Both men’s heads bobbed.
“What about the restaurant being so busy she couldn’t get a reservation?” Ivy asked.
The tall man named Joel shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “The truth, Miss Kidman, is that the restaurant was actually slow last night.”
Irritation flowed through her and she pulled out of Steele’s embrace, but she kept her glare on the servers. “Why would she do that? Why would she lie?”
Embarrassment covered both men’s faces, and they dropped their gazes to the floor. She turned toward Steele, still upset over the deceitful discovery. “Did you know about this?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you are the one that had the candles on the table, and you are the one with the romantic music playing in the background. Or… did Rosetta set that up?”
Steele’s expression hardened. “No, that was me. I was trying to impress you.”
Suddenly, a cold chill ran through her. The bet! He was still trying to win the bet they’d agreed on the first night in the restaurant after her arrival. That was why he had quickly taken an interest in her and agreed to the commercial. He was going to prove to her that he could charm a woman to make her bend to his wishes.
Huffing, she folded her arms, glaring at him with all the anger that built inside her. “Steele Holliday, you are nothing but a… skunk! I can’t believe I fell for it.” She inhaled, trying to stop the tears of betrayal from appearing in her eyes. “I can’t believe you’d sink so low as to work with your secretary just to… just to…” Her voice broke, so she quickly turned back into her room and slammed the door.
She hurried to the bedroom to cry out her sorrow in her pillow so that Steele couldn’t hear her as he stood by the door knocking and calling for her. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. It was time to step up and do the job she was paid to do. The sooner she could get this done, the quicker she could leave this resort.
FIFTEEN
Steele sat on a folding stool, leaning over the hole in the ice as he held onto his fishing pole. Every so often, he lifted the line in hopes of catching the attention of a salmon. The tent-hut he’d set up in his corner of the frozen ice kept the snow from bothering his peaceful fishing trip. Although he hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, his mind turned with thoughts of Ivy and his heart twisted in confusion, wondering what he had done to upset her.
He wiggled his line in the hole again. He’d tried a few times with his ice auger to find the perfect spot to fish, but after trying three other spots, he realized he was just taking out his frustrations on the ice. That’s when he finally set up camp at the spot he was at now.
Early this morning, Ivy had called off filming for the day. She never told him personally, but she had sent a text to Rosetta which was how he heard about it. Rosetta had tried to talk to him about what had happened, but he couldn’t talk, especially when he blamed her. So, if Rosetta was the one who’d started this, why had Ivy blamed him?
His fishing line tugged, jerking his depressing thoughts away from Ivy. He concentrated on his line as he slowly pulled the wiggling salmon out of the water. He maneuvered the hook out of its mouth before tossing the salmon into the bucket. As he tied another hook to the line and added bait, his mind pictured Ivy. He’d wanted to teach her how to ice-fish, too, but now that dream was swallowed up by the snowstorm slowly falling around him.
Although he should talk to Rosetta about keeping her nose out of his private business, he really wanted to talk to his old man to find out what made him want to hire Ivy Kidman. If she had been working at a small-time television station, how would his father even hear about her? Unless it was her video that went viral. Yes, that must be it.
The soft crunch of boots on the snow outside caught his attention. He listened closer. It could be other guys coming out on the ice to fish, but usually, they made a lot of noise. However, this sound was soft… like a woman.
The sound stopped right outside his small tent. He waited to them to make themselves known, but after a few unsettled seconds passed, he decided to speak first.
“Who is out there?”
Steele heard the quick intake of a woman’s breath and immediately he knew who it was. He jumped off his stool and three steps later, he pulled back the canvas makeshift door. Bundled in her red coat and hat with gloves and a scarf, stood Ivy. Her eyes were wide as she looked at him. She appeared half-frozen, but he doubted she was that cold. Since the snow was falling, it was a bit warmer than it was yesterday.
“Come in out of the storm.” He tugged on the sleeve of her coat, urging her inside. Thankfully, she didn’t put up a fight.
She glanced around the space, which didn’t take her very long. “This is smaller than I thought it would be.”
“Well, going ice-fishing is usually a two-man job, although I like to fish alone.” He pointed to the stool. “Do you want to give it a try? I was just about ready to toss the line in the water.”
Her gaze shifted around the tent as though she was trying really hard not to look at him. She nodded and sat on the stool. He handed her the fishing rod.
“What do I need to know about ice-fishing?” she said.
He helped her drop the line into the water. Being this close to her again began to mend his broken heart. Before he could say anything, a joke popped into his head and he grinned. “There’s nothing to ice-fishing, really. It’s a lot like catching a polar bear.”
Gasping, she swung her gaze to him. Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung agape.
“You catch polar bears, too?”
He held up his hand, trying not to laugh. “Just listen first.” He cleared his throat. “This is how to catch a polar bear. You first find a frozen lake. Then you dig a hole in the ice – like this one.” He pointed to the hole. “Next, you surround the hole with frozen peas.” He tried really hard to act serious, but the shocked look on her face was priceless. “After doing that, you hide and wait. When the bear stops by to take a pea, run up behind him and kick him in the ice-hole.”
It didn’t take long before he witnessed her glorious smile and she chuckled lightly. She quickly looked away, but her shoulders shook with a silent laugh.
“Aren’t you funny, Mr. Holliday.”
He knelt beside her and touched her knee. When she looked at him, he peered at her with love in his heart, hoping she could see – and feel it. “I hope so because I like making you laugh.”
She released a heavy sigh and relaxed the fishing pole on her lap. “Steele, I don’t know what to believe.”
“Will you first tell me why you became so upset last night? Whatever it was I’d done to make you that way, I need to know so I can change it. I want us back to the way we were before that happened.”
Ivy was quiet for a few disturbing moments as her gaze wandered over his face. Slowly, she shook her head. “I talked to Rosetta this morning and I told her that she was in charge of the commercial because I’m leaving on the next flight back to Montana.”
His gut twisted as he tried to keep his heart from shattering again. “Why? This is your commercial, not hers. Don’t give her the credit, Ivy.”
“It’s really the best thing to do… It’s the only thing to do. I hate drama, and since coming to this resort, that’s all I’ve seemed to have found. I want to return to my simple life in Montana.”
“Ivy? Why did you come here in the first place?”
Her gaze narrowed. “Because your father paid me.”
“I know that, but why did you accept his offer?”
She expelled a deep breath and shook her head. “Are you kidding me? Why do you think I took it?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Because it’s been a dream of mine to work with the big movie companies, but nobody wants to give me the chance. Your billionaire father has connections. I had hoped that by filming this commercial, he could brag about me to his connections and that eventually one of them would t
ake a chance on me and let me show them what I’m made of.”
Remarkably, he loved her that much more, knowing about her dream and that she was truthful with him. “My father does have a lot of connections, Ivy. He could – and he would – do that for you, which is why you can’t give it to Rosetta.” He took both of her gloved hands in his. “This is your baby, your dream. Don’t let anyone take it from you.”
Tears gathered in her eyes and she looked back at the ice hole. She took in a few deep breaths before straightening her shoulders. “You’re right, of course. I’m not going to let someone else take credit for my commercial.”
“Good girl.” He patted her knee.
“But as for us finishing the commercial as the main couple,” she met his gaze again with a stern expression. “Remember that it’s only acting. Nothing more.”
He gritted his teeth and stood. Pushing his fingers through his hair, he wanted to pace the floor, but in this small tent, there was no room to release his frustrations. “Dang it, Ivy. What did I do to upset you?”
“Really?” She rose off the stool. “You don’t remember the bet we made that first night?”
His mind drew a blank. “No, I honestly don’t.”
“Let me summarize it for you, then.” She stepped closer and lifted her chin stubbornly. “You told me that women fell easily into your arms. I told you that there was no way you could charm me. We even shook on it, and yet…” Her bottom lip quivered as if she struggled not to cry. “That’s exactly what happened, wasn’t it?”
He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or to growl with frustration again. Women! Who could understand their many moods? He certainly couldn’t.
Steele grasped her upper arms. “What upsets you more, Ivy? That you’ve fallen for my charm, or that you think I’ve won?”
“Augh!” She yanked her hands away and stormed out of the tent.
She slipped a few times on the ice but kept marching. He followed, not wanting her to get away. They still had to talk about this. He wouldn’t let her leave like this.
Suddenly, she slipped and fell. This time, she stayed on her hands and knees as she looked at the ice.
“Steele?” Her voice shook. “I think the ice just cracked beneath my feet.”
His heart jumped to his throat. That was where he had been taking his frustrations out with the ice-auger, not more than an hour ago. Could he have softened the ice somehow?
He needed to get her away from that spot. If she fell in the freezing water… No! He mustn’t think that way. Saving her life overrode anything right now.
SIXTEEN
Ivy didn’t dare move. The ice continued to break beneath her. Moving would make it worse… but staying would make her fall inside.
A shiver passed through her and she said a silent prayer that she wouldn’t fall in the icy water. She glanced over her shoulder. Steele walked slowly toward her. He stopped and crouched to the ground and then slid on his stomach. The closer he came, the harder she prayed.
He reached out his hand. “Grab my hand.”
She shook her head. “You’re not close enough.”
He scooted closer. The ice beneath her cracked a little more. “Steele…” her voice shook.
“I won’t let you fall in. Now take my hand.”
Her body trembled when she reached for him. The first try she couldn’t touch him, so she stretched farther. When his fingers brushed her gloved hand, he grasped tightly. Being cautious, he slowly pulled her across the ice.
Holding her breath, she waited until they were far enough away from the cracked ice before he yanked her into his arms, and they stood. She wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting to release him. Gradually, fear began to leave her body even though her limbs still shook.
“Come on. Let’s get you into my Rover. It’ll be warmer.”
She didn’t say a word as she walked with him to the black Land Rover with huge tires. She should have known he would drive something this big. He helped her inside before climbing in and sitting next to her. He started the vehicle and cranked up the heater.
Resting her head on his chest, she shivered. The front of him was still cold from when he slid on the ice to rescue her, and yet she didn’t want to move out of the comfort of his muscular arms.
Once the heater started working, it didn’t take long before her body stopped shaking, and soon her mind thawed as well. She lifted her head and looked into his caring eyes. “Thank you for saving me. I… don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
He took a lock of her hair hanging over her shoulder and rubbed it between his thumb and finger. “I wouldn’t have let you fall in.”
“I shouldn’t have gone out there.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I’m… sorry I snapped at you.”
“Ivy,” he said, caressing his gradually warming fingers against her cheek. “Please don’t be mad at me. You must believe me about the bet. I had forgotten about it.”
“It’s hard to believe that you had just suddenly found me attractive and couldn’t stay away from me.”
“Why would that be so hard to believe? Ivy, you’re beautiful. You’re sweet and kind, and you make me laugh. I really do enjoy being around you.”
She released a forced laugh. “Steele, you’re a wealthy man with his pick of any woman he wants. You forget, I met Bonnie. She’s probably a model, right?”
He shrugged and gave his head a negative shake.
“I’m not stupid enough to believe you’d choose me over women like her,” she said.
“Sweetheart, what do I need to do to prove my feelings?”
“Feelings?” She lifted her voice. “We’ve only known each other a few days and already you have feelings for me?”
His shoulders relaxed, but he continued to caress her cheek. The warmth from his hand melded with her face, making her more comfortable. But she couldn’t let this happen. She still doubted his word.
“Tell me, Ivy. Do you like me?”
“Well… yes, but—”
“How did you feel when I kissed you?”
Her face grew hotter. “I won’t lie. I really enjoyed the kiss. I loved feeling wanted and appreciated.”
“So then if you can feel that way in a couple of days, why can’t I?”
Confusion filled her mind. She really didn’t like these doubts. She pulled away from him and reached for the door. “Let me think about it, Steele.”
“Where are you going?” He touched her arm.
“My ride is waiting for me.”
He glanced around and she knew when he found the resort’s cab because relief filled his expression.
“Ivy, before you go…” He paused as if in deep thought. “I want you to know I will find a way to prove my feelings for you are real.”
She shook her head. “Don’t give me hope, Steele. I’m tired of men letting me down.” Before he could say anymore, she hopped out of the Land Rover and hurried to the cab. Once inside, she was tempted to look back at Steele’s vehicle as the cab pulled away, but she fought the emotion. She was a sap… and she was tired of being the only one with real feelings in a relationship. From this point forward, she would concentrate on nothing but the commercial. Steele Holliday would only break her heart again.
Two days passed and Steele couldn’t think of one thing to do to make Ivy believe he had feelings for her. It would be pointless to come right out and tell her he loved her because she would think he was lying.
As she had promised, she’d gone through the remaining scenes for the commercial just acting like she was falling in love with him. The last scene was the sleigh ride. The weather was perfect. They had bundled in the sleigh and had their first kiss as the main couple in the commercial. All the onlookers had complimented them on a great – and believable – performance.
The crew and extra couples cheered when Ivy had shouted that’s a wrap. And just like that… she was in her room editing what had been filmed. Soon, she’d be out of
his life.
He went through the motions of greeting the holiday guests at the resort and treating everyone kindly as he listened to their stories. But he couldn’t feel like he was really here. Instead, he wished he was still in Barrow with his friend, Eric. They had been running a pretty good fish business since they’d both loved to go fishing. Since Steele couldn’t mend his broken heart, he might as well be back in Barrow enjoying the single life once again.
Steele stood at the front desk counter, leaning his elbow on the hardwood as he listened to the front clerks talk excitedly about Ivy’s commercial. One of the girls had gotten to play an extra, and she suddenly wanted to become an actress. He tried not to chuckle. After all, who was he to shoot down someone else’s dream?
A man’s loud laughter jerked Steele’s attention toward the resort’s front doors. Inwardly, he cringed. What was he doing here?
Walking in with his entourage of servants to wait on him hand and foot, Gordon Holliday sleekly strutted in the doors as if he owned the place. Wait… Steele rolled his eyes. Dad does own this place.
The powerful billionaire with a full head of salt and pepper hair and a smile broader and whiter than the whole Osmond brothers put together, nodded at people who stood agape, staring at him. When he met Steele’s gaze, he held out his arms. “There’s my son – the man of the hour.”
Steele laughed forcefully. “Actually, Dad… that’s always been your title.”
“Come here and give your old man a hug.” Gordon stopped in front of Steele and gave him a bear hug. “It’s so good to see you.” He stepped back. “Evelyn has told me about the commercial, and I can’t wait to see it.”
“Yeah, it’s a great commercial.”
His dad glanced around the lobby. “Why are you here? Is there some urgent business that’s keeping you inside today?”
Steele wanted to roll his eyes again, but refrained. “Where else would I be, especially since you wanted me to come back to the island.”
Cupid Takes a Wife Page 10