by Liwen Ho
They sat in silence as the melody drew to a close. Ashlynn reached over and turned the radio off.
“No more music?” Jeremy asked in surprise.
“Not now. I’m just going to soak in the warm fuzzies from that song,” she replied with a soft sigh.
Jeremy wrapped his arm around her shoulder and breathed in her sweet floral scent. He wasn’t one to get emotional, but he could feel a lump growing in his throat. Part of him couldn’t believe God had brought such a wonderful woman to him. A decade ago, he would not have imagined his life to be as good as it was today. He didn’t deserve to be with Ashlynn, that was certain. Anyone who knew his past would see that she was getting the raw end of the deal. But God was proving over and over again that His grace was the ultimate trump card, more powerful than any negotiation tool.
Soon after, they arrived at the airport and parked. Jeremy reached out for Ashlynn’s hand as she reached for the door handle. He drew her close and pressed his mouth to hers in a deep, long kiss, one laced with tenderness and brimming with gratitude.
When they finally pulled apart, Ashlynn was out of breath. “What was that for?”
“I just want you to know how much I appreciate you,” he replied with a crooked smile. “You know in my line of work, I’m always trying to get the most value and the best terms out of every contract I handle. I don’t settle for anything less. I use every tactic I know to get what I want, and I usually get it. But with you I feel like I’ve gotten the best deal ever, more successful than any I’ve ever negotiated, yet I don’t know what I did to win. I don’t bring anything good to the bargaining table, but you’re still willing to take a chance on me.”
“Jeremy, that’s not true.” Ashlynn shook her head adamantly. “Having you back in my life has been wonderful. I think I’ve laughed more these past few months than I have the past decade. Being with you really makes me happy.”
Her words brought a feeling of contentment to his heart. “I guess we can only thank God for all of this.”
“Yeah,” she agreed with a sweet smile.
“Hey, come here,” he said as he pulled her in for another kiss. “Now that one was to make up for earlier. We didn’t get a chance to say a proper hello when I picked you up. Not with big brother watching.”
“Ha ha. You never know, Ben might have followed us here.” She looked furtively over her shoulder.
He feigned a look of fear. “Nice try.”
“Oh, you should have heard him earlier. I think he’s under the impression we’re a couple of teenagers who try to make out every chance we get. He didn’t make you sign an oath to stay ten feet away from me this week, did he?”
“No,” Jeremy replied with a grin, “only five. I hope you assured him he has nothing to worry about. We don’t make out all the time, just most of the time.”
“Jeremy!”
“I’m kidding, though you know I wouldn’t mind if we did.”
“What am I going to do with you?” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Come on, we don’t want to miss our flight. And we better get going before someone starts noticing all our windows are fogged up!”
TEN
“It’s so nice to have an extra pair of hands. Thank you, Ashlynn.” Jeremy’s sister took the empty dishes and silverware from her and placed them in the sink. She eyed her husband warily as he attempted to extract a brownie from the refrigerator. “I saw that.”
Chris grinned and licked some chocolate frosting off his lips. “Brain food.” He walked up to Jillian and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, babe. Off to work I go.” He waved to Ashlynn and left the kitchen.
Jillian chuckled, her blue eyes sparkling in amusement. “He’s got a sweet tooth, my hubby. He’s working on a new book and apparently chocolate is his muse.”
Ashlynn laughed. “I totally understand. Chocolate inspires me, too.”
Sounds of giggling met their ears. Ashlynn peered into the living room where Jeremy sat on the couch reading to his twin nieces. The two girls sat on his lap, listening intently to his high-pitched impression of an elf. She turned to Jillian and smiled. “He’s so good with the girls. They really like him, too.”
“They’re crazy about him. And they about drove me crazy when they woke up extra early today because they knew Uncle Jeremy was arriving. I can’t believe they’ve been fighting all day over who gets to sit with him first. I hope you don’t mind sharing Jeremy for the week.”
“Of course not. I love watching them together.” There was just something so precious about the way Jeremy bent his head to listen to their questions and patiently answer them. She felt herself falling for him even more after seeing this side of him.
Jeremy looked up for a moment and when his eyes met hers, they exchanged a secret smile.
“You can help yourself to a brownie, if you’d like.” Jillian gestured to the refrigerator.
“Thanks, but I’m full.” Ashlynn shook her head graciously. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“No, but please sit down and keep me company while I get these in the dishwasher.”
Ashlynn nodded and took a seat at the small circular table opposite from the sink.
“I’m very glad you decided to visit us, Ashlynn. And so happy you and Jeremy reconnected. Isn’t it funny how God works, bringing you both to cross paths after all these years?”
“Funny, but perfect,” Ashlynn agreed with a nod.
“I didn’t like the idea of him being by himself on the other side of the country. He’s been so wrapped up in his job since he moved back to California. Every time I talk to him, he’s in front of a computer. If it weren’t for the free meals they serve at work, I’m sure he would be skin and bones by now.” She shook her head. “I’d been hoping and praying he would find a girl like you and start thinking about settling down. Even Jake, the baby of the family, is engaged.”
Jillian sounded like a concerned, older sister and reminded Ashlynn so much of Ben. “You’re just like my brother, always looking out for our best interests. We younger siblings are lucky to have you guys around, even though we may not always act like we appreciate it.”
“You be sure to remind Jeremy about that. He says I’m a worrywart.” She turned on the dishwasher and took off her apron. She sighed as she dried her hands on a dish towel, then turned to Ashlynn with a pensive expression. “I was so worried about him when our parents divorced. I had already gone off to college by then. Both he and Jake had to grow up fast, but especially Jeremy. He got a part-time job to help with the bills and drove Jake to baseball practices and games while our mom was at work. I wish I could have helped more, but to be truthful, being away from home was sort of an escape for me.” She took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to spill so much to you.”
“No, it’s okay.” Jillian’s candor surprised Ashlynn, but she was used to hearing personal stories in her line of work. “Jeremy told me how hard things were after the divorce. It was a tough time for everyone, but you all did what you could.” She was especially impressed to hear how much Jeremy had done to help his family. “I’m glad everyone’s in a much better place now.”
Jillian nodded and a small smile appeared on her lips. “Yes, I’m so thankful for how things have turned out. Jeremy’s so happy with you, that’s for sure.” She glanced at the wall clock and straightened her posture. “Well, it’s time to give the girls a bath and get them ready for bed.”
They walked into the living room. “Come on girls,” Jillian announced, “say goodnight to Uncle Jeremy and Auntie Ashlynn.”
“Just in time.” Jeremy closed the book in his hands and kissed the tops of both blonde heads. “I’ll read more to you tomorrow.”
“Can you do a robot voice next time, Uncle Jemmy?” Chloe batted her long lashes at him.
Sofie pulled on Jeremy’s arm and nodded. “Puh-lease?”
Jeremy grinned affectionately. He answered in a voice devoid of emotion, briefly pausing after each word.
“Of. Course. I. Can.” The girls giggled in delight. “Okay, good night, girls. See you tomorrow.”
“Night night, Uncle Jemmy. Night night, Auntie Ash.” Chloe and Sofie waved one last time as Jillian walked them upstairs.
Ashlynn sat down next to Jeremy on the couch. “Your family’s so kind, and your nieces are adorable. I’m really glad I came. If I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t have discovered your hidden talent for doing voices.”
He grinned. “I’m not too bad at it, huh? I think I’ll hold on to my day job for now though. At least until I have time to develop my repertoire.”
“I like what I heard so far. The robot voice was pretty hot.”
“You. Think. So.” His imitation made Ashlynn laugh. Jeremy pulled her onto his lap so that she straddled his legs, facing him. The pleats of her coffee colored and black polka dotted wool skirt fanned out over them like a flower in bloom. “I think you’re pretty hot.” He lowered his head toward hers until their foreheads touched.
“Thanks.” Ashlynn whispered as their lips met. She couldn’t get enough of his kisses. She had never felt this way with any guy she had dated. Not only did Jeremy stir up passion within her, but he treated her with care. She trusted he would never intentionally hurt her.
They pulled apart and remained still for a moment under each other’s gaze. Jeremy brushed her hair back and studied her face. Is that…? He saw an unmistakable look in her eyes. A look as old as time, one rooted in the magic that can inspire countless pages of prose, as well as acts of bravery and insanity. He swallowed hard as he read the writing on Ashlynn’s heart. He was honored and humbled by what he saw. In that moment he realized the intensity of his own feelings for her. It was not only his body that responded to Ashlynn’s, but his heart and mind as well. She understood him and believed in him like no one else ever had. She was more than he could ever have asked for. It was time to admit his own undoing to her. “Ashlynn, I love you.” Jeremy felt the words take on a life of their own as they escaped his lips. They floated in the air on a journey to Ashlynn’s ears and heart. He hoped they would evoke the response he desperately longed to hear from her.
Ashlynn’s eyes widened at his profession. She had seen it in his eyes, but it was another thing to hear it. Those three words unlocked a whole new world before her, one with vivid colors and heightened senses. She was on a natural high, swimming in the safe haven of Jeremy’s love. She confessed what she felt sure was already written all over her face. “I love you, too, Jeremy.” It was her first time saying these words to a man and it had never felt more right.
Their lips met again and the intensity of the kiss reflected the passionate words they had just spoken. The declaration ignited a fire between them, drawing each toward the other with a magnetic pull. Jeremy caressed the small of Ashlynn’s back, first gently, then with urgency. His hands moved to grip her waist and press her body against his. “Ash, I want you so badly.”
She raked her fingers through his hair and pressed her lips harder against his. Her response drove him to explore further, his palms running down the length of her skirt. The thick fabric bunched up in his fists as he toyed with the hem. The heat from her bare skin awoke a hunger inside him, a hunger that had been lying dormant for so long. Without a second thought, he slid one hand underneath her skirt and skimmed his fingers up her thigh.
His touch fueled a whirlwind of sensations within her that she had never experienced before. Her mind warred mightily with her emotions, until her conscience fought its way to the forefront. “We should stop,” she stammered in between kisses.
Jeremy could barely think straight, much less heed her words. The ache in his body drove him towards a singular purpose. His hands wandered further and further until Ashlynn’s cry broke through the passion that consumed him.
“Jeremy, no!” She jumped off Jeremy’s lap and tugged her skirt down. Alarm tinged her already flushed cheeks, darkening them even more.
Jeremy took a deep breath and berated himself. Old habits certainly died hard. “I’m sorry, Ash. I went too far.”
Ashlynn shook her head. “I can’t believe-”
“I know I should have stopped when you told me to.”
“No, it’s not just you. I wanted it, too. That’s the part that scares me. I felt like my body was on autopilot just now. I can’t believe I didn’t stop you sooner.”
He saw the truth in the way her pupils almost eclipsed the hazel irises of her eyes. A sure sign of desire mixed with fear. He reached for her hand. “Hey, it’s normal for us to have these feelings. God made us to be passionate beings.”
“I know. But now I understand even more why they’re meant for marriage. I don’t think these kind of feelings are meant to be turned on and off, you know, like a light switch. We were like kids playing with matches just now, thinking we wouldn’t be able to light a fire, but we almost did. What if we hadn’t stopped when we did? We would have been burned. I really don’t want that to happen.”
Jeremy nodded. He had played with fire enough times to know how hard it was to resist the lure of the flames. He should have owned up to his own weaknesses and never gotten himself and Ashlynn into such a tempting situation. Regret was a merciless companion to live with. He would never wish that kind of grief upon her. “We’ll have to be careful to not let it control us. I’ll be more careful in the future. I promise, Ash.”
“But how? It’s not like we can stop being attracted to each other.”
He thought for a moment. “We need to focus on doing other things when we’re together. Things that will build up our relationship and keep us engaged in other areas besides the physical.”
“Okay, good point. We’ll keep our heads and hands too busy to get into any trouble.”
Jeremy looked at her and cracked a smile. “And we can always resort to cold showers if that doesn’t work. I’ve been a big fan of them since we started going out.”
Ashlynn’s eyes widened and she quickly shelved the image of him flashing through her mind. Get your head out of the gutter! She blushed, embarrassed to imagine what Jeremy would think if he could glimpse her thoughts. Too late. She saw the glint in his eyes as he watched her.
“Looks like both of us are going to save money on our electricity bills from now on.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. He felt her body quickly stiffen.
She pulled away and scooted a few feet down the sofa. “I think a little distance would be a good idea right now.”
“Are you serious?”
“At least when we’re alone.”
“I know you don’t like taking risks, but don’t you think this might be a bit much?”
“I don’t want to chance it. I really can’t think straight when I’m around you.”
He heard the determination in her voice. “Okay then. More room for me.” He stretched his arms out and clasped his hands behind his head.
The teasing curve of his lips caused Ashlynn to shake her head. “Now what we need is a good distraction.” She walked towards the TV across the room. “How about a movie? Jillian said there’s a bunch of DVD’s we can watch.”
“Sure. I bet you’ll approve of her chick flick collection.”
“Hm. Let’s go with an action or suspense. No more warm fuzzies tonight.”
“Wow, I never thought I’d hear you say that.”
“I’m just trying to keep our minds on anything besides kissing and all things related to it.” She held up an action movie featuring Matt Damon. “How about this one?” She popped in the DVD with Jeremy’s nod of approval, then settled on the couch at the opposite end from him. She looked over for a moment and frowned. “Hey, you’re hogging all the pillows! Toss one over, please. I might need it later for the intense scenes.”
He glanced at the throw pillows surrounding him and picked out a pink heart shaped one. Reaching across the couch, he handed it to her. “Here you go, my love, since you already have mine.” His eyes twinkled with mischief.
&nbs
p; Ashlynn thought for sure her own heart skipped a beat as she took the pillow from him. Those blue eyes were going to be the death of her, that is if his smile didn’t do her in first. She took a deep breath and mulled over her choices. Could she sit near the flames and not get burned? Or should she play it safe and stay away? Perhaps she could do both. She walked over to where Jeremy sat and gathered up all the pillows from the couch until they rested in a tall stack in her arms.
“Hey, now who’s the pillow hog?”
She smiled as she arranged the pillows in a pile next to Jeremy, then sat down on the other side of it. “There. You stay on your side and I’ll stay on mine.”
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away for long.” He reached around the pillows and gently poked her dimple. “I am pretty irresistible.”
“If your head gets any bigger,” she teased, “we’ll need to buy you an extra plane ticket back home.”
He chuckled. “Just giving you more of myself to love.”
Ashlynn pointed at the TV. “Shh, the movie’s starting.”
Jeremy kept his eyes on her as the opening scenes played. He had never felt so sure of anything, or anyone, in his life. God willing, he would do everything in his power to make sure his future included the woman sitting beside him.
ELEVEN
“Remind me again, Seth is your roommate and Darren is your cousin?” Ashlynn asked.
“Actually, it’s the other way around. Don’t worry, you’ll have an easier time remembering when you have a face to go with the name,” Jeremy replied. “Come on, we’re here.”
They entered the pizza parlor and spotted two men sitting at a corner table. Jeremy led them over and they sat down. “Ash, meet my cousin Seth.” He gestured at a cheerful looking guy dressed in a blue T-shirt and jeans. “And this is Darren, my old college roommate.” He directed her attention to a curly haired guy in a white polo and khakis.
