Page 5 of Moonlight & Matrimony (Oak Ridge #2)

“Come on, honey. It’s just one drink. I’m Matty, by the way.” He holds out a hand for me to shake, but I pretend not to notice as I dig through the bag of skittles, searching for the ever elusive red ones.

“I’m meeting someone,” I reply. It’s a lie, but at this point, I’m willing to do anything if it means he’ll fuck off and scurry back to his buddies.

I get the feeling this guy won’t take no for an answer and it’s unnerving, to say the least. I scan the bar, reminding myself that I’m not alone as I spot Cade near the door.

The man who introduced himself as Matty stands straighter, a sleazy grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Playin’ hard to get, darlin’? What’s the harm in a little conversation? You seem like you could use a little fun.”

Standing my ground, I glare at the creep, my voice firm. “I said no.”

His expression darkens as he leans in uncomfortably close, the stench of alcohol wafting off his breath. “I’m not leaving ‘til you give me a chance.”

Before he can push any further, Luca materializes at my side, sliding a protective arm around my shoulders. “Hey baby. Sorry I’m late.”

Matty’s eyes flick between us, his false bravado faltering. “I didn’t realize —”

Luca smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Now you do. Move along.”

Matty hesitates briefly, as though assessing whether he could take Luca in a fight. No doubt realizing he would lose spectacularly, he walks back to his table to a chorus of laughter.

“You okay?” Luca asks, his voice softening as he releases his hold on me.

“Yeah, thanks. These fake fiancé services are very thorough. What do I owe you this time?”

“Consider this your free consultation. How about I buy you a drink?”

With a teasing tone, I reply, “What kind of hypocrite would I be if I let you buy me a drink and not that other neanderthal?”

“Should I be insulted that you just compared me to that guy?”

The playful banter has a smile tugging at my lips. “I don’t know, are you?”

“Yeah, a little.” He smirks, eyeing my bag of skittles. I quickly slide it out of his reach and glare at him. He laughs at my possessiveness and the sound goes straight to my pussy.

“That sounds like something you should unpack with a therapist. Hey Cade?” I shout, waving my arm in the air to flag him down. His eyebrows draw together in question as he approaches me and Luca at the opposite end of the bar. “Luca needs your services.”

“This one thinks she’s funny,” Luca says, jutting his thumb in my direction. “But while I have you here, can I get a pint of whatever's on tap and another of whatever shit Ivy’s drinking?”

“Actually,” I cut in, “I’m going to need something that doesn’t resemble turpentine. Margarita?”

“You got it,” Cade chuckles. “How’s the move going, brother?”

“Not bad. Not sure about the neighbors, though,” Luca teases.

“Fuck you. We’re delightful. Right, Cade?”

He pins me with a bemused expression. “I plead the fifth. Let me get those drinks for y'all.”

Luca

I don’t know Ivy that well, but something feels off. As soon as Cade is out of sight, her posture deflates.

“Is everything okay?” I hate to pry, but since she's my sister’s best friend, I feel like I have a duty to look out for her when Paige isn’t around. All the earlier playfulness has evaporated, and it’s like her entire demeanor has changed in the blink of an eye.

“You’re like the third person to ask me that since I walked in here.”

“Maybe we have a reason for asking. You look upset.”

“It’s been a rough week,” she sighs. As if she can’t stand to hold it in anymore, she word-vomits a slew of shitty circumstances she’s endured over the past several days.

“And the cherry on top of my shit sundae—” she mimics a drumroll on the bar, snagging the attention of several patrons, but it doesn’t faze her.

“Austin wants fifty-fifty custody. If he gets his way, he’ll have Rylin alternating weeks.

She can’t handle that, Luca. Austin never gave a shit before.

He’s only fighting now because he wants to hurt me.

” She pauses, her fingertip drawing patterns in the condensation on her glass. “Fuck. Sorry for the trauma dump.”

“Don’t apologize. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I wish. But thank you. I just have to hope the courts side with me, but Austin’s family has a lot of pull in this town and the judge has some strong feelings about single mothers.

Some stupid archaic belief that growing up without a father figure is detrimental to the child, even if that father figure is a piece of shit. ”

Without a second thought, my mind immediately begins formulating a plan.

There has to be a way I can help them. Something tells me Austin isn’t exactly a doting father, and the possibility of him hurting Rylin sets my teeth on edge.

If a guy is willing to put his hands on a woman, he’s probably capable of hurting a kid too.

And what happens when Rylin grows up and she’s no longer too little to take the brunt of his anger?

As far as I’m concerned, Austin shouldn’t have any parental rights, much less fifty-fifty custody.

Silence stretches and before I can come up with a solution, Ivy excuses herself to the restroom. I’m not too prideful to admit that I actively stared at her ass as she walked away. I can appreciate a beautiful woman when I see one, and Ivy is gorgeous. You’d have to be an idiot not to notice.

Shortly after Ivy leaves, Cade slides both drinks across the bar. “Miles told me you’re starting the new job soon.”

“Yeah. I’m looking forward to it. Now that my shit is all unpacked, I’m getting restless. How’s Paige feeling?”

“Fucking miserable about 99% of the time. We’re ready to meet our girl.”

“I’m happy for you both. I feel like I missed out on the whole big brother warning, but I already know you’re good for her.

” I’m not usually a sentimental guy, but I’ve grown a lot in the last year and a half.

Watching my sister build a new life for herself has put some things into perspective for me.

Cade nods. “Thanks. That means a lot. I know things haven’t always been great with you and Paige, but she’s really happy you’re here.”

Before I can respond, Cade is flagged down by another patron, and with one last rap of his knuckles on the bar, he takes off.

With all the locals arriving for karaoke night, the crowd is really starting to pick up, and while I have no intention of staying long enough to endure that particular brand of torture, I do want to make sure Ivy gets home in one piece.

Checking my watch, I frown. Ivy’s been gone too long.

A sense of unease claws at my chest, compelling me to look for her.

I quickly scan the crowd, but there’s no sign of the hazel-eyed spitfire.

I’m off my stool in an instant, a rush of concern propelling me forward, my heart pounding as I approach the hallway.

The moment I turn the corner, I freeze. Austin has Ivy pinned against the wall in the dimly lit hallway. His shadowy figure looms over her, gripping her arm with such force that it makes my blood boil. “Get your fucking hands off of her,” I growl, stepping further into the hallway.

Austin barely spares me a glance, a wide grin spreading across his face. “This is between me and my wife .” Spittle flies from his mouth as he grits out the last word.

“I’m not your fucking wife anymore,” Ivy sneers.

I’m so fucking proud of her for standing up for herself, but Austin’s grip tightens and she winces.

In three strides, I’m on him, ripping him away from Ivy and shoving him hard against the opposite wall.

“You stay the fuck away from her,” I snap, white hot rage flooding my veins.

Austin stumbles, but quickly regains his balance, his eyes narrowing with contempt. “She’ll always be mine.”

As I stalk towards him once more, his face barely an inch from mine, I keep my voice even and calm, despite every instinct to the contrary. “Touch her again, and you’ll regret it.”

“Is there a problem here?” Liam’s commanding presence cuts through the tension, and I can see the moment Austin realizes he’s lost. He spits out a curse before shoving past us, barreling towards the exit.

Liam follows closely behind, and I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing he’ll ensure he doesn’t return.

“Ivy, are you okay?” I gently cup her face in my calloused palm. Her skin is soft and I have to resist the urge to run my fingers down her neck and over her collarbone. Fuck, she’s beautiful.

Leaning her head against the wall with her eyes closed, she lets out a shaky breath. “I didn’t even see him coming. I hate how helpless he makes me feel. I wish you didn’t have to keep cleaning up my messes.”

“You’re not helpless. And it’s okay to let someone else share the burden sometimes. Why don’t you let me give you a ride home?”

Her eyes meet mine and up close I can see flecks of gold mixed with the green and brown swirls. She clears her throat, sidestepping away from me. “Yeah. Okay.”

Ivy

A heavy silence fills the cab of Luca’s truck on the short drive back to our neighborhood. The air is thick and rife with tension as we pull into the driveway. Before I can even open my door, Luca’s already there, lending a hand as I step out.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say, pausing on the sidewalk between our houses.

“Anytime. Have a good night, wifey ,” he teases.

“Wifey? We’re back there again?” I laugh, dramatically holding up my left hand between us. “Weird. Still no ring on my finger.”

Luca chuckles, his face taking on a contemplative expression. Without warning, he looks me dead in the eyes and sinks down onto one knee. “Ivy, will you marry me?”

My mouth goes dry and I almost lose my footing, but he catches me before I tumble to the ground. “Wh-what are you doing?” I ask a little breathlessly as his hands wrap delicately around my waist.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m proposing.”

“You’re insane! You don’t even know me!”

“It won’t be real. We’ll just pretend to be engaged to get Austin off your back. We’ll probably be seeing a lot of each other, anyway. It can’t hurt to fake it.”

I push off his shoulders and take a step back, steeling myself for what I’m about to do.

“I’m not some fucking damsel in distress who needs saving, Luca.

” My tone is harsh but necessary. The last thing I need is another man barreling into my life, thinking I’m some meek, submissive little girl he can push around.

“ I got us out of there. I can keep us safe on my own.”

“Ivy…” his eyes are softer now as he pushes himself up off the ground, reaching for my shoulders.

Instinctively, I stiffen under his touch and his hands retreat to his pockets.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t think you’re weak — you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.

I just wanted to give Austin a reason to keep his distance.

I have no doubt you can take care of yourself, but I’ve met guys like him.

He’s not going to let this go so easily.

Would it be so bad to just keep up the charade for a little while? ”

I can’t say it isn’t tempting to let Austin assume I’m with someone else, but I can only see it going one of two ways.

Either he doesn’t believe it and nothing changes, or he does believe it and it enrages him further.

Try as I might, I can’t imagine a favorable outcome.

That’s not even taking into consideration how it would complicate my relationship with Paige.

Nothing stays secret in this small town.

We would have to keep up the pretense for all of Oak Ridge, and I’m not sure I have the acting skills to pull it off.

He must see the hesitation in my eyes because he nods. “Just think about it. Please.”

“Ok,” I say through a sigh, knowing I won’t even entertain the idea. “I should head in. Thanks for everything.”

“Of course. Give me your phone.” My brow furrows in confusion. “Just giving you my number so you can call me if Austin tries anything else,” he clarifies. Understanding dawns, and I do as he asks. It can’t hurt to have my neighbor on speed dial just in case. This doesn’t have to mean anything.

“Call me if you need anything. I don’t care if it’s 2am. If Austin shows up out of the blue, call me.”

“Ok.” He walks over to me, arms outstretched, and I step into his embrace.

He’s tall, towering over me by more than a foot.

He leans his cheek on my head, and I swear I hear him inhale before releasing me, retreating towards the front door with a wave.

The comfort of his woodsy scent lingers on my clothes for the rest of the day, and I sleep like a baby.