time.”
Time? Time for what? Ivy’s mind raced. Surely, she wasn’t the culprit. She and Christian had agreed on how things would be. He didn’t want any entanglements any more than she did.
Ivy squeezed her eyes closed because she knew that for the lie it was. Why had she found Christian now? Why did he have to be so damn charming and handsome? Why did he have to be so caring and brave?
She opened her eyes and blinked several times. Ivy couldn’t look at another website. She closed the laptop and set it aside as she rose and walked out of the office to the front porch.
When she spotted the swing, she smiled and sat. With one leg tucked, she used her other foot to move the swing.
The gray clouds hadn’t departed the area. No doubt there was more rain on the way. Ivy braved the mosquitos to have a moment to herself.
The humidity was thick, making her skin sticky and her curls tighten even more. She shoved her hair back and savored the beauty around her. There were live oaks with their thick limbs branching out like gnarled fingers, and crepe myrtles with bright pink blooms still on them.
Christian’s truck had been parked with the others off to the side, giving her a clear view of expansive green lawn and the driveway.
How many more days would she get before the Hell Hounds got to her? Was this her last one? If so, why did she even bother talking herself out of whatever feelings had begun to surface for Christian. Who cared if she felt something for him if she was about to die?
Based on everything she had read about the Hell Hounds, if someone did manage to elude them, it wasn’t for long. The Hounds always found their scent and took the souls that belonged to Hell.
“Oh, Mom,” Ivy murmured.
It was hard for her to even imagine her mother selling her soul. Then again, Ivy had seen how her mother fought to keep her alive. How many times had her mom told her that a parent would do anything for their child?
Ivy didn’t completely understand because she didn’t have a child of her own, but she knew the depth of her mother’s love. Her mother had sacrificed so much for her. It wasn’t a stretch to think she would sell her soul for her daughter to become healthy.
Ivy wished her mother had told her so she could’ve been prepared. But that wasn’t her mother. Her mom preferred to keep her worry to herself. Besides, Ivy knew her mom would never have revealed how far she would be willing to go to save Ivy’s life.
Movement out of the corner of her eye drew Ivy’s attention. She stared at Christian as he walked across the soggy ground to his truck. He opened the tailgate and pulled a large box to him. After he unlocked it, he threw open the lid and rummaged through it.
Ivy watched as he pulled out a crossbow and a set of arrows. Suddenly he stilled, his head swinging to her. Their gazes clashed.
Then he went back to looking in the box. “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
“I’m on the porch. It’s safe.”
“I’d rather you were inside the house.”
She raised a brow, giving him her most annoyed expression that he didn’t even bother glancing at her to see. “I’d rather be out here.”
“Did someone say something to send you outside?” he asked as he shut the lid and relocked the box. Then he closed his tailgate and rested an arm on it as he looked at her.
Damn but his blue eyes could impale her. His black hair was tousled, as if he had been running his fingers through the length.
Ivy realized belatedly that he had asked her a question. “No,” she answered. “I’m just not used to so many people around all the time.”
“As an only child, I suppose not.” He pushed away from the truck and walked to the porch.
He set the crossbow and arrows down and sat on the top step to lean against a column and look at her. Ivy grew self-conscious under his perusal.
“I can’t imagine being an only child,” Christian said. “Just as I’m sure you can’t imagine growing up
Time? Time for what? Ivy’s mind raced. Surely, she wasn’t the culprit. She and Christian had agreed on how things would be. He didn’t want any entanglements any more than she did.
Ivy squeezed her eyes closed because she knew that for the lie it was. Why had she found Christian now? Why did he have to be so damn charming and handsome? Why did he have to be so caring and brave?
She opened her eyes and blinked several times. Ivy couldn’t look at another website. She closed the laptop and set it aside as she rose and walked out of the office to the front porch.
When she spotted the swing, she smiled and sat. With one leg tucked, she used her other foot to move the swing.
The gray clouds hadn’t departed the area. No doubt there was more rain on the way. Ivy braved the mosquitos to have a moment to herself.
The humidity was thick, making her skin sticky and her curls tighten even more. She shoved her hair back and savored the beauty around her. There were live oaks with their thick limbs branching out like gnarled fingers, and crepe myrtles with bright pink blooms still on them.
Christian’s truck had been parked with the others off to the side, giving her a clear view of expansive green lawn and the driveway.
How many more days would she get before the Hell Hounds got to her? Was this her last one? If so, why did she even bother talking herself out of whatever feelings had begun to surface for Christian. Who cared if she felt something for him if she was about to die?
Based on everything she had read about the Hell Hounds, if someone did manage to elude them, it wasn’t for long. The Hounds always found their scent and took the souls that belonged to Hell.
“Oh, Mom,” Ivy murmured.
It was hard for her to even imagine her mother selling her soul. Then again, Ivy had seen how her mother fought to keep her alive. How many times had her mom told her that a parent would do anything for their child?
Ivy didn’t completely understand because she didn’t have a child of her own, but she knew the depth of her mother’s love. Her mother had sacrificed so much for her. It wasn’t a stretch to think she would sell her soul for her daughter to become healthy.
Ivy wished her mother had told her so she could’ve been prepared. But that wasn’t her mother. Her mom preferred to keep her worry to herself. Besides, Ivy knew her mom would never have revealed how far she would be willing to go to save Ivy’s life.
Movement out of the corner of her eye drew Ivy’s attention. She stared at Christian as he walked across the soggy ground to his truck. He opened the tailgate and pulled a large box to him. After he unlocked it, he threw open the lid and rummaged through it.
Ivy watched as he pulled out a crossbow and a set of arrows. Suddenly he stilled, his head swinging to her. Their gazes clashed.
Then he went back to looking in the box. “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
“I’m on the porch. It’s safe.”
“I’d rather you were inside the house.”
She raised a brow, giving him her most annoyed expression that he didn’t even bother glancing at her to see. “I’d rather be out here.”
“Did someone say something to send you outside?” he asked as he shut the lid and relocked the box. Then he closed his tailgate and rested an arm on it as he looked at her.
Damn but his blue eyes could impale her. His black hair was tousled, as if he had been running his fingers through the length.
Ivy realized belatedly that he had asked her a question. “No,” she answered. “I’m just not used to so many people around all the time.”
“As an only child, I suppose not.” He pushed away from the truck and walked to the porch.
He set the crossbow and arrows down and sat on the top step to lean against a column and look at her. Ivy grew self-conscious under his perusal.
“I can’t imagine being an only child,” Christian said. “Just as I’m sure you can’t imagine growing up
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