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“What did you agree to?” Huxley asked.

TWENTY-THREE

Huxley

Had I miscalculated? Was Ivy working to undermine me this whole time? How could I have missed that? Because I had allowed my feelings to enter the chat.

“Ivy,” I said. “What is it that I don’t know?”

“Travis wants to buy my house.” She looked at her uncle. “He wants to renovate it and let me run the inn, but I haven’t agreed to anything.”

“But you will,” Travis said. “That’s what my mother would have wanted. She didn’t leave you that property, our family home, so you could sell it to a billionaire who wants to profit from it.”

“She left it to me to manage it how I see fit.” Ivy stepped between me and Travis. “Huxley has given me the time to decide what I want to do. I asked you for the same courtesy.”

“You don’t need time. You’ve had plenty of that,” Travis said. “You failed miserably.”

“She failed because no one gave her the tools to succeed.” I placed my hand on Ivy’s back. “You and your brother walked away when you didn’t get what you thought you were entitled to. Instead of helping your niece, you turned your back on her.”

“You don’t know anything about my family.” Travis raised his voice, earning curious glances from other patrons. “Just because you’ve been fucking my niece for a few weeks doesn’t make you an authority on her.”

“Travis.” Ivy’s body tensed as she looked around the restaurant. “What is wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me?” Travis said.

When he stepped toward Ivy, I wedged my shoulder between them and placed my hand on his chest. “Back up.”

“She doesn’t need you to protect her,” he said. “I can take care of my own.”

“You’ve done a less-than-stellar job up until now.” I ushered Ivy behind me. “We’re not doing this here. I’m taking Ivy home. She’ll reach out to you when she makes a decision.”

“I don’t think so.” Travis looked at Ivy. “Stop letting this man control you.”

“That’s not what he’s doing,” she said. “Whatever I’m doing with Huxley is none of your business. He’s been nothing but wonderful to me since we met.”

“He’s not here because of you.” Travis clenched his fists. “I don’t believe for a second that your initial meeting was accidental.”

“How do you know…” Ivy motioned toward Angelica. “Whatever she’s been telling you is a lie. She doesn’t know anything about me, and she certainly doesn’t know Huxley as well as she thinks she does.”

“I know him better than a gold-digging slut would.” Angelica pointed at me. “Look what she’s done to you.”

“You’re going to regret your part in all of this,” I said as I guided Ivy back to our table.

“Huxley,” Angelica called.

“Do you think I’m going to forget your betrayal by working with him?” I asked.

“That should be the least of your problems.” Angelica laughed as she and Travis followed us. “The biggest mistake you could have made was getting involved with her.”

“Ivy.” Travis gestured toward the papers she held. “Angelica told me what happened the night you met Huxley. He had an agenda then, and he has one now. You know what you have to do. You know what my mother would want you to do. She left you that property so you could carry on her legacy. Kent and I can help you do that.”

Travis was going to take that property from her the first chance he got, and he would use it to soak me for all the money he could. I couldn’t blame him. That lake access was worth a fortune and he knew it. My offer to Ivy guaranteed that she would keep that house and become quite profitable in the process. All she had to do was trust me.

“I didn’t want to be in this situation,” she said. “But you’re right. I do know what I have to do. I have to preserve my home and do what Gram would want me to do to make sure that happens.”

“Do you hear that, James?” Travis smirked. “Ivy is capable of making up her own mind. She doesn’t need your money or your material items. She has her family’s backing.”

“I can’t take this!” Ivy placed the contract Travis had given her on the table. “I’m done asking for time. I’m tired of looking for signs. I’ve given this enough thought.”