by Rena Manse
“Only a nice girl would call me a friend after all that.”
“I have a pair of killer tweezers upstairs if you really want to go at it. You just keep one eye open at the spa next week.” She pointed a warning finger at Essie, who roared in laughter.
“You can’t scare me, honey. I’ve jumped off of cliffs.”
Ashley’s mouth fell open. “Bungee jumping?”
“Base jumping. And paragliding.” Essie made an awkward pterodactyl flapping motion like she was about to take flight.
In the ensuing hilarity, they both wiped their faces from laughing themselves to tears.
“It’s not my choice, I assure you. The network loves outrageous stunts now and again. What they have to do with exotic locations and cuisine, I’ll never know.”
Ashley sighed through her smile and shook her head. “So now the simple things in life make you happy.”
“More than anything.”
Jonathan enjoyed simple things. They should be amazing together.
Giggling, Esther sipped her drink before she leaned over. “Can you imagine Jade’s reaction when you announce your engagement? Hoo-eey!”
Aaron wanted to go home. His legal advisor, Bruce, had sent a warning stare to stop behaving like a child, but Aaron had quickly tired of everyone putting him through the wringer. Documents couldn’t be set for another three weeks. That information came from his lawyers just short of pulling teeth. What did they think he was going to do?
The more they abused his time, the more accurate their unspoken and unfounded beliefs became. They complained they hadn’t anticipated all the minor changes with legal parameters and immigration laws. Then, someone—who must not have loved his life—grumbled that Aaron choose another woman.
Choose another woman? Just like that?
If his look had been any more cold he’d be stone.
Bruce had saved the man’s life by jumping in with pressures on time, but Aaron vowed if one more person told him what he couldn’t do or should do, or what went wrong, they’d be out the window.
He leaned forward in his seat and gripped the table edge. “Listen up. No one else come to me with a problem unless there’s a solution attached to it.” He didn’t recognize his own voice. “Or don’t show up.”
The room emptied soon afterward. Only Bruce and Lynda remained to watch him fume.
“It’s red tape. We’ll get through it, just later than we anticipated.” Lynda twirled a red pen between her hands, which matched her pencil skirt. “You haven’t a thing to worry about. Do you see us worried?”
He set his elbow on the armrest and pulled at his lip, studying her face.
She rolled her eyes. “We’ll get you what you need, Aaron.”
“Henry Gilyard’s will clearly states immediate release of funds.”
“To you,” Bruce reminded, looking weary. “Now, to get you to donate a generous gift like this takes finagling.”
Aaron twisted his chair and admired first the ceiling fixtures, then the messy tabletop.
Bruce shrugged “We’re trying to divert this to the company as succinct and direct as possible. If this can’t be simultaneous you may as well not get married.” He shook his head. “Look, I’m beat. I’m going home.”
As the middle-aged man packed his paperwork, Aaron stood from the cluttered table and walked the length of the room.
Lynda leaned back in her chair, crossed leg with her anchored foot swaying her side to side. “Three weeks won’t hurt.”
Explain that to a jittery Ashley. He was responsible for whatever happened in her life now. He held himself still.
“Aaron, what’s the real problem? Your team’s worked a miracle here. Are you looking to run away from this woman?”
He’d be getting a wife.
Bruce cleared his throat. “Tell us the truth. Do you want to choose someone else? Someone we won’t have to haggle with immigration for?”
Not just somebody’s husband, Ashley’s husband. Provider. Protector. Shield. What Granddad had been all those years. What’d he get himself into? Aaron stared out the window to the late-afternoon street four stories below. This would be different from taking care of Val.
“Uh.” Lynda’s voice carried an uncertain pitch as if waiting for his answer. “This is for the company. Remember that. Don’t let your personal life go into turmoil. No one will feel differently if you want to think twice about your first choice.”
“No,” he said firmly. He didn’t turn around but could guess Bruce nodded his support before he left the room.
“Okay,” Lynda sighed. “So my next recommendation is that you get to bed. You’ve been drifting in and out since you got here.”
Her words took awhile to sink in. He had no idea why so many images of Ashley sandwiched themselves between every thought. The wedding arrangements. He wished she’d described the dress. He wanted to see her in it. The small smile refusing to leave his lips told him that he wouldn’t change his mind about her no matter what kind of hassle the woman caused.
“There you go checking out again. I’ll bet McKenny jumped at the chance to grab your bed and your money. But has she made demands of her own?”
“What?” He cleared his head.
In the window, the blonde’s reflection stood and put her hand on her hip. “Is she making this difficult for you? You need to enter this with a level head, Aaron, not worry about her endeavors about being the first Mrs. Aaron Gilyard. That name will open a lot of doors for her.”
“Drop it. We’re the ones who’re desperate. She doesn’t want anything to do with us.”
“That’s what’s bothering you?”
“Why don’t you head on out?” he ordered quietly.
He heard her bag zip, and her image moved to the door on his other side where she stood for a few seconds. “You know where to find me. I mean that. Remember the people who have always been there for you.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at the reflection of the closed door as he listened to her heels click toward the elevator. She’d broken off her engagement with that half-wit, and now avoided the Head Office tenth floor as much as possible.
Available. He turned his back with a shiver as he hiked his shoulders uninterested, before he leaned against the glass. As much as he liked and counted on Lynda, she didn’t intrigue him. No one did except—that was impossible.
Ashley aggravated him.
Moving to stand in the middle of the room, he stared blankly at the ocean blue carpet. Ashley didn’t need him or want him, yet she sacrificed herself for him. Others needed her, too: his grandmother, her mother, his company, and she was making him—she seriously didn’t need him?
Incredulous, he twisted his lips and went to the table to clean up his files. Rubbing his eyes, he slid the briefcase from the tabletop, relieved this portion of work had wrapped up a day early. It had to be the most trying week of his life. His grandfather had made beneficiary provisions easy, but…
“The company isn’t easy, Granddad.”
He thought for a while on the old man, angry that he was dead, angry that he left him in a position of power, even angry with him that he wasn’t around to meet Ashley.
When he boarded the elevator, he pressed the button for the lobby, and leaned his shoulder against the wall. Head followed. His gut grabbed for something not permitted. Who’d be there for him when all this was over?
Same as always. For a man the press had described as having everything, he’d catch satisfaction where he could get it, not where he needed it. Val’s words and her portions of scripture came back, then fled from mind.
Exhausted, he returned to his hotel suite where he’d been catered to like a king for the past two days. Since Kavin stayed in New Orleans this week, Aaron packed up and went to his uptown home for the ordinary solitude he both craved and abhorred.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“You little whore.” Jade’s scream echoed down the halls when Ashley opened the door.
The enraged woman strode in and wheeled around. “You planned this from the start. I knew you were trouble.”
“Miss Beverly—”
“Pregnant?” Deadly eyes raked over Ashley, while the exotic voice dripped venom. “Is it even his?”
Thankful to be the only one home, Ashley slammed the door and turned to face vicious green eyes. “I assure you I’m not pregnant, and I resent your accusations.”
“You resent?” Her eyes cut. “You trespassed on my property.”
“Maybe that’s the reason he left you. His name is Aaron, and he’s nobody’s property.”
Serpent eyes glossed over. “Don’t think you’re so smart, little girl. This won’t last.” Her six-foot heeled stance towered over Ashley. “When you cannot find him, you can be sure his shoes are parked under my bed. I can keep him so satisfied he won’t even remember how to find the altar.”
Hands itching to slap Jade back to the Netherlands, Ashley turned and opened the door.
“He won’t make a sound when he crawls from your bed to mine. You remember that,” Jade jeered on her way out.
“If he wanted you,” Ashley said, before thinking through her words. “Perhaps he would have asked you to spend the rest of your life with him.” She waited for Jade to turn around for a rebuttal, then threw the door closed in her face.
Instantly she regretted it. How dare she come to blow off steam. Jade had a point. Her feral temperament reminded Ashley of the untamed spirit in Aaron. He wanted ‘wild’ and ‘different’. Jade had given him comfort when he’d desperately needed it. There was history, fire, mystery, stimulation. Then there was her, who bickered whenever he came near and questioned his judgment.
Well, Jade could have him. And Aaron could have any woman he wanted. She didn’t care.
Ashley pulled at her sweaty shirt, fuming to be caught perspiring and smelling like horses. She ran upstairs to the shower, shaved her legs to boost her ego, and stood under the sprays a soggy, sulking mess.
Still pouting, she dried, dressed, and worked herself into heated worry, as she marched to the patio and collapsed into a sun chair. How could she deny she wanted more from Aaron? The prospect of being with him, even in name only, felt like it was her right, not a secret, paramount deal. She had no idea why her attitude had changed.
She sat up quickly. “I am not falling in love.” That did the trick. Not falling. I’ve already fallen.
Ashley whined and curled to her side, picturing a confident walk, deep transfixing eyes, attractive smile, a hidden sweet demeanor. Oh, God, help me. Did I fall for an impossible man? He had nothing but low-level humor and unspoken assertiveness, yet her body reacted whenever he was around.
Or not. She lamented her rising body heat and unintended smile at the Aaron who made her laugh, made her angry, kept her on her toes, and challenged her thinking. In spite of his warped ways, he knew how to love. Deep and fierce.
She curled tighter. He doesn’t have you, God.
Checking the time, she leapt out of the chair and hazily made her way to Essie’s beautiful, beach side home for their brunch date. The few hours spent laughing and getting to know each other almost allowed her to forget the discovery she’d fallen in love.
When Jonathan arrived, she didn’t know if she wanted to see him again, but the reunion turned out to be uncomplicated. He still had his peaceful, quiet ways. Ashley missed that about him. When she hugged him good-bye, there were no pretenses, and she left with a smile.
At home, her joy doubled to see Val using an antique-looking cane to help her walk. The recovering woman complained of the stiffness and insensitivity of the injured leg and arm.
“That’s what happens to the bones of an old bird,” teased Ashley.
“It’ll loosen up, ma’am,” Janet said, sipping her ginger ale as they all sat poolside. “You know you have good strong bones.”
“Remarkable progress,” Ashley agreed. “I’ll work on your muscles later.”
“Don’t be my nurse.” Val smiled. “You’re my granddaughter-in-law-to-be—ooh, my, what a mouthful.” She chuckled. “You’re my granddaughter who happens to know how to take care of bumps and scrapes.”
Ashley smiled her thanks.
Granddaughter-in-law. She stared into space. But Val had switched to granddaughter. Perhaps that’s how she’d adopted Kavin as a grandson, but Ashley didn’t know how to receive Val’s uncensored love.
Lying awake in bed, pondering the reality well after midnight, a smile tugged her face. This was a good family, a blessed family, and she’d help keep it that way. She was happy to become Aaron’s wife. The breeze of the overhead fan tingled her skin at the memory of his rich, husky voice when they talked on the phone, his readable lips when he smiled. She laughed thinking of the quirks she put at the sides of his mouth whenever she drove him beyond irritation.
Her Aaron. Grinning, excited, worried, and exhilarated, she rolled over and peeked at the clock. Almost two. Ashley kicked the covers aside, and got out of the bed to stand on the balcony. The humidity belied being at the seaside. Pulling at her t-shirt, she peered at the glistening pool.
Before she changed her adventure-seeking mind, she slipped off her clothes and yanked on her sports-stripe blue tankini. Dashing down the stairs, she soon dunked herself into the lukewarm water, and gazed up at the sky, drowning in the surreal moment of water ripples and moonlight.
The only sound came from the light waves as she moved, echoed by the ocean, and the far away hum of an occasional passing car. The adventurous Ashley drifted to a tropical paradise island.
Be a graceful bird, she thought, attempting the backstroke ungraciously. She laughed. So free at two o’clock in the morning. It must be way after two by now, but the carefree spontaneity felt good. She floated on her back, kicked a leg and slapped her foot on the water before standing mid-pool and turning around.
Me, myself and I. And a reckless streak. She grinned and swiped water from her face. Me, nature and... “Aaron?”
His powerful body slipped into the water and came towards her. Ashley clenched her hands to stop from reaching out to touch his water-glistening chest.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Aaron drew himself to his full height. Ashley’s shortened breaths made him thank God his own respiratory malfunction would remain hidden as long as his back faced the patio lights. Not due home until tomorrow, he couldn’t tell if her rapid breathing stemmed from a natural reaction to him or a reaction to him being here.
Bone-weary, his first notion had been to head straight to bed. Seeing her floundering, graceless, but lost having a great time in her efforts, fatigue took a backseat. He needed her close tonight. For that, he’d play by her delicate rules.
“Surprised to see me?”
“In the pool in the middle of the night? Don’t be silly.” She made an unfussy face and shrugged a shoulder.
He hiked an eyebrow. Ashley made jokes while they stood—by her standards—two steps from naked in the dead of night. Well, well. “How’s my lily-white virgin bride-to-be?”
“Same as when you left. You haven’t been cheating on me while away, have you?” The coquettish tone, Ashley’s shy smile… she made him blush in the dark. But this wasn’t the woman he’d left behind.
He lifted his left hand and let the water trickle from his fingertips down her arm. “I thought about other women.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” Shadowy blue reflections from the pool highlighted her mocking pout.
“It’s been a busy week.” He repeated his action.
She waded her arms below the water and stared at him. “I’ve been wondering. Are you worried about what people will think? About you marrying a black woman?”
Right now he’d marry the tease no matter what color she was. Her shade made up a part of her beauty. “Why should I worry that others will be jealous?”
Ashley’s startled face told him he’d cracked her façade. Chuckling at the victory, he moved close only to have
her step away.
“Jade stopped by this morning. She’s vicious. You let that into your bed?”
He dropped his arm, wary of the line of questioning. “She found out about the wedding?”
“Yes. And didn’t hide her intentions to win you back. I bet you’ll be relieved when I’m gone.” Her eyelids fluttered down, then flashed back up as she eyed him steadily.
Gone? She’d leave soon. She thought he’d go back to Jade? He didn’t want to think about Jade as he stared at the woman before him. He’d be hard-pressed to find a substitute, and he’d tried this week, if only in thought. She hadn’t been at the breakfast table in the quiet mornings, not at the dinner table in the restless evenings, nor across the hall sleeping at night. Now she talked about staying out of his life for good.
He stepped closer. “I don’t want to talk about Jade.”
Ashley backed up. “But you’ll be relieved when I’m gone?”
“I don’t want to talk.”
She bobbed on her toes then backed up again. Luring him. He half smiled. And moved with her. Restless hands clenched and flexed as they caressed the bobbing waves, daring him to make it the real thing and touch her.
In the dim security light from the patio, he read tense body language. Fear? Hopefully desire. He wanted to ask if she’d been home waiting for him. When all those people gave him the run-around, he needed to know she’d waited and cared. Listen to yourself, you moron.
He took another chance and moved forward. His hand splayed over her warm tummy. Testing his own reaction, he stared at his fingers beneath the surface of the clear water. A one-inch gap of exposed skin held his attention. She was of a medium tone—enough for him to recognize a blush when she suffered a deep one—but one of the darker women he’d dated. You haven’t dated her. But here they were, engaged, and hadn’t yet shared a quiet, free moment.
He pressed his palm against her trembling muscles, and it did exactly what he’d intended. Instead of pushing her away, it kept her in place. He soothed in a slow circular motion, and raised his other hand to wind his fingers in the back of her hair.
