The fire pit crackled and danced in the waning evening sun. Its warmth toasted my front side, keeping the cool November breeze at bay. I pulled up a small ottoman, adjusted the donut under my bum to a more comfortable position, and laid my head back against the outdoor love seat to observe nature’s spectacle of color. A rainbow display of hues ranging from pinks to oranges played along the clouds as the sun set. This was probably the first time I’d been alone with my thoughts since leaving the hospital.
I’d left Mom and Holly in the kitchen, debating whether or not Ian’s wineglasses could go in the dishwasher. Poppy and Ian were sitting at the dining room table planning a Christmas party Ian wanted to throw for the cast and crew of LA Heat. While Poppy’s unexpected plus one for today’s Thanksgiving dinner, Rich, sat on the floor playing with Eva and her Minnie Mouse kitchen. Apparently, while my life was going to hell in a handbag, she and Rich were … well, I’m not sure what she and Rich were doing. But, it surprised all of us when she showed up at the door with him in tow. I have to say, Poppy must have had a mellowing effect on him. In the past two hours, he hadn’t said or done anything that made me want to slap him. Although, it might also have had something to do with the quick discussion Ian pulled him aside for soon after their arrival.
The days since my visit to the hospital were nothing less than exhausting. After Ziggy and Ian snuck us out a back alley door of the hospital, we were driven to Ian’s home where we stayed for the first night. Sunday afternoon, Ian and I visited the police precinct to make our official statements about Omar’s invasion and found out how he was able to get past my security system. It was all very technical, but from what Gary told us, Omar pieced together some sort of equipment which hacked my system and allowed him to reset it, so I wouldn’t suspect anything when I arrived home.
On Sunday, against Ian’s verbose wishes, I insisted we return to my house. The paparazzi, for the most part, had decamped from the neighborhood. A few stragglers hung around both Ian’s and my places, but Ziggy was able to “encourage” them to leave. Gary, also sent a cruiser around the community regularly. I rescheduled two consultations to the following week and Michelle finished the job we’d been working on. Between shopping and visiting with the girls, I spent the next few days running invoices, paying bills, responding to e-mails and prepping for the following week’s consultations.
LA Heat production was on break for Thanksgiving, so Ian had this week off. He flew east on the red-eye for an interview with the Good Morning America show. He went on GMA to promote LA Heat and talk about Doctors Without Borders, a charity near and dear to his heart. I missed him. It was an unusual emotion for me. It had been such a long time since I’d been in a relationship; I wasn’t used to missing someone.
Holly and I tuned into Good Morning America together Monday morning. Ian looked fabulous, as usual. I ground my teeth as the hostess flirted with him. The flair of jealousy was another unusual sensation for me. She quizzed him about Saturday’s debacle, but Ian easily deflected her inquiries, keeping the discussion to his show and Doctors Without Borders. We spoke on the phone Monday evening, and Ian told me he planned to visit his father and stepmother while in New York. I assumed he meant he’d be spending Thanksgiving with them. Since I didn’t want to sound like a needy girlfriend, even though I’d hoped he’d be home to share the holiday together, I wished him well and suggested we get together when he returned. When he arrived on my doorstep Wednesday night, I gaped at him like a dime store guppy.
“Did you miss me, luv?” He sent me one of his deadly smiles, and as usual, my heart fluttered.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, that’s a nice greeting for your long lost boyfriend.”
I blushed and pulled him into the house by the lapels of his coat. “I’m just shocked to see you. I thought you were spending Thanksgiving with your family in New York.”
“Not at all. Didn’t your mother tell you? We’re having Thanksgiving over at my place. You girls are supposed to cook up a turkey with cranberries.”
Irritation flashed through me. Once again, I was out of the loop. Mom and Holly had gone grocery shopping for holiday dinner, but I assumed we’d be eating at my house. Poppy was supposed to join us. I figured the girls would keep me company and my mind off Ian’s absence. “Mom!”
“Yes, dear?” Mom bustled in from the kitchen.
“Where are we eating Thanksgiving?”
“Well, hello, Ian. I didn’t hear you come in. It’s lovely to see you again. How was your trip?”
“Good, good. How have you been, Dorothy?”
“Mom,” I ground out. “Where are we eating Thanksgiving?”
“At Ian’s, of course.”
“How come nobody told me?”
“It must have been an oversight. I thought you knew. Ian invited us at the hospital. He has that lovely big dining room table you installed. We’ll all fit comfortably there.”
I rolled my eyes and said sarcastically, “I’m so glad my life is in good hands.”
“Well, really, dear,” my mother huffed with exasperation. “We’re just trying to make it easy for you, so you can focus on recovering.”
I was duly chastised. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I appreciate not having to plan everything.”
Mom patted my cheek. “You don’t like it when you’re not in control of everything. I know. You’re just like your father. Now take Ian into the living room, and I’ll fix us something to drink.”
I looked at Ian, who stood silent on the sidelines. “You see what you’re getting yourself into, don’t you?”
He pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Then he lowered his voice and his breath drifted across my ear. “So, how is my favorite derriere?”
“Sore.”
“Perhaps I can do something to make it feel better.”
• • •
The sliding door closed behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder. Ian came around and joined me on the love seat.
“Everything settled with the party?”
“So it seems. Your friend Poppy is very efficient. What are you doing out here all by yourself?” He slipped an arm over my shoulders. His body heat seeped through my lightweight jacket, warming me.
“Admiring your view. I think I could look at it for hours and hours and never get tired of it.”
“So, you like my house?”
“Yes. You really picked a lovely spot.”
“Hmm. What are your sister’s plans? Will she be returning to Las Vegas?”
“I’m not sure. She’s thinking of staying in LA. She has some art gallery contacts here and she thinks she’ll be able to get a job. I’d like her to start seeing a therapist. I think Omar screwed with her mind.”
“Will she and Eva stay with you?” Ian poked the fire with a stick. Embers showered, and the fire flamed. The charred wood fragrance filled the area.
“Probably for a while. Although, she said something about finding an apartment,” I mused. “Really, she should probably just move in with me. I’m in a decent neighborhood with good schools.”
“Sophie, would you say you like the renovations you’ve done to my house?”
I frowned. That was off topic. “Of course. I always do good work. The real question is, do you like it? After all, it’s your house.”
“It’s brilliant, but would you decorate it this way if it were your place.”
I frowned. “Me? Maybe not exactly like this. I have a different style of living, and I always have to take Sirius into consideration. I tried to tailor it to your likes. That’s my job. Why? Is there something you’re not happy with? I’m sure I can change it.”
“Not at all. I love what you’ve done. This isn’t coming out right at all.” Ian rubbed his jaw. “Let me back up. When I sat down, you said you’d never get tired of this view.”
I snuggled into his side. “Who could?”
“What if you were able to look at it every day?”
“Ian, I told you before. My family can’t impose on you,” I said firmly. Really, we’d been through this already. I thought Ian had accepted that. “Plus, everything seems to be fine at my house now. I mean, we’ll probably have media coming around for a while, but it’ll eventually go away.”
“I’m not talking about your family. I’m talking about you. Living here. With me.”
“You mean like cohabitating?”
“Something like that.”
I scoffed. “What would your Irish Catholic mother have to say about that? I can just imagine. I’d be the slut sleeping with her good boy.”
“She wouldn’t say anything of the sort if you were wearing a ring on your finger.”
My heartbeat sped up and I froze. Did he just say what I think he said? My neck, bit by bit, turned on its axis, the sound of the Gore-Tex material scraping against my chin sounded loud in my ears. I met Ian’s unblinking gaze. “Ian O’Connor, what exactly are you implying?”
“A ghra mo chroi.” His thumb drifted across my cheek.
The Gaelic momentarily sidetracked my thoughts. “What does that mean?”
“It means, love of my heart.”
I gulped; our intense gazes never shifted. “Do you mean it?”
“Yes,” he murmured. “Marry me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I … I … ” I scrambled to find a cohesive argument.
“Do you love me, Soph?”
“Yes, of course. How could I not?” I whimpered.
“Say it.”
“I love you.”
He pulled me into a crushing embrace. “Then marry me.”
Oh, how my pitty-patty little heart wanted to say yes. However, my hard head prevailed. We barely knew each other. I’d married my first husband too young. I didn’t want to make a similar mistake by marrying Ian without getting to know him fully. I pulled back to search his face.
“Is it the celebrity life I lead that causes you hesitation?”
Is it? “No. Well, yes, the press does sort of bother me, but that’s not why I’m saying no.” I held up a hand. “And I’m not saying no, not ever. Just … no … not right now. We don’t know each other well enough.”
“I know you’re the only woman who’s led me on a merry chase and scared the living daylights out of me by almost getting herself killed by a psychopath.”
“Hey! That wasn’t my fault … exactly.”
“You’re smart, sexy, funny and beautiful. You’ve climbed into my heart, and I can’t get you out. I don’t want to get you out. I have this need to protect you, even when your stubbornness is driving me up a wall. You’re also the first woman I’ve dated, since my New York days, who hasn’t tried to utilize my status to get a leg up in her career.”
I grimaced. “Uh … Ian … that’s not exactly true. I shamefully used your status at Sheila’s party to diffuse a situation. And … I kind of hoped you’d let your friends know about me.” I ducked my head in shame.
“First,” he placed a finger under my chin, forcing me to look up. “You didn’t use me. I helped you out because I love you. Second, of course, I’m telling all my friends about your brilliant capabilities as an interior designer. That’s why I’m having a party, to show off your work. I’m proud of the wonderful changes you’ve made. I still can’t believe the difference. I think everyone should use your crew. I’m talking about the people who only see me as a means to getting her face on television.”
“Oh. You don’t have to worry about that. I hate having my picture taken.”
His soft lips gently touched mine. “That’s what I mean. You’re not mixed up in the Hollywood business rat race. You’re my grounded rock, keeping me sane. You’re outside of it all. I need you, luv.”
“I don’t know, Ian. We hardly know each other. I don’t want to make the same mistakes I made with Michael.”
“I’m not Michael, and I take my wedding vows very seriously.” He gave a distinct frown.
“Okay, okay. I’m not saying you’re a cheater.” I patted his hand. Sheesh I didn’t want to rehash that argument again. “What I’m saying is, we can’t just jump into this. We don’t know enough about each other. For instance, what about kids? Hmm? We’ve never even discussed kids.”
“Love ’em. Want a passel of them.” He grinned.
“I should tell you, I’ve had a miscarriage. I don’t know if I can carry to term.” I crossed my arms. “And this isn’t me caving in to you. Just providing information.”
“Then we’ll adopt. We’ll be like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. We’ll wander Africa adopting kids along the way.”
My stomach panicked at the thought of half a dozen kids. “I only want two!”
“Two it is,” he agreed readily.
“Ian,” I groaned.
“Look, our first compromise.”
“I’m not ready to take that step again.” My emotions swung in so many different directions, it felt like I was on an amusement park Tilt-a-Whirl ride. Ian’s sudden proposal put my brain and heart at odds. I fidgeted with my watch as I debated. Did I want to be with Ian? Yes, my heart screamed. Was I willing to leap off that cliff without looking? No, my brain stood strong. I’d done that in my past and my relationship with Ian, though still new, was too important to me to rush. I needed time, and, whether he believed it or not, he needed time to get to know me as well. My immature relationship with my ex had taught me a life lesson. One I couldn’t forget, even for my amazing new boyfriend. I wasn’t ready for another marriage, so my head and heart decided to compromise.
“Can’t we just live together in sin?”
He gave me a hard stare, which I returned, refusing to back down.
“All right, Soph. You don’t have to be ready right now. I’ve got time. Move in with me. Let your sister and Eva live at your place.” He squeezed my leg and gave a self-satisfied smile.
He got exactly what he wanted. Didn’t he? I rolled my eyes. “I can’t believe I’ve just agreed to this. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.” I shook a finger in his face. “You’re trying to wear me down. Like when I started this reno and wouldn’t date you.”
An eyebrow winged up. He grabbed the finger and kissed the tip. “Let’s just say, if I see your resistance weakening, I will take advantage.”
“Arrgh!”