A sigh escaped her. When Ron tightened his arm around her waist, she whispered, “Ron?”
“Hmm-mm,” he mumbled and draped a leg over her thigh.
“Are you awake?”
This time, there was no response. It boggled her mind how he could sleep so soundly after all that had happened. When her mind wasn’t preoccupied with what Kirkland wrote, it kept replaying what she recalled during hypnosis.
Her glance went to the side-table clock. Three o’clock. She was too wired to go to sleep and couldn’t discuss things with Ron. Ashley removed his arm from her waist. But when she tried to push his leg off her, he mumbled something unintelligible and wound his arm back around her waist. Then he shifted, practically landing half his weight on her and effectively trapping her.
“You big oaf,” she murmured under her breath and shoved at his arm. “I’m trying to get up.”
“Hmm-mm?”
“Could you get off me?” She strived to be polite when what she wanted was to yell at him. It was unreasonable to take out her frustrations on him, but it irked her that he’d drifted off to sleep right after they’d made love while sleep eluded her.
He lifted his head and peered at her. “Where are you going?”
“Downstairs to get a drink of water or something,” she whispered, not bothering to mask her irritation.
He slid a hand along her cheek, then through her hair, and gently massaged her scalp. “Poor, sweetheart. Can’t sleep?”
Just like that, the bitch in her died a quick death. “I’m okay, just need a drink. Why don’t you go back to sleep? I’ll be back shortly.”
He lifted his leg off her and sat up, the Indian-patterned comforter sliding to his waist. His hand eased out of her hair and moved down her arm to her hand. “Do you want to talk?”
“We covered most of it last night. I think I’ll work on a painting until fatigue hits me.”
His gaze went to the clock. “Do you know it’s three in the morning?” he said, not masking his shock.
“I know. I’m used to working odd hours.” She slid off the bed, leaned down to give him a brief kiss then pushed at his chest. “Go back to sleep.”
Ashley could feel his eyes on her as she reached for a sturdy robe to cover her nude body. One glance at him and a smile, then she headed downstairs.
“Ashley.”
The quiet way he said her name caused her to pause and turn her head to glance at him. “Yes?”
“I’m happy you’re coming with me to Vegas tomorrow.”
She’d completely forgotten about that after all the craziness at the hospital. “I will be, too, once I know what to wear.”
He chuckled. “A pair of jeans and a shirt should suffice.”
Just like a man not to care about first impressions. From what he’d told her about his grandmother, she might need a designer outfit just to break the ice. Although why it was important to impress the old bird beat the hell out of her. “Let me worry about it, sweetie. Go back to sleep.”
Downstairs, she made herself a cup of hot chocolate then picked up her journal and quickly wrote down what had happened the last twelve hours and her plans for tomorrow. Ever since her amnesia, she documented everything that happened to her and every move she was about to make. If she was in a hurry, she used the Post-Its and transferred them later to the book. Once she got all her memory back, this habit would be a thing of the past. Satisfied with what she wrote, Ashley got her sketch pad and went to work. Everything she’d remembered during hypnosis became immortalized on paper. Between the sketches and the Post-it reminders, she’d never forget a single moment. After an hour, she headed to the easel, pulled on her smock and picked up where she left off the day before.
She put the brushes down and studied the partially finished face. Not bad at all. The eyes needed more work, but all in all, she was pleased with the results. A yawn escaped her as she placed her elbow on the table and rested her chin on the heel of her hand. Just a few seconds’ rest then she’d wash the brushes and head upstairs to bed.
“Hey, sleepy head.”
The scent of freshly brewed coffee drifted to her nose. When she tried to open her eyes, and they refused to cooperate, she shifted and turned her head away. Her cheek touched a soft, cool cushion. Smiling, she buried her face into the softness.
“What do you want for breakfast?”
Burrowing deeper under the blanket, she ignored the voice. Suddenly, the blanket was yanked off her. Cool air swooshed over her warm, naked skin.
Ashley sat up, snatched a feather pillow from beside her head and slapped it on her naked bosom. Then she glared at her tormentor, who was already showered, going by the wet hair, freshly shaved face and clean clothes.
“If you ever pull a stunt like that again….” She frowned. How had she gotten upstairs? She remembered resting her chin on her hands, then nothing. Her robe and smock were at the foot of the bed. Her eyes went to Ron again. “Did you bring me up here and undress me?”
“Uh-huh.” Her ears grew hot when the handsome rogue grinned without an ounce of shame. “Loved every minute of it…except for the carrying part. You aren’t exactly a lightweight.”
Her eyes narrowed. Handsome rogue or not, he was close to being bludgeoned to death if he didn’t watch it. “I’m not heavy.”
“Tell that to my back. You must weigh at least…hey, hey don’t throw that.” He thrust the cup of coffee in front of her, his gaze bouncing between her face and the pillow she was brandishing like a lance. “You don’t want to burn that delectable body. I happen to love it just the way it is.”
She shook the pillow at him. “Just watch what you say to me in the morning, buster.”
“Not a morning person, are you?” he said with amusement.
“You’re disgustingly cheerful.” She used her armpits to secure the pillow across her chest and accepted his morning offering. “Thanks.”
He leaned against the rail and studied her as she sipped the coffee, a small grin playing on his lips. “You also squeeze the toothpaste tube the wrong way.”
She rolled her eyes. “Next time bring your own. I happen to like mine squeezed from the middle, thank you very much. And if you used my toothbrush, I’m going to make you very, very sorry.”
He chuckled. “You’re really not a morning person. And no, I borrowed a new one I found in a drawer. So, you don’t recall anything that happened this morning?”
The devilish grin he wore set off all her alarms. She sipped the coffee and kept eyeing him. “What?”
“You talk a lot when you’re drowsy. You kept repeating it in my ear as I carried you upstairs, as I undressed and tucked you in bed. Want to know what it was?”
Oh, Lord, she probably opened her big mouth and told him that she loved him. Her face heated with embarrassment. Keeping her gaze on her steaming coffee, she uttered a soft, “No.”
“Why? Those sweet words made me feel invincible, the luckiest man alive.”
“Whatever I said, I didn’t mean it.” She put her unfinished coffee on the nightstand, then scooted to the edge of the bed and reached for her robe. “I was tired, sleepy and vulnerable.” She thrust her arms into the sleeves, yanked the robe around her body then glared at Ron. “I wasn’t myself.” He didn’t even bother to hide his satisfied grin, the smug lout. “Did you say something about breakfast?” Her eyes dared him to tease her one more time, just one more time.
As though he realized she was capable of inflicting some major bodily harm, he straightened and stepped away from her. “I’m planning on making some while you shower and change.”
He was sweet. Still, it bothered her that she didn’t know what she’d told him. Her gaze stayed on him, as he started downstairs. When he paused and glanced back at her, she braced herself.
“I forgot to ask what you want for breakfast,” he said.
Ashley studied his poker face. “Anything.” When he continued to stare at her, she started to fidget. The longer the silence, the mo
re uneasy she became. “Okay, out with it. What did I say?”
He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. You didn’t mean it.” He continued down the stairs.
He was hedging now, which was very unlike him. Although considering how she’d been acting since she woke up, who’d blame him. Now, more than ever, she wanted to know what she’d told him.
Two quick steps forward brought her to the railing. “Ronald Noble,” she called out. When he paused at the foot of the stairs and glanced up at her, she added, “Last night, you told me you hated to be taken for a fool. Me, too. Tell me what I said.”
He studied her, his expression serious. “You said that you’re crazy about me, thought I was wonderful, the best thing that ever happened to you.” He studied her face for a moment. “Am I?”
Ashley smiled with relief. Of course he was wonderful. She wouldn’t have fallen in love with him if he weren’t. “Yes, Ronald Noble. I think you’re those things and much more, a very special person.”
Ashley bit back a smile when he scowled. An average man would have grinned triumphantly or dashed back upstairs to kiss her, but not Ron. Her man was anything but predictable. It was just one of the many things she loved about him.
“I think you’re special too, Ashley Fitzgerald. That’s why I’m nuts about you.” His cell phone started to ring. “We’ll finish this conversation later.” He plucked up his phone and brought it to his ear.
Ashley turned and headed for the bathroom. She was sure she had a goofy smile on her face. He was nuts about her, yes! Thought she was special, double yes!
Just before she stepped in the shower, Ron knocked on the bathroom door. Maybe she could convince her man to have another shower, a slow and long one. Just to show him she was now comfortable walking around him naked, she flashed a seductress smile as she flung the door open.
“That was Kenny with good and bad news. Dr. Reuben won’t make it.” He ran an appreciative glance down and up her body, a slow grin curling his sculptured lips. He reached out to cup her breasts, but her interest had shifted.
She trapped his hands. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah. She needs to see to her other patients, but she’ll see you on Saturday at ten. We should be back from Vegas by then. I’ll call the pilot and change our flight plans. Can I have my hands back?”
“Not yet. What’s the good news?”
“Kenny and your cousin had a long conversation. The L.A.P.D. is officially reopening the Carlyle House fire case.”
“About time.”
“The hotel worker at Sunset Marquis confirmed that the man Dunn spoke with was Frankie Higgins. Kenny promised to let your cousin know about Kirkland writing down the name Doyle too.” He eased his hands from hers, cupped her cheeks and gave her a lingering kiss. “We got them, babe. Once the police nab Frankie and the Doyles, this madness will stop.”
What would that mean to their relationship? She hated to think about that now, but the thought kept creeping on her. “What about the person who sent you the letters?”
“Probably someone who wanted the Doyles busted. Whoever it is, I hope to thank him or her some day. Now you, my delectable seductress, had better hit the shower. We need to get out of here.” He nudged her around and swatted her bare bottom.
***
Two hours later, Ashley and Ron left her place for his, where he changed and packed an overnight bag. They headed to his office. Located in downtown L.A., the offices of Neumann Security occupied the entire top floor of one of the plazas. She met his assistant Nikki, a tall, long-legged, stunning blonde, who somehow managed to make high-heels and a mid-thigh skirt suit look tasteful. Ashley felt just a little self-conscious in her medium-heeled sandals and knee-length, burnt-orange dress.
“Don’t let her smile fool you,” Ron warned her as they walked into his office, Nikki trailing behind them. “Nikki runs my office with an iron hand. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“A paid package to the Bahamas every year would guarantee my undying loyalty,” the secretary offered with a straight face, then turned to Ashley. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Ms. Fitzgerald. I love your work and hope to own an original some day.”
“Call me Ashley. And anyone with such great taste in art deserves a paid leave to the Bahamas,” she added with a wink.
The woman laughed. “I think you and I are going to be great allies. Call me Nikki, please.” They exchanged the easy smile of new friends, then Nikki turned to Ron who’d been busy sifting through his mail. “Satchel called.”
He looked up. “Are they here already?”
“Not yet, but he said they’d be here by eleven.”
He looked at his watch. “That’s fine. We won’t be leaving until after eleven anyway.”
Ashley partially listened to their exchange as she studied the abstract paintings in Ron’s office. It was a spacious room, with two couches and a coffee table at the west corner, and a workstation near shelves of leather-bound books a few feet from his large, mahogany desk. Like in his home, he favored hunter green and tan in his décor.
She waited until Nicole left the office before she approached his desk. “You have a meeting at eleven?”
He smiled. “No.” He threw some of the letters in a brief case and closed it, then walked around the desk. “Uncle Gregory is sending the company jet for us. Satchel is the pilot.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know whether to be impressed or worried. From what Ron had told her, Gregory Neumann wasn’t the most accommodating man in the world.
Ron took her hand in his and reached for the case with the other. “Let’s go. We don’t want you to be late for your meeting with the museum president.”
“And Vaughn Doyle.”
He threw her an annoyed look. “For him, you can be as late as you like or not show up at all.”
She’d be lying if she didn’t find his show of jealously thrilling. “Why are you convinced he’s the one behind this mess and not his father?”
“An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. And the old man is way too smart to use someone who leaves a trail.” He led her to Nicole’s office. “I left some letters on my desk, Nikki. Take care of them. And tell Satchel he can reach me on my cell.”
“Have a safe trip, and say hello to the Dra…your grandmother from us all,” Nicole added with a slight grin, as though she were sharing a private joke with Ron.
Ron laughed as he led Ashley out of the room. “Nikki doesn’t call my grandmother anything but the Dragon Lady. Having you around curbed her tongue.”
“Maybe she’s just not comfortable enough around me to be herself.” This time, Ashley was the one fighting the green-eyed monster. Call it childish, but she didn’t want anyone else sharing secrets with Ron. Before she could stop herself, she found herself saying, “She’s a very beautiful woman.”
“Who?”
“Nikki.”
He shrugged as they entered the private elevator. “Yeah, she is, but I’m more interested in her brains. She’s one hell of an assistant.”
Now that she’d started, Ashley couldn’t stop. Her cousins always told her she was like a runaway train when she was after something. Her eyes glued on the flashing buttons on the elevator, she asked ever so casually, “You two ever dated?”
Ron laughed. “Hell no. I don’t date women who work for me.” He tugged her hand to bring her gaze to him. “You have no need to worry about other women, sweetheart.”
Sweet music to her ears, but for how long? “I wasn’t worried, just curious.” Thoughts of other women and his past were starting to sneak up on her. She couldn’t even explain why. Add to that was the trip to Vegas and meeting his family. Would Nina be there too?
***
In no time, they were parking outside the museum.
“Hey, guys,” Ashley called out as she entered the room with the murals.
Micah and Josh, both in dressy shirts and jeans, turned to face her with beaming smiles. Ashley stopped to admire a dozen p
aper-white, long stemmed roses in a delicate blue vase on the paint-ridden, metal table.
“We thought you’d be a no show,” Micah said, drawing her attention away from the roses and back to them.
Ashley chuckled. “Would I disappoint you guys after I gave my word?” She looked at her watch. “Besides, we’re fifteen minutes early.” She turned to introduce Ron, but the murals held him spellbound.
“What do you think?” she asked, enjoying his reaction.
“I had no idea they were this amazing. The children will be too busy studying these murals to play or do whatever kids do at a museum.”
“Then meet the two geniuses behind some of the work.” After the introduction, they turned to leave for the meeting upstairs.
“Oh, don’t forget the roses,” Josh said. “They came for you this morning.”
Ashley walked to the table, picked up the card and tore open the envelope. She read the card and dropped it on the table.
“Who are they from?” Ron asked from behind her.
“Vaughn. He hopes we can do lunch after the meeting.”
“The conniving bastard,” Ron snarled and drew the attention of her co-artists.
Ashley threw him a warning glance. “Let’s go upstairs.”
“And the roses?” Ron asked in a deliberately neutral tone.
She lifted the vase and dumped the flowers in the trashcan. Ashley rolled her eyes when Ron flashed a satisfied grin.
She headed for the stairs, and wasn’t surprised when they all followed her instead of taking the elevator. They all knew about her phobia. She now knew that being locked in the secret room at Carlyle House was the source of her terror of dark, small places. Once all her memories returned, she hoped the problem would go away too.
When they arrived at the president’s office, the president’s administrative assistant informed them that Vaughn hadn’t arrived. Ashley turned to Ron. “You’re sure you don’t mind waiting out here?”
Slow Burn Page 26
