Free From This Moment by Sean D. Young Page A

adding, “I think you should find another coordinator. This isn’t going to work.”
    Not waiting for a response, she dismissed him by picking up the phone and pressing a button.
    “We’re done here.”

Chapter 8
    There was something wrong and Jonathan knew it as soon as he walked into Ivy’s condo Friday night. The energy in the room had dwindled from his last meeting three nights ago. It was quiet and Ivy seemed sad, but not the sad that he saw in her face the day she summoned him over to her house. Even then there was plenty of fire, but tonight it was as if someone threw water on the burning flame.
    As soon as she opened the door, she offered him a seat and disappeared down the hall without another word.
    He wanted to go after her, to hold her, to caress her, to make her feel better, to take away the hurt he saw in her eyes.
    “Is everything okay?” he yelled.
    “Yes,” she shouted back.
    Jonathan didn’t believe her. He’d been around her long enough now to know that her mood had changed from yesterday.
    As Jonathan waited for Ivy, he looked around the living room and admired the décor. Directly off the entry, the room was both open and intimate, as well as being immaculate.
    She’d chosen contemporary furnishing in deep brown colors. The warm camo-green walls and eggshell-colored trim created a great backdrop for the large pieces of artwork that hung on the wall.
    Not wanting to wait any longer, he stood to his feet and walked toward the hallway, so he wouldn’t have to yell, but she appeared before he could get any closer.
    “Wow, you look fantastic.” He couldn’t believe Ivy had let her hair down. He really liked the loose, wavy curls that framed her face. It made her look sexy. Right then, he could imagine running his fingers through it.
    “You did all this for me?” he commented, hoping to get her to smile.
    Ivy turned her eyes upward and swatted at his arm. She blushed, which made Jonathan’s heart smile. He didn’t want to see her upset.
    Picking up her hand, he twirled her around so he could get a better look at her outfit. “Every man in the restaurant is going to be envious of me.”
    “Jonathan, you are so crazy.”
    “No, I’m serious,” he said pulling her to his chest. The top of her head met his chin. He bent down and kissed her hair.
    Ivy looked up and met his intense gaze. They stayed that way for several moments.
    “Needed a hug?” he asked her.
    When she remained silent, Jonathan slowly pulled her closer to him; if she wanted to resist, he’d let her go. Moments later, he could hear her exhale.
    When he released her, Jonathan stepped back and lifted her face with his hands so that he could see her eyes. “Whatever’s going on, it’s going to be okay.”
    Ivy only nodded, turned and walked away.
    Jonathan watched her as she went over to the coat closet. He still admired the way her black two-piece pants suit fit her body. The cut of the double-breasted jacket hugged her breasts and the notched lapel collar revealed the sensual neckline of her creamy, coffee-colored skin. The jacket had a bias cut peplum in back with three-quarter-inch bell sleeves. She wore black high-heeled boots.
    Ivy opened the door and removed her gray wool swing coat. “Where are we going, anyway?”
    Jonathan went to help her with her coat. “I thought we’d go to Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago.”
    Ivy smiled at him. She thought his gentle gestures were kind, and she never knew the power of a hug. Walking into his arms felt so good; his strong arms around her made her feel safe. As soon as her breasts touched his chest, she released all of the tension she’d held inside. Nothing had ever felt that good. She appreciated him for trying to make her feel better without prying.
    Ivy was glad they weren’t going anyplace around town. She didn’t want to run into Randall. When she left East Lansing to come back to Taylor, he was still there. Growing up in Detroit, she wondered how Randall ended up