Page 56 of The Devil of Downtown

ivy

Yeah, that’s usually where people go to sleep.

me

Alone?

ivy

Not technically. Archie is here.

My grip tightens around the glass, the amber liquid sloshing dangerously close to the rim. An irrational spark of envy has my fingers flying across the screen in fast forward.

me

Archie better start saying his prayers.

ivy

Archie is an atheist.

me

Good. I won’t feel any guilt when I kill him.

ivy

Hey, don’t you come for my Archie.

me

Are you trying to make me mad, Ivy?

After that, there’s radio silence. No flickering dots. Nothing.

Irritated as hell, I jump out of bed, dragging a hand down my face as I pace the length of the room, the burn of scotch still hot in my throat. This damn woman twists more emotion out of me in one text exchange than I’ve experienced in the last thirty-seven years.

Before I can think better of it, my thumb’s already hitting Video Call.

Her face fills the screen, and the irritation dissolves instantly. She’s luminous. Long dark hair spilling over her shoulders, blue eyes still bright even in low light, and a pale pink tank top that hugs her breasts tight enough to render me mentally incompetent.

“Are you jealous of a stuffed bear?” she asks, lips curving into that smile that always lands like a gut punch.

“Did you just play me?”

“I think you played yourself.” She shrugs, stretching into a lazy yawn, completely unaware of how much that movement does to me.

Christ, she’s beautiful.

“Is there a reason for this call?” She smirks. “Or was it just to threaten a bear?”

“Saturday night, I have a task for you,” I bark, pushing back a smile.

“You do?” Her teeth catch on her lip, worry flickering across her face.

I didn’t until I saw her face ten seconds ago. Now I’m fighting the urge to demand she come here right now.

“I need a date for the Robin Hood Gala. You think you can manage that?”