfriend. I guess only time will tell.
That night, Jake shows up at my apartment around six, wearing jeans and a black and gray plaid shirt in the softest flannel I've ever felt. I know it's soft because I had my hands all over his chest as he kissed me. It was another intense, lost-in-the-moment type of kiss that started at the front door and ended on my couch when Jake instinctively slipped his hand under my sweater but then caught himself and yanked his hand away and stood up.
When I told Jake I wouldn't have sex with him, I didn't think he'd take that to mean we couldn't do anything else. I mean, come on, this is Jake Wheeler. Mr. One-Night-Sta
nd, and here it's our fourth date and all we've done is kiss.
"Where are we going?" I ask Jake as he drives out of the parking lot. We just had dinner at a Mexican restaurant where I had one too many margaritas. I'm hoping the taco platter I ate will soak up some of the alcohol because it's making me really sleepy. I close my eyes and lean back against the headrest.
"You tired?" Jake asks. I feel his hand wrap around mine.
"The margaritas made me sleepy. I'll be fine in a few minutes." I realize he didn't answer my question, so I ask again. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there. Until then, go ahead and take a nap."
I doze off, and wake up to the feel of Jake's lips on mine and cold air rushing all around me. "We're here."
I open my eyes and see Jake standing next to me, my door held open. He offers me his hand and helps me out. Off in the distance, I see a string of colorful lights glowing in the darkness.
"Where are we?" I ask.
"At the outdoor ice rink. You know how to skate?"
"I went skating a few times as a kid but I'm not very good."
"You'll do fine. It's like riding a bike. You never forget how to do it." He wraps his arm around my shoulder and we walk toward the ticket booth.
"When I was in junior high, the guys would take us girls ice skating so they could put their hands all over us, but then pretend they were only doing it to make sure we didn't fall." I smile at him. "Is that why you took me here?"
He chuckles. "First of all, I'm not in junior high. And second, I don't think I need to take you ice skating in order to touch you."
"Hey." I playfully punch him. "Don't be making assumptions."
"I'm not," he says, a sexy grin on his face.
Is it that obvious how much I want him to touch me? How did this happen? I started the week wanting to keep Jake away from me and now I'm practically begging him to touch me. I swear, Jake puts some kind of spell over women in which we can't get enough of him. He's sex on a stick and we all want a taste.
"Two, please," Jake says to the girl at the counter. We give her our shoe sizes and she hands us our skates, then we go to a bench to put them on.
Give Us a Chance (Wheeler Brothers #2) Page 13