Free Get a Grip (Hollywood Nights) by Cara North Page A

you were beautiful.”
    “Nice try.” She winked at him. “Tell me.”
    “I think the second one would be the most comfortable for the barbeque.” Bo shrugged.
    “Me too.” She did agree with Mathis this time. She would not tell him though.
    “Do you need any help?” he asked and looked at her longingly.
    “With a shirt and jeans?” Ivy looked him over from head to toe. He was one fine piece of man. Neatly put together even in jeans and a t-shirt with a sweater overtop. The winter months were rolling in and the evenings could get pretty chilly if not cold.
    “I’m just saying.” He looked at the outfit and added, “There are a lot of buttons on that blouse.”
    “I think it’s best if I struggle with it now and let you help me out of it later. We’re running a little bit behind as it is.”  She said it, but didn’t mean it. She wanted to pull all of his clothes off of him and show him just how happy she was that he wanted to live in her house and not his creepy old mansion.
    “Even if I just…took care of you?” His expression melted her on the spot.
    “Um, how would you do that?” she asked breathlessly.
    “Let me show you.”
     
    ***
     
     
     
    Later…
     
    Bo sat with his arm draped across the back of her chair while his little brother, Dale entertained as usual. She was more relaxed than he was, but that was because he had taken time to rock her world before they came here. He was torturing himself, but when it came to Ivy, he apparently liked to do that. He tried not to think about it. His brother made it easy when he started the next joke. He pleaded, “No. Not that one.”
                  “Hush,” Dale shushed him. “Ivy, I knew I was going to be the gay one in this family. Do you know how?”
                  Gabe, Dale’s partner shook his head and went to refresh his drink. Everyone in the family had heard Dale’s act a million times. Ivy was like a fresh audience. He could pull out old material and she still laughed because she didn’t know it was old. Not yet anyways. Bo said, “Don’t let him bait you.”
                  “Hush.” Dale shushed him again and looked at Ivy.
                  “How?” she asked.
                  “Because my oldest brother is such a dick he can’t even figure out where his nuts are, and my other brother would die if he ever put some in his mouth!” Dale cracked up laughing. Ivy shook her head and tried not to laugh.
                  “You’re terrible.” Ivy said to Dale. She looked at Bo and placed her hand on his thigh. The touch was becoming more familiar to him and yet it still sent sparks throughout his body. “Did you know he told these jokes on stage?”
                  “Yes,” Bo admitted. “I make up a good amount of his act. I almost wish I hadn’t been so accepting of him when we were younger. Maybe then he could focus on someone else.”
                  “It’s only because I love you, Bo. You know that. You’re my favorite big brother.” Dale said it sincerely. Dale looked up and his expression shifted from happy to annoyed. Bo knew their other brother had arrived. “Well, well. If it isn’t Alexander the great.”
                  Ivy turned to see who Dale was talking about. Alexander approached. Adele stopped to talk to their mother and sister. They were both dressed in business casual clothing instead of normal clothes like everyone else.
                  “You think I’m pretty great when I negotiate your contracts for you,” Alex said as he came to a stop. He maintained his robotic, businessman tone and said, “Bo. It’s good to see you.”
                  “Likewise.” They never had a great relationship. Alex made it clear he wanted to be an only child. Unfortunately for him, he got three siblings.
                  Then Adele, his ex-fiancé, the woman who had