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“Considering I know everything he’s been up to since the day he was born, you should find what you need in here. And if you can’t, look harder.” She gives me one of those crooked smiles of hers, strokes my hair, and leaves a folder for me and Dad to go over together.
I look up, ready to tell Ivy that I’ll meet up with her later, to find she’s already gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Ivy
I sit inside the bunkhouse, considering whether I should go back to my own damn house and my own comfortable bed. But Gunnar has ordered that everyone stay close to Hardtail Ranch until the Skull Crushers problem is handled. That means I’m here for a while.
Sage is staying with Slayer and Ella Mae, so at least I know she’s safe. I should call her.
I pull my phone out of my pocket, but before I can tap her number, I hear, “Penny for your thoughts.”
Stone. He’s leaning against the doorframe, smiling like a sexy cowboy, a bag from my favorite ice cream parlor in his hand and one ankle crossed over the other. “You ain’t rich enough for my thoughts, Hollywood.”
His smile comes easily, right along with him rolling his eyes. “Hollywood? That’s what I get for coming with a peace offering.”
“Peace offerings require us to make peace, Stone.”
His shoulders sag in disappointment. “You’re going to make me say it. Aren’t you?”
“Say what?”
“Fine, Ivy.” He strolls across the room, his long legs encased in perfectly worn denim, and drops down on the edge of the bed. “You win.”
“I think we all win, but let’s go with your thing.”
His smile makes another sexy appearance. “I’m sorry, Ivy. I’m sorry for being a dumbass and scaring you, costing you precious sleep.” He reaches for my hand. “I’m sorry that I didn’t talk to you about this. Mostly, I’m just fucking sorry for being the reason you were hurt.”
“Fuck.” The word rushes out of me on a breathless sigh. “That’s a damn good apology.”
“Right? I surprised myself.”
I snatch the ice cream and open the green and white container. “Rocky Road?”
Stone’s broad shoulders lift and fall in a casual shrug. “It felt fitting with everything going on.”
I lean my forehead against his shoulder and let out a chuckle. “What am I gonna do with you?”
“Keep me forever and ever?”
“Yes, please.” I tilt my lips up to him and smack them together. His lips touch mine, and it’s the perfect spark to set the whole damn ranch on fire, but I summon all the willpower in the state of Texas and pull back with a sigh. “I’ll keep you. Unless you do something else stupid.”
“Then you’ll dump me?”
“No, Stone, I’ll kill you myself.”
His smile returns. “I love it when you talk dirty, crazy murder-y to me, babe.”
“I’m serious, Stone. This thing between us is already not casual, and I’m not sure that things between us could ever be casual.”
“Thank God for that because I feel a lot for you, Ivy, and none of it is fucking casual.” His gaze is dark, and his jaw clenches tight.
“I feel the same way, which is why I need you to go out there and fuck shit up. But remember that you have someone waiting, hoping that you’ll come back. Someone other than Peaches.”
“Don’t tell me you love me and then bring up my ma,” he groans, pressing his forehead against mine.
My brows dip. “Who said anything about loving you?”
