book again.
Ivy came to the conclusion that the Chiassons were a bit off their rockers.
CHAPTER NINE
“You’re awfully quiet,” Olivia said as she stood by Christian at the desk.
He glanced up from the book he was reading to find that Vincent was with her. Christian shrugged off their words. “I’m busy.”
“Since when are you too busy to give us your opinion on anything?” Vincent asked.
Christian released a breath and covertly looked at Ivy, who was standing with Davena at the doorway. “I’m not. I just have nothing to say.”
“A first for you.” Vin rested a hip on the corner of the desk. “You and Ivy were gone a long time last night.”
Christian leaned back in the chair and met Vin’s gaze. “What did you expect? For us to start dancing right along with all of you?”
“Y’all do make a cute couple,” Olivia said with a smile.
Christian shoved the chair away from the desk and stood. He gathered his books and shouldered his way between Olivia and Vincent to walk from the office.
He needed to be alone, to stop thinking about and looking at Ivy. She clouded his mind so he couldn’t sort through things properly. And his family wasn’t helping in the least.
Christian took the stairs three at a time and shut himself in his room. He locked it to prevent anyone from barging in then he sat against his headboard and grabbed the book he had been looking through.
~ ~ ~
“What the hell was that?” Vin asked Olivia in a low voice.
She shook her head. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say he likes her.”
Beau leaned over the desk and whispered, “Because he does.”
Vin frowned. Christian? That couldn’t be possible. He was so against forming attachments that he went out of his way to ensure no woman would ever want anything lasting with him.
Vincent turned his head to look at Ivy. Then again, Ivy hadn’t started out as someone Christian took to his bed. She had been in trouble, and Christian had brought her to the house to keep her safe. Obviously, things had progressed from there.
“What are you thinking?” Olivia asked.
Vin looked down at her. “I think Beau may be right.”
Olivia’s dark eyes widened. “It would explain why he’s so...sensitive about her.”
“I honestly never thought Christian would find someone he cared about.”
Olivia smiled and rested her hand on his chest. “Things happen for a reason.”
Vin frowned then. “If Christian is falling for her, it’ll crush him if the Hounds get her.”
“We won’t let that happen.”
No, they wouldn’t. It wasn’t just about trying to save Ivy, but Christian, as well. Vincent knew his brother would fight against his feelings for Ivy. Vin prayed Ivy was strong enough, smart enough – and cared for Christian enough – to get him over his trepidation.
~ ~ ~
Ivy’s eyes burned from staring too long at the computer screen. Hours later, she was still reeling from the “test” she had been put through.
It had made her feel better when Davena told her that Christian hadn’t been happy about the test. Davena had assured Ivy that it was only a precaution, but Ivy had the feeling that everyone wanted to make sure she wasn’t just worthy of their help, but of being with Christian.
The Chiasson family was a tight-knit group. Ivy spent half of her time watching their dynamic because it was so foreign. As an only child with one parent, Ivy didn’t know what it meant to have so many people looking after her.
The family’s love for Christian was visible. Their worry was, as well.
Ivy looked at the ceiling. Christian hadn’t left his room since that morning. Lincoln had gone up to try and talk to him. So had Olivia, but neither could get him to come out.
“This isn’t normal for Christian,” Ivy overheard Ava whisper to Lincoln.
Ivy frowned as she lowered her gaze back to the computer.
Lincoln kissed Ava, then said in a low voice, “It’ll be fine in the end. Christian just needs some
Ivy came to the conclusion that the Chiassons were a bit off their rockers.
CHAPTER NINE
“You’re awfully quiet,” Olivia said as she stood by Christian at the desk.
He glanced up from the book he was reading to find that Vincent was with her. Christian shrugged off their words. “I’m busy.”
“Since when are you too busy to give us your opinion on anything?” Vincent asked.
Christian released a breath and covertly looked at Ivy, who was standing with Davena at the doorway. “I’m not. I just have nothing to say.”
“A first for you.” Vin rested a hip on the corner of the desk. “You and Ivy were gone a long time last night.”
Christian leaned back in the chair and met Vin’s gaze. “What did you expect? For us to start dancing right along with all of you?”
“Y’all do make a cute couple,” Olivia said with a smile.
Christian shoved the chair away from the desk and stood. He gathered his books and shouldered his way between Olivia and Vincent to walk from the office.
He needed to be alone, to stop thinking about and looking at Ivy. She clouded his mind so he couldn’t sort through things properly. And his family wasn’t helping in the least.
Christian took the stairs three at a time and shut himself in his room. He locked it to prevent anyone from barging in then he sat against his headboard and grabbed the book he had been looking through.
~ ~ ~
“What the hell was that?” Vin asked Olivia in a low voice.
She shook her head. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say he likes her.”
Beau leaned over the desk and whispered, “Because he does.”
Vin frowned. Christian? That couldn’t be possible. He was so against forming attachments that he went out of his way to ensure no woman would ever want anything lasting with him.
Vincent turned his head to look at Ivy. Then again, Ivy hadn’t started out as someone Christian took to his bed. She had been in trouble, and Christian had brought her to the house to keep her safe. Obviously, things had progressed from there.
“What are you thinking?” Olivia asked.
Vin looked down at her. “I think Beau may be right.”
Olivia’s dark eyes widened. “It would explain why he’s so...sensitive about her.”
“I honestly never thought Christian would find someone he cared about.”
Olivia smiled and rested her hand on his chest. “Things happen for a reason.”
Vin frowned then. “If Christian is falling for her, it’ll crush him if the Hounds get her.”
“We won’t let that happen.”
No, they wouldn’t. It wasn’t just about trying to save Ivy, but Christian, as well. Vincent knew his brother would fight against his feelings for Ivy. Vin prayed Ivy was strong enough, smart enough – and cared for Christian enough – to get him over his trepidation.
~ ~ ~
Ivy’s eyes burned from staring too long at the computer screen. Hours later, she was still reeling from the “test” she had been put through.
It had made her feel better when Davena told her that Christian hadn’t been happy about the test. Davena had assured Ivy that it was only a precaution, but Ivy had the feeling that everyone wanted to make sure she wasn’t just worthy of their help, but of being with Christian.
The Chiasson family was a tight-knit group. Ivy spent half of her time watching their dynamic because it was so foreign. As an only child with one parent, Ivy didn’t know what it meant to have so many people looking after her.
The family’s love for Christian was visible. Their worry was, as well.
Ivy looked at the ceiling. Christian hadn’t left his room since that morning. Lincoln had gone up to try and talk to him. So had Olivia, but neither could get him to come out.
“This isn’t normal for Christian,” Ivy overheard Ava whisper to Lincoln.
Ivy frowned as she lowered her gaze back to the computer.
Lincoln kissed Ava, then said in a low voice, “It’ll be fine in the end. Christian just needs some
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