Wicked Dreams Read Free Page A

be right.
    Ivy lowered herself to a sitting position and rested the plate and bottles of water on the ground. She carefully pushed them over until they were within reaching distance for the girl, and then she pushed herself back until she was close enough to watch her but far away enough to appear unthreatening.
    “You should eat something,” Ivy said, keeping her voice soft. “It’s egg salad and broccoli. I don’t have a lot of junk food around my house. I’m sorry.”
    The girl shifted her position, pushing herself upright as her eyes darted between Ivy and the plate.
    “I promise it’s good,” Ivy said.
    Either the girl was opting to trust her – or she was just that hungry – because she grabbed the sandwich and shoved it into her mouth without uttering a word. Ivy had never seen anyone inhale a sandwich that fast, and she was relieved when the girl approached the second sandwich with tepid moderation.
    “Have some water,” Ivy prodded.
    The girl suspiciously took the water, casting one more look at Ivy before opening and guzzling it. She didn’t put the water bottle down until it was empty, and then she immediately reached for the second bottle.
    Ivy’s heart rolled painfully. The girl was starving and dehydrated. Upon closer inspection, the bruises on her arms were darker and more numerous than Ivy realized. She had a feeling that they weren’t relegated to just her arms either.
    “My name is Ivy. This is my greenhouse. I own the whole nursery, actually. My house is just through the woods, too.”
    The girl didn’t respond, but her thoughtful eyes were focused on Ivy as she reached for the broccoli and started munching.
    “I grew up here,” Ivy continued. “This is a very special place. I’m betting that’s why you were drawn here.”
    There was still no answer. Ivy decided to do what came naturally: talk.
    “Are you from around here? I’ll bet you’re from close by,” she said. “Did you have to walk here? Do you want more to eat? Do you want to come out and let me get a better look at you?”
    This went on … and on … and on.
     
    “WE have to do something,” Jack said, leaning his head against the wall of the greenhouse and turning his attention to Michael and Brian. “She’s floundering in there.”
    “She’s not floundering,” Michael argued. “She’s trying to build a rapport.”
    “She just talking … and talking … and talking,” Jack said. “The girl isn’t talking back.”
    “She’s not screaming either,” Brian said. “Give Ivy a little time. She might surprise you with how good she is with people.”
    “I didn’t say she wasn’t good with people.”
    “You were insinuating it,” Michael said, shooting him a look. “I’ll have you know, my daughter is good at whatever she does. No, I take that back. She’s great at whatever she does. You should have a little faith in her.”
    Jack was taken aback. “I didn’t say I didn’t have faith in her. I … she’s not getting anywhere, though.”
    “She got her to eat without screaming,” Brian said. “That’s more than you or I could’ve accomplished.”
    “You don’t know that,” Jack said. “I’m very charming. I’m also easy to talk to.”
    “That must be why you and Ivy are always sniping at one another,” Brian said drily.
    “That’s the sexual tension,” Michael said.
    Jack’s cheeks colored. He was well aware that the town was talking about his flirtation with Ivy. He could deal with that. He was new to town. He didn’t know most of the people who lived there, so he didn’t care what they thought. For Ivy’s father to point it out, though, was something else entirely. “I … .”
    “Oh, look how cute he is,” Brian said, smirking. “You’ve completely thrown him off his game.”
    Jack recovered quickly. “I am not off my game. Nothing throws me off my game. I’m a professional.”
    “I heard Ivy beat you at basketball last week,” Brian said.
    “She didn’t beat me,”