Chapter 7

IVY

By the end of my twelve-hour shift, I was exhausted. I was so used to studying behind a desk that standing on my feet all day and conversing with every high-paying fisherman left me beat.

"Do you want to wear something of mine to the bonfire?" Missy asked as she bent down to grab her purse. "I don't want to walk up to the ranch."

I gulped a little, worried about what Missy normally dressed like, which didn't leave much to the imagination compared to my usual flannel shirts and ripped jeans.

"We could always take one of the resort's ATVs up the road," I suggested.

"Nah, then we'd have to spend time finding one available to use, and that would waste valuable party time." Missy started walking toward the double doors. "I've got a perfect little purple dress for you anyway."

"It's just a bonfire, and I'm not wearing anything too fancy," I replied.

"Oh, Ivy, how often do I have to tell you? If you got it, flaunt it. And believe me, you got it." Missy winked.

Walking into the bunkhouse reminded me why Blaine insisted I stay at the ranch instead. This place was no different than a college dormitory, except it was co-ed, and there wasn't an RA to help keep the noise down. Over two hundred employees who worked rotating shifts at Whitefish Resort for fifteen weeks of the year – four days on and three days off - and called these shared accommodations home for the summer.

Missy unlocked the door to her bedroom, and we stepped inside. I had to look twice, but sure enough, Missy had three huge pieces of bright pink luggage lined up against the wall.

I snorted out a laugh, "Think you packed enough?"

"I couldn't decide what to bring, so I packed one for shoes, one for dresses, and one for shirts and shorts," Missy said thoughtfully as she wheeled a piece of luggage into the middle of the room. She unzipped it and pulled out a short and tight purple dress. "I think you should wear this."

I shook my head, "No way. Don't you have a pair of jean shorts and a sweater or something like that?"

She continued to search her luggage. "You need to stop hiding that body of yours under flannel shirts."

"That's hardly the case."

Missy froze and lifted her eyes, glaring at me as if to scold me. "Then prove it."

I bent down on my knees, searching through her impressive travelling wardrobe. Every item was neatly folded and colour-coordinated, and I hoped I would get everything right. I was in the white section and yanked up a lacey cream-coloured tank. "I'll wear this and a pair of jeans."

Missy shook her head, "No. Wear a skirt."

I hesitated briefly but figured arguing with Missy wasn't worth my time.

"Okay. Deal." We shook hands in a truce.

After she sprayed herself with a whack-load of perfume, we linked arms and walked down to the bonfire. The closer we got, the more flames shot up into the sky. Boys in Montana didn't light slow-burning campfires to roast marshmallows like the rest of the world. They made a wicked blaze that lit up the entire town. With every step we took, the louder country music blared from one of the trucks parked on the grass.

"Looks like you two made it after all," Grayson hollered as he stumbled toward us with a beer.

"Go away, Grayson." Missy turned her back to him when he touched her side.

"Don't be like that." Grayson draped his arm around Missy's shoulders and whispered in her ear. "I like your red boots."

Grayson may have already drunk one too many beers. His eyes were glazed over, and his speech was a tad slurred.

"Well then, may I suggest you get a good look at them and enjoy the view as I walk away," she smirked.

Missy linked her arm around my elbow and led us away from Grayson. When we were out of earshot, I asked, "I thought you wanted him to want you; why are you shooing him away?"

"Come on, Ivy. Everyone knows men want what they can't have. They like the chase. Grayson will be putty in my hands in about an hour from now."

"Really?" I asked, scratching the back of my head. "Acting like you don't care when you do works?"

Blaine and I never played games. Our relationship was cut and dry. He always wore his heart off his sleeve, and I was always there when he needed me. We never had any crazy fights, there was very limited teasing, and there was not any crude or suggestive behaviour to purposely piss each other off.

"It works like a charm." Missy pushed her shoulders back, looking quite pleased with herself. She glanced back at Grayson and bit down on her lower lip. "Just look at him; I can see his hard-on pushing through his pants from here."

I turned around to catch Grayson pursing his lips together and narrowing his eyes right on Missy's backside. He looked like he was ready to pounce.

I wished she had shared this information with me in high school. I quickly shuddered at the thought of my past infatuation with Rhys and blushed from the image of him burning in my brain from last night. His smoking hot and naked body stuck between that girl's legs made me ache inside. That could have been me if I hadn't been so hungry for him way back when. I should've made him beg for it that night in my father's office instead of pleading for him to have me. How embarrassing. I quickly took a deep breath and quietly prayed he was gone.

"Ladies over here!" Charlie shouted from across the lawn while he handed everyone around him a cold beer from a cooler sitting beside the muddy tires of his truck.

Missy and I cut through the damp grass, which sprinkled dew on our leather boots. She hopped up on the tailgate of his truck and snatched a beer from his hands.

"Thank you kindly," she smiled.

"Jesus Ivy. I'm surprised Blaine let you out of his sight this summer," Charlie handed me a beer. "With legs like that poking out of a skirt that high... he's a dumb man to think other guys won't be moving in on his girl while he's away."

I laughed. "Blaine knows I can put other guys in their place when they step out of line."

Charlie smiled and raised his beer. "And you grew yourself a smart mouth, too. I don't know what I like better about little Ivy Bishop all grown up: the rocking body or the snappy tongue."

We clinked our beer cans, and I let a smile curl at the edge of my lips. I lost focus on Charlie when I felt dark eyes glare at me from across the fire. I recognized that evil stare anywhere- it was Veronica Newhart, Blaine's ex-girlfriend. She quickly stood up from the log she was sitting on and marched her way over with two friends behind her.

"Is the Queen of Montana enjoying her stay in the castle?" Veronica sneered, folding her arms over her chest.

Veronica was Blaine's first and only girlfriend before me. She was a tall and busty brunette with the tightest body I had ever seen. In high school, she ruled the roost, and I tried my best to stay away from her, but when Blaine dumped Veronica and asked me out, she made her presence around me known.

"Veronica." I greeted her with a tight-lipped smile, "It's nice to see you're working at the resort this summer, too."

She let out an amused chuckle. "Don't play sweet with me, Ivy. Are you too good all of a sudden to stay at the employee bunkhouse now that you've got Blaine wrapped around your little finger? I saw you walking down from the Wyatt ranch this morning. What are you even doing at this party anyway?"

Her two friends snickered from behind her. From my peripheral vision, I saw Missy's eyes widen, and her body begin to spring off the truck before Charlie stepped in front of her.

"That's enough, Veronica. Mind your own business," he said. "This party is for all resort employees, not just the snooty ones."

Veronica glanced at Charlie and then returned to me with a wicked grin. "You're right. This place hires all kinds, even white trash gold diggers."

"What did you say?" Missy shouted over Charlie's shoulder. He was holding her back the best he could, but she was close to breaking his hold and knocking the smug grin off Veronica's face.

I didn't say a word but felt unshed tears sting my eyes. I would not let Veronica get under my skin, and I sure would not let her see me cry. I hated that being Blaine's girlfriend made people think differently of me and my intentions.

"Later, Ivy," Veronica smirked, walking away with her two friends snickering behind her.

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked, gently rubbing my shoulder.

"I'm fine," I mumbled, even though I wasn't. I put my beer down on the tailgate and lowered my short skirt. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, like I didn't fit into this skirt or this crowd.

"Oh no. You're not leaving," Missy said. "I can tell by the look on your face exactly what you're thinking." Her frown deepened. "You are not going to let Veronica ruin your night."

"I'm not really in the party mood tonight anyway. I'm tired."

"How are you going back to the ranch?" she asked. "You're not walking alone. There could be a black bear waiting for you in the bushes."

"I'll drive her," Charlie offered.

"What's going on?" Grayson asked as he walked over in our direction.

"Ivy is taking off for no good reason," Missy said.

"I don't know about you, but aside from being made very uncomfortable by Veronica, my shift starts tomorrow at 6:00 am. Veronica's overt rudeness reminded me that standing out here drinking beer all night long isn't a good idea after all."

I waited for Missy to say something, but she didn't respond.

"Come on, Missy. Get off my truck's tailgate." Charlie opened the passenger door. "Unless you and Grayson would like to come for the ride?"

"Hell yeah!" Grayson shouted. He jumped into the box of Charlie's truck and tugged on Missy's arm. Reluctantly, she hoisted herself up beside him and pulled the tailgate shut.

A few minutes later, Charlie's truck rolled up to the front doors of the Wyatt ranch. I was comforted when I saw that it looked dark and abandoned, which meant Rhys was still long gone.

I pushed open the truck's passenger door, and Charlie said, "If you ever need a ride up here again, just ask. Okay?"

"Okay, will do. Thanks for the ride."

I turned to wave goodbye to Missy and Grayson sitting in the box of the truck, but they were making out. Grayson's lips were so tightly sealed around Missy's that for a moment; I was concerned he was suffocating her with his tongue stuffed that far down her throat.

"Don't bother saying goodbye," Charlie laughed as I closed the passenger door. "They're busy making up for lost time. See you tomorrow."

I gave Charlie a final wave and stepped onto the covered porch. I slid my key into the lock and saw his truck rolling down the driveway. I pushed open the front door, tossed my keys onto the entryway table and flicked on a light switch.

"Where were you?"

I let out a shrill scream and whipped around, even though I immediately recognized his smooth, deep voice. Rhys sat on a bench along the opposite wall, leaning back, legs apart and spread, with his muscular arms crossed in front of his chest. My green eyes locked with his blue ones, but his bare chest slowly drew my gaze below his neckline. My eyes travelled downwards to see tattooed forearms, gray sweatpants hanging loosely around his hips, and bare feet.

I pressed my palms down on the table behind me to keep from melting to the floor. "What the hell are you still doing here?" I sputtered.

He grinned amusedly but didn't move as if inviting me to straddle his open legs. "Where were you?" he repeated.

"Why are you sitting here in the dark?" I shot back, even though my voice was shaky.

"Do you always answer a question with a question?" He stroked the five o'clock shadow growing around his lips with his thumb and index finger. He slumped down further on the bench, looking like he was getting comfy.

"No, not always," I said, finally able to gain my composure.

"Come on, Ivy, don't make me ask you again." His smug smile made me want to whip off one of Missy's cowboy boots I was wearing and chuck it at him.

He slowly uncrossed his arms and pressed his palms flat against the bench beneath him on either side of his long muscular legs. He leaned forward and tilted his head to the side with a cocky grin. "Your shift must have ended at least three hours ago."

I just stood still, welling up with irritation. What the hell was he still doing here? He bit down on his bottom lip and tucked his shoulder-length hair behind his ears. Even though he looked scruffy and older, he still had the same boyish good looks I remembered falling in love with. His new appearance suited him better than his once clean-shaven face hidden under a baseball cap.

"It's none of your business." I removed my boots in case I did need them for ammunition.

"When Charlie drops my brother's girlfriend off three hours after her shift ends, I think it's more than my business. Especially when she stumbles in wearing the world's shortest skirt." Rhys's gaze trailed up my legs as he rose to his feet. He was much taller than I remembered, and I had to tilt my chin upwards to meet his stare.

"I was at an employee bonfire behind the bunkhouse. I wanted to leave, so Charlie offered to drive me to the ranch. If I had known you were still here, I would've rather slept in a dumpster than be graced with your presence." I spun around to separate myself from his intense stare and headed toward the guest bedroom.

Who the hell did Rhys Wyatt think he was talking to me like that?

Rhys's hand closed around my elbow, and my body trembled at his touch. I wasn't expecting every tiny hair to stand on edge when his warm fingers melted into my skin, but they did.

"No one knows I'm back in Moose Creek, and I'd like to keep it that way... for now." Rhys's voice lowered to a murmur. He gently tugged my backside against his hard groin and whispered in my ear. "Trust me. I don't want to be here anymore than I want your little body floating around and bumping into me every which way I turn. When you walked in on me last night -" He let out a warm, tense breath and growled against my ear. "This situation isn't ideal for either of us. So keep your distance, and don't dare tell anyone I'm back."

I sucked a sharp breath. It felt like my knees were about to buckle. How could I let my body react to him like this?

"What are you hiding from?" I asked through clenched teeth.

Rhys released my elbow from his death grip. "I'm not hiding."

I slowly turned around and watched his smooth, muscular back arch as he ran his hands through his brown hair. His chest was so defined that I wanted to reach out and trace my fingers around his perfect pecks. His eyes fell closed, and he let out an angry noise from his throat.

"I'd appreciate you keeping my presence to yourself right now. That means not telling Blaine, either. I don't need anyone asking questions, especially not Blaine." When his eyes finally opened, they softened. Rhys slowly moved his bare feet across the hardwood floors, and I stood frozen in place, mesmerized by his tight body stalking in my direction. He stopped inches before me and ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. "Do you understand?" he asked.

I nodded. "Understood."

"Thank you."

I stood speechless until he lifted his eyes to meet mine. I expected them to be filled with a proud and pompous smile, but there was something vulnerable in them that I had never seen in him before. His chest rose up and down, and his lips stayed slightly parted.

"Goodnight, Ivy," he whispered and disappeared down the hallway.