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Ivy

Despite telling Travis I wasn’t ready to make a decision, he still had his attorney send me a contract with all the information about the sale of the house. The note enclosed requested that I sign it as soon as possible.

I had only agreed to consider his offer. I didn’t understand why the matter was so urgent. Now that Huxley had paid the property taxes, giving me more time to breathe, I thought the pressure was off. That didn’t seem to be the case.

The last few days had been full of holiday spirit and making new memories. Huxley took me to his penthouse in New York City. We did all the holiday stuff that New York City had to offer. The tree and ice skating at Rockefeller Center, the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, shopping on Fifth Avenue and Macy’s, and hot chocolate in Central Park.

“I’m exhausted!” I plopped down on the oversized leather sofa by the window as Huxley turned on the lights for the tree. “In a good way.”

“The city can be tiring, especially during this time of year.” He joined me on the couch, swinging my legs across his lap. “Is there anything else you’d like to do while we’re here?”

“We covered everything.” I stretched out on the couch. “I loved revisiting all of my childhood memories while I made new ones with you.”

“Tomorrow we can do whatever you want,” he said. “I made dinner reservations at one of my favorite restaurants, but that’s all I have planned.”

“Let’s stay in and watch Christmas movies.”

“If that’s what you want to do.” He rubbed my tired feet. “I’ll have breakfast delivered, and we can do a movie marathon until we have to go to dinner.”

“Perfect.” I sunk into the cushions as he massaged my feet. “We can watch Holiday Inn and White Christmas. Maybe it will inspire more plans for your project.”

“I haven’t given my project much thought these past few days.”

“Because I’m a distraction.”

“I needed the break.”

I hadn’t brought his new community up much because Travis’ offer had been weighing heavily on my mind. I didn’t want Huxley to view my consideration of my uncle’s contract as a betrayal. It wasn’t. If anything, I wanted to put all of this behind us.

“I’m glad you could find a reprieve with me,” I said.

“I hadn’t realized how much of my life I had been missing.” He ran his palm along my calf. “There were days when I only saw the inside of my office and this penthouse. I worked from early in the morning until well into the night.”

“You deserve to have some fun.” I smiled. “You work so hard. You should enjoy everything you have.”

“It seems better when I have someone to share it with.”

His sweet sentiments confused me. I appreciated every moment we spent together, but none of it seemed real. My insecurities weren’t his fault. He didn’t have anything to prove. I had to figure out a way to get past the business aspect of our relationship if we were going to have a future.

“I’ve been thinking about your plans for Christmas.” He removed my legs from his lap and scooted next to me.

“What about them?”

“I don’t like the idea of you spending the holidays alone.” He clasped our hands together. “I’d like for you to join me and my family.”

“Oh.” Are we ready for that? “Won’t your family mind me intruding?”

“You’re not intruding if you’re invited,” he said. “Besides, if my mother knew you were sitting home alone, she would insist you spend Christmas with us.”

“My uncles have invited me to Hawaii with their families.”

“Why didn’t you mention that?”

“Because I haven’t decided if I’m going.”

The invitation to go away with Travis and Kent seemed disingenuous to me. I wanted to believe they wanted me there because I belonged, but deep down I couldn’t shake the feeling that they invited me so I would sell them my house. I didn’t want to think that way, but my instincts screamed at me to take my time and really think their offer through.

“How come?” he asked. “Don’t you want to spend time with them?”