He sucked in a breath and tried like hell not to let her know how affected he was by the situation.
Ashton rose, walked around the bed to where she was standing, and said, “I’m sorry you had to go through that. Is your car now safe to drive?” he asked quietly.
Kaelyn nodded. “Sure after I spent close to eleven hundred dollars in repairs, but I’ll have my day in court,” she announced with hands planted at her hips. He looked up at brown eyes, dark and determined.
Ashton reached out and caressed her cheek with the palm of his hand, hoping to simmer some of her rage. He was pissed off enough for the both of them. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. After he’d received the first complaint, his mechanic assured him nothing like that was going on at his dealership. He had stood by his employees the way a good CEO should, but now that he had met Kaelyn, and was listening to what she was saying, he was starting to have an uneasy feeling that his “deranged chick” wasn’t crazy at all.
Both of her hands were on his chest and Kaelyn was leaning so close he could hear her heart thumping. Tilting her head, Ashton dipped his and nuzzled the side of her neck. “Come on, I’ll shower with you, then I need to leave and make a service call.”
Her lips were near his, playing at the corners as she cooed, “First a booty call. Now a service call.”
Chuckling, Ashton swatted her playfully on the ass. “This is the only booty I want to see.” He kissed her full on the mouth, shoving his fingers in her hair and held her in place while his tongue danced with hers. With a groan, Ashton finally drew back and released her. Kaelyn scampered into the bathroom to turn on the water while Ashton stood there frowning. Today was his day off, but on his way to the hospital he was going to drop by the dealership.
Determined to find out what the hell was going on, Ashton hurried to join Kaelyn in the shower.
Chapter Six
An hour later, Ashton drove his Jeep Wrangler toward the business downtown. With the door off his vehicle, he was taking full advantage of the cool air coming off the Atlantic Ocean.
Kaelyn shocked the hell out of him when she told him her name. No wonder Mackenzie warned him the little songbird wasn’t for him.
She had known all along.
Calls to Mackenzie’s cellphone all afternoon had been useless. He wanted to know why she hadn’t giving him a head’s up, especially since she had been well aware of the lawsuit Kaelyn had filed against him. Damn, why did the woman he named the deranged chick and Lynn have to be one and the same?
With a shake of his head, he turned off Main Street that was crowded with tourists milling the strip for Saturday afternoon bargains and delicious foods. The area was the heart of downtown Sheraton Beach, with its cobblestone streets and mom-and-pop stores. With the Fourth of July holiday in a few weeks, the storefronts and lampposts were decorated in festive red, white, and blue.
Ashton reached up and tilted the visor, blocking the sun from his eyes, and then made a right turn at the light. Getting to the bottom of what had happened with the Volvo took precedence over everything else. He didn’t know what the deal was with Kaelyn’s car but he planned to find out before he claimed her as his.
Because that was definitely where their relationship was headed.
The truth was, he wanted a chance at a real relationship with Kaelyn, one that even involved holding hands, talking, sharing hopes and dreams, and definitely lots of sex. He wanted to be with her today, tomorrow, and every day after and he didn’t want anything standing in their way.
Ashton pulled off and headed up Route 1 past a shopping center that was the home for a new Walmart and Lowe’s. As he stopped at the light, he glanced over at the large used car dealership to his far left, taking up an entire city block. It was his pride and joy. Or at least it would be once he uncovered what was really going on.
He parked his Jeep at one of the parking spots near the employee’s entrance at the rear of the building and climbed out. Gregory, one of his salesmen, was out on the lot with a couple showing them a shipment of pre-owned Mercedes. He waved at the boss, then went back to focusing on his customers.
Stepping into the large building, Ashton was met by a rush of cool air. He moved through the showroom where a 431si BMW was on display. The large space was surrounded by glass with the sun beaming off the burgundy paint. Kristy, his receptionist was behind the desk with a phone to her ear while she pecked away at the computer. He stopped at the coffeepot, dropped two sugar cubes into a Styrofoam cup then pulled down the lever, and filled it with the hot dark beverage.
“Good evening, boss,” she called, cupping the receiver with her hand.
“Hey Kristy,” he said, with a wave and headed down the wide corridor.
Ashton kept walking past his own office until he reached the one on the end. He stuck his head in and spotted Glen sitting behind his desk. As the CEO, Ashton was responsible for the day-to-day operations, while Glen managed the sales department.
“I’ll be right with you,” he mouthed, then went on to continue his conversation.
While sipping his coffee, Ashton studied the thirty-three year old, divorced father of three. Dark hair, blue eyes. It was because of him and his sales team's hard work that he was expanding and opening a second dealership in Wilmington, Delaware.
“Hey boss, tell Roy congratulations for me. I thought you were taking the day off?” Glen said as he returned the phone to the receiver.
Ashton nodded and pushed away from the doorjamb, strolling further into his office. “I am, but I wanted to talk to you about something.” He waited until he lowered onto the chair across from Glen’s curious expression before continuing. “The woman who’s suing me… is there any chance she could be telling the truth?”
Glen laughed like his question was ridiculous. “Like I said before, there’s no way in hell.” Leaning forward, he removed a manila folder from a basket on the desk, and held it out for him. “Take a look for yourself.”
After taking a few moments to thumb through the file, Ashton scowled. Glen was right. The odometer reading on the car had been 83256 when bought at auction and thirty miles more at purchase. The additional miles included the twenty he required of his mechanics for a final test drive before vehicles were placed on the lot.
Ashton blew out a breath. He was frustrated and he knew why. He liked Kaelyn. He liked her a lot and had been hoping for a simple solution, maybe something that had been overlooked, resulting in one big misunderstanding. “Shit.”
“What’s up?”
With a roll of the eyes, he replied, “The hearing is scheduled for the week after the Fourth.”
Glen tossed him a dismissive wave. “It’s a slam dunk. You have nothing to worry about.”
Ashton shook his head. “I’m not so sure about that. Not only did Jaden Beaumont personally inspect her car and run a Car Fax report, but he also agreed to testify in court on her behalf someone tampered with her odometer.”
Glen sat up tall on the chair. “What?”
He nodded between sips. They both knew Jaden Beaumont had a reputation for being one of the best mechanics in the country.
Glen slumped over the desk, his expression bleak. “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know. If our documentation is correct, then the only defense we have is the car was tampered with before we purchased it.”
Glen scratched his head. “You want me to check and see if there has been any other suspicious tampering at the auction?”
Ashton shifted on his chair and nodded. “I’m going to print a Car Fax report and track down the previous owner. Hopefully, they will remember how many miles were on the car when he or she sold it.” Glen looked like he had a suggestion, but Ashton interrupted before he could respond. “I don’t want to walk in court looking like an idiot. If this can be resolved, then let’s get it resolved.” With a sigh of resignation, Ashton stood and crossed to the door. He paused, his hand on the doorknob. “For personal reasons I prefer to settle
this out of court.”
Glen nodded. “I’ll see what I can turn up.”
Ashton strolled out of the office still holding the folder in his hand. There was no way he could be wrong about Kaelyn. Last night had been special; he wasn’t going to allow a lawsuit to come between them.
He took a seat behind his large oak desk, swiveled around in his chair and stared out across the lot. It had taken him five years to build his business and he did it with integrity and good business practices and that wasn’t going to change, not as far as he was concerned. Someone had messed with that car and he planned to get to the bottom of the problem.
While he sipped from the cup, he thought about the last few hours and felt something warm stir at the pit of his stomach. Lying in bed, holding Kaelyn in his arms had felt so natural. It had barely been an hour since he’d left her cottage, and yet he was already craving her touch.
Damn, what was happening to him? He was old enough to know first attractions were physical, yet there was something about Kaelyn that touched his soul. She was beautiful, smart and talented. They made love, then talked, and made love again and for the first time in what felt like forever, it wasn’t enough. He wanted more. It wasn’t just his libido screaming, it was his mind as well. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her, and share with her details about his own life. Kaelyn fascinated every sensual molecule in his body.
Ashton frowned. There was one particular detail he had yet to share. But not yet. Not until he had a chance to find out what was really going on. He just hoped things worked out the way he planned.
* * *
Kaelyn shouldered her way through the kitchen and out onto the back deck, carrying a fresh pitcher of lime margaritas.
Mackenzie was leaned back in the chair with her feet up on a small footrest with a phone to her ear. She was flirting something serious with a guy on the phone. Her voice was low and seductive and her eyes gleamed with appreciation. As soon as she spotted Kaelyn coming through the screen door, her eyes widened and she mumbled, “I’ll see you later.” She ended the call and reached for one of the empty glasses. “That looks good,” she said, as she took the pitcher from her extended hand and filled two glasses.
With a sigh, Kaelyn settled down onto one of the wicker chairs. A humid breeze fluttered the paper napkins on the table. “It will definitely taste even better on a day like today.” She reached for one of the glasses and took a sip. The Grand Marnier smoothed out the tequila perfectly. “Thanks so much for all of your help.” They had spent the entire afternoon hanging her framed works of art throughout the walls of the house.
Mackenzie gave her a dismissive wave. “You know if you’re making margaritas I’m gonna come running,” she murmured after an appreciative sip. “I’m the bartender not you, yet you make these better than I do.”
“It’s called skills.” Kaelyn sent her an amused sidelong glance.
“Ha-ha!” she replied, but didn’t waste any time bringing the glass to her lips again.
Kaelyn sank low into the comfort of the chair, and closed her eyes. Her mind was still on Ashton. In fact, as much as she wanted to deny what was happening between them, he was all she seemed to be able to think about. All night she had lain in bed remembering she and him in every naughty scenario possible, with him doing yummy things with his tongue and his beautiful, generous cock. It was crazy! They’d spent one afternoon together and yet her mind was already spinning so many possibilities.
What’s wrong with me? she asked herself for the umpteenth time. Why couldn’t she be like a man and just love ‘em and leave ‘em? Why did her heart always have to come into play?
“Remember the guy, I asked you about at Spanky’s on Friday night?”
Mackenzie blinked her eyes and then nodded. “Yeah, Ash.”
Ash. Kaelyn smiled at the nickname then opened one eye to look at her. “Well, he delivered my refrigerator yesterday.”
“What?” Mackenzie sat up on the chair and then groaned as she brought a manicured hand to her forehead. “Oh shit! Brain freeze.”
Kaelyn chuckled softly and waited for Mackenzie to breathe normal again.
“Okay, I’m fine. Now what were you about to say?” she said almost impatiently.
“He delivered my refrigerator. I met his brother at the store, so I had no idea Ashton worked there.”
“Worked… What else did he tell you?”
Kaelyn noticed a mischievous grin curled her painted lips.
With a full body stretch, Kaelyn slid up slightly on the seat. “Not much except Kilmer Appliances has been in their family for years.”
“Hmmm,” was all Mackenzie said, running a finger along the side of her frosted glass.
Kaelyn met her eyes head-on. “Why? Is there something you’re not telling me? I remember asking you the other night and you avoided the question.”
“For obvious reasons.” Mackenzie made a face. “Like I said before, the two of you are my friends and I don’t believe in doing that matchmaking crap. If anything goes wrong, then I’m the one to blame.”
Kaelyn studied her friend over the rim of her glass. “But you would tell me if he was married?”
She nodded. “He’s a single as it gets.”
Her shoulder sagged with relief. At least that was something.
Her cottage had one of the best waterfront views in town. Kaelyn stared out onto the water with Ashton still heavy on her mind.
“Why? What’s up with you two?” Mackenzie asked between sips and shifted her petite frame on the chair.
She shrugged and tried to avoid the question.
“Did you kiss him?” Mackenzie demanded and leaned forward as if she could smell the truth on her breath.
There was a long pause. “I did a lot more than kiss,” Kaelyn finally admitted.
Her friend started screaming. “Oh my goodness. You slut!”
If she only knew. “It just sorta happened,” she said innocently. “One minute we were having breakfast and th—”
“Breakfast? You made him breakfast?” Mackenzie chirped. Her slanted amber eyes bulging wide as she studied Kaelyn. “You never make me breakfast.”
“That’s because you’re not as cute as he is,” she said with a saucy grin and then started laughing. “Seriously, he was flirting on the phone—”
Mackenzie’s jaw dropped. “Wait a minute! Back this up and start over.”
While she sipped her margarita, Kaelyn told Mackenzie about Ashton calling and hearing his sexy voice. “By the time he hauled in the fridge, I had bacon on the stove.”
Her friend was shaking her head with disbelief. “I still can’t believe you fucked him!”
Kaelyn stared for a moment, then released a long sigh. “Actually, he was the one doing all the fucking… and sucking.” Suddenly, she started laughing. “Oh my God. I am a slut!” Her head whipped around. “Is that a bad thing?”
Mackenzie shot her a dark look. “Hell no. If we weren’t besties I’d fuck him myself. I’ve heard the rumors and always wondered if they were true…” She purposely allowed her voice to trail off while she stared at Kaelyn over the rim of her glass.
“I don’t know what you heard, but that man rocked my world.” Kaelyn’s breath caught as she recalled every detail of their afternoon. She had carried those erotic feelings into the night. He was gorgeous, sexy, so generous, and everything she had ever dreamed about in a man. No wonder she had tossed and turned all night with memories of him sliding deep inside her body, fucking her until she thought she would go insane. Gawd, she couldn’t wait for round two!
Mackenzie was laughing and screaming again and Kaelyn was glad her nearest neighbor was several hundred feet away.
“It’s about time you got some!”
“Yes, it is.” Unfortunately one afternoon just wasn’t enough. She wanted more.
And that was a problem.
She vowed never to allow herself to become emotionally involved with another man, especially not afte
r her last heartbreak.
She’d met Tip at a photo shoot and thought he was her soul mate. He was an artist, specializing in oil paints. She could shoot photographs and print them on canvas and Tip would finish them off, giving the look of an oil painting. Together they rented space and opened a studio. They were a couple with a booming photography business. She had invested four years in a man who she thought wanted a future with her. Oh, he wanted a future all right, but with someone else. He ended their relationship a week before their wedding and married the slut next door. Tip was just a reminder of yet another failed relationship. So many times Kaelyn mentally replayed their life together trying to figure out where she had gone wrong, until she finally concluded that men, just like her father, never stuck around for long. And after she had picked her dignity off the floor, Kaelyn made herself a promise. She would never allow herself to be played again.
“Are you planning to see him again?” Mackenzie asked, breaking into her thoughts.
An image of Ashton’s piercing dark eyes and luscious lips filled Kaelyn’s mind again. “I sure hope so.”
“I mean more than just sex,” Mackenzie said with a rude snort.
Kaelyn tossed her dark hair away from her face and frowned. “What else is there?”
With an impatient scowl, her friend leaned forward on the chair. “Um hello… How about a relationship? I think Ashton’s just what you need in your life.”
Kaelyn held up a hand, hoping to put an end to the discussion. There was no way she was going to allow herself to think of a possible future with Ashton. Getting ahead of herself was something she had a bad habit of doing way too often, which was why she had bought a car that was wrong for her. She didn’t take enough time to think her actions through, instead she had reacted on impulse. Well… not this time.
“I don’t think so,” Kaelyn said with little conviction.
While sipping her margarita she allowed her mind to wander back to the day before. If she had a chance to have something more, she would jump at the chance. Ashton was funny, sexy and good with his hands. Her stomach quivered as she thought about just how skillful those fingers were. But she knew better. There was no happily ever after. Relationships ran their course and eventually ended. She just wasn't prepared to go through that again.
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