Her father gave a chuckle and then shook his head.
“I hope she’s been no trouble to you.” Her father said, looking from her to Leon, and then back at Ivy again.
She held her breath, anxious to hear what Leon might have to say.
“No trouble at all. It’s been a pleasure having her.” He said and they finally came to a stop, still several feet away from the jeep.
Leon dropped the bags to the dusty ground, and Ivy turned to him. She knew he could see the fat tears at the corners of her eyes, and she didn’t care anymore what her father could see nor what he thought was going on between them.
“Leon!” She cried and lunged at him. She was surprised to find that he had his arms wide open to receive her and she fell into them, her face pressing against his chest as he held her close.
“Ivy?” She heard her father’s voice in the background but she didn’t pay any heed to it.
“Leon, you are being too harsh. I wish you could see that I’m not Vivian. That I want you, I actually want you.” She cried, looking up at his face. He towered over her, shielding the glare of the sun with his head and shaggy blonde hair.
His eyes were narrowed, sparkling, studying her own large green eyes. Then she felt his thick rough thumbs on her cheeks, wiping the tears away.
“I know you’re not her. But I don’t want you to regret this, Ivy.” He said, softly.
“Mr. Cooper? Ivy?” Her father was still calling out to them.
“It’s just a job. Can I not leave whenever I want? What would you do without me?” Ivy asked, still crying. He was still brushing the tears away from her cheeks.
Then, after several seconds of silence, he shook his head.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’m being foolish.” He said and pulled her to him in a tighter embrace.
“There’s been a mistake, Mr. Hart. I’m sorry for making you come here all this way, but Ivy will be staying with me for a little while longer. I’ve found a few new tasks for her.” He called out to her father.
Ivy had a beaming smile on her face when she turned to look at him. She could see that he had got out of his car and was standing with his arms flailing, confused and bordering on anger.
“Ivy? What the Hell is going on?” Her father asked.
Ivy shook her head and then slowly wriggled out of Leon’s arms.
“Sorry daddy, I’m not going home with you. You can go back home now. Thank you for not coming to pick me up when he first called.” She said and went over to hug her father as well.
He was still confused, still at a loss for what to do.
“Ivy, maybe you should just come home. I think you’re confused, my darling.” He said as she pulled away.
“I’m not confused daddy. I have never been surer of anything as much as this. You can leave now, daddy. We have a lot of work to do.” She was beaming as she said it. Her life was just about to begin, and she was glad now that she had never replied to that email.
Chapter 19
Leon had carried her bags back to the house, and now they were both standing in her bedroom with several feet of distance between them.
Ivy could feel her shoulders rising and falling, her breasts heaving with anticipation. Neither of them had said a word since they returned back to the house. They just stood there, staring at each other. This was actually happening. She was actually going to be here in this house with him. She couldn’t believe it.
“Leon…” She began, breaking the silence.
“Ivy, this is just a job for now.” He interrupted her.
She shook her head, with a broad smile on her face. She would take anything. She would agree to anything, just to be close to him.
“I can’t promise you anything more than an employment for now.” He continued and she shook her head some more.
“I don’t expect anything more, Leon. We don’t even know each other. All I want is to be able to work for you, to make some kind of living, and to be close to you.” She said, and he took a few steps closer to her.