Page 80 of Lonely Heart

Jesus.

Liam had intentionally damaged the villa he’d been working in, created more work for himself, to help me. To make sure Ivy didn’t wind up humiliated.

“Liam, I don’t know what to say, man. Thank you for what you did. She’s been torn up about it ever since,” I told him.

“Why don’t the two of you just tell everyone?”

I let out a frustrated sigh and began to pace. “We’re going to. We were planning to talk about it tonight. Jules and Ava know, but that’s it. Well, other than you. It’s not even so much about everyone else, though. It’s Cooper. He was there the morning after her attack. He walked into the hotel room and saw me there with Ivy, and she was wearing nothing but my T-shirt. Even though nothing was going on between us then, Cooper got the wrong impression, and he did not react well to it. And when he came to apologize later for how he acted, he didn’t make it seem like he’d be happy about us being together. I wasn’t going to pursue her. In fact, I was trying not to do what my instincts were telling me to do.” I stopped pacing and focused my attention fully on Liam. “But then Tate told us what Ava observed, and I decided Ivy’s well-being was the priority. I swear I didn’t try to take advantage of her being vulnerable.”

His eyes narrowed. “It’s sad you think you need to tell me that. Like I don’t know what kind of man you are. Not once did I think you were taking advantage of her.”

More relief swept through me. “I appreciate that. So, you’re not mad about this?”

“I don’t like that my sister feels like she’s doing something wrong. She deserves to not have to run around and hide. You both deserve that.”

“So, you’re not mad, but you’re upset.”

One half of his mouth quirked. “I don’t know if I’d say that, either. Like I said before, I was watching Ivy more than usual after she’d been attacked. But it’s no secret that she’s put on a brave face for quite a while now, well before that asshole did what he did to her. Ever since you, as you put it, made her well-being a priority, I’ve noticed the change in her. It’s unprecedented. Ivy’s happier than she’s been in a very long time, and I know you’re contributing to that for her. So, no, I’m notmad. I’m not upset. I’m happy for both of you. But you need to figure out how you’re going to break the news to Cooper. I can’t imagine why he’d ever have a problem with a guy like you being the one looking after our sister.”

I shot him a look that I hoped indicated I’d asked myself that same question more times than I cared to admit. “We’ll get it worked out this weekend.”

“That’s a wise idea.”

“I appreciate you coming to me about this, Liam. You could have done it differently.”

He dipped his chin. “You’re welcome. Now, make sure you continue to make her happy. I realize that’s probably no easy feat with a woman like Ivy. You’re a hell of a man, Marco.”

I laughed. From where I was standing, Ivy wasn’t a difficult woman to please. In fact, I thought a lot of her tough exterior had something to do with feeling like she had nobody to have her back. Obviously, her family would always be there for her, but a relationship was different. Now that she had that, I had a feeling she’d soften up a bit.

“Thanks. And you have my word. I intend to make her happy for as long as she’ll allow me to do it.”

“That’s all I can ask.” He jerked his head toward the door. “But you better get out of here now, if she’s expecting you.”

“Yeah. I’ll see you later.”

“Later, man.”

With that, I left and made my way to my truck. Once there, I pulled out my phone to call Ivy. She answered after the first ring.

“Are you on your way, handsome?”

My lips twitched. “Are you ready and waiting for me?”

“Always.”

How could I not want to make this woman happy forever? “I just got in my truck. It would have been sooner, but I got stopped on my way out.”

“Oh. Did something happen?”

I turned on the truck and pulled out of my parking spot. “Yep.”

“What?”

“As it turns out, Jules and Ava aren’t the only ones who know about us,” I informed her.

Ivy gasped. “What? Does Cooper know? What did he say?”

“It’s not Cooper. It’s Liam.”