Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (books to read for beginners .TXT) 📕

“I’m on the clock, and if I recall correctly I took an oath to protect and serve. Besides, she is not married yet.”

“She’s close enough,” Brooks said shaking his head. “Don’t go over there and get your ass handed to you.” They both chuckled as Nicola headed out of the precinct flipping Brooks the finger.

**

If Ivy had had more energy, she probably would have gotten out of bed and dressed, but it seemed the more she wanted to get up, the more her body would not allow her. Evidently, she had used all her extra energy on getting up to see Emerald. Turning on the television, she fluffed her pillows behind her back and sprayed the air freshener beside her. At least, the apartment was presentable, even if she was not.

After watching a game show and flipping through the novel on her nightstand, she finally heard someone at her door. “I’m in here,” Ivy said brushing through her hair frantically. She didn’t’ want to look too messy.

Walking through the corridor, Nicola got a chance to see Ivy’s bedroom for the first time. Shyly, he smiled as he walked through her doorway. It was everything that he had imagined about Ivy’s personality.

“Hey,” Nicola said standing in the doorway.

“Hi,” Ivy said sitting up and smiling. Wow, he looked great. He was like a breath of fresh air in his faded denim jeans and University of Memphis blue pullover.

“Still not feeling well?” he asked shocked that Ivy was still in her nightgown.

“Not my best, but not my worse either.” She didn’t want to appear sicklier than she actually was. “You can put those bags in the kitchen,” she said noticing he was still carrying the groceries. “I hope you don’t plan for me to eat all of that for lunch.”

“Actually, I was hoping that you’d share. I stopped at this Chinese place by the precinct. They fix the best pepper steak in the world.”

“Well, what else do you have in there?” Ivy asked getting out of the bed.

“Don’t get up,” he said alarmed. “I’ll fix your plate and bring it to you.”

“I feel good enough to get up,” Ivy said sitting back down. Inwardly, she liked the attention from him even when she despised it from other people.

“No, you’re not well enough now, but you will be when I’m finished. I have just the right stuff to get you going again.”

“What got into you?” Ivy asked amazed by his concern.

“I just wanted to make sure that you were…okay,” Turning around, he headed for the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Nicola returned with a full plate of food and two glasses of orange juice for Ivy. Now shining with lip-gloss and a small pink bow that tied back her ponytail, Ivy sat at the end of the bed in her robe dangling her feet off the side.

“That didn’t take long,” she said reaching out for the plate.

“I hope I put enough food on here,” he said setting her glasses on the table.

“This is more than enough. What are you trying to do make me fat?” Giggling, she tasted her lunch. “Umm, this is good. I’m really starving.”

Still astounded after all this time at her beauty, Nicola stood across from her in silence. Making eye contact with him, Ivy blushed. She was starting to recognize his looks and could almost tell exactly what he was thinking.

Too afraid to bare his true feelings for her, Nicola sat on the bed beside her and began to massage her shoulders as she ate. Nervously, she shied away for a moment causing him to stop.

Nicola was stunned. He didn’t mean to make her nervous. He had gotten too comfortable with her. Unsure of how to react to her, he put his hands down.

“I’m sorry,” Ivy said touching his thigh. “Don’t stop.” Feeling his embarrassment she put his hand back on her shoulder. “Please,” she said softly. As awkward as that brief moment had been, she wanted to move past it without it being such a big deal.

“So, have you been handling the pregnancy well?” Nicola searched for something to say to her as he rubbed her shoulders.

“Pretty well,” she said closing her eyes and relaxing.

Nicola coached himself quietly. Why was he so nervous? This was just a woman, like all the others! Maybe not just alike, but not so different that he had to fee like this inside.

“I was reading in one of those pregnancy books that massages are good for you,” Nicola said needing a massage too.

“Massages are good at anytime.” She laughed. “Nicky, I never thanked you for being here did I?”

“The lunch was nothing.”

“No.” She touched his hand. “I mean, thank you for being here period. I can’t tell you how much I’ve needed it. I know with your hectic work schedule and your personal life, it can’t be easy to deal with me, too. But you do it. So, thanks.”

“I don’t have a lot going on in my personal life.” Nicola reflected on his emptiness.

“Come on, Italian lover. Keeping the ladies pleased must be a full-time job.”

“Trina must be talking about me again.”

“Actually, no. She hasn’t said anything lately. But I can tell that you aren’t practicing celibacy.” Ivy smiled.

“Why should I be?” Nicola stopped massaging her shoulders and made her turn towards him.

Ivy searched for the right words. Staring him the face, it was a lot harder to say what she felt about him. “Well, sometimes celibacy clears the mind. And if you’re waiting for the right woman, you can see her better if you’re not caught up in the motions.” She smiled. “I’m not trying to lecture you. You’re a good man. It’s just my opinion that good things come to those who wait.”

“Maybe the thing that I’ve wanted for a while came and went without my control.”

Ivy tried to respond but her mouth wouldn’t move.

“But I get your point. It’s a coincidence, really. Just this morning, I swore off women and sex for a while.”

“You?” Ivy giggled.

“What?” Nicola smiled.