by Reese, K. R.
“Michael, please don’t stop.”
He backed away, letting her go. “I don’t want you to regret this, Ashlee. As much as I enjoyed last night, I’m not trying to rush this.”
She walked past him into the bedroom, grabbing her clothes off the floor. She quickly got dressed and headed out to the living room. “You know, Michael, if you just wanted a one-night stand, you could have told me. You don’t have to pretend in the morning that this is going anywhere. I told you yesterday that I didn’t want a man complicating things, so you wouldn’t have offended me.”
“Ashlee, it isn’t that,” Michael growled out the sentence.
“Look, Michael, don’t play games with me. I knew your reputation when I met you, I shouldn’t have assumed anything else. I’ll see you at dinner at your parents’ house tonight. I have to go get Abby and Will.”
She walked out of the room. Michael let her go. He didn’t think it would do any good to try and stop her to explain.
Ashlee leaned against the railing beside the polar bear exhibit and watched as Abby and Will stood against the glass. The zoo had been the only place close enough that she was willing to travel with two kids by herself. Anything to distract her from the mess she’d just left at the hotel.
There was no easy way to make the situation seem pretty. The fact was, she wasn’t ready for a relationship. She’d hoped that having a night with Michael would prove otherwise, but it hadn’t. The sex was fantastic, but that’s all she was in for. However, Michael’s rejection this morning stung more than Ashlee would ever admit.
Her whole life, she had excelled in whatever goal she’d set her mind to without complaint. She still set herself to those standards, even when her world was still spiraling downward and out of control. He’s not coming back. Ever. You should move on.
Tears sprang to Ashlee’s eyes as she was faced with the reality that Nathan was gone. The empty hours she had spent sitting in a haze of grief. A stream of family and friends tried to give her comfort and encouraging words. She knows they meant well, but they were wrong. In Ashlee’s grief-stricken and sleep deprived mind, she thought no amount of time could alter the painful loss of Nathan. After four years, it was still hard to wrap her head around the truth. She wasn’t find, but she was further than she ever thought she’d be. Now, though, she wanted a change. She wanted Michael. With her.
“Aunt Ashlee, Will is tired.” Abby’s voice brought her out of the dark thoughts threatening to consume her. Ashlee picked up Will and took Abby’s hand.
“Come on, we’ll head home and you can take a nap before we have to go over to Grandma and Pap’s for dinner.” Now as she was buckling the kids into car seats, her hands shook. She’d clung to the life she had with Nathan for so long that she wasn’t sure what was real happiness. Last night had changed that, to a point, and she wanted it to continue. But Michael doesn’t.
Climbing into the driver’s seat, Ashlee closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. She focused on getting the car into drive and hitting the highway back to Wilson Creek. She knew something was wrong when the engine sputtered. Abby and Will were both asleep in the back as she pulled off the side of the road. Looking down, she noticed that her heat gauge was all the way up. Uh oh.
“Damn it,” she mumbled. She smacked the steering wheel and looked in the rearview at the kids. Grabbing her phone off the console, she thought about who to call. She didn’t have Trevor’s parents’ number, and she was not going to call Ella.
That leaves Michael.
Ashlee didn’t want to call Michael after the incident this morning, but she didn’t have any other choice unless she wanted to interrupt Ella and Trevor’s short honeymoon. Grinding her teeth together, she pressed the call button.
“Ashlee?” His voice sent butterflies through her stomach. “Ashlee, you there? Are you okay?”
“Uh,” she paused. “Yeah, I’m fine. I took Abby and Will to the zoo in Springdale, we’re about twenty minutes away from Wilson Creek. My heat gauge is through the roof and the car won’t start back up.”
Silence. Please don’t lose signal.
“I’ll track your phone and come get you guys. Need me to call a tow truck?”
She smiled. “No I’ll call them now if you’re on your way.”
“Yeah, I’m on the highway. See you soon.” Ashlee dialed the tow company and waited. She watched as Michael pulled in behind her Jeep and stepped out. He was wearing a flannel shirt and blue jeans, and Ashlee thought her mouth was going to start watering. She got out of the Jeep and took off her sunglasses.
“Hi, beautiful,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist and placing a light kiss on her forehead.
What the hell?
Chapter Six
Ashlee didn’t respond to Michael’s statement when she got out of the Jeep. Now she was sitting in the passenger seat with her sunglasses on, staring out the window. He’d left an open invitation for her to hold his hand, anything, but she didn’t seem like she was too happy with him right now. Who could blame her?
“Ashlee, can we talk?” She looked over at him for a minute before turning her head back to the window. She was clutching her hands together tightly enough that her knuckles were turning white. Michael reached over and took one, squeezing it in his.
“I don’t like how things were left this morning. My mom and dad said that we can bring the kids over early and they’ll watch them for a little bit. We can go for a walk if you want.”
Michael knew there were a lot of things he didn’t know about Ashlee. There were a lot of things she didn’t know about him, either, and if this was going to turn into a relationship, they had to talk. His legal issues going on were the first thing she needed to hear about, and he wanted to be the one to tell her. If Michael didn’t tell her, she was bound to hear it from someone else in the family instead. Then she’d hate him.
But this feeling. This feeling was more real and substantial than any of their problems or their pasts. Holding her hand in this moment when he felt lost and alone, he wasn’t sure he ever wanted her to let go. Beside him, Ashlee was staring at their hands. Michael ran his thumb over the top of hers, watching goosebumps appear up her arm.
“It’ll just be you and me,” he said, his voice tense.
Ashlee’s silence didn’t reassure him that they were okay, even though she had called him when her Jeep broke down. He didn’t know her well. When they had run into each other at the wedding, he instantly recognized that she was beautiful. And he didn’t normally feel an attachment, possessiveness, to someone, especially a woman.
After the lawsuit came up, Michael went into exile. It seemed hard to be around those who he had built a business with, those partners and friends that had trusted him. He couldn’t look at them every day, seeing the distrust in their eyes.
He’d hooked up with girls, but even that hot, meaningless sex had lost its appeal. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy it, he just wasn’t into it. There wasn’t anyone to be concerned about him or his behavior. In this case, Michael was the only one concerned.
Pulling into his parents’ drive, he jumped out to unbuckle Will and Abby. Ashlee remained in the passenger seat for a while. By the time she got out of the car, he was already on the porch and opening the door with both kids.
“Hey, son. When did you buy two monkeys?”
His father’s loud voice had the kids laughing and running to him, wrapping their arms around his legs and sitting on his feet.
“Hey, dad. I talked to mom earlier, she said the kids could come over before dinner for a little while.”
His father was nodding his head. “Yeah, she might have mentioned something about that. Can we talk a minute, Michael?” Abby and Will headed into the living room to play. Michael crossed his arms and looked at his dad. “Ashlee with you?”
“Yeah, she’s outside. Her Jeep broke down on the way home from the zoo and she didn’t have your number I’m guessing. I’m going over to her house to look at it now.
Why, what’s up?”
“Michael, don’t hurt her. She’s become a part of our family over this past year. She’s wonderful with the kids and a great help to Ella. I know how you are, and I just don’t want to see her get hurt in the end.”
Michael laughed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, dad. I understand you’re just looking out for her, but what about me? You said so yourself she isn’t ready for a relationship, so what about me getting hurt?”
“You don’t do relationships, Michael, and I’m not saying that you aren’t capable of one. Just be careful. She’s still fragile. There’s a lot you don’t know, and it isn’t my place to tell you, but you may want to talk to her.”
“Plan on it. See you later, dad.” Michael walked out the door and down to the car to meet Ashlee. “Let’s go have a look at your Jeep, huh?”
She got back into the car and turned in her seat to face him. “Michael, the last thing I want to do right now is look at my Jeep. Hell, I don’t even want to talk right now. But, I promise we will talk afterward. I live on Lakeview Lane, all the way at the end of the lake, in case you’re wondering.”
He was speechless. He drove to her house and parked in front, but then he could only sit there. It had started raining before they turned into her drive and by the time Ashlee made it to the porch she was soaked. Michael’s mind conjured a thousand different images of her soak and wet; on his bed, in the shower, underneath him.
Damn it.
Ashlee had already gone into the house and left the door hanging open. Michael followed, avoiding the hole on the porch. He’d have to remember to fix that for her later. Closing the door behind him, he wasn’t sure where to go. He was dripping wet from the rain and Ashlee was nowhere in sight. “Ashlee?”
“In the laundry room! Come through the kitchen, can’t miss it!”
Michael followed her instructions, walking around the corner into the kitchen. The sight he got was of Ashlee leaning over a basket, searching for clothes. The way her pants and shirt were sticking to her curves, he couldn’t help but salivate. She turned around and caught him watching. He tried to look away, but his eyes wouldn’t obey. Clearing his throat, he tried to speak calmly. “Um, happen to have a towel in that basket?”
She smirked and threw a towel over her shoulder. “I don’t have anything here you can wear, but if you want to throw your clothes in the dryer, be my guest.” He was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed now, just watching her scavenge through at least four baskets. When she turned around with dry clothes in her hand, she smiled at him.
“Sorry that took so long. I have trouble carrying the baskets upstairs because they’re so tall and I’m so.. not tall.” She paused. “Anyways, like I said you can throw your clothes in the dryer if you want to. I’m going to head upstairs for a shower.”
Ashlee winked at him as she left the room. Michael stood there unmoving for a moment before registering that she had offered an invitation to join her. Quickly removing and chucking his clothes in the dryer, he made quick strides up the stairs, following the sound of the running water. The bathroom was already steamy from the shower and Ashlee was humming to herself. “You know, we have a few hours before dinner with my parents.” That sounds strange.
“I know. I plan on using that time accordingly.”
Opening the curtain, Michael’s stare raked over her, and a glint of lust dawned on him. There was something different about this woman. His gaze anchored to her mouth. Ashlee traced her top lip with her tongue. His breathing was labored, and her presence was suffocating him.
She stood on her tip-toes and kissed him. Instantaneously, Michael reacted. He took control of the kiss, stepping into the shower and pulling her against him. Ashlee melted into him and gave up control. The air around them began to sizzle with anticipation and need. A soft moan escaped her lips and Michael growled. Stopping the kiss, he laid his forehead against hers, leaving his eyes closed. Despite the hot water pouring over them, he felt the shiver race up Ashlee’s back inch by inch, causing her to move against him slightly. He drew in a sharp breath.
She shifted and her thigh slid between his legs. Did she say something? When Michael finally opened his eyes, his gaze lowered to her chest and something ignited in her eyes. “What’re we doing, Ashlee?”
Sounding flirtatious, she wrapped her arms up around his shoulders. “We’re doing what we want.” His vision blurred. “You know I never noticed how muscled your arms are.”
“What?” he asked and swallowed. Hard. Panic threatened to swallow him whole. His chest was tightening and his eyes were glued to hers. Don’t break her heart. The warnings from his parents continued to linger in the back of his mind. “Ashlee, I… I want this just as much as you do, but I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want…”
She placed a finger over his lips. “Don’t, Michael. I’m not afraid of you. We’ll talk later.”
Ashlee wasn’t afraid of him, but he sure as hell was afraid of her and everything she stood for. Commitment. Stability. But those weren’t the worst of it. Michael was beginning to think that he was wrong about himself; that he was wrong he never tried a relationship, never tried to make something work. But he wanted all those things with Ashlee. The question was, did she want those things, too?
She took his hand and guided them to her breasts. Instinct took over and Michael’s hands continued touching her bare flesh. He listened as her breath caught and his mouth went dry. No, no, no! Take things slow. He wanted to pull his hands away, but his mind wasn’t listening. He continued caressing her, listening to her breath quicken with each stroke of his thumb. Michael knew he should back away. He knew he should stop and they should talk before going any further. Instead, his hands continued and Ashlee leaned into him. His mind started working overtime and he stepped back.
“Ashlee, this can’t happen.”
Her expression turned to ice. “The water’s getting cold. Let’s get out.” She stepped out and grabbed a towel without a backward glance. Michael’s jaw clenched. This was becoming a repeat of this morning and he didn’t want that. How to explain that to her, though?
Grabbing a towel himself, he followed her out of the bathroom, finding her in the bedroom down the hall. As she bent over to the bottom drawer of the dresser, his lungs locked. Forcing himself to breathe, he tied the towel around his waist. Ashlee was mumbling to herself, making Michael knit together his eyebrows in confusion. When she turned around, the glare she gave him would’ve scorched his skin if it could have. Suppressing a groan, he sat on the end of the bed. So much for friendly.
Chapter Seven
“What do you want, Michael?” She made it sound accusing. Ashlee wasn’t good in arguments. In fact, she avoided them like the plague because she always felt bad afterward. She grimaced and watched as a wry smile turned up the corners of his mouth. Her gaze lingered there, taking in his lips, his jaw, his eyes.
“I just want to explain why I keep stopping this, Ashlee.” He scooted up to lean against the headboard and patted the bed beside him.
“Look, I don’t need any explanations. I knew before last night that you only did one-night stands. I should’ve taken that and walked away. But, I couldn’t Michael.” She knew she was still glaring at him which seemed to only make his smile broaden. Cocky, are we?
“Can we just get this dinner over with, please?” She managed to choke out.
“Whatever you say,” he finally answered. “But, we still have about an hour until we’re supposed to be there. Come up here.” He patted the bed again. she eyed him suspiciously. His sculpted chest and shoulders stood out prominently among his other features. She inhaled slowly and sat on the bed beside him.
“Enough silence, Ash. We may not agree on things right now, but I’m certain you wouldn’t have brought me here if you didn’t want something. Is this all about the sex to you?”
Her head swiveled toward him and she watched as his eyes twinkled mischievously. Maybe she should relax. “Michael, t
his was my way of trying to be happy again. That’s not agreeing or disagreeing if it’s all about the sex because I don’t think I know.”
While she was talking, he leaned in closer, whispering in her ear. “Well, it isn’t all about the sex for me.” Ashlee shivered. “You were pissed at me this morning because I turned you away. You were pissed at me just now, in the shower, for the same reason. But, I keep stopping it because there’s a lot you need to know first, and I want to take things slow.”
Her teeth ground together. “I know you only go for one-night stands, move about every three months to a different part of the country, own a chain of businesses out west, and don’t like being home. What else do I possibly need to know?”
She watched as he took a deep breath in. “Before I get to that, just know that at any time you want me to leave, just say the word. I’m not going to intrude where I’m not welcome. And…”
“Just tell me, Michael.” If whatever he had to say was holding him back from having sex with her, she wanted to hear it. Maybe he was right, maybe it was all about sex right now. All Ashlee knew was that he made her happy; he made her feel again when nothing else had for four years. That was something, right?
“You asked what else you need to know. Well, I’m petty and sometimes childish, I don’t like to share, I get bored easily, and I’m very opinionated.” She gave him a look to continue. “Also, I have a very bad temper and get violent quickly. I currently have a lawsuit filed against me in the state of Nevada for a fight that happened between a potential business partner and myself. It isn’t the first time I’ve had a lawsuit for my behavior, but my lawyers have kept it under the radar in the past. Which is why you’ve seen nothing about it in the tabloids or on TV lately.”
She studied him for a moment before looking at the far wall of the room. She noticed when Michael tensed automatically. “Were any of the lawsuits from a woman?” She looked back at him. She desperately wanted him to say no, but her gut told her that she hit the nail on the head.
