The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 1996

Ivy and Quinton had been in touch a lot lately and she’d even roped him into doing quite a few favors for her.

Ivy was well aware of Quinton’s knack for getting things done, so having him teach Clara a lesson wouldn’t have been a tall order for

him.

But Ivy wanted to handle this herself.

She was determined to give as good as she got from anyone who had wronged her, convinced that it was the only way she’d ever grow

stronger.

“I can take care of it myself. Besides, Quinton’s been a huge help to me recently. He’s your secretary, not my errand boy. I can’t keep piling work on him.” Ivy pressed her lips together, offering a faint smile.

For some reason, that smile, which revealed a hint of vulnerability, made him ache for her.

he stepped forward and casually took her hand, “I’m taking

Ivy could even process what was happening, she found herself being ushered out the door, “Uh, Balfour, wait

in tow as

Looking down at their intertwined hands, her cheeks were flushing and her mind was

had she started to feel comfortable with Balfour’s touch? Without realizing it, their relationship seemed to

it once was.

they reached the car, Balfour opened the passenger door for her. “Hop

She was suddenly conscious of her free hand and somehow

sigh as he gently nudged her into the seat, “Where else will

a nearby diner and

understood his meaning immediately, served all the dishes in five minutes, “Mr. Howard,

and skepticism, “Balfour, are you sure this food was made fresh? How did everything come out so fast after we sat down?”

place keeps a table’s regular order of mine. If I show up, they serve it; if I don’t,

the lavishness of the gesture; an entire table’s worth of food prepped daily was no small

here often?”