Thinking back to that night, when she had finally worked up the nerve to make the first move–going so far as to unbutton his pajamas–only for him to coldly reject her, Jamison couldn’t help but feel like the worst kind of jerk.

Besides, she had told him she just wanted to try out the internship first. Maybe after experiencing it, she’d change her mind.

Since there was still room for her to reconsider, he really shouldn’t have let his frustration show so soon.

The more Jamison thought about it, the more regret gnawed at him. After a few seconds of silence, he shuffled closer to Ivy and draped an arm around her shoulders.

“Ivy?”

“I want to sleep,” Ivy replied, her eyes closed, her voice icy.

Jamison knew she was thin-skinned. Being rejected after putting herself out there must have stung. He tried to tread carefully. “It’s not that I don’t want you. Honestly, I’m just overwhelmed lately–so much going on, and my mind’s not in the right place.”

Ivy remained silent, not even bothering to call him out on his obvious excuse.

Jamison understood her well. The fact that she didn’t even want to argue with him meant she was really angry this time.

He swallowed, hesitated, then gently but insistently turned her to face him.

Swallowing his pride–no, practically throwing it out the window–he continued, “But I’m feeling better now. I miss you. Can I hold you, please?”

His voice was soft as he tried to coax her, leaning in to press a kiss to her lips.

Ivy turned her head away. “I’m tired. I need to sleep. Stop bothering me.”

Her tone dripped with annoyance. She pushed him away and rolled over, her back to him once again.

Jamison couldn’t help but chuckle at her puffed-up, angry expression. Even as he laughed, he apologized, “It’s my fault, okay? Don’t be mad, please?”

“I really do miss you. Can’t you tell?” He pressed closer, kissing her cheek, his body snug against her lower back.

Of course Ivy could tell.

This idiot.

Just moments ago, when she tried to comfort him, he acted all distant and aloof. Now that she was ignoring him, he stuck to her like glue.

“Jamison, stop pestering me!” she snapped, elbowing him hard.

He yelped and grimaced in pain, but was undeterred. He leaned in for more kisses, murmuring between them, “Still mad? If you are, you can keep hitting me.”

Ivy had no words for him.

The truth was, when two people truly loved each other, they both knew exactly how to push each other’s buttons.

Noticing her silence–but also the way her body tensed and reacted under his touch–Jamison grinned, delighted. He once again pulled his stubborn wife back to face him.

Then, rising over her, he kissed her deeply, his hands gentle but insistent.

Ivy realized resistance was futile. Her anger melted; she raised a hand to weakly slap at his chest. “Jamison, you’re shameless!”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Jamison agreed between kisses, his lips trailing down her neck, coaxing her to tip her head back for more.

“If you’re still angry, you can keep hitting me…” he encouraged, his kisses growing more fervent.

Ivy didn’t hold back. She pinched and swatted him, giving as good as she got.

But this playful “battle” didn’t last long. Soon, her strength gave out, and all she could do was surrender to him, her body limp and pliant beneath his touch.

The next day, Ivy headed back to campus.

She had a bodyguard with her; Jamison didn’t see her off personally.

He really was swamped these days.

There were so many patients in the ward, they’d run out of both rooms and beds. Micah was still unconscious. His mother had just been admitted with a new illness, and Carla was still on preventative medication.

Thad Ludwig was busy managing the Ludwig family’s business empire, with ventures scattered across the country and overseas. He barely had time to care about family matters.

Davina Foster was juggling her own job and trying to wrangle the Windsor family household and its two kids. She was stretched thin as well.

So everything at the hospital fell to Jamison.

Ivy had offered to put off returning to school and stay to help, but he hadn’t agreed.

After all, Emma was still in the hospital. If Ivy came to care for his mother, and Emma found out…

Besides, he didn’t want Ivy tangled up in this mess.

As long as she was safe and out of harm’s way, that was all the help he really needed.

Back at college, Ivy found herself thinking about Jamison more than ever. She called him often, sometimes multiple times a day.

Most evenings, she had her bodyguard drive her back to the large apartment near the hospital. For the first time ever, she even asked the housekeeper for tips on simple home-cooked meals, hoping to have something ready for Jamison when he came home late from work.

Life was chaotic, but there was warmth and light in the mess.

Another day, Ivy went to the library as usual, only to have Lamont Quinn jump out at her. “Ivy!”

Before he could get close, two burly campus security guards stepped in, holding him back on either side.