“Our relationship wasn’t perfect, but I was happy, I…” Ashleigh could hear the uncertainty in her words as they left her mouth. Vicki raised a brow but said nothing. “I love her with all my heart, and yes, it wasn’t perfect. No relationship ever is.”
Vicki nodded and stood. “Ash, you were unhappy enough to walk out on her.” She held up her hand to forestall Ashleigh’s interruption. “Yes, you regret it, but you left, and you’ve stayed away. The dating idea was a smart one. You should go into this with your eyes wide open.”
“I know what I want,” Ashleigh said defiantly as Vicki’s words took root somewhere deep in her brain.
“Good, now let me tell you what I want.” Vicki opened the door. “Get your ass up, join me for lunch, then we’re gonna take a swim because it feels like July outside. Then we rehearse.”
“Did you wake her up?” Ashleigh could hear Chantal’s voice in the hall. Vicki closed the door muffling her defense.
Ashleigh clutched a pillow to her chest as bits and pieces of their conversation played through her mind. Vicki’s voice of reason was like a wet blanket smothering the high of the previous evening. Self-introspection wasn’t on her to-do list, not today anyway.
“Shit, she’s still on the couch.”
“It was their first date, remember? They’re not gonna do it until at least the second or third date.”
“We did it on our first date because you’re a slut.”
“Technically, that makes you a slut, too.”
“You couldn’t control yourself you wanted me so bad.”
“I’m awake, you two idiots.” Erica watched as Kaitlyn and Drew peeked over the back of the sofa. “It’s mornings like this that make me rethink giving y’all a key.”
“Yeah, but you wouldn’t be getting these fat-free apple fritters then.” Kaitlyn held up a white bag.
“Nothing that makes grease stains on a paper bag is fat-free.” Erica untangled herself from the blanket wrapped around her feet.
“That’s precisely why they’re fat-free,” Kaitlyn countered. “The bag has sucked up all the grease, hence the fat-free.”
“Kaitlyn, go make coffee. Erica, go wash your face, and I’m gonna put these on a plate so you two will shut the hell up.” Drew tugged the bag from Kaitlyn’s hand.
Kaitlyn grinned down at Erica and mussed her sleep-tangled hair. “You heard the woman, get a move on.”
When the coffee was brewed and Erica was cleaned to Drew’s satisfaction, they gathered around the table. Drew and Kaitlyn sat side by side, holding their steaming cups and looking expectantly at Erica, who nibbled on a fritter and sipped her coffee. Drew was the first to break.
“What time did you get in?” The irritation was apparent in her voice, bringing a smile to Erica’s face.
“About eight this morning.”
Kaitlyn slapped her hand on the table. “They did do it.”
“I spent the night with her, but we didn’t do the it you two keep referring to.”
Drew and Kaitlyn exchanged glances. “Then what did you do?” Drew asked before her partner could.
Erica took another bite of her fritter and chewed slowly, unable to keep the smile from spreading across her face. “I took her to dinner, well, actually, for appetizers. We never really had a meal, we snacked most of the evening.”
“No wonder she left your ass, you’re cheap.” Drew rolled her eyes.
“Belle Terre’s Secret is not cheap,” Erica said, taking another bite, chewing even slower.
Drew’s eyes widened. “Okay, I take back the cheap comment. Was it good?”
“Excellent, they have these seafood crepe things that are—”
“Enough with the menu, on with the story,” Kaitlyn said impatiently.
“We went to New Orleans, and ended up at Ivy’s, where we danced until they ran us out of there. Then I took her to breakfast, we watched the sun rise over the lakes near Vicki and Chantal’s, and I took her home.”
“You mean you took her to their house because this is her home,” Drew corrected. “And by the way, when is she coming home?”
“You two came up with the dating idea,” Erica said, waving her coffee cup at them. “Now I’m not moving fast enough?”
Drew nodded vigorously, and Kaitlyn gave her a playful thump before turning her attention back to Erica.
“What was it like seeing her again? How did it make you feel?”
Erica could feel her face warm and knew her cheeks were growing red as she remembered what it felt like when Ashleigh opened the door. “She still takes my breath away,” Erica admitted as she stared down into her empty cup. “She was happy to see me, I could see it in her eyes, and it made me wanna cry with relief.” Just talking about it then formed a lump in her throat. “She’s it for me, you know? There’s no one else.”
Drew shook her head and looked at both of them. “Let’s go get her right now.”
“No.” Erica shook her head with a wistful smile. “It’s not time yet. But I’m thinking about asking her if she wants to go four-wheeling next weekend. You two up for it?”
Kaitlyn clapped her hands together. “A double date and mud, just my kind of thing.”
“That…uh…sounded a little redneck, honey.” Drew picked at a loose string on Kaitlyn’s shirt.
Kaitlyn shot Erica a triumphant smile. “Good, I’ll be sure to swill beer and let my butt crack hang out.”
Though she’d been there what felt like a million times, Ashleigh felt the muscles in her stomach and jaw tense as she walked into the reception area of Barrett Industrial. In a stroke of luck, the receptionist was away from her desk. Ashleigh took full advantage and moved quickly down the hall toward Erica’s office, thrilled that she might actually be able to pull the surprise off.
Erica’s back was turned to the door as she talked on the phone. Ashleigh moved quietly into the office and took a seat unnoticed and set the picnic basket in the chair next to her. She took great pleasure in Erica’s reaction when she finally noticed her sitting there. First surprise, then a genuine smile that made her heart skip a beat.
“I’ll e-mail the proposal first thing in the morning,” Erica said as she glanced over at the picnic basket and smiled even more broadly at Ashleigh. “I apologize, but I can’t get it there any sooner. Something just came up that I have to see to personally.” Erica winked at Ashleigh. “Thank you for your understanding and patience,” Erica said as she ended the call.
Ashleigh felt her pulse quicken when Erica moved from behind her desk and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. “You’ve made my Monday. What’s in the—”
“Do you have the Morgan proposal finished?” Kaitlyn asked as she walked into Erica’s office and stopped when she saw Ashleigh. “Hey, Ash!” Ashleigh barely had time to stand before Kaitlyn had her in a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you, and you brought us lunch.”
“Yeah, right, go home and get your own.” Erica grabbed Kaitlyn by the back of the shirt and pulled her toward the door. Erica had no sooner gotten Kaitlyn out of her office when someone else showed up with a stack of file folders. “It’s a beautiful day. Want to have lunch outside?” Erica asked with a sheepish smile. “It’s the only way we’ll have peace and quiet.”
Erica led Ashleigh past Kaitlyn’s office, and she graciously agreed to take care of anything that needed immediate attention for a nominal fee of leftovers. They slipped through one of the service bays unnoticed and continued to the back of the building. “I come out here every now and then when I need a moment to clear my head. It’s supposed to be a break area, but no one ever comes out here.”
Ashleigh set the basket down onto the wrought iron table and sighed contentedly. The day was perfect with its cloudless sky and near zero humidity. And Erica was happy to see her.
“This is such a wonderful surprise.” Erica looked into her eyes.
“You don’t know what’s in here,” Ashleigh said with a smile as she reached into the basket and started pullin
g out the containers of food. “It could be something yucky.”
“The food is just a bonus, you’re the wonderful part.”
Erica had not glanced away once, not even to look at what would be her lunch. Ashleigh remembered that look from long ago. It stirred mixed emotions—on one hand, she was thrilled, and on the other, saddened to think that somewhere along the way Erica had stopped looking at her like that, and she hadn’t noticed. Ashleigh doubted Erica realized it, either.
“Well, you’re in luck because it’s one of your favorites, Drew’s chicken salad and tomato soup. She kind of helped me with this,” Ashleigh admitted.
“It’s perfect.” Erica took the thermos and poured the soup into the bowls that Ashleigh laid out. “I was wondering if you’d like to do something this Saturday.”
“I’d love to.” Ashleigh tried to sound casual, but inside she was thrilled. “What do you have in mind?”
“I wanted to take you to ride on the four-wheeler. Drew and Kaitlyn are coming, too.”
Ashleigh put their sandwiches on paper plates and moved one in front of Erica, as she poured them each a glass of tea. “Drew thought of everything, didn’t she,” Ashleigh said when she sat down.
A flash of disappointment crossed Erica’s face. “We can do something else if it doesn’t sound like something you’d like to do.”
Ashleigh fidgeted with her sandwich. “I don’t actually have to drive it, do I?”
“Not if you don’t want to. I’ll drive and you just hang on.”
The idea of wrapping herself around Erica was appealing. She just didn’t understand why the four-wheeler had to be included. “Okay, I’m game. You want me to meet you at the house?”
Erica answered after swallowing a mouthful of soup. “Yep, is ten too early?”
“Not unless you plan on keeping me out until dawn,” Ashleigh said with a smile.
Erica returned the smile. “I make no promises. So when do you and the band play again?”
“Weekend after next.” Ashleigh took a bite of her sandwich and glanced at Erica, looking for any sign of disapproval, and found none.
“I’d like to come to the show if that’s okay.”
“I’d like that a lot.” Ashleigh dared to reach over and brush the back of Erica’s hand with her fingertips. “It would mean a lot to me.”
“Then I’m there,” Erica said with sincerity.
Ashleigh could hear the chime on Erica’s phone going off, consistently signaling a new e-mail. Erica made no move to look at it and appeared not to notice the incessant noise it made.
“Are your days at the office always this hectic now?” Ashleigh reached into the basket for the dessert Drew had made especially for them.
Erica nodded as she finished off the last bite of her sandwich. “Yeah, pretty much. But I’m learning that work is always going to be there, and if I want a break, I have to take it. The world won’t come to an end if I relax every once in a while.”
“I like your new outlook.” Ashleigh passed Erica a slice of Drew’s every berry pie, causing her to groan in pleasure. Ashleigh’s mouth watered as she cut into her own piece stuffed with blueberries, blackberries, and enough raspberries to give it a bit of tart flavor. Ashleigh remembered the second thermos then and pulled it out of the basket.
“If you tell me there’s coffee in there, I may have to kiss you.” Erica put her fork down and watched as Ashleigh opened the lid.
“Then you’re gonna have to kiss me because there’s coffee in here, and the cream and sugar have already been added.”
Erica pushed her plate out of the way and leaned forward on her elbows. “Meet me halfway.”
Ashleigh looked around to see if anyone was outside, somewhat surprised that Erica was being so bold. She’d never been big on public displays of affection, especially around the office.
“I don’t care who sees us.” Erica leaned even farther. “Kiss me. I’ve missed you.”
Ashleigh gladly leaned in and received a kiss that made her tingle from head to toe. Suddenly, Saturday seemed like a lifetime away.
Chapter Thirty-six
“Hey, you ready?” Erica met Ashleigh at the door of the home they once shared. Ashleigh was surprised when Erica blocked the door, keeping her from going inside. “Drew and Kaitlyn are chomping at the bit to hit the trails.” Erica pulled the door closed behind her as Ashleigh backed up a step. Ashleigh tried not to feel hurt when Erica pulled her in for a hug and a quick kiss, but it was obvious that Erica didn’t want her going inside, and it stung.
“I hope you’re ready to get muddy,” Kaitlyn called out as she and Drew approached.
Ashleigh looked at Erica nervously. “Exactly how muddy are we talking?”
Erica shrugged and wrinkled her nose. “Not too bad. But, hey, I got you a pair of boots so you won’t ruin your shoes.”
Ashleigh looked at Kaitlyn and Drew, who were in old clothes and wearing the same type of boots Erica was waving in front of her. She knew then by the end of the day she’d have mud in places she never wanted it.
Ashleigh swallowed hard when the Forerunner came to a stop deep in the woods. Not another soul was in sight. “You come all the way out here to ride?”
“It’s private land guaranteed not to have hunters,” Kaitlyn said casually as she sprang from the truck like a kid. Drew was close on her heels.
Ashleigh hadn’t considered drunken rednecks with rifles until Kaitlyn mentioned it. This trip was becoming less appealing by the second, and she couldn’t understand why Drew seemed just as excited as the other two. Normally, she was the voice of reason. Ashleigh chewed at her bottom lip and decided to soldier on. If this was a passion of Erica’s, it would be hers too…well, maybe not a passion.
Ashleigh sat astride the ATV while Erica helped her put on boots, then proudly handed her a helmet that matched the one tucked under her arm. After it was placed snugly on her head and the chin strap was tightened, Erica slid a pair of goggles over her eyes. She had to laugh when she looked over at Drew and Kaitlyn wearing the same garb and realized what she must’ve looked like.
“Hang on to me,” Erica said as she put on her helmet and climbed on the ATV in front of her.
It felt good to wrap her arms around Erica’s body. If this was all she had to do, she’d count herself lucky. She held a little tighter as the machine started to move. Kaitlyn took the lead and Erica followed behind on the trail, which was quite scenic. Ashleigh was so caught up in admiring the wild ferns and palmettos that had grown so large they resembled palm trees that the spray of mud that flew up her back took her by surprise.
Erica’s body shook with laughter as she steered them into something that Ashleigh didn’t think they’d get out of. Water and mud sloshed up on both sides of the bike and soaked them. Erica managed to pass Kaitlyn and Drew, who were struggling in a deeper portion of the bog, and pelted them with a spray of mud. This apparently was a declaration of war because Kaitlyn returned the favor as often as she could. And Ashleigh found herself laughing hysterically.
“You want to drive?” Erica asked when they came to a stop. “It’s got an automatic transmission.”
Ashleigh felt a twinge of excitement as she considered the offer. “What if I get us stuck?”
“We have a winch just for that reason.” Erica pointed to the front of the bike. “I’ve had to use it a few times already.”
“Okay then, if you trust me.”
Erica climbed off the ATV and waited for Ashleigh to scoot forward on the seat, then she climbed on behind her. “There’s a brake on both side of the handlebars, and the throttle is this thing you push with your thumb.” Erica pointed to a lever beneath the handle grip. “Step on the pedal to your right and put it in drive, then give it some gas.”
Ashleigh did as instructed, causing the four-wheeler to lurch forward, nearly throwing Erica off the back. “Oops,” Ashleigh said with a laugh, giving Erica a split second to get situated before she pressed the gas again. She took
it slow for a few minutes getting used to the controls, but when Kaitlyn flew past and splashed them head to toe with mud, the game was on. Erica was nearly bouncing on the seat behind her screaming, “Get them!”
Ashleigh gave chase, but Kaitlyn outmaneuvered her on every attempt. Erica laughed and shouted encouragement and advice over her shoulder. “In the next mud hole, stay to the right. Hopefully, Katie will continue to ride on the left side, it’s deep there.” Ashleigh moved as far right as she could and slowed down. They watched and howled with pleasure when Kaitlyn plowed straight in and bogged down. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as Ashleigh hit the throttle and drove through the water, sending a brown wave that cascaded over Drew and Kaitlyn.
Ashleigh stopped on the other side of the mud hole, laughing hysterically, and pulled her helmet off as Erica did the same. Drew’s string of obscenities could be heard over the engine noise of both ATVs.
“I’m so proud of you, Ash,” Erica said, giving her a high-five. “You did great for your first drive. It was your first time, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, and I can’t believe how much fun this is,” Ashleigh exclaimed. “I gotta have one of my own.”
“Yeah, bitches, go ahead and celebrate. The day is young, though, and paybacks will be severe,” Kaitlyn warned as she pulled alongside them and killed her engine. “I think I have mud in my teeth.”
Drew pulled off her helmet. “Is this a blast or what?”
“I never dreamed that you would enjoy anything like this,” Ashleigh said to Drew. “I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying it.”
“I didn’t think it’d be any fun at all, but Kaitlyn kept bugging me until I gave it a try, and I was hooked. I’m probably gonna get my own four-wheeler next summer.”
“Don’t you think you should at least drive once before you get your own?” Kaitlyn asked.
Drew shot her a cross look and turned her attention back to Ashleigh. “She bitches at me when I drive the car. ‘You’re going too fast, Drew. You cut that turn too sharp.’ I’ll learn to drive on my own ATV so I don’t have to listen to the backseat driver.”
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