“Didn’t know you were from Chicago.” Wyatt was watching him, as if he was waiting for more enlightenment. He was probably wondering why Jericho hadn’t mentioned he was from Illinois, especially since he’d known that was where Greta and Astrid had once lived.

Jericho couldn’t say much. Didn’t want word leaking out about his dad’s identity as a Pinkerton agent, not now that his own was connected so closely. But Wyatt and the family deserved at least the barest of explanations.

“Yes, I . . .” He sat up, trying to think, but before he could formulate his answer, Ivy breezed into the room.

Instead of wearing the disheveled, half-buttoned, and damp garments from before, she’d changed her clothes and had on a light blue dress. It wasn’t fancy, but it wasn’t like any of the simple girlish outfits she used to wear. This one was tailored to fit. And fit it did. Giving him no excuse to think of her as anything but a woman ever again.

She’d brushed her dark hair, and it hung in long, damp waves over her shoulders and down her back, as thick and luxurious as the finest Arabian horse’s mane. Without the night or anything else obscuring her face, he could see that her features had matured—her lips were fuller, her lashes thicker and longer, and her cheeks narrower and more defined.

She wasn’t just pretty. She was absolutely breathtaking. Any man who could mistake her for Buster Bliss was either blind or a fool.

He couldn’t tear his eyes from her as she crossed to the nearest of Wyatt’s children, a little girl who had Greta’s fair hair and silvery blue eyes. Ivy bent and hugged the child. “How’s my sweet Ellie?”

After a kiss, Ivy wrapped Wyatt’s oldest son, Ty, in a hug. If Jericho remembered correctly, the boy was about five, maybe six, years old and growing into a polite little man. He returned Ivy’s embrace with more reservation, while the youngest tyke held up his arms to Ivy and babbled, apparently not wanting to miss out on his aunt’s affection.

With a tender laugh, Ivy took Ryder from Wyatt and lifted him above her head. He squealed, and she laughed again. The sound of it nearly knocked the wind from Jericho.

“Looks like everyone missed you today, Ivy,” Wyatt said with one brow quirked at Jericho.

Jericho jerked his attention away from Ivy and down to his coffee.

“Well, I missed them.” With Ryder above her, Ivy blew a noisy kiss onto his belly, earning his giggles.