Chapter 5

Ivy Hart

Why would he be here? Of all the times he wants to visit the Solano airport, he visits after I arrive?

Voss never arrived at the airport when Dante was here. They had made it a norm to only arrive two hours after the other had left.

So why was he here?

Why now?

I watched as he walked elegantly toward the port. He was on a call and hadn’t made eye contact with me, and whoever he was talking to on the phone must seriously be pissing him off because he looked more irritated than usual.

Though Voss never looked excited, well except last night in the bathroom when he walked in and made that ridiculous offer. Not just that.

Last night something happened in that bathroom that had never happened before. I knew Voss Solano had a special power when it came to making my heart beat in irregular paces, mostly because he was a pro rage baiter who happened to know how to use a single word to get to my nerves, but yesterday was different.

It was warm.

He had his hands on my cheeks, and his eyes staring deep into my soul. It felt like I was staring at someone else entirely, and I felt ashamed of it because I felt like a hypocrite even feeling anything other than annoyance toward Voss.

I watched as he ended the call, and his eyes finally noticed me. The annoyance on his face faded instantly, and immediately I could tell by the way he raised his sunglasses and tucked them on his hair that he was surprised, and it annoyed me.

“Hello Ivy, waiting for me?” He asked with an overly enthusiastic smile that did more than just annoy me.

My heart started beating irregularly again as he approached me.

He was dressed in black joggers and a grey jacket with a white T-shirt underneath. His stylist obviously styled him perfectly for every occasion. Even on a private flight back home, he looked like he was going to walk a red carpet.

“No. I am not.” I replied with a rather steady tone compared to how I felt inside.

He stopped directly opposite me, his bag in his right hand and his watch on his left wrist. He looked breathtaking.

“Then who are you waiting for?” He asked. His eyes scanned me like he was looking forward to my every reaction, and it made me overly cautious.

“Dante. He’s supposed to be here. We leave for Spain in two hours.” I said while looking at my phone screen.

Dante hadn’t responded, and it was killing me inside.

“You are waiting for Dante?” He asked again.

I nodded.

My optimism slowly died as I approached the realization.

If Dante wasn’t on the field, he was with his phone. He never left his phone unless he was on a flight. That was the only time he intentionally set his phone down.

Slowly my heart began to thump as I panicked.

What if the jet isn’t here because he left for Spain without me?

Well that can’t be possible, right? Dante and I, every year for the past four years, had traveled back home together.

It was our tradition, so why? No, it can’t be. He can’t leave me without even doing the bare minimum of informing me of a sudden change.

“Yes…” I said, disappointed. “I was.” I added.

Shit. I made a fool of myself once more. Of course he didn’t need me anymore. He has his girlfriend. He has someone who would cheer him up or talk to him, so he doesn’t need me.

As I slowly digested the disappointment, I saw Voss’s reaction to it, how his brows creased and his expression softened. He could tell I didn’t know Dante had left already, and I hated how he could easily read my reaction.

I had been with Dante every day for five years and he couldn’t tell a lot of things, but Voss didn’t find it difficult. That was why it was so damn uncomfortable being close to him because I could never hide anything.

Just like now.

“He must have had something important to do.” I tried to defend Dante just like I had always done for years.

Voss immediately sighed. “When are you going to stop babying him? He’s a grown man.” The annoyance in Voss’s voice was undeniable.

“He left you. And you are still making excuses for him? You are smarter than that, Ivy!” He said.

My heart felt a hard squeeze this time, not only from annoyance but irritation.

I wanted to tell him that he didn’t know what he was saying and he should take his cocky attitude into his jet and fly as far away as possible, but I couldn’t because he was telling the truth.

He turned to meet my gaze again, his eyes immediately softening as he looked at me. My eyes felt glossy with tears, but I tried to muster some courage.

“Did you have breakfast?” He asked.

“What?” I asked in disbelief.

“I am asking because we have limited supplies on the jet. I could have someone go get you something to eat. It’s not advisable flying on an empty stomach.” He said.

“Flying? I am not flying anymore. Dante…”

“You are flying with me. It’s tradition that you visit the estate this time of the year,” he insisted.

I was completely stupefied by his complete change in demeanor.

He took a step closer to me, then stretched his hand to take my bag. Reflex kicked in as I pulled the bag back so he wouldn’t reach it. His brows knotted tightly.

He moved a little bit closer till he was towering over me in the most intense way. Our eyes didn’t break contact even for a second.

I felt his fingers brush against mine, and my body froze in time. My eyes snapped to his lips, which made my mouth water slowly.

Last night I had looked at him in a way I had avoided for years.

Voss wasn’t a lover. He was a flirt. He used his dark, charming personality to sway women. He never stayed with one woman.

I convinced myself that among both Solano brothers, Dante was the one I should go for. He was sweet and bright, not like Voss, but Voss had a way with him.

“I am not letting you go back home because my brother was silly. You are part of the Solano annual experience, and you are coming to Spain with me.” His hand pressed over mine, which was wrapped around my stroller handle.

My heart started beating harder and faster as everything else disappeared from view.

“And if I refuse?” I dared to ask.

“Then I will haul you over my shoulder and take you with me. Who’s going to stop me?”

My lips parted as I tried to formulate the words to defend myself, but I couldn’t. I simply let him take my bag, then stepped aside.

He took it immediately, then turned to leave while I stepped aside to breathe.

I watched as he confidently walked with my stroller rolling behind him and his duffel bag in the other hand. I didn’t know how to react or what to say to him.

Did he just say I am part of the Solano annual experience? What does that even mean?

I climbed up the stairs, then entered just to see him filing my suitcase into the top cabinet. He had his jacket sleeves all rolled up, and he looked super hot with those muscles flexed.

I could not help but stare at how he placed everything in order.

I had seen him half-naked once. He was in nothing but loose boxers. He had a lean, muscular build that could make any girl drool.

I watched as he closed the cabinet door before turning to me.

“Thanks.” I said, but he only responded with a nod.

“You haven’t answered my question. What do you want to eat? The plane leaves in two hours. There’s a convenience store. I could get you something.” He asked as he moved past me toward a seat close by.

“I ate this morning. Zel came over. She prepared breakfast for me.”

I followed him, then sat directly beside him.

“Zel, is that a man or a woman?” He asked.

I took my seat. “What does it matter if it’s a man or a woman? The question was if I had breakfast, and I did.”

He turned, then looked at me. His face still held that wicked look that gave me goosebumps.

“Zel is a girl, my best friend.” My mouth already spoke before I could mentally caution myself from speaking.

“Good.” He mused, then went back to setting up his seat.

“What do you mean by good? Why do you care who prepared breakfast for me?”

He didn’t even turn to look at me. He just rested his head against his seat.

“One less thing to worry about.”