you my property manager’s contact information. Give him a call and let him know what other week you’d be available and I’ll make sure you get it, on me.”
She was surprised by his offer. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Sure you can. It’s the least I can do. I insist.”
“Thanks. I was so excited about winning that I followed the instructions to the letter without getting suspicious about anything.” That made her ask, “How did they get the key?”
She watched him stroll to the counter to retrieve the water bottle he’d placed there earlier. “My mom has a spare key,” he said.
Why was she noticing how sexy his walk was and how good his backside looked in his jeans? “Your mom? Please don’t tell me she was in on it, too.”
“She had to be,” he said, grabbing the water bottle, turning around and leaning back against the counter. “It makes perfect sense now.”
“What does?”
“My gramma Bessie claiming that she needed to be taken to her sister’s home in Andrews this morning, which delayed my arrival here by at least eight hours since my great-aunt insisted I stay for lunch. That had to be part of my great-grandmother’s plan as well. Had I left Houston when I had originally planned to do so, then we would have arrived here at the same time. They deliberately delayed my arrival, making sure I didn’t get here until after you’d arrived and had got settled.”
Ivy shook her head. And she thought she had it bad trying to keep Nana in line. “I don’t envy you one bit. I only have to put up with my grandmother. However, from the sound of things, your great-grandmother has a legion of conspirators ready to assist her. How can you put up with your family being so...?” Ivy tried her best to come up with a word that would hit the mark but wouldn’t offend him.
“Intrusive,” he supplied.
“Yes,” she said, fighting back a smile as she pushed her eyeglasses up. “Intrusive. I would think that instead of enabling her, at some point someone would have taken your great-grandmother aside and had a little talk with her about...” Again she tried coming up with a word that was noncritical.
“Minding her own business,” he said. “You can say it. Trust me, it won’t hurt my feelings.” He then took a gulp of water from the bottle.
“To mind her own business,” she said since he’d invited her to do so. She felt a stirring in her stomach as she watched him when he placed the bottle back down and wiped any lingering liquid from his mouth with the back of his hand. Why did seeing him do something like that affect her?
She pushed back those sensations, refusing to let them overwhelm the feminine side of her. There was no place for them here now, and definitely not with the man standing across the room from her. No matter how handsome he looked, and he did look handsome. “I honestly don’t get it. I’m sure you’re capable of choosing your own wife.”
“Just like I’m sure you can choose a husband.”
His words reminded her of Damien. She had honestly thought he was the one, but he had revealed his true self eventually. Considering her parents’ marriage, she figured it was best she had learned that before saying “I do.”
“I don’t plan to marry. Ever,” she said, knowing a cutting edge was in her voice.
From the lifting of his brow she knew he’d picked up on it. “Any reason why?”
Strands of curly hair danced in her face and she brushed them back before saying, “My reason doesn’t concern you.”
* * *
SHE WAS RIGHT, Nolan thought. Her reason didn’t concern him. “Sorry—it’s none of my business.” The sooner she left, then the sooner he could begin enjoying his week here. Alone. Without any interruptions. He definitely needed a break from women. All women. Even those in his family who were supporting his great-grandmother in her shenanigans.
But he was forced to admit for the most part, under any other circumstances, he could see himself becoming friends with Ivy. But they weren’t. Instead, they were victims of manipulation of the worst kind. He would place the blame where it rightly belonged, and that was at her grandmother’s and his great-grandmother’s feet.
Giving in to his curiosity, he asked, “Does your grandmother know you’re antimarriage?”
“Yes, she knows.”
Nolan frowned. “Then why would she waste her time trying to get us together, knowing you feel the way you do?”
She released a frustrated breath. “I guess she’s hoping I’ll change my mind. I honestly believe your great-grandmother has convinced her that we are supposed to get married and have lots of babies. She’s said so many times.”
That sounded just like Mama Laverne. “That won’t be happening,” Nolan said with strong conviction in his voice.
He wasn’t antimarriage like she evidently was by any means. He knew for a fact that true love did exist for some people. All he had to do was look around during any Madaris family gathering to see that for himself. Most marriages in the Madaris family were strong, solid and based on love, and lasted a lifetime.
His parents’ and grandparents’ marriages were good examples, as well as those of his other family members. The only exception had been Jake’s first marriage. But from what he’d heard, the marriage had been doomed from the beginning since the woman tried making Jake into something he wasn’t.
Nolan’s major problem was his great-grandmother trying to shove the woman she’d chosen for him down his throat. When and if he ever married, it would be to a woman he selected and not one who’d been selected for him.
“I can’t wait until Nana gets back to town.”
He discovered that looking at her chest instead of her legs was just as bad. He liked the way her blouse fitted. “Where is she?”
“She went to Lake Charles for the weekend to attend a gospel revival.”
“Umm, so did my great-grandmother. If they’re together, then you know what that means. They’ll work on the next plan when they get wind that this one didn’t work.”
“They’ve got to be stopped,” she said, all but stomping her foot. He thought she looked cute when she did that.
“Any ideas on how to do that since talking sensibly with them doesn’t seem to work?” he asked her.
“None that I can think of.” She checked her watch. “I need to pack up now and leave before it gets dark. I’ll be seeing you.”
He nodded. “Drive safe.”
When she left the kitchen, he drew in a deep breath, refusing to feel bad that she was leaving. He could do the decent thing and leave since she was here first, but he did own the place and there was no reason to give up his week for her. But he could invite her to stay the night and leave in the morning. It was an hour’s drive back to Houston and it would be dark before she got there. And he did have two bedrooms.
“I got it!”
