Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
"Oh, I believe you." He lowers himself to the ground beside me, reclining back on his hands, his legs extended in front of him. "Jett has a chihuahua. That little fucker hates everyone except his daughter."
I laugh because I can believe it. "Olive has one, too. Well, I think hers is a yorkie or a chorkie, or whichever is part chihuahua. She named him Oscar because she found him in a garbage can and he's a grump. He doesn't like anyone except her." I pause, thinking about it. "Well, I guess he likes her hot neighbor and his parrot."
"Her hot neighbor?" Ash quirks a brow, a hint of jealousy flashing in his gaze.
"Um, Mason. We didn't know his name at first, so we just called him her hot neighbor," I say with a shrug. "I guess the name stuck. They're basically living together now."
"You still think he's hot?"
"You're hotter."
His eyes heat, his expression downright feral. "Right answer, baby," he practically purrs, pushing himself up to his knees to prowl toward me across the blanket. He stops when he's inches from me, his face blotting out everything. "Don't think I like you talking about other men."
"I'll make you a deal," I whisper breathlessly. "You never mention any of the supermodels you've dated, and I'll never talk about hot men."
"Fuck supermodels, Loralei," he says, hooking an arm around my waist to drag me closer. "There is no competition, and you shouldn't believe ninety percent of what you read. Most of the time when I'm photographed with someone, it's for PR, or it's fabricated bullshit. The only one I want is right here in front of me."
My stomach clenches before bottoming out, mostly because the way he looks at me when he says it makes it clear he isn't lying. As far as he's concerned, I'm the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. I think I could die happy knowing that.
He kisses me hard on the mouth, not letting up until my hands are in his hair and both of us are panting for breath and his beard has chafed my skin. And then he leans back, a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
"Bet you aren't thinking about other men now, are you?"
I roll my eyes at him. "You are such a guy, Ash."
He shrugs, unrepentant, and then starts emptying the basket onto the blanket. I watch him for a long moment, trying to work up the nerve to ask him an important question. I've been trying to do it for the last week straight, but I keep finding excuses to avoid the subject.
Everything has been good between us.
Every night, he's been at my place, or I've been at his. I spend every day at work with my head in the clouds. I know Lilah and Jazz have noticed. But they aren't really asking many questions. I think that's mostly because Jazz is preoccupied with stalking River, and Lilah is preoccupied with worrying about Jazz stalking River. As expected, jail was involved. Unexpectedly, I think River might be a little obsessed with her.
"Can I ask you a question?" I finally blurt, before I lose my nerve.
"You can ask me anything," Ash says, the same way he usually does.
"I…" I hesitate and then huff out a breath. "I have a thing on Monday. It's a gala meant to raise money for a big literacy program in the county. Since I'm the head librarian and they do a lot at our branch, I'm expected to attend. Um…would you…?"
"You want me to go with you?" he asks.
I nod, grateful I didn't have to ask.
"I don't think that's a good idea, beautiful," he says, his voice soft.
"Oh." I duck my head, staring at the checkered blanket at my feet. "Of course. You're right," I hear myself say. Except, it doesn't sound like my voice. Maybe that's just the lump in my throat or the sting of rejection burning in my stomach. I don't know.
But that feeling from last week, the one screaming that he's going to break my heart, is suddenly back. Does he not want to be seen with me? Is that why we're out here today? Not because he wanted to show me this place, but because he wanted to keep me as far from other people as possible?
Part of me automatically rejects the idea as impossible. Ash wouldn't do that. But another part, the same part terrified he's going to break my heart, isn't nearly as certain about that.
In all the time he's been here, he's never hinted that he wants to make whatever this is between us public. He's never asked to take me anywhere. The few times he's come to the library to see me, it's been in full disguise.
Maybe I was naïve in assuming that was for his own privacy. Maybe the truth is a little bit sadder than that. I was never meant to be part of his plans. We're just…what? An interlude? A way to pass the time until he's ready to face his real life again? I don't know, but I feel like an idiot.