Page 51 of Lonely Heart

Understanding dawned. “Sure. I’d love to dance.”

I led Ivy out onto the dance floor, grateful for the slow song that was filling the air. We made it there, and I swiftly pulled her into my arms. Being that close to her, holding her like that, I felt infinitely better.

For several beats, I didn’t say anything. I simply gave myself the opportunity to enjoy the moment, to enjoy her. I got lost in her beautiful face, those stunning eyes, and her pretty lips. I could have been content to stay like that forever, which was likely the reason it was Ivy who had to break the silence.

“Was everything okay tonight?”

“It was great, Ivy. I can’t believe you’ve been working on this for weeks.”

She smiled at me. “You’re thirty now. You deserved a big party.”

I shook my head. “I’m not thirty until tomorrow, I’ll remind you.”

Laughter spilled out of her. “You better live it up over the next few hours. Any last-minute birthday wishes?”

“Actually, there’s just one.”

Ivy raised a curious brow. “Oh?”

“It’s actually the reason I asked you to come out and dance with me, so I could talk to you,” I shared. “I want you to join me for dinner.”

“What?” Her body had gone rigid.

My arm tightened around her waist. “Tomorrow, if you’re not already busy, I’d like to spend my birthday with you. I’d like to take you out for dinner.”

“You want to take me out for dinner on your birthday?”

“That’s what I want.”

She swallowed hard. “Can I ask why?”

My eyes roamed over her face again, taking in every feature. “Because I think I’ve wasted enough time. Because I didn’t realize until far too late who I had in front of me all these years. And because the time that I have spent with you over these last couple of weeks has been the absolute best of my life. You said you were lonely, Ivy. I’d like to make it so you don’t have to feel that way anymore.”

Her lips had parted in shock, her eyes glistening. “I think everyone will notice if I burst into tears.”

My thumb absentmindedly stroked along her body, right where my hand gripped her firmly. “Don’t cry. Just tell me you want the same thing.”

“I do,” she rasped.

Relief swept through me, my chest expanding with the lightness that filled it. “So, you’ll join me for dinner tomorrow?”

She swallowed hard again. “I will.”

With those two words in hand, I didn’t need another thing. This had turned out to be the best birthday of my life, and if I was lucky, it would only get better from here.

15

IVY

I didn’t realizeuntil far too late who I had in front of me all these years.

I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep last night. I’d spent the entire night tossing and turning, replaying in my mind the conversation I’d had with Marco earlier in the evening.

He thought he wasted enough time.

The last few weeks had been the best of his life.

And he wanted to take me on a date.