“Shut up!”
“Not even when I’m complimenting you?”
“Nope!”
Dr. Ludwig fell silent at that, though his hands kept moving.
Ivy wasn’t being dramatic. The truth was, this was only the second time in her life she’d been in a relationship. Three years ago, when she dated Micah, she was dazzling—proud, even a little haughty. Without her permission, Micah wouldn’t have dared to so much as hold her hand. There’d never been any inappropriate intimacy between them.
But during the three years she’d been taken away, she’d been violated more than once. The trauma of men getting too close was still fresh, haunting her every move. Now, suddenly married to a man she hadn’t known that long, sharing the same bed—yes, she knew he was a good person, and that he genuinely cared about her, but she simply couldn’t adjust to that kind of closeness overnight.
It all just felt embarrassingly intimate. So, cheeks burning and heart racing, she forced herself to let him dote on her for a little while, but eventually, Ivy pushed herself upright and created some space between them.
“We didn’t even do anything, and you’re blushing like a cherry tomato.”
“Do you have to say things like that? If you can’t say anything nice, just zip it!”
What a ridiculous comparison—he was practically begging to be scolded. Jamison pressed his lips together to hide a laugh, his dark, mesmerizing eyes filled with affection as he watched her.
By the time Ivy finished getting ready, Jamison had composed himself as well. They headed downstairs together. Jamison went into the kitchen and ladled out two bowls of warm, hearty porridge, then brought over a couple of baskets of freshly steamed pastries.
“I was going to take you out for breakfast, but Katrina said she’d already made something, so I figured we’d just eat at home.”
He set the breakfast on the table and handed Ivy a fork. For someone who’d grown up with people waiting on him hand and foot, Mr. Jamison had taken to serving his wife with surprising ease. Turns out, there’s no such thing as not knowing how—it’s all about whether you’re willing.
“But it’s odd,” Jamison remarked as he sat down, “Katrina’s from the Lester family—she’s practically royalty. Why would she even know how to cook?”
Ivy sighed. “What does her family name matter? With a stepmother comes a stepfather, and nothing at home ever came easy for her. Cooking was just the start. She wanted to cut ties with the Lesters, but her mother’s been sick for years, always in and out of the hospital. As a student, she could never earn enough to cover all that, so she still has to go back and ask them for help from time to time.”
Jamison nodded, understanding. “No wonder you two became friends—kindred spirits.”
“Exactly… When I came back, she didn’t judge me at all. She backed me unconditionally. So, once I get my current work sorted, and once she finishes her law degree and completes her internship, I want to open a law firm and help her build her career—to support her as she fights for her inheritance.”
Jamison gave her a look of mild surprise. “You really are generous.” Just because someone stood by her, she was willing to pay it back a hundredfold.
Ivy just smiled, saying nothing. After all, no one can ever truly understand what another person’s been through. When she first came back, everyone—even her own family—spread nasty rumors about her. They said she had AIDS, that she’d given birth to a deformed child for some old creep. At her lowest, Katrina was the one who reached out, hugged her without hesitation, and offered her unwavering support. It was the darkest time of her life, and her best friend was the only warmth and light she had left. So now that she was able, she wanted to help Katrina become strong enough to stand up to that toxic family. Girls looking out for each other—nothing could be more right.
Jamison noticed her silent smile, and a flicker of pain crossed his eyes. He suddenly understood.
“I get the bond you two have. I remember those days—Katrina was always by your side. You two were inseparable.”
“Yeah.” Ivy felt a little lighter, knowing he understood.
“When you’re ready to start the law firm, I’ll help you.” Jamison’s love had always been steadfast. Loving his wife meant backing every decision she made—no questions asked, no matter the cost.
Ivy glanced at him, hesitated for a moment as if embarrassed, then finally spoke up. “I can forgive you for lying to me online, but from now on, you’re not allowed to hide anything from me. We have to be honest with each other. If you do it again, I…”
“There won’t be a next time,” Jamison cut her off before she could finish, tightening his grip on her hand. “I promise. I’ll never keep anything from you again.”
Ivy looked at him, her eyes soft and shy, but for now, she was willing to believe him. Jamison smiled, then sighed with exaggerated solemnity. “Honestly, I wouldn’t dare try lying to you again… I’m afraid you’d get revenge and make a fool out of me.”
Ivy caught his meaning and grinned. “How did you figure out I tricked you into giving me your phone that night?”
Jamison snorted. “Only Dale Sullivan knows my real identity. The moment I asked, it all became clear. I never imagined you, Miss Ivy, could be such a convincing actress. You pulled it off so calmly, I didn’t suspect a thing.”
Ivy looked smug. “Now that you know what I’m capable of, you’d better behave.”
Jamison had no retort to that.
They’d just finished breakfast when the lock on the door clicked and Katrina walked in. She stopped dead in surprise when she saw Jamison clearing the table and heading into the kitchen to do the dishes. “Dr. Ludwig, um—let me do that, you and Ivy should…”
Before she could finish, Ivy grabbed her arm. “Don’t be so polite. Why should you have to do the dishes after we eat? You’re not the maid.”
Katrina let herself be pulled back, still feeling awkward, and whispered, “Dr. Ludwig is like a whole different person around you.”
Ivy just smiled. “He’s doing it because he wants to—not because I made him.”
Mostly, he’d been caught out in a lie and was feeling guilty, so he was seizing every chance to prove himself.