5. Ashton
The crime scene photos in front of me were a relentless reminder that my world had changed over the last six months. They had consumed my every waking moment since I’d gotten them.
Despite the cops insisting that this had been a robbery because the diamond rose earrings that she’d worn for years were missing from her body, I felt as if she’d been murdered by someone she knew.
I stared at the position of Abby’s body for a few more moments before I finally tucked the file inside my desk and out of sight.
Standing, I exited out of my home office. The house was super quiet and no one was the wiser that I was back yet.
By my calculations, Halo would have driven them to the equestrian lessons by now. They would ride home with another girl who did riding lessons in the neighborhood.
Halo though, according to the GPS tracker was inside of Peaches and Cream Boutique owned by none other than Diamond Scarpetta, aka the mob queen of Atlanta.
Grabbing my keys off the hook, I headed to the garage and found my head of security on my ass. The man moved like a shadow and there was no losing him.
“Sir,” he said.
The man was at least three feet taller than I was. His gaze pierced my own. “Mark, I’m just headed out for the evening.”
“Sir,” he said again causing me to stop, his tone remaining respectful. “Let me do my job and keep you safe.”
He didn’t give a shit about offending me and that was why I’d hired and kept him on. He would die before he let me come to harm.
“Fine, you can drive…”
I tossed him the keys and he grinned as we entered the blacked-out SUV. I told him where we needed to go and he punched the destination into the GPS.
Mark maneuvered us through the city of Atlanta without incident. Pulling up to Peaches and Cream, I had him park across the street.
A neon light in the shape of a giant peach that looked like an ass shown brightly. Inside the store, I could see Halo standing around pensively as if unsure of what she was doing inside.
I loved watching her, especially when she was unaware.
Her presence did something to me, she made me nervous on a level I’d never known. I was the son of a Yakuza drug lord, there was no way a woman should be making me anxious. There was no room in my life for that particular emotion.
And yet... I didn’t want to give her up. After all, I’d chosen her the minute Ms. May had shown her to me. Peering in closer, my nose nearly pressed against the glass I continued to observe my wife. Mark shifted in the front seat, reminding me that I wasn’t alone. That I couldn’t whip my dick out and beat off to her like I did when I was alone.
As I stared, trying hard to see what my wife was doing, Mark’s words broke through my anxious thoughts. “Should I go in with you, sir?”
I shook my head. “No, stay here. Keep an eye on things…besides the guards seem to make Halo nervous.”
I stepped out of the SUV and crossed the street in a few steps. I could feel Mark’s gaze on me the entire time. Opening the door to the boutique, the bell above gave a jingle as I entered.
My gaze narrowed on Halo whose back was to me as she picked up a silk scarf. I heard her murmur something about the price.
Clearing my throat, I watched as she jumped in surprise. “Find anything nice”
“Oh my God, Ashton…” Halo’s eyes were wide with shock, and she clutched at her throat. “You’ shouldn’t scare people like that.”
I nodded before taking the scarf she was still clutching from her hands. “Sorry.”
Halo seemed to regain her senses. “It’s okay. And to answer your question, I’ve been staring at the prices for twenty minutes. This place is pricey.”
A smirk painted my lips. “You know…I’ve been tracking your credit card expenses for the last few months.”
“Am I…am I spending too much?”
I handed the scarf back to her and watched as she accepted it our fingers quietly brushing. “I’m pretty meticulous about finances. Not because I’m worried about money, but that’s just how my mind works. I have a degree in finance from Yale…”
Halo had started to twist the scarf slightly in her hands and I could tell the second she bit at her lip I was making her nervous.
“I’ll spend less,” she offered.
“Halo that’s the thing, you haven’t bought anything but gas and groceries. If we’re being honest it”s unacceptable.”
Her eyes seemed to go wide with shock. “What?”
Looking around I spotted a sales clerk and waved her over. “Halo, you’re going to buy this store out.”
The sales clerk finally sashayed over, a smile painted on her face. “Do you need anything, sir?”
The way her words dripped from her lips screamed seduction. This was a women’s boutique but she hadn’t spared Halo a second glance. My eyes scanned over her name tag. Paylynn. It was an interesting name even by American standards but I assumed she’d scanned the suit I wore and knew that it was high-end.
“Paylynn, I’m a close friend of Mrs. Scarpetta’s,” I turned back to my wife.
“Ah, yes, I was told you were coming in today,” she continued to smile, pushing herself further between Halo and me.
I didn’t like it.
Taking a breath, my smile turned tight. “My wife is the one shopping. Not me.”
The sales clerk smiled even brighter and peered around me. “When will she be joining me.”
Halo cleared her throat then. “I’m here. I’ve been here for over twenty minutes.”
Realization crossed over the woman’s face and she turned redder than a baboon’s ass. She took a breath and turned to Halo, a tight smile on her face.
“I had no idea,” she offered. “Please, let me get you both some champagne while you shop. We just got a new shipment of items in that would look lovely on you.”
We watched as Paylynn scurried off, eager to fetch us champagne before Halo leaned in. Her eyes shined and I found myself stepping back. “I think it’s how I’m dressed.”
My eyes raked over her form. The faded blue jeans she had on weren’t exactly designer but the hugged hugged her hips just right. The old Braves t-shirt was wrinkled and a hole was forming towards the bottom hemline. Halo didn’t look like she’d ever shopped in a fancy boutique but for all I cared, she could have been wearing a brown paper bag. She was effortlessly gorgeous. The way her hair refused to be tamed by the bun and rebellious strands still popped loose and her hazel eyes had me ready to beg to fuck her.
And her mouth.
Halo’s mouth was perfectly pouty, with a perfect cupid bow. A small amount of sheen from the Cherry Chapstick she used to coat them gleamed under the store lights.
I chuckled softly, enjoying the view and gesturing to all the stuff surrounding us. “I’m sure but don’t worry about her. Worry about finding the most expensive shit you can find.”
“Again, are you sure?”
Stepping in slightly closer, so close I could inhale her strawberry shampoo, I grinned. “Let me worry about the price tags in here. And Halo, I’m always sure.”
We were interrupted by Paylynn coming back with the champagne. “Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka, my boss just texted me and informed me that you’re celebrating your six-month anniversary.”
Never taking my gaze off my wife, I replied. “We are.”
Halo glanced up at me, her eyes shining. “Can’t believe it’s already been six months.”
I bit my lip because I couldn’t believe it either. “I want you to have the best of everything, Halo. No matter the cost…”
My wife blushed under my gaze Paylynn handed each of us a glass of Diamond Scarpetta’s finest bubbly then she showed us to the dressing room area. Halo and I sat down for just a moment while Paylynn began to pull items from the racks.
“This is really strange,” Halo sighed softly the champagne flute to her lips.
“What is?”
She shyly glanced over at me. “We…we haven’t talked very much since the wedding. Honestly, I didn’t think…I thought you kind of hated me.”
A deep breath came out from between my lips and then I drank deeply from my glass of champagne. The bubbles tingled all the way down my throat. “I don’t hate you, Halo…with everything going on…I’m just not an emotionally available person.”
Halo nodded understandingly. “Well, I know that your nieces will be happy to see you, as am I.”
Paylnn returned with an armful of designer dresses in a rainbow of many colors. Halo put her champagne aside and I knew she was still worried about the cost. It would do no good to tell her that I was one of the richest men in the world from both my father’s legal and illegal business dealings.
No.
I simply wanted her to enjoy herself while trying on the clothes for me. With each item, her smile deepened and thawed out my cold heart.
It was as if I were seeking some desperate approval, and I had no idea why.