“You deserve to cut loose and have a little fun every once in a while, you know. All work and no play makes Ivy a dull girl.”

Ivy glares at me. Damn, she’s pretty when she’s angry. “Life isn’t all fun and games.” She takes another bite of the cheese stick, a little moan escaping her as she chews.

The sound sends a swift bolt of lust straight to my groin. “Isn’t that the damn truth,” I mutter.

“You certainly make it look that way though. Always out with two or three women hanging off your arm, drinking and having fun out at clubs all over town,” she points out.

Hell, she thinks I’m a complete jackass. Especially with the way I’ve ignored her since we were last together. If she only knew the truth. How difficult that had been, how much she scared me. How much she still scares me. “You really think all I’ve done is f**k around and spend my family’s money these last few years?”

“Of course not.” She pops the last of the mozzarella stick into her mouth, chews and then swallows. “Gage has told me how hard you work.”

“And maybe you need to learn how to let loose more and have a good time,” I return. Here we go, returning to our standard argumentative selves. I swear it’s like foreplay between us. It masks all that sexual tension that’s constantly brewing whenever we’re together.

“I know how to let loose.” Her voice is defensive.

“Then prove it.” I am practically daring her. She’s always worried over what everyone thought of her, ever since I’ve known her. Cultivating a certain image, not allowing anyone too close for fear they might see the real Ivy.

Not that there’s anything wrong with the real Ivy. In my eyes, she’s damn near the perfect woman.

“How can I prove it to you?”

I can’t answer her for fear I’ll say something so incredibly stupid, I’ll f**k it all up.

I can’t chance it. Too risky.

“Can I be honest?” she asks suddenly, shocking me from my thoughts.

“Please. By all means.”

She watches me, her gaze direct, her expression serious, and I want to squirm. “You scare me.”

Great. The feeling’s mutual. “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

“That’s not what I’m scared of.” She exhales loudly. “Just being in your presence is like going on an exhilarating roller coaster ride, and I’m constantly terrified I might fall off and plunge to my death at any moment.”

“Well. That sounds . . .”

“Pretty scary, right?” She smiles, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I want to help you, Archer. I really do.”

“Then quit waffling,” I say vehemently. Fuck, I swear I’m losing her. She’s slipping right out of my grasp like tiny granules of sand, and I can’t do anything to stop it from happening.

“I’ve already agreed to help you. I don’t have a choice but to agree, what with the way you handled this.” She pauses, her tongue sneaking out to wet her lips. My heart lurches at the sight of her pretty pink tongue. “I’ll help you, if you help me.”

Relief floods me, leaving me weak. “Anything. I’ll do anything you want. Name it and it’s yours.”

Ivy jerks her gaze from mine and bends her head, studying the table. “When we were . . . together last time. The night of Jeff and Cecily’s wedding. It was good between us. Right?”

Uneasiness slips over me, sending a chill racing down my spine. Where is she going with this? “Yeah.”

“So, what if we worked together and spent time together as if we were a real couple?” She keeps her head bent, sketching invisible doodles on the tabletop with her index finger.

“What do you mean?” Lusty hope rises within me. She couldn’t be asking for what I think she is . . .

No way. This is Ivy. She wouldn’t be so bold as to ask me to have a fling with her, would she?

I’d say yes. I’d get her any way I could, just to be with her.

“I want to spend more time with you, Archer. I want to get to know you. The adult you, not the rude teenager from our past.” She shrugs those slim shoulders of hers, her voice sounding downright hopeless. “Over the years, we’ve grown apart, moved on with our lives. Having you back in my life makes me realize I’ve missed you.”

Disbelief fills me. That she could be so honest, so incredibly forthright in what she wants from me is shocking. Normally I’m the brutally honest one. But Ivy changes everything. I would’ve hemmed and hawed and wondered how the hell I might approach her.

Hell, I’m doing that very thing right now. Yet she comes right out and asks for what she wants from me. I can’t help but admire her for that.

“I’ve missed you too,” I admit because she deserves those words. She jerks her head up, her wide-eyed gaze meeting mine, and I smile at her. “I thought you hated me.”

“I do.” She returns the smile. “But there’s more between us than fights and hate and constant irritation. Don’t you think?”

Oh, I know. But I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to tell her yet. Scrubbing a hand over my face, I’m half tempted to ask her why she’s here. With me. I flat out don’t deserve her.

“Yeah,” I murmur, not sure what else I can say. I’m shocked she’s willing to give me—us—another chance.

“But it’ll be temporary. Once Crave’s design is complete, we’re finished. I’m sure you’ll be ready to move on by then anyway.” Her smile turns unnaturally bright. “From everything.”

Not true. I’m ready to deny it, but she cuts me off.

“We walked away from each other before and you never called. I guess I could’ve called you but I don’t operate like that.” Her smile becomes more brittle and I’m tempted to lunge for her. Tell her exactly how much I want her and watch the wariness leave her gaze. And become replaced with pleasure.

And of course she doesn’t operate like that. She’s a traditional sort of woman who deserves a man who will chase after her without fear and make her his forever.

I suddenly want to be that sort of man. Only for Ivy though.

Not for anyone else.

“This is so embarrassing.” She sighs and drops her head, keeps her gaze focused on the table in front of her. “The guys I’ve been with, they were all hopeless, you know? I wanted to fix them and they definitely didn’t want to be fixed. And I get you don’t want to be either. You’re perfectly happy in your broken, messed-up state. But you, Archer, you were the first one I truly felt comfortable with. Like I could finally let go and . . .”

“And what?” I prod.

“Have an . . .” Her voice trails off again and her cheeks are pink. “You know.”

Pride fills me even though I know it’s a jackass move. But what man doesn’t want to hear those words slip from the lips of a woman he’s attracted to? “Have an orgasm?”

“Yeah.” She gives a jerky nod. “They don’t usually happen easily for me.”

Well, hell. I have to help her. Prove to her she’s a beautiful, desirable woman who deserves to have as many orgasms as she damn well pleases. Let her know just how much she undoes me with only a look. A smile. A glimpse of skin, a brief hug. Everything about her screams “take me”, and my body is more than willing to do just that.

Clearing my throat, I decide to get down to business. After all, I’m a world-class negotiator. “So you want me to help you.”

“Yes.” She bites her lower lip, her expression full of worry.

“Have plenty of orgasms.” This turn of events is downright surreal.

I’m not complaining.

Her cheeks color a pretty pink. “Yes.”

“And in return, you’ll help me.”

She nods, not saying a word. “I still can’t believe you want me for the project.”

I roll my eyes in answer. “I can’t believe you doubt your abilities.”

“It’s not that. It’s just . . .”

“What?”

“I don’t understand why you want me around,” she whispers. “What’s happening between us, Archer? It’s confusing.”

My heart lurches. I feel the same exact way. “I’m confused too, Ivy.”

“You don’t act like it. You’re the usual smug, arrogant Archer.”

“Deep inside, I’m petrified you’ll tell me to f**k off.” Couldn’t she see that? I hardly uttered a word for the last five minutes. I just let her do all the talking.

She laughs, the tension easing from her expression at my confession. “I would never say that to you.”

“Never say never.”

“So we’re in agreement then,” she says, releasing a shuddering breath.

“Design skills for orgasms? I think so.” I grin and she glares at me.

“You make it sound sleazy. You’re paying me for my design skills.” Worry flits through her gaze. “Right?”

I chuckle. “Of course. You know this.” Pausing, I contemplate her. “But you don’t have to pay me for the orgasms, you know. I’ll handle that task for free. Gladly.”

“Oh my God, this is the most embarrassing thing ever. I should’ve never told you.” She buries her face in her hands.

I stand and slowly start to approach her. “Don’t be embarrassed.” My voice is soft and I stop directly in front of where she’s sitting. “I’m glad you were honest with me.”

She tilts her head back, her gaze meeting mine. “Will you be honest with me?”

I think of the bet. I think of Matt laughing his ass off at me. Of me owing him that extra fifty grand because damn it, he was right. I think of Gage wanting to murder me for defiling his sister.

“I’ll try my best,” I say because it’s all I can offer.

“That works,” she murmurs, a smile teasing the corners of her mouth. “I’m excited to see the new resort.”

“I’m excited to show you.”

“Calistoga is gorgeous.”

“I agree. Wait till you see it. Hopefully you’ll think the hotel is gorgeous too.”

She nibbles on her lower lip, looking unsure and incredibly sexy. “I want to thank you for the opportunity. Letting me work with you,” she says softly.

“I’m grateful you’re willing to help.” Reaching out, I skim my hand over the top of her head, my fingers tangling in the silky soft strands of her hair.

“Like I said, you really didn’t give me any choice.” She shakes her head, but I don’t remove my hand. I never want to stop touching her. “I hope I don’t disappoint you.”

“You could never, ever disappointment me,” I tell her, knowing I’m one hundred percent right. Though I’m starting to wonder if she’s talking about disappointing me in a non-work-related way.

Again, she could never, ever disappointment there either.