12. If I Pee On It, It’s Mine
Chapter 12
If I Pee On It, It’s Mine
Ori
T urns out Mother Nature doesn’t care about first-class tickets. Despite our upgraded travel accommodations, we’re flying on the same plane as everyone else—a plane that currently sits empty on the tarmac.
Seems New York has no desire to let us escape. If she’s stuck with this miserable weather, so too should all her residents.
Our flight is delayed due to icing, but Ash assures me we’re getting to the Keys, even if we have to drive the whole way. I’m praying it doesn’t come to that, though a road trip with him might be its own kind of adventure.
Hell, this entire relationship is an adventure.
It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, I hated Asher Hammond. Now, he’s whisking me away to a tropical vacation.
I glance over at him, his fingers drumming against his thigh in sync with the erratic tapping of his foot.
He’s aggravated, that much is clear. Things aren’t going according to plan, and even though no one—not even him—can control the weather, it’s eating at him.
I get it.
But luckily for him, I’m the roll-with-the-punches type. Shit happens, and I’d much rather err on the side of caution in this nasty weather than tempt fate.
As long as we eventually arrive safe and sound on the sand, I’m good.
Until then, I’m making the best of it. Spotting a table in the first-class lounge, I head straight for it. Time for some grub.
“It’s not so bad,” I say, releasing a moan of contentment as my French toast arrives. “I really wanted this fat-filled feast, and now it’s all mine.”
Ash chuckles, swiping a piece off my plate before I can stop him. I gasp in mock indignation.
“What? Your food came out first,” he says with a smirk.
“You’re lucky I like you.” I smile, retaliating by snatching a piece of bacon from his plate the second it arrives.
“You more than like me, Ori.” Ash winks before diving into his omelet, but his words linger, wrapping around me like a warm hug.
He’s right.
I do more than like him.
I’m in love with him—a fact which hit me a week ago as we snuggled in front of the fire at his house. Maybe it was the light snow falling outside the window, the way his hand interlaced with mine, or the way his eyes softened when he looked at me. Perhaps it was the whiskey warming my veins or the simple comfort of the chicken dinner I’d cooked for us earlier.
Maybe it was all those things. Or none of them.
Maybe it was just the undeniable, bone-deep truth that I am devastatingly, irrevocably in love with Asher Hammond.
The urge to tell him flares, even though I know he doesn’t believe in love—or at least, not for himself.
The romantic in me argues that he’s changed. He’s far different from the man I met that first night, when the lines between us were drawn in sarcasm and challenge.
There are moments—so many moments—that whisper I’m not like the others who came before me. This vacation is one of them.
Maybe it’s enough.
Maybe he’ll stay forever.
“Earth to Ori. You okay?” Ash waves a hand in front of my face, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I snap from my reverie and offer him a rueful smile. “Just thinking.”
“Always dangerous where you’re concerned. What’s up?”
Since there’s no way I’m sharing my actual inner dialogue, I opt for a safe subject. “Do you think the cold will hamper the progress on the carriage house?”
It’s a legitimate question—Eddie’s crew has been moving at a snail’s pace lately. I get it; the finer details take far longer to complete and don’t offer the same wow factor as a new bathroom or kitchen, even though they’re just as important.
But Ash, my unofficial partner in crime throughout this renovation, insists on period-appropriate accents and splashes. He has strong opinions on everything from wall sockets to drawer pulls, but I know it’s because he’s thinking of me. Plus, his taste is impeccable.
After all, he’s dating me, isn’t he?
Yes, I’m allowed a few moments to bask in triumph. There are hundreds of women who want Asher Hammond, and he chose me.
Take that, mean girls.
Ash sighs, his focus shifting to his plate. “It likely will. Batteries on the power tools don’t last in extreme temperatures. But it’s supposed to warm up in the next few days, and good old Eddie will get back to work.”
There’s no mistaking the sarcasm in his voice.
“Why do you hate Eddie so much? Has he done something to you?”
Ash shrugs, his gaze dropping to his food. “I just don’t like the guy,” he mutters, his fork pausing mid-air.
I know that tell, and I plan to milk it for all it’s worth. “Are you jealous of my relationship with Eddie?”
It’s a joke. There’s nothing between Eddie and me, but the muscle twitching in Ash’s jaw tells me I’ve hit a nerve.
“You are jealous,” I say, leaning back with a sigh. “I know you’re a brilliant tradesman, but Ash, you’re so busy. The house would never get done if I relied on you and Braden to do all the heavy lifting. There aren’t enough hours in the day.”
“I know,” he mutters, stabbing at his eggs without meeting my eyes.
“Then what’s the problem? Eddie does great work, and you know it.”
Ash tosses his fork down and finally meets my gaze. “I don’t like the way he looks at you. Like he sees something I don’t deserve.”
My chest tightens, the rawness in his voice unraveling me.
“I haven’t noticed that.”
“Yeah, well, I have. Trust me, he’s been analyzing me, too—like he’s waiting for me to screw up so he can swoop in and steal you away.”
I reach across the table and squeeze his hand, letting my thumb trace over his skin. “No one is stealing me away from you. Besides, you only have one guy to fight off. I deal with an entire legion of Asher Hammond fans on a daily basis.”
Do I love that he’s concerned about another man homing in on what’s his? Absolutely. It’s the proof I need that maybe, just maybe, he’s in the same emotional place as me.
A smile cuts across Ash’s face, and he leans over to kiss me. “No other woman stands a chance.”
“I like that. Still, I’m going to keep staking my claim. It’s too bad that humans can’t operate like dogs. If I pee on it, it’s mine.”
That does it. Ash throws his head back in a laugh, the sound rich and unguarded, before sliding into the booth beside me and wrapping me in a hug. “I have fetishes, but that is not one of them.”
“Duly noted.”
The announcer calls out our flight, and Ash tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering. “You ready for some fun in the sun, little one?”
“Born ready.”
Stepping off a plane from single-digit weather into balmy sunshine feels like magic.
I inhale deeply, the air sweet with the lush, heady aroma of hibiscus and frangipani, their perfume mingling with the salty tang of the ocean breeze. Tossing my discarded sweatshirt over my shoulder, I shoot Ash a grin and skip toward the baggage claim.
Sue me. This weather is bliss.
Ash shakes his head, but there’s no hiding the grin spreading across his face. At the baggage carousel, he grabs my hand and pulls me into his arms, pressing a kiss to my shoulder before nuzzling the crook of my neck. “Someone’s happy.”
“Are you kidding? This is paradise. I think I’ll just stay here. Want to join me?”
“Do you promise to parade around in bikinis daily?”
“No.”
His eyes widen, and I laugh. “Who wants to wear that much clothing in this heat?”
He tightens his hold, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Remember what you said? These curves are reserved for a select few. As in me. Only me.”
I blink, caught off guard. I can’t believe he remembers me saying that at the holiday fair. Seems he was paying more attention than I realized.
I plant my hands on my hips and give him a mock scowl. “Are you acting the part of the possessive boyfriend?”
“Absolutely. You’re mine. End of story.”
Damn, but I love how that sounds. I love being his.
And I truly believe we have a future together. What that future looks like is anyone’s guess, but I’ll play it as it comes. Ash may be reserved when it comes to love, but I know how much he cares about me.
Hell, giving up every other woman in his life says more than words ever could.
Ash’s phone rings, and he answers it with a smirk. “Let me guess—your maternal radar went on high alert the second my feet hit Florida. Am I close?”
Ah, Ash’s mom. I know they’re close—he’s always showing me their latest sailing or restaurant adventures on social media—but this feels different. Does she know I exist? And if she does, what does she think of me?
“We’re here for four days. That’s all the time either of us could take off.” He glances at me with a smile. “Mom says hello.”
“Hi, Mrs. Hammond,” I reply, feeling oddly self-conscious.
“Ori says hi,” he relays into the phone. “Yeah, I wish Tampa was closer, too. I miss you. Love you, Mom.” He hangs up just as our luggage comes down from the carousel.
He grabs my suitcase before I can reach for it, his movements casual but full of purpose. “I bet she was hoping to see you while you were in Florida,” I say, testing the waters.
Ash shrugs, the corner of his mouth tugging into a small smile. “I think she was hoping to see you, actually.”
“Me? How come?”
He claims his own suitcase and pulls up the handle, motioning toward the rental car station. “Why do you think? Might have something to do with the fact that I’ve told her about you.”
My heart skips at his words, but I’m determined to play it cool. “You have? What did you say? That I’m amazing and a goddess in bed? Please tell me you didn’t say that last part.”
“Definitely not discussing our sex life with my mom,” he replies, his smirk growing. “But I did tell her I like you a little. That you keep me entertained.”
I roll my eyes, even as a laugh escapes me. I know he’s messing with me—his shit-eating grin serves as proof. I also know that any kind of public declaration is difficult for Ash, so while some women might find his words underwhelming, I realize what a big step it is for him to have mentioned me at all.
To anyone outside his immediate circle in Sparkwood.
“Thank God,” I sigh dramatically, grinning at him. “I was worried you told her I’m the greatest woman on the planet. That’s far too much hype to live up to. I prefer striving for mediocrity.”
“Little one,” he says, his voice a husky growl, “you haven’t been mediocre a day in your life.”
Looping my arm through his, we walk to the rental car counter and hand over our reservation paperwork. “Some might say the same for you, Mr. Hammond.”
“You’re just saying that because I stole you away from the ice and snow.”
“It sure as hell didn’t hurt your cause.”
Ash grabs the keys from the agent, and we stroll to our ride for the next few days—a sporty convertible, perfect for soaking up every drop of tropical air. “If that’s the case, then just wait until you see the hotel,” he says, a hint of mischief in his tone.
I wrap my arms around his waist, resting my chin on his chest as I gaze up at him. “Don’t need to. This is already one of the best days ever.”
He tilts my chin and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Just you wait, beautiful.”
The moment we arrive at the hotel, I understand exactly what Ash was referring to. It’s stunning—a high-end resort nestled on the beach, complete with onsite restaurants and luxury boutiques for when the shopping bug strikes.
The second I open the door to our temporary home, I freeze. Tropical bouquets burst with color in every corner of the suite, their perfume a lush mix of sweetness and spice, mingling with the faint saltiness carried in from the ocean breeze. Rose petals lie scattered across the bed, a box of decadent chocolates sits on the side table, and a bottle of champagne chills in an ice bucket, glistening with condensation.
It’s breathtaking.
“They think of everything. Talk about setting the mood,” I murmur.
Ash steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist as he lifts my bag from my shoulder and tosses it onto a nearby chair. “They didn’t think of this. I requested it.”
I twist in his embrace to face him. “You did all of this?”
He shrugs, his eyes warm as he leans in to kiss me. “I wanted it to be as special as you are.”
My chest tightens as I take it all in—every detail he arranged, every thoughtful touch. Blinking back tears, I rise on tiptoe and kiss him hard. “Any chance you might want to explore this bed before we explore the resort?”
A slow smile spreads across his face as he eases me onto the soft mattress, his hands cradling me with care. “No, but I will gladly explore every inch of you .”