Chapter 0160

Kent says nothing, just turns and storms into his office, slamming that door as well.

“So, where are we off to?” I ask, eagerly smiling as I buckle my seatbelt in the front of his car. But while I was expecting words,

lvan’s response is to place a gentle hand on my cheek, turning my face to him.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks, searching my face. “That was...intense in there. Weird.”

I melt a little, looking into his pretty grey eyes, and nod my head. “It’s...always weird in there. Casa Lippert is a strange place.”

“I'm starting to get that impression,” Ivan mutters, still staring at me. “It’s really good to see you Fay,” he continues quietly,

sincerity all over his face.

I take a deep breath, suddenly relaxed, more relaxed maybe than I’ve been all day, which is weird considering...well. I push that

thought from my mind and give Ivan a real smile. Not the fake ones I’ve been pasting onto my face since he came into Kent's

house. “It’s good to see you too,” I sigh, taking his hand. “Really good.”

“Good,” he says, grinning at the redundancy in our conversation. Then, he turns his attention to the road. “You want to go eat

some seafood?”

“Always!” I reply, suddenly eager. “Are we going to the beach?”

“Mountains, actually,” he says as he pulls out of the driveway, Kent's guards following behind us in a black SUV.

“Seafood in the mountains?” I ask, wrinkling at my nose. “When we live so close to the shore?”

Ivan just gives me a little wink. “Trust me,” he says. “You won't regret it.”

Two hours later, we pull up to the most gorgeous mountain house I’ve ever seen. I’m gaping as I step out, taking in the amazing

vista behind the house as well as the fantastic architecture of the home itself, which looks like it has about a dozen decks and

balconies.

“Oh my god,” I whisper, staring up at it. “Is this...is this your place?” I ask, glancing at Ivan as he comes to stand next to me.

“Yours, actually,” he relies, slipping his hands into his pockets and staring at the house.

I frown at him. “What?”

“This is your dad’s place,” Ivan explains, turning to me with a smile. “He loaned it to me for the night. Told me to take you up

here, enjoy ourselves.”

“Oh,” I say, shrinking away from him a little, surprised. “I thought that you...”

Ivan turns his head a little, waiting for me to continue.

“Well...” I hesitate, “my dad and I, the last time we met, we didn’t...end things on very good terms. And he was mad that I was

seeing you. And I kind of thought that you brought me up here because you wanted to see me...”

“Fay,” lvan says gently, taking my hand. “Nothing’s changed. I’m still on your side. Your dad loaned me the house because I

flipped out on him — I heard what he said to you —*

My mouth drops open, wanting to ask how, but he just smirks at me and puts a hand up, asking me to let him finish.

“I have my sources, Fay,” he

continues, “and I went to your dad's

house, demanding that he apologize

to you. This,” lvan says ysishrugging! I

apsilagkindptolsrds the house again,

“is his apology. As well as his

blessing, I guess. For us to see each

other.” He turns to look me in the eye

then. “Though none of that matters

to me, though. I'd have come for you

tonight whether he'd loaned me this

house or not.” Please read the

original content at .

“Oh really?” I ask, finding myself drawing closer to him unconsciously. “And without this house, where would you have taken

me?”

“Cheap motel on the boardwalk,” he

says, shrugging with a smirk. “l would

have treated y corte Vinest fies

tanaaive dollar bill could buy —

taken you fishing on the pier with

nothing but a piece of corn as bait—“

Please read the original content at

.

I find myself laughing, suddenly,

charmed by him again. He wraps an

arm around my wais ullingrae\Y\

se, ape detihifal vii Fay,”

he’says. “Forget your dad — he’s a

jerk. I brought you here because I

thought you'd want to know that he

was sorry. But if you don't like it - we

can go right now.” Please read the

original content at .

“No,” I murmur, smiling at him, our faces close. “Let's stay. I want to check out my property, after all.”

Ivan nudges my nose with his, sending a little flutter through my stomach, and then pulls me towards the house.