by Nikki Ash
“Ok, I’ll think about it. Do you think we should wait until after we are married for me to get off birth control?”
“Hell no. I researched it on the plane and it can take months for the hormones to leave your body. Tristan is already almost seven years old. No more pills, and if you get pregnant, great. We will be married soon anyway.” Kaden leans toward me, our lips meeting for a moment before he pulls back. “Let’s go to bed. I think we need to practice making a baby. Practice makes perfect, you know.” He shoots me a flirty wink before standing up and taking my hand in his, guides us to the bedroom where we practice making a baby… three times.
* * *
“No. No. No. No!” My foot presses the brake while my hands hold tightly onto the steering wheel. Cars are honking and flying around me as I try to steer my car to the side of the road. I finally get it out of traffic, and turn it off. Stepping out of the car, I smell something burning, and before I can pop the hood, a loud booming sound goes off and my hood is in flames.
My phone, purse, and keys are all in the car so calling nine-one-one is out of the question. It’s a busy street and luckily someone pulls over. A gentleman who looks to be in his mid-thirties gets out of his sports car and comes jogging over to me. I recognize him from somewhere but I can’t put my finger on it.
“Your car is going to explode, you need to get back,” the gentleman screams to me. Grabbing my body, he drags me away from the car and a few seconds later, my car does indeed explode. The entire car is in flames. Black smoke is rising from the hood, and the windows are shattering from the force of the heat.
The man who saved my life, calls the fire department and gives them our location, then after he hangs up, he hands me the phone. “I’m thinking you might need to call someone to let them know.”
“Thank you. How did you know my car was going to blow up like that?”
“My name is Benjamin Fields. Racing is a hobby of mine. Cars are my life. I saw the color of the smoke coming out of your hood and knew immediately it would blow. I’m just glad I got to you in time.”
“Thank you for saving me. My name is Ashley Myers. Do I know you from somewhere? You look so familiar.”
He gives me a sheepish smile before he says, “Yeah, I am friends with Caleb, your boss. I have been to Assets a few times. I am interested in doing business with him. I’ve seen you dance.”
Ok… and now it’s officially awkward.
We both stand at a distance from the car in silence watching the fire engines and police pull up. They work together to put the fire out. I finally break the awkward silence. “I’m going to call my fiancé.” I hold up the phone he handed me a few minutes ago. He’s probably at the gym and doesn’t have his phone on him, but I try anyway.
After the third ring, Kaden answers. “Kaden Scott.”
“Hey… Kaden, it’s Ashley.”
“Ashley? What number are you calling from?”
“Umm… well it’s a long story but I’m using Benjamin Fields’ phone…”
“Who the hell is Benjamin Fields?”
“A man.” I mean, really, how the heck else do I answer that?
“Ashley, why the fuck are you using another man’s phone to call me?”
“Kaden! If you would stop cutting me off, I can explain.” I whisper-yell not wanting Benjamin to think Kaden is crazy.
When Kaden doesn’t say anything, I continue. “My car kind of had an issue, and I need you to come get me.” Benjamin chuckles next to me at my downplaying of the vehicle blowing up.
“What kind of issue, Ash? You were supposed to bring it to my mechanic.”
“I know but we got busy with going to New York. I might have forgot… and umm… well… it may have caught on fire… and blew up.”
“WHAT. THE. FUCK. WOMAN! WHERE ARE YOU?”
I give Kaden the location of where I am and he tells me he is on his way before hanging up.
“Thank you,” I say softly handing him back his phone. “You don’t have to stay. My fiancé will be here shortly.”
“That’s ok, I think I will wait here with you. He sounded kind of pissed on the phone,” Benjamin says worriedly.
“Ok, if you want.”
We both have a seat in the grass and watch the firemen continue to work on containing the flames that are still rising from my burnt hunk-of-junk, as the police direct traffic away from the scene.
“So, you want to invest in Assets?” I ask trying to make conversation.
“I have spoken to him a few times. I would like to buy Assets from him. I am waiting for him to get back to me. I own several clubs in the UK, one in California, and one here in Vegas. I would like to purchase Assets from Caleb and expand it. I love the concept he has created.”
A few minutes later, I see Kaden pull up. “Oh, my fiancé is here.” I point to his car stopping right in front of Benjamin’s car.
“Your fiancé drives a fucking Aston Martin while you drive that piece of shit?” Benjamin looks from me to Kaden’s car incredulously.
“Yeah, well, I am a stripper, remember?” My hand goes to my mouth to stop the word vomit.
Benjamin shoots daggers at Kaden as he comes running over to us.
“Baby, are you ok?” Kaden pulls me into his arms, planting kisses all over my face and neck.
“She would have been killed by fire in that death trap if I hadn’t pulled up and got her away from the vehicle,” Benjamin booms out.
Kaden stops kissing me and turns to Benjamin. “Thank you for saving my girl’s life. I owe you one, for sure.” Kaden assesses Benjamin for a moment before extending his hand to offer a shake.
Benjamin glares at his hand. “Why the fuck is your girl driving around in that death trap while you are driving that.” He points from the scraps of my burnt-to-crisp car to Kaden’s vehicle that I am sure is worth more than most people’s homes.
“Trust me when I tell you she won’t be driving around in a piece-of-shit like that again.”
“She shouldn’t have been driving around in it in the first place, let alone working at a strip club.”
“I thanked you for saving my girl, but now I am going to ask that you mind your own damn business.”
The guys stare each other down and I swear I can smell the metaphorical piss running down my leg as Kaden takes me into his arms.
“Ok, well, Benjamin, I appreciate you caring about my well-being but since you don’t know us, you wouldn’t know that I chose to drive this car. I don’t accept help very well. So, let’s all calm down.”
“It looks like the fire is close to being put out. I will let them know I was here when it happened in case they have any questions. I’m sure I will see you around, Ashley.”
Benjamin gives Kaden a curt nod before walking toward the police officer.
“How the fuck does he know you work at a strip club?”
“He has been in there before. I guess he wants to buy the club from Caleb.”
“First, we are going to go get Tristan from school, then we are going to buy you a new car, and I don’t want to hear a single complaint out of your mouth.” Kaden grabs my hips and gives me a kiss that makes me want more.
“Ok.”
“And Ashley…”
“Yes?” Kaden looks me in the eyes. “Please, baby. No. more. Stripping.”
“Ok.”
Kaden
When Ashley told me, her car had issues, I was pissed. At myself, for not forcing her to get a new car sooner. At her, for being so damn stubborn. Then, once I got there and saw her piece-of-shit car looked like a marshmallow placed over the bonfire for about ten hours too long, I just about flipped my lid. Ashley could have been killed. The car could have exploded with her in it.
The visual of the car on fire caused my anger to dissipate, fear taking its place. Visions of Gabrielle dying in my car all those years ago invaded my thoughts. Then to have that motherfucker insinuate I’m letting Ashley strip while putting her in danger by making her drive tha
t shitty car while I am driving a two-hundred-thousand-dollar car made my blood boil. I don’t give a fuck what Ashley wants, she is getting a new expensive top of the line safe vehicle and she better not argue with me. I have let her run this show every step of the way but I’m done.
After we pick Tristan up from school and go by the wireless store to get Ashley a new cell phone, we head to the Land Rover dealership.
“Oh, c’mon Kaden. A Range Rover? Everybody always gets one of those. Don’t make me be a cliché, please.”
“Ok, so what do you want?”
“I don’t know… like a Toyota, maybe.”
“Ashley, you can be reasonable or I will get you whatever I want.” She huffs loudly, annoyed with me. I don’t give a shit. She’s my queen. She should be driving something equivalent to me. I know it’s fucking petty, but that Benjamin guy pissed me off.
Using her phone, she searches through images of vehicles until she stops at one, showing it to me. “This one is cute.”
“A Maserati Levante? It’s more than cute, babe. That car is badass.” She has no idea she just picked out a car almost worth half of mine.
I pull up the directions to the Maserati dealership in our area and see it’s not too far from us.
With Tristan in tow, we park and enter the dealership. Without letting her see any prices I ask the salesman if Ashley can test drive the car she wants. After giving them her proof of insurance and driver’s license, we all get into the SUV to check it out.
“I love this car!” Ashley is bouncing around in her seat like a little kid on a sugar high as she runs her fingers across the leather and messes with all the knobs. When she puts the vehicle into reverse, the view behind her pops up. “Oh, my god! It has a camera! Like Liz’s car!”
We pull out onto the main road and go for a quick test drive. The car drives smooth and Ashley is in car heaven. Once we get back, we park and head back inside so we can purchase the car. While I am talking to the salesman, I hear Ashley screech.
“Kaden! That SUV is like a hundred grand! I can’t get that!” I laugh at her freak out. She test-drove the SUV and fell in love immediately. She’s getting the vehicle. I figured she had no idea of the kind of vehicle she showed me and her freak out right now confirms it, but it’s neither here nor there.
“What color?”
“Kaden! How can you afford this car?”
“It’s just a payment, babe. It’s fine.”
“Yeah, a goddamned mortgage payment.”
“What color, Ash?”
Tristan is running around the dealership checking out all the cars, picking out his future car based on how many televisions are in the seats. Priorities.
“White, I guess.”
“White, really?”
“Well, I heard once white is cheaper than other colors.”
I laugh at that. “I’m pretty sure that’s not true. Paint is paint. They just usually have white in stock. Now, what color do you want?”
“Umm… well… I like the blue your car is.”
“Aww, babe, you want to have matching colored cars?” I throw my arm over her shoulder and give her cheek a kiss. “That’s such a couple thing to do.” I shoot her a wink.
After we have her car ordered and paid for, they send us off in a loaner so Ashley will have a car to drive until her new one comes in. The color and style she wants needs to be shipped from another location.
“I have to work tonight. Can you take Tristan, so I can go straight to work?”
“Sure,” I say, giving her a kiss tenderly. I am so thankful today didn’t end up with her hurt or worse… dead.
“No stripping, Ash,” I whisper into her ear.
“I didn’t think about it but I am already on the schedule tonight.”
“I already text with Caleb and he said it’s fine.”
“Kaden!”
“Love you, babe.” I smack her ass and walk to my car where Tristan is already in the back seat, Face Timing with my mother. They have grown close since our trip to visit them almost a month ago and she likes to facetime him a few days a week.
“Hey, Kaden.” Ashley calls my name.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. I love you.” Ashley runs over to me and throwing her arms around my neck, jumps up knowing I will catch her. I kiss her hard for a good minute before we need to break for air.
“You’re welcome, Ash.”
I watch her walk away, swaying her hips without even meaning to, and smile to myself. This woman and her son have fast become my entire world.
Tristan and I get home and take showers. I cook us dinner, and we watch some television until it’s nine o’clock, his bedtime.
When I walk into his room to tuck him in, I notice his room is plain. It doesn’t look like a kid’s room. It still looks like a guest room.
“Hey, bud. What do you say after we get back from the tournament we have your room decorated how you want?”
“Really? Can I have UFC stuff?”
“Sure!”
“Wait! Does that mean I can go to the tournament with everyone?”
“I signed you up today. You are good to go!”
“And we can go to Disney with everyone, too?”
“Of course, silly.” I ruffle his hair, then kiss his forehead.
“Night, buddy.”
After doing the dishes and rotating a load of laundry, I sit down to go over some bills when I see a recent transfer of fifteen million into my account. I immediately call my grandfather.
“Kaden, how are you, my boy?”
“I’m good, Grandfather. Really good.”
“And how is Ashley?”
“She’s good. She’s the reason for my call.”
“Ok, talk to me.”
“I saw the money you transferred to me. I don’t want the money you offered me to marry someone. I am marrying Ashley because I love her and I don’t want it tainted with a bribe from you.”
“There’s my grandson. Welcome back, son. We missed you for the last ten plus years.”
I chuckle softly. “I must admit, your bribe did give me a reason to pursue her and get her to come with me to Colorado. I have a feeling if it wasn’t for you twisting my arm, we would still be here, dancing around our feelings for each other.”
“I am very happy for you, Kaden. The truth is, we always planned to give you your trust fund. I was just hoping, it would push you to find love, again. The money was wired a few days ago and if you recall, I originally said once you are married. You aren’t married yet.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me? I always assumed I would just get some money in your will.”
“We wanted to make sure you earned your way in this world, first. We always planned to give it to you once you turned thirty-five but held off when you appeared to still be lost.”
“Damn, Grandfather, that’s a lot of money. Are you sure?”
“Your grandmother and I have had that set aside for you for many years. You are our only grandson. We love the man you have become. Now continue to be that man for Ashley and Tristan.”
“I will. I love you.”
“I love you, too, my boy. Goodnight.”
“Night. Tell Grandmother I said hello and I love her.”
“Will do. You have made her very happy finding Ashley and bringing her to Colorado with you. She loves Face Timing with Tristan. Goodbye.”
“Bye.”
I make note to call my accountant in the morning. While I plan to spend my life with Ashley, I know first-hand anything can happen, and I need to make sure her and Tristan are taken care of. I also need to get ahold of her account info so I can transfer some money over to her. I hate the idea of her only having the money she makes at Assets to spend.
Chapter Fourteen
Ashley
It’s been four months since Kaden and I became officially engaged for real and everything has been going great. I have been managing the club full time, which makes Kaden happy, even t
hough he has let me know several times I am welcome to stay home. I know the money I make is nothing compared to the money he makes and has, but it’s important to me to work and be independent in some way. I look at the employment ads daily hoping maybe I can find something else I might enjoy, but nothing jumps out at me.
Hayley gave birth to a beautiful little girl the day before Thanksgiving. 7lbs 4 oz., 21 inches. They named her Mackenzie Colette Michaels. Mackenzie was Caleb’s mom’s name, who died years ago from cancer. Colette was his sister’s name, who was tragically killed. Caleb and Hayley wanted their names to live on through love. She is a perfect mix of the two of them.
For Christmas, everyone decided to go to Bentley’s cabin in Breckenridge. Since his parent’s place only has four bedrooms, when the home next to theirs went on the market he snagged it up. Six bedrooms and four bathrooms, the place is stunning. Kaden and I spent the week skiing with Tristan. Kaden insisted on him taking lessons and after a couple days, he was skiing like an old pro. Kaden also had us check out a couple places in the area. We would love to make coming here for Christmas a yearly tradition.
For New Year’s, we visited my parents. They have an annual New Year’s party and we missed it last year for Kayla and Bentley’s wedding. At the end of the night, Tristan ended up staying with my parents and Kaden surprised me with a romantic night at a resort. I smile at the memory of us on the balcony.
“Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just do it, woman.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I rely on Kaden to walk me to wherever we are going. I already know we are at the Palms, a luxurious resort in the area.
I hear a door click open and we walk a little further. Another door opening… or maybe a slider?
“Ok, open.”
“Oh, my god! Kaden! This is amazing.” We are standing out on a balcony on the top floor. It must be the penthouse of some sort. There is a beautiful mini-pool that is just ours to use. The balcony railing is see-through glass, creating an illusion of the pool water flowing down over the balcony. There are candles spread out around the perimeter of the pool, and in the corner, is a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice with two glasses.
