by Aly Stiles
“What?!” I groan into the pillow. “Shit. Bray.”
I prop up on my elbows again, and she shoves me back down.
“Is fine. I just checked on him. He’s building his boat thing.”
“It’s a pirate ship,” I mumble, still in disbelief I slept so late. Have I ever slept in this long? Thank god I don’t work for Lane on Sundays.
“Whatever. Same difference.”
“Not to an eight-year-old.”
She rolls her eyes and pokes my shoulder. “Hey, do me a favor?”
“What?”
“Lie on your side, facing me.”
I narrow my gaze in suspicion but finally give in. She turns as well and scoots backward until her back is tucked against my chest. I can’t help but smile as she releases a content sigh.
“Wait,” she says. “One more thing.”
She reaches behind her without looking and pats around, searching for something. When she touches my hand, she yanks it over her and clamps my arm to her front.
I chuckle and adjust to hold her more comfortably. This time her sigh draws one from me.
“This is your favor?” I ask with amusement.
“This is my fantasy,” she whispers back.
Wow.
I don’t know what to say as warmth spears through me. How could she want me this much? I still don’t understand any of it, but for some reason this moment makes sense. Iris in my arms makes sense. Maybe it won’t an hour from now, but in this blip of time, my world has transformed from winter into spring.
I rest my lips on the back of her hair, and she pulls my arm tighter around her. She nestles further into me as if trying to burrow inside. After several minutes of the most peaceful existing I’ve ever experienced, Iris takes my hand and aligns our palms.
“What do you want me to make for breakfast?” she asks, threading her fingers with mine and drawing our hands back to her chest.
“You’re going to cook for me?” I ask with a soft laugh.
“I cooked for you yesterday,” she points out.
“Wait, you actually made that stuff? I figured you just bought it and were heating it up.”
She stiffens, spinning back to shove my shoulder.
I laugh as I fall to my back. ”What? I’m sorry, I just figured you had personal chefs or whatever for that.”
She rolls her eyes and smacks my chest. I capture her hand against it and hold it there.
“Excuse me. I’m rich, not helpless.”
I smirk at her twist on one of my earlier barbs. Releasing a sigh, I bring her hand to my lips. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
“Dad always wanted us to be competent and self-sufficient. We didn’t even have a cleaning person until a couple of years ago.”
I’m trying so hard to keep a straight face through her defensive speech. With a grave nod, I squeeze her hand. “I totally get that. We decided not to hire a cleaning staff either.”
She narrows her eyes before snorting a laugh. I duck when she whacks me again. “Guess what, Ash. I also know how to do laundry. How do you think I washed these sheets?”
She raises her brows in challenge, and I grin back.
“Wow. You’re just a certifiable jack of all trades, aren’t you.”
Her face scrunches. “You know what, smartass? I also did your laundry. Well, what Bray and I could find laying around. Would it kill you to leave your dirty clothes in one spot?”
I laugh again, groaning at the beautiful, exasperating, complexity of this woman. No wonder I couldn’t resist her.
“Thanks,” I say quietly. “And Iris?”
Her expression turns serious as she studies me.
“Thanks for everything else you did yesterday. I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. I’m not used to…” I swallow and look away. “I only ask for help when I’m desperate and out of options, so at first it felt like all the things you did meant I was lacking in my role as a provider.”
I cut her off when she starts to protest. “But I know now that it wasn’t pity, it was kindness. So thank you. Your generous heart is one of the things I love most about you.”
The sly nature of her grin makes me think it’s not just because I said thanks.
“What?” I ask with a smirk.
“Oh nothing,” she says in a smug tone.
I bump her shoulder playfully with mine. “Not nothing. What?”
“Um, you just said you love something about me.”
I laugh and wrestle her giggling to the sheets. After a moment, the humor settles and I reach over to take her hand as we stare at the ceiling.
“There are a lot of things I love about you, Iris.”
She squeezes back. “There are a lot of things I love about you, Ash.”
Since I don’t have to work until five today, we decide to make a second attempt at a pool party. Braydon is over the moon of course, and this time, even I wear my bathing suit to Iris’ house. I throw my Shelton’s uniform in my duffle bag for later.
We both drive our vehicles so I can leave from their house. I’ll then swing by after my shift to pick up Bray. I don’t think he’ll mind the late drive home in exchange for extra hours at Iris’ Wonderland Fun Palace.
I take her hand as we circle the house to the back, loving how she reacts with a surprised grin. Her fingers squeeze mine, and we lace them together as we walk. Braydon’s several feet ahead as usual.
“No going in until an adult is present,” I shout to him.
He turns back with a scowl, and I raise my eyebrows in warning. He huffs out a breath with his killer pout.
“I’m going to get changed and clean up. You guys can go in if you want. You don’t have to wait for me,” Iris says when we reach the patio.
I scan her face. “You sure?”
She almost looks annoyed. “Uh. Yeah. I’m sure. Go have fun. I’ll be back down in a minute. There’s no way you’re keeping that kid out of the water on my account.”
“Okay.” I move in to kiss her, and she shrinks back.
“Yeah, not until I brush my teeth, Romeo.”
I narrow my gaze at the adorable hypocrite. “Says the girl who was trying to jump me right after work.”
She props her hand on her hip. “That was different.”
“How?”
“Because.” That gem comes with a stern, debate-ending look.
“Ah. Right. The ‘because’ clause.”
She laughs and grips my arm. “Be down in sec. No looking hot and sexy until I get back,” she adds in a low voice just for me.
I shake my head with a grin. “Whatever.”
She starts toward the house, and I watch her disappear inside. When I turn back to Braydon, he’s already balanced at the edge of the pool, one foot hovering over the water, waiting for clearance to engage.
“Go ahead,” I call out, smirking at the splash a second later. I pull off my shirt and toss it on one of the chairs to join him.
The water is warm and soothing, and unlike last time after that brutal encounter with Iris in the pool house, I let myself enjoy it. I played the part for Braydon that night, but honestly, I felt sick the entire evening. Today, though. Today is special. It feels clearer, lighter even, like something good is finally coming our way.
That lasts three minutes.
Bray’s eyes shoot to a presence behind me, and I turn to see Iris’ father moving toward us. Shit. We really should have waited for her. The last thing I want is for him to think we’re taking advantage of them. I force a smile through the knot in my stomach.
“Iris is inside changing,” I say as he approaches the edge of the pool.
“She said you were here.”
I breathe some relief that at least he knows we were invited. My lungs free entirely when he smiles and drops to the ledge, swinging his legs into the water. Braydon has already resumed his marathon date with the biggest of the rock waterslides, so I swim over to the wall and grip the concrete near Mr. Alexander.
“Than
ks for letting us come over,” I say, not sure how to start a conversation with the father of the girl you want to date, who also happens to be a billionaire.
“Thanks for making my daughter smile like this.”
I glance up at him sharply, and he meets my gaze with a casual shrug.
“She’s amazing,” I say quietly.
“Yes, she is.”
I swallow and watch Braydon hit the water again, laughing as he comes up and swims back to the stairs for another run.
“I just want you to know that I value and respect her, sir. I don’t know what she sees in me, but I promise I don’t take it for granted.” My heart is racing. My grip tightens on the ledge. What is happening right now? Am I really doing this?
He studies me for a while before staring off with a thoughtful expression.
“Can I ask you something?” he says finally.
My pulse pounds in my ears, and I pull in a deep breath to steady myself. “Of course, sir.”
He cringes. “Okay, first of all. No more of that. Kyle, please.” I blink at him, and he smiles. “As for my question, why engineering? What made you pursue that?”
Stunned, I release a breath and study the ripples around me. “How… how did you know about that?”
“Your boss. Lane. Don’t be mad at him. I didn’t really give him a choice. Can you blame me for wanting to know more about the man who caught my daughter’s eye?”
I shake my head in numb agreement. “Um…”
There’s so much wrong with that sentence I don’t even know where to start with my recovery. I give up and decide to focus on his initial question.
“I guess I chose engineering for a few reasons.” I swallow and try to collect my thoughts. “I wish I had some inspirational story, but honestly, it just seemed like a lucrative and stable career path. Plus, I’m good with numbers, analytical thinking, and solving problems.”
“Why aerospace engineering?”
I grin sheepishly and meet his gaze. “Because that was the school and program that offered me a full ride.”
A smile creeps over his lips. “Fair enough.”
His smile fades, and I see the questions building in his head. I don’t like it, but if I hope to have any future with Iris, I’m going to have to be open about my past. There’s no point hiding who I am from the man who found me in a ditch—literally, by his pool.
“But you didn’t get to finish your degree.” It’s a statement not a question, and I can’t read anything in his tone.
Great. Lane really gave him all the gory details. Does he also know my GPA? Have a copy of my transcripts?
“No,” I say, looking away. “I would have graduated this past May, but I had to drop out last November.”
He nods, and to my surprise, he doesn’t look shocked or appalled. If anything, that pensive expression is back. As if my story is intriguing not revolting.
“What made you drop out?”
I suck in a ragged breath and force my face neutral.
“Ashton, if you don’t feel comfortable answering any of these questions, you don’t have to.”
I look up at him and find sincerity, not judgement. With a sigh, I brace my hands on the edge of the pool and thrust myself out of the water. I mirror Kyle’s position, sitting upright on the concrete as the water swirls around my legs.
“I was home on Thanksgiving break,” I begin quietly. “I was actually about to head back.” A harsh laugh escapes me, and my stomach drops at the memory. “But I found eviction notices my mom had been hiding. Then I found the rest of it.” My voice is dark and distant. Like I’m telling someone else’s awful story.
“What was the rest?” he asks gently.
I glance over at him before staring at the water again. “Statements, mostly. Collection letters. She’d taken out thousands in bad loans, then racked up credit card debt when she couldn’t get more that way. This must have been going on for years, and I never knew how bad it was.” I pause, wondering where you’re supposed to stop when you’re telling a story no one should have to hear.
“So you dropped out to work and take care of them?”
I nod and lean back, bracing my hands behind me as I watch Braydon be eight. “It wasn’t just that. When she maxed out the credit she could get, she started opening accounts in my name.” I release a dry laugh. “I’m twenty-three years old and I’m in debt up to my eyeballs for money I never spent.”
By Kyle’s expression, he doesn’t think that’s funny. I don’t either, I just don’t know how the hell you’re supposed to say a sentence like that.
“That’s illegal, you know.”
I sigh. “Yeah. I know. She’s my mom.” I meet his gaze, begging him to understand. His expression softens, and I think maybe he does.
Clearing my throat, I pull my eyes away. “Anyway, I’ve been working as much as I can and doing my best to sort out the mess she made. In another two months I should have all the predatory loans paid off, and if I’m lucky, maybe even start chipping at the credit card balances. Plus, the rent is up-to-date, and if Lane gives me the raise he promised next spring, I think I could really get us into a decent position by the end of next year.”
I stop, heat rising into my face when I realize how much just came pouring out. Of course he wouldn’t care about all that crap. Stupid, Ashton. I must sound ridiculous to a man who’s earned my yearly income in the ten minutes we’ve been talking.
“How much do you work, Ashton? How many hours a day?”
I glance over sharply at the blunt, unexpected question.
“Um. I don’t know. I guess… well, it’s hard to say. Lane gives us Sundays off, but I work longer days for him on Saturday, and my shifts at the restaurant can vary.”
“On average.”
I study the water, adding up the numbers as quickly as I can. I never really thought about it. Seems irrelevant when it’s still not enough.
“I guess anywhere from fourteen to fifteen hours most days, except Sundays when I usually just have a shift at Shelton’s. Those are short, maybe seven?”
Something flickers in his expression before it goes neutral again. “And what’s your annual income? On average.”
I blink at him, pretty sure that’s not a question you’re supposed to ask someone. What’s he trying to uncover?
“I don’t…” I shake my head, suddenly embarrassed again.
No, Kyle, I’m not good enough for your daughter. I won’t be able to provide comfortably for her. My chest tightens, my hands forming into fists behind me. You’re right, Kyle. It makes no sense that I’m here, but you need to convince Iris of that fact, not me.
“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “I shouldn’t have asked that.”
I can’t look at him, humiliated by the whole thing. That I’m not enough. That I can’t answer a stupid question. That I’m even sitting here right now having this conversation.
“I wanted to finish my degree,” I blurt out. My voice sounds weak and defensive. “I looked into online classes, but I couldn’t figure out how to fit them in around my work schedule.” I quiet and stare at my toes in the water. “Besides, I couldn’t afford the tuition, and as I said, there’s no way I could take on another loan even if by some miracle I could get one.”
I force my mouth shut and steel myself for the fallout. I’ve been ready for it since Iris first expressed interest in me. Knew this day would come. I have my response queued up and ready when he says,
“Have you ever thought about pursuing a career in business management?”
I choke on the words in my throat, my gaze shooting to his in bewilderment.
He shrugs. “You said you like numbers, analytical thinking, and solving problems. You’re adaptive, driven, and have an incredible work ethic. Even more importantly, you’re selfless and honorable. Those traits also describe a good executive.”
“I…” Am confused. So fucking confused right now. “No, I never thought about it,” I say honestly, not sure my brain
would be able to manage any other response at the moment.
“Why not?” he asks.
I blink at him, resisting the urge to quip back, isn’t it obvious? Instead, I decide on the truth again. What do I have to lose at this point?
“I guess… I don’t know this world, Mr. Alexander.” I scan the space around us in an obvious appraisal. “I wouldn’t know how to begin navigating it.”
“You navigate it the same way you navigate your world, Ashton. You be yourself.”
Speechless, I’m relieved when Iris finally emerges from the house to interrupt the strangest conversation in history. His gaze rests on her for several seconds as she moves toward us, a wistful expression on his face.
“Hey, Braydon,” he calls out, just as my brother is about to climb the slide for the hundredth time.
My brother looks over, about as shocked as I am. “I heard you like pirates. Want to see a real pirate sword?”
Bray’s eyes grow three sizes, his small legs already carrying him around the perimeter of the pool. “A real one?”
“Yep. I have some coins and treasure too.”
“No way!”
“That okay?” Kyle asks me.
“Oh, uh, yeah. Of course,” I stutter out.
As if all of that wasn’t weird enough, billionaire business mogul Kyle Alexander then reaches over and squeezes my shoulder.
“My daughter is a lucky girl,” he whispers before pushing himself up.
Something bursts in my chest as he walks toward the house. I’m terrified it might be the barricade around my heart.
Chapter Eighteen
IRIS
Ashton is quiet when I return. I saw him talking to Dad and I’m hoping it wasn’t something my father said. I know he wouldn’t have done it intentionally, but he didn’t get to where he is by wasting time on pleasantries. He can be direct and abrupt, a dangerous combination with Ashton’s guarded approach to life.
But Ash doesn’t seem upset when I get closer. Introspective, maybe. Yes, that’s a better word. Introspective I can work with.
“Hey,” he says as he stands to greet me.
