Page 82 of Rockstar Baby

“Aunt who?”

“Never mind. You’ve definitely never seen me when I can’t get a flavor right. I’m a raging bitch then. But that’s people. We have a million different sides and half of them suck. You just hope to find someone with less suckage than the others. And if not, a really nice dick that makes up for the rest.”

“Thank you. I think.”

She didn’t laugh, just rubbed her chilly arms. “I like you. A lot. We have fun. If that’s all it is, then that’s all it is. I won’t try to rope you into anything.”

“I don’t know what to do with ropes. Or ties of most any kind. I’m used to living out of a suitcase and liking it. This…” I trailed off, gesturing to the wilderness around us, suddenly alive with chirps and rumbles and noises that I could not identify. I nearly shuddered. “Let’s just say I’m not the sort to bond with nature and pitch a tent. I live in a place of glass and it suits me.”

“And this suits me. But lots of things might. How will I ever know if I don’t experience them?”

She was right. So right. As I’d seen during my short time in Crescent Cove.

“Trust doesn’t come easy to me.”

“No kidding?”

“Look, I don’t want to bring up the past, but I’ve dealt with some things that make me wary. But I like being with you. To be honest, the idea of never seeing you again is painful.” I touched her silky soft cheek. “And not just because I nearly dropped to my knees after tasting your—”

“Shh. This is a family show.” Even in the dark, I could see her grin.

“Ice cream. Wow. Filthy mind.” After I removed the condom and wrapped it in a tissue from my pocket, I pulled her close. “I have to go tomorrow night, but we have the rest of tonight. And I’d like to come back. I just don’t know when.”

I had tons of work waiting for me, with a list of prospective clients as long as both arms. I also wasn’t sure how long it would take me to get some distance.

Some perspective on how to live my life with Ivy as only an occasional guest.

“Okay,” she said after a few moments. “But I want your number. And I want you to have mine.”

“Okay,” I echoed, stroking her hair. “You have to make me a promise though.”

She lifted her head.

“If you ever meet someone else and get tired of waiting on me, you’ll be honest. Just call me and tell me the truth. I won’t hold it against you.”

“Rory—”

It was my turn to cover her lips with my finger. “Just that one promise.”

She exhaled a heavy breath and nodded. “I promise.”

Fifteen

May

What are you doing, loser?

I restedmy chin on my arm as I stared at the ingredients for my next creation. I was trying to make something exciting out of vanilla without it being too sweet. Oh, and without making me nauseated. Taking the cap off my vanilla extract made me want to hurl.

Probably because I’d been making everything vanilla for the last few weeks.

I reached for my phone and read the text one more time.

Kinleigh.

That was usually code forlet’s do something crazy.Usually that included far too much wine and too little self-control. Then again, the last time I’d lost control, there hadn’t been any alcohol involved. Just lust and a handful of condoms. Oh, and an Irish accent that I kept dreaming about.

No big deal. Even if time kept slipping away with barely a handful of texts between us.