Page 8 of Moonlight & Matrimony (Oak Ridge #2)

Ivy

? Anyway - Noah Kahan

I spend most of the party plastered to Luca’s side, his hulking form taking up the only open chair on my right.

Luckily, Nana is also beside me, and her delightful presence is the perfect distraction from the noticeable tension with her grandson.

Not that I mind being the filling in this particular Italian sandwich.

As guests trickle out, Nana carefully stands. “Well, this old lady needs to get back. I’m not as wild as I used to be. Luca?”

“Yep, let’s get you home. Ivy, do you need a ride?” He rolls up his sleeves, giving me another peek at his tattoo. It looks like some sort of compass.

“No, I'm fine. I drove.”

He pauses for a beat of awkward silence and I’m certain there’s something he wants to say, but he changes his mind at the last second. “Right. Well, I guess I’ll see you around.” He sweeps his hand through his dark hair before leading Nana towards the exit.

I hate to see him go, but damn, do I love to watch him walk away.

“Stop ogling my brother’s ass, you perv.

” I didn’t even see Paige approach, so I’m caught off guard when she calls me out for my blatant perusal.

I shrug in response. “What can I say? There’s just something about a Roberts ass that does it for me. ”

“Don’t I know it,” Cade agrees as he lays a gentle slap on Paige’s backside.

After saying a quick goodbye, I head out to my SUV, the sound of raised voices stopping me in my tracks.

Movement draws my attention and I spot Mags and Miles standing near a large black truck locked in a heated exchange.

“You don’t get to tell me who I can and cannot date, Miles.

Frankly, my love life is none of your fucking business. ”

“Speed dating? Really, Mags? Are you truly that desperate?”

“You’re one to talk. What was the name of the last girl you fucked behind The Ridge?”

He barks out an artificial laugh. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Fuck off, Miles,” she spits, storming back towards the house. Miles and I lock eyes from across the driveway, and there’s something almost haunted in his expression. With a curt wave, he gets into his truck and disappears down the drive.

I climb into my SUV, pulling out onto the dark gravel road leading back towards Main Street.

The sun has long since set, and the world is quiet as the stars shine overhead.

There’s something so peaceful about the skies at night — it’s always been a comfort to me.

When Austin would be out late doing god knows what (or who), I would sit out on the wraparound porch with a glass of wine, my eyes trained on the sky, waiting for a shooting star and a chance to make a wish.

Eventually, I stopped wishing for him to change.

Caught up in my thoughts, I almost miss the headlights in my rearview, lingering a little too close for comfort.

I step on the gas, hoping to put some distance between me and the vehicle trailing close behind.

It’s too dark to make out much about it, but I’m immediately on edge.

It accelerates along with me, coming only inches from crashing into my rear bumper.

My hands tighten around the steering wheel, terror overtaking me.

When the red car moves to pass me, I make eye contact with my ex-husband, and a chill skates down my spine.

He jerks the car towards my SUV, his face awash with an eerie grin as he revs his engine menacingly.

On instinct, I step on the brakes, jolting a little at the tightening of my seatbelt.

Austin barrels down the street at breakneck speed, and I don’t avert my gaze until he’s out of sight.

That man is going to kill someone someday.

I just hope it’s not an innocent bystander, but his own karmic retribution.

I slowly pull over to the side of the road, my hands shaking from the encounter.

I attempt to calm my racing heart, taking slow deep breaths the way my therapist taught me.

Another set of headlights flashes in my periphery, and I momentarily freeze when a vehicle pulls up behind me.

I clutch the pepper spray on my keychain, trying my best to muster enough courage to handle whatever comes next.

The tension dissipates as soon as I see a familiar form exiting the dark truck.

Luca isn’t a threat, so I roll down my window as he approaches.

“Ivy, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Words escape me as I stare up at him through the open window. “I... I don’t know.”

“Come here, sweetheart.” He opens my door, gesturing for me to step out. I take a moment to find my footing, then collapse into Luca’s arms. He’s still for a moment before he returns the embrace. “Tell me what happened.”

“Austin,” I whisper. His body immediately stiffens beneath my hold as he leans back slightly to study my face.

“What the fuck did he do?”

“N-nothing. He just started following me. He acted like he was going to run me off the road and I froze.”

His hand gently strokes over my hair and down my spine. It’s been so long since I’ve been held so tenderly and my heart does a flip. “Alright. You’re ok. Let me take you home. I can bring you back to your car in the morning.”

“I can’t. I have to go pick up Rylin.”

He glances in the backseat and I cringe thinking about the wayward french fries and cheerios littering the floor, and the weeks old fruit punch stain on the seat. “I’ll grab her car seat and you can give me directions. I don't think you should be driving in this state.”

“Okay,” I agree. My voice is still barely above a whisper as my body trembles. I pride myself on being a strong, independent woman, but it’s taking every bit of my willpower to keep myself from crying in front of this man again.

Luca leads me over to his truck, helping me into the passenger seat.

I adjust myself as he leans over my lap, securing the belt with a click and a tug on the strap.

His hand skims across my thighs upon retreat and the move would’ve had me melting into a puddle if I wasn’t already in a state of shock after my encounter with Austin.

“Where’s Nana?” I ask, only just now noticing her absence.

“I dropped her off at the house. She forgot her purse at the party, so I circled back to grab it. That’s when I found you.

Are you sure you’re ok?” he asks. I feel his eyes on me, but I can’t bring myself to meet his stare for fear of what he might see in mine.

I’ve never been very good at letting people see my vulnerability, and despite Luca’s soothing presence, I’m not ready to start.

Once we’re back on the road, I direct the way to Whispering Oaks Ranch. When we pass the big barn, I spot Russell Hayes coming up the drive on horseback. I roll down my window to say a quick hello but Russell beats me to it.

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Ivy Jo. Here to pick up the munchkin, I presume?”

“Yes sir,” I say. “Luca here was kind enough to give me a ride out. I don’t know if you’ve met.

He’s Paige’s brother and, coincidentally, my new neighbor.

” Russell gives Luca a once-over before bringing his gaze back to me.

“You go on up to the house, Ivy girl. Evie’s been baking up a storm.

Rylin’s been keeping her on her toes today. ”

I shake my head, not doubting a single word. “Thanks. I’m sure she had the best time.”

“That she did, my girl. And we love having her. Go on now.” I smile back at my surrogate father with affection, then motion for Luca to continue the short drive to the main house.

When the large white farmhouse comes into view, I find a tiny figure wearing footie pajamas, bouncing up and down the front porch steps with a tiny kitten nipping at her feet.

Luca pulls to a stop, and I don’t waste any time scooping my girl up into my arms for a big bear hug.

“Mommy!”

“I missed you so much, Ry! Did you have a good day?”

“Miss you too, Mommy. We made cookies and cupcakes!”

“You did? Did you tell Gigi thank you?”

I glance up to find Evelyn watching the exchange with a soft expression on her face. “She was a perfect angel, as always,” she says. “How was Paige’s baby shower? I hated to miss it but I told her we’d grab lunch soon.”

“It was perfect. She said to thank you for the quilt, though I’m sure she’ll be calling you first thing to do it herself.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second,” she says with an affectionate smile. “You must be Luca? You look so much like your sister.”

“I get that a lot,” he says, reaching out for a handshake. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. I’ve heard a lot about you,” she smirks.

Luca’s face falls, but Evelyn waves him off with a laugh. “All good things, I promise. You best be getting this little lovebug back home. She’s been bouncing off the walls after she snuck one too many chocolate chip cookies when I wasn’t looking.”

“Sorry,” Rylin says as she buries her face in my neck with a sleepy sigh.

“It’s okay, honey. You deserve a little treat now and then. I’ll see you soon, okay?” Evelyn wraps us in a group hug before sending us on our way with a container full of baked goods.

“Hi, Mr. Luca,” Rylin says as we approach the truck.

“Hey there, little one. Did you have a good day?”

“Uh-huh,” she responds with a yawn. The sugar high is about to come down hard, and I’m certain she’ll be passed out before we even leave the ranch.

“Come on, love. Let’s get you home to bed.” I load her into her car seat, making sure that her harness is secure before we head back to our neighborhood. The drive is silent, and I keep my gaze locked on the stars overhead. The moon is full, allowing a sense of peace to wash over me.

Before I know it, the truck slows and Luca’s hand touches my thigh.“Hey, we’re home,” he whispers.