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Ivy wove through the aisles of the bookstore, her eyes scanning the shelves for the familiar spine of her favorite novel. Ivy inhaled deeply, the mix of freshly brewed coffee and the musty scent of old books filling her lungs. The soft rustle of pages turning and distant laughter from other customers created a comforting symphony in the background, wrapping her in a bubble of warmth.

Her hand brushed against a leather-bound book titled "Shadows of the Heart," and she couldn't resist the urge to pull it out. It had been years since she'd read it, but the story remained a cherished escape.

As her fingers curled around the book, she found a stranger's hand resting atop hers, claiming the book as well. Her eyes traveled up his muscular arm to a broad shoulder, landing on a handsome face. He had dark brown mid shoulder-length hair that curled slightly at the ends. It was in a side-swept style, framing a clean-shaven jawline, ivory skin and mesmerizing blue eyes. He towered over her, a wall of muscles. She felt her cheeks warm, and her heart fluttered as she met his gaze.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the ambient noise of the bookstore. She felt a ridiculous urge to apologize for simply existing in his space.

The man chuckled softly, a warm, resonant sound that sent shivers down her spine. "No need to apologize. Ladies first." He put his hand up, gesturing towards the book in a gentlemanly manner.

"No, you go ahead," Ivy said, her voice tinged with a nervousness she hadn't felt in years. "I've read it like a hundred times already."

"Really? That many?" He raised an eyebrow, playful curiosity dancing in his eyes. "What's so special about it?" There was genuine interest in his tone, as if he truly wanted to know what captivated her about the story within those aged pages.

“It’s got this love story with a twist. You know, the kind that just sticks with you,” she replied, her cheeks warming at the thought of the complicated, passionate romance at its core. She could feel his gaze on her, studying her, and it made her breath catch in her throat.

Ivy's heart skipped a beat. He had a way of speaking that was a deep, hauntingly seductive tone that seemed to vibrate through her very being. She found herself unable to resist his charm, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. And that smile. He had a disarmingly genuine smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes and lit up his entire face. She felt like he could make her do anything with just that smile. "It's about love and loss, but with a twist of fate and magic that binds two souls together across time. It's a beautifully tragic tale," she said, her eyes lighting up as she spoke, lost in the memory of the story's intricate plot and unforgettable characters. She realized she was rambling, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. Talking about the book felt like talking about a part of herself.

As she smiled at the stranger, the warmth in her chest felt genuine, a flicker of hope and possibility igniting within her. “He’s a breath of fresh air,” she thought, but in the back of her mind, the insistent reminder of her turbulent past with her last relationship, her daughter’s father, loomed like a dark cloud, threatening to extinguish the fragile spark. He had a way of making her feel worthless and undeserving of happiness, and those feelings were deeply ingrained.

The man's gaze grew intense with a hint of amusement and… something else. Recognition? Understanding? It was gone before she could grasp it. "It sounds intriguing. Maybe you could tell me more about it sometime?" He offered, his voice a tantalizing blend of mystery and allure, laced with an invitation she wasn't sure she was ready to accept.

Ivy blinked, surprised by his blatant interest. The prospect of spending time with him, outside this fleeting moment, was both exciting and terrifying. "I'd love to," she said, her voice stronger now, masking the turmoil inside her, "but I should get going. I've got a coffee waiting for me in the café." She gestured to the coffee shop inside the bookstore, a flimsy excuse to end the encounter before she got in too deep. The last thing she needed was another sheep in wolf's clothing. After all the heartbreak she went through in her last relationship, the thought of another relationship made her stomach turn with anxiety and fear. She couldn't bear the thought of opening herself up to that kind of pain again. Dating was a minefield, and James had left her with enough shrapnel wounds to last a lifetime.

She smiled at him nervously, a quick, tight smile that barely reached her eyes, and started towards the coffee shop, escaping the captivating gaze and the unsettling possibilities he represented. She needed a distraction, a jolt of caffeine, anything to clear her head and remind herself that she was better off alone. The safety of solitude was far more appealing than the potential heartbreak of romance.

She approached the counter and reached for her wallet and found only a gaping absence under her arm where it should have been. Panic began to unspool in her chest, her heart racing. Had she left it in her car? No, she was sure she'd brought it in with her. She must have set it down somewhere...

Her eyes darted around the store, searching for the black leather wallet that contained her lifeline. The line grew behind her, but she was frozen, her hand hovering in the air as she mentally retraced her steps. Then, the stranger places a $20 bill on the counter.

"Allow me," he said, his eyes meeting hers with a mischievous twinkle. "Consider it a trade."

Her eyes widened, and she felt the heat creep up her neck. "A trade?" she repeated, her voice a little shakier than she'd have liked.

"Yea," he nodded, that playful smile never leaving his lips. "I'll pay for you're coffee today in exchange for a date tomorrow afternoon."

Ivy felt a jolt of panic. A date? But before she could object, the barista took the bill and started preparing her drink, the caffeinated lifeline she desperately needed. She took a deep breath and turned to face him. "Look, I appreciate the offer, but..."

"It's just coffee," he said, cutting her off gently. "No strings attached. Think of it as me paying it forward for you're kindness in not taking the last copy of 'Shadows of the Heart.'" His smirk grew into a full grin, and she felt a small part of her resistance crumbling. He had a point. Plus, it had been ages since anyone had offered to buy her anything, let alone shown such persistent interest.

Her smile grew a little, despite her reservations. "You're not going to let this go, are you?" she asked, smiling at him. "Nope," he said with a smirk.

She giggled, the sound a delightful surprise to her own ears. It was a light, carefree giggle she hadn't heard from herself in what felt like an eternity. "Okay," she said, holding out her hand to shake his. He grabbed her hand, but instead of shaking it, he turned her hand and gave it a delicate kiss. Ivy's cheeks burned. All she could do was smile.

"So beautiful lady, what can I call you?" He said, as smooth as silk. "Ivy," she blushed. "Gorgeous." He said, letting go of her hand, he turned to walk away; as he does, he stops and turns around and calls out to her. "Oh, by the way, ma'am, you dropped this." He said playfully, holding her wallet. She could only laugh as she realizes what just happened. She walks to him and takes her wallet and asks him playfully, "So what would you have done if I had said no?" She giggles.

He just smirked, gave her a wink, and turned and walked away. As he walked away, he called over his shoulder to her. “See you tomorrow, Ivy.” Ivy couldn't help but watch him disappear into the crowd of people browsing through the bookstore. She couldn't help but wonder who this mysterious stranger was, and what he was thinking. Was he really interested in her, or was he just trying to get in her pants?

As she walked away from the coffee shop, she couldn't stop thinking about him. She didn’t know if it was his enigmatic smile, or the fact that he had never even told her his name. There was something about him that was both captivating and unsettling, drawing her in with an otherworldly allure that she couldn't quite explain.

She tried to push the thoughts away, but they lingered in the back of her mind. She thought about James, the last person she had tried to get close to, and how it had all ended in disaster. He had seemed charming at first, but beneath the surface, he had turned out to be a monster. Ivy's heart still ached from the wounds he had inflicted, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was ready to open herself up to someone new.

As she walked towards her car, parked a few blocks away, Ivy glanced at her phone and saw that it was already close to the time she needed to pick up her daughter Alice from school. She worried that she wouldn't make it on time.

As she quickened her pace, Ivy felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She was drawn to the stranger, to the way he had made her feel like she was the only person in the world. But there was something about him that didn't quite add up, something that nagged at the back of her mind like a whisper. She couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Ivy made her way to the house. It was a quaint two-story, white with blue shutters and door. The porch that looked like it belonged in a storybook, with ivy growing over the front and sides of it. The leaves of the oak tree out front fluttered in the gentle breeze, and she could hear the distant laughter of children playing. She had exactly five minutes before she had to walk across the street to pick up Alice from school. The convenience of living so close to the school had been a lifesaver on more than one occasion.

She checked her makeup and hair in the rearview mirror, noticing the smudge of eyeliner under her eye. She took her pinky and wiped it away quickly. She reapplied her lip gloss and looked in the mirror and frowned. Self-doubt was creeping in. She looked away.

Ivy took her time crossing the street, her mind racing with thoughts of the date. The schoolyard was bustling with children, parents chatting in small groups, and the sound of laughter and playful banter filled the air. Alice spotted her and ran into her arms like she had done since the first day of school, her pigtails bouncing. "Mommy!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "Guess what I learned in class today!"

"What's that, sweetheart?" Ivy asked, sweetly as she took her daughters hand and started walking.

“Miss Jenkins taught us about butterflies. Did you know they start as caterpillars?" she said excitedly.

Ivy chuckled. "I did. They're amazing, aren't they?" She tried to keep her thoughts from wandering back to the bookstore encounter.

"Miss Jenkins said that when they come out of their cocoons, they're all wrinkly, but then they let their wings dry out and then fly away," Alice said, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "It's like magic!"

Ivy nodded, smiling down at her daughter. "It is, indeed. Just like in you're favorite storybook." She ruffled Alice's hair gently, pushing aside thoughts of the man with the piercing blue eyes. "How was the rest of you're day?"

"Good except Zane kept stepping on my shoe when we were standing in line," Alice pouted, her tiny brows furrowed. "But I told him to stop, and he did."

Ivy felt a twinge of pride at her daughter's growing assertiveness. "That's great, Alice. You handled it perfectly."

They walked into the house, and as they did, Alice squealed with excitement, "Daddy!" Ivy's stomach dropped. James was lounging on the couch, his boots propped up on the coffee table. She'd given him a key for emergencies, not to just pop in whenever he felt like it.

The moment she saw James, a familiar knot formed in her stomach. She remembered the countless times he had shown up unannounced, each time promising to be better. But where had that led them? She forced her attention back to the present, reminding herself that she was stronger now.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tight with annoyance.

James looked up, his eyes darting to the coffee in her hand and then back to her face. "Just passing by and thought I'd check in on my favorite girls," he said, his tone nonchalant.

Ivy's smile stiffened. Alice is fine. You didn't need to stop by you could have just called."

"Ivy, come on," James said, his voice taking on a cajoling tone. "We need to talk. It's been ages since we had a real conversation."

"Alice, honey, go to you're room for a bit, okay?" Ivy asked gently, her eyes pleading. She didn't want Alice to get caught in the middle of their tension. Alice looked between the two adults, pouting her lip out slightly, but she did as she was told, dragging her backpack with her.

As soon as Alice's bedroom door clicked shut, Ivy turned to James, her voice firm. "You know exactly why it's been like that. This one's name was Sarah, right?" She didn't bother hiding the sarcasm in her tone. James had a string of failed relationships with his side pieces.

James sat up, his expression one of surprise and irritation. "Look, Ivy, I've made mistakes. A lot of them." He paused, searching for the right words. "But I've changed. I want to make it right."

The words hung in the air like a fog she'd heard a dozen times before. She studied him, looking for any signs of sincerity, any cracks in the fa?ade she'd grown so accustomed to. But his eyes remained steadfast, a hint of hope flickering within them. "James, you can’t make but one mistake," she said, her voice laced with skepticism. “After that it’s a choice."

James patted the couch cushion again, his eyes never leaving hers. "Ivy," he said, his voice dropping to a low, intimate whisper, "Come here gal."

Ivy rolled her eyes, the gesture a familiar defense mechanism against his charm. She knew all his moves, his smooth talk, and his sweet-talking. But she was done with it.

"I've got a lot of stuff I've got to do, James," she said firmly, her voice unwavering. She placed her coffee on the counter and folded her arms across her chest, her eyes never leaving his. She had a date to think about, a book to read, and a life to live without his drama.

James stood up, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What's gotten into you, Ivy?" he snapped. "You used to be so sweet, so loving."

"Are you serious right now? What has gotten in to me? More like what or who you've gotten into." She said venom dripping from her words.

James's jaw clenched, his features contorting into something less charming. "You're still hung up on that?" Ivy's eyes flashed. "No, James, I am not 'hung up'. I am over it. I've moved on." She lied. "Moved on?" he sneered. "With whom?" he asked, his eyes narrowed, and he furrowed his brows.

Ivy felt a sudden surge of anger. "It's none of you're business," she said, her voice as sharp as a tack. "I've given you more chances than you deserve. Go get some pussy from one of you're whores."

James took a step closer, his height looming over her. "I'm not letting you go that easily, Ivy," he growled. Ivy's eyes narrowed, and she stepped back, her heart racing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

James leaned in closer, his breath hot against her face. "You're mine," he whispered, his eyes darkening. "I'm not done with you yet, whenever I get tired of you, that's when I'll let you go. And until then if I can't have you, nobody else will either." Ivy felt a chill run down her spine, but she held her ground. "That's not you're decision to make, James." She stepped back, her heart hammering in her chest. "You had you're chance. You threw it away with you're physical and mental abuse, the constant cheating, you're disrespect and you're lies."

But James didn’t back down. Before she knew what was happening, he had her pinned against the wall, his hand wrapping around her throat, squeezing not enough to cut off her air but to assert his dominance. Ivy's eyes went wide with fear; her heart pounded like a drum. She felt a sudden surge of rage.

"I'm the man in this relationship, I lead, you follow," James snarled, his eyes blazing with a possessiveness that sent a cold shiver down Ivy's spine. "It's that simple, you're mine and I'll have what's mine whenever I want!" His grip tightened, cutting off her air supply, and she could see the veins in his arm bulge, and she could feel his other hand trying to unbutton her pants.

Suddenly she heard a small, tremulous voice that seemed to pierce through the fog of fear clouding her mind. "Mommy," James's eyes widened with surprise, he released her. Alice was standing in the doorway; her wide eyes filled with terror. The reality of the situation hit James, and he stepped back. She slumped against the wall, her eyes never leaving James's face. The room was thick with tension; the only sound was her harsh breathing.

"Alice, sweetie," she choked out, her voice raw. "It's okay. Go to you're room." But Alice didn't move, her eyes darting between her mother and her father.

"Ivy," James said, his voice eerily calm. He took a step towards her, his finger pointing at her like a weapon. "You don't get to decide this. You're mine, and you always will be." His hand dropped to his side, and the tension in the room grew thicker than smoke from a raging fire. Ivy opened her mouth to say something, but James cut her off.

"You heard me, Ivy." He spat at her. "The sound of the door slamming echoed through the house, and she let out a shaky breath, her hand flying to her face as she couldn't help but sob. She crumpled to the floor. This was killing her, she wanted him back so badly. She wanted to have her family together, more than anything. She was stuck between being done and hoping that one day something she would say or do would finally make him realize he loved her and treat her right.

As Ivy sat there, she couldn't shake the memories of James's past promises. He had always claimed he wanted to change, but the harsh reality of his actions lingered like a shadow. “You’re mine,” he would say, and she had once believed him. But after everything, could she trust him again?

"Mommy, are you okay?" The sweet, innocent voice of her daughter pierced through the fog of anger and sadness. She turned to find Alice standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with worry.

"Yeah, baby, I'm okay," Ivy managed to say as she motioned for Alice to come to her. She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and hugged her daughter tightly. Alice's small arms wrapped around her neck, and she felt the warmth of her child's embrace fill the cold spaces James had left. As she rubbed the back of Alice’s head.