Chapter Eleven
Ashley
Best twenty-four hours ever.
From the moment our eyes locked for the first time in that aircraft hangar, I’d been under his spell.
Even when he was exhausted, he’d been thoughtful and made me feel safe and secure, not to mention desired. Sleeping in his muscular arms had been like being in a protected cocoon. Then he told me not to change the way I looked.
Now his hand was protectively on my back while we walked up his friend’s driveway as Tank barked excitedly in the window.
“I miss that dog so fucking much,” he muttered.
“I know you do.”
His steps faltered, and he looked over at me with a soft smile. “Yeah, I guess you do. You probably know more about me than everyone who was waiting to greet me when I got off the plane, combined.”
“That’s a two-way street, you know.”
He reached for my free hand and kissed my knuckles. “Good.”
Our time together was going to go too fast, of that I was certain.
“So, how long will you be in the Middle East?”
“It’s hard to say. We could be back in three months, or it could be another year.” He grinned when he nudged my shoulder with his. “Why? Trying to get rid of me already?”
“On the contrary. I’m trying to figure out when I’ll get to see you again.”
“Don’t,” he shook his head. “Don’t do that, sweetness. Let’s enjoy our time now without worrying about the future.”
His phrasing struck me as odd, but I nodded in agreement anyway. “You’re right. It’s just hard not to look forward to being with you again.”
“I’m here all weekend, baby.”
“I know. But I’ve liked spending time with you.”
We approached Ryan’s front door, and he tugged me against him to whisper in my ear, “I’ve loved being with you, so let’s focus on appreciating the time we have together and not worry about when we’re going to see each other again.”
A sudden realization hit me, and I blurted out as I pulled away, “You don’t want to see me when you get back?”
His brows knitted together, and he took my hand.
“What? No! That’s not what I’m saying. But I don’t know how long it’s going to be before I’m back. Or hell, if I’ll even make it back. I don’t think it would be fair of me to ask you to wait.”
“I’ll wait.”
“You say that now, sweetness…”
I could hear Tank whining on the other side of the door, and Ryan opened it without either of us even ringing the bell.
“You’re torturing Tank!” Ryan admonished as the dog barreled into Sloane.
Sloane knelt to greet his fur baby.
“Hi, buddy!” he said as he rubbed both the dog’s ears at the same time. The golden retriever’s face was so expressive, I could see how happy he was as his owner petted him.
Ryan gave me a side-shoulder hug. “Good to see you again, Ashley.”
“Good to see you, too.”
We watched as Tank ate up Sloane’s affection.
“He’s missed you, too,” I observed.
“Am I an asshole for being relieved about that?”
“There’s no way he’s going to forget about you. No matter how many comfy beds and dog treats I try to bribe him with,” Ryan teased.
****
Sloane
I was so fucking gone over this woman.
Not wanting to lose contact with her, I’d held her hand the entire drive to Ryan’s. Then, as we walked to his door, I kept my hand at the small of her back as she carried the homemade cheesecake.
She didn’t seem to mind my touch. On the contrary, I didn’t miss the way she leaned into me when she got out of the car. Or how she nestled against my side as we talked on Ryan’s front porch while Tank, after seeing us from the window, howled on the other side of the door until Ryan opened it. She moved just in time as my goofy golden retriever plowed straight into me at full speed, almost knocking me over.
I’d wanted to give my dog a name that reflected my military service, but I had no idea when he was only a puppy how perfectly the name would fit him once he grew up.
“Hi, buddy!” I exclaimed as I dropped to one knee and rubbed his ears and then the scruff around his neck while he whined with excitement. Once I stood, he barked at me, as if to admonish me for stopping the attention.
I felt guilty as fuck for having left him, so I didn’t hesitate to resume petting him once we walked inside.
“Don’t fall for his neglected act. Josh picked him up this morning, and they spent the day at the beach. He just got home about thirty minutes ago.”
“Wait,” I heard Ashley say. “Josh Kennedy ? Did he go to Verde Canyon?”
Ryan angled his head suspiciously. “We both did, but we’re six years apart. Why?”
“I think he and I went to school together.”
“Oh yeah? Was he a jerk?”
“Not to me. He was always friendly and really smart in all of my science classes. If I remember correctly, he went to Pepperdine?”
“Yeah. But he dropped out and started his own company making laundry detergent that comes in biodegradable packaging he developed. It was for a project in one of his chemical engineering classes, and he ran with it.”
“That’s amazing. Good for him.”
“How did you remember he went to Pepperdine?”
“Because I got accepted there, too.”
“But you didn’t go?”
“No, I went where I got the most scholarships—”
“Cal State Long Beach,” I supplied, trying not to puff my chest out that I knew that. “Where you’re also getting your doctorate.”
She looked at me with a smile. “You remembered.”
I returned her smile. “Of course I did.”
For a moment, as Ashley and I looked into each other’s eyes, we were the only two people in the room. Then Ryan broke the spell when he proclaimed louder than necessary, “ Anyway , I hope you two are hungry.”
“Starving,” we proclaimed in unison, then turned back to grin at each other.
“You two are disgustingly adorable,” Ryan grumbled, then turned on his heel and headed in the opposite direction.
“Your place looks great, dude,” I observed as we followed him into a gourmet kitchen with what appeared to be new cherry wood cabinets and shiny new appliances. Ryan took Ashley’s dessert and sat it on the new grey-flecked granite countertop, next to a basket of bread. On the island stovetop sat a pot of something boiling. Ryan turned the knob down.
“Thanks. It’s been a labor of love, of sorts.”
“Really? I thought it’s been keeping your mind off love.”
“That, too.”
“I can tell the cabinets and counters are new, but something’s different. What did you do?”
“I took down the wall that divided the two rooms”—he pointed to where a half-wall of cabinets now stood—“replaced the flooring and added a new island and range hood.”
“So, when you’re not working on your house, you’re working overtime to pay for all this,” I said with a grin. I was sure that copper range hood cost more than my first car.
“Pretty much. It keeps me busy.”
“And out of trouble.”
Ryan nodded solemnly. “That’s the goal.”
I looked over to find Ashley with quizzical brows, so I filled her in. “Ryan called off his wedding to Lauren—on the morning of—when he realized he was in love with Grace, whom he’d met the night before at his bachelor party. Except, Grace won’t date him until he’s been single for a year.” With a glance at Ryan who was glaring at me with his mouth open, I asked, “Did I forget anything?”
Ryan raised his shoulders in defeat. “That pretty much sums it up.”
Ashley’s eyebrows were now in her hairline.
“Grace Ericson? The woman who was at the hangar yesterday?”
“You know her?”
She shook her head. “No, I hadn’t met her before yesterday. But I’ve seen her picture in the paper.”
The firefighter openly grimaced. “Which is part of the reason why she won’t date me for another eight months. Because of those fucking vultures.”
“Aw, I bet she’ll come around before the year’s up. I saw how she was looking at you yesterday.”
Ryan’s face lit up at Ashley’s revelation. “How was she looking at me?”
I chimed in, “Exactly how you were looking at her.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
Ashley giggled. “It’s a very good thing.”
“I’m hoping by the time I finish the house, she’ll at least agree to have dinner with me.”
“By the time it’s finished? What’s left?”
“Still a few rooms. Come on, I’ll give you the nickel tour.”
****
Ashley
Ryan showed us around his four-bedroom bungalow, pausing outside a bedroom that he hadn’t started remodeling yet but had cleared out.
“I think I’m just going to leave this room empty for now. I’ve got one guest room, so I think that’s plenty, since you’re the only one who’s ever even stayed here.”
Sloane tilted his head. “Why leave it empty?”
“In case I need to turn it into another office.”
It was my turn to tilt my head in confusion. “But you already have an office.”
“Yeah, but if I get a roommate , she might want her own office. Especially if she’s doing a residency or something.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at how smitten he appeared to be with Grace.
“You seem to have someone particular in mind.”
“Yeah, about that… I’d appreciate it if what we talk about tonight is kept between us—especially if either of you happen to talk to Grace tomorrow at your party.”
Sloane threw his head back with a groan. “You’re still having that?”
“Duh. Everyone wants to see you. Plus, Grace agreed to come with Maddie and Craig, so even if no one wanted to see you, we’d be having it.”
Sloane clapped Ryan on the back. “Anything I can do to help your love life, buddy.”
“I appreciate that. Now, come on, I think the potatoes are ready to be mashed, and I’ll throw the steaks on the grill.”
I watched how easily the two men laughed with—and at—each other over dinner. It was obvious from their exchange there was a lot of love between the two, almost like they were brothers. And I appreciated how they made sure to include me; any inside jokes between them, Sloane was quick to explain to me, so I didn’t feel left out. He also made it a point to keep me within arm’s reach of him. Every time he stroked my arm, tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear, or placed his arm behind me made me feel special. And I would swear those blue eyes of his twinkled with mischief every time he looked over at me with a grin or a wink. It made me melt each time.
I’d never had a guy seem to be so into me. It made me almost giddy.
Even Tank appeared to like me—although, I got the impression the golden retriever would like anyone who petted him or threw his ball for him.
It’d been such a nice night that when Ryan stood and declared, “You guys can stay as late as you want, but I gotta get to bed. I have a six-a.m. shift,” I was surprised to glance at my watch to find it was almost eleven o’clock.
Sloane stood, and replied, “We’ll get out of your hair. Thanks for dinner.”
I quickly followed suit and murmured my thanks as well, and the three of us headed toward the foyer. Before opening the front door, Sloane knelt to scratch Tank’s ears and kiss him goodbye.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, buddy.”
When we walked out the door, the dog followed us, and Ryan called after him.
Tank seemed torn about who to follow, so Sloane said, “Go on,” and motioned toward Ryan, who in turn patted his leg. Reluctantly, the golden retriever turned back toward the house, but not without giving his owner one last look with sad puppy-dog eyes.
Sloane groaned, “Aw, Tank, you’re killing me!”
Ryan let the dog inside then closed the door, so it was just the man’s head sticking out.
“Dude, I promise you—he’s fine. We spoil the shit out of him.”
“I know. He just makes it hard.”
“He’s doing that on purpose. I guarantee he’s already asleep in his bed. Go. Do not feel guilty.”
Sloane nodded. “I’ll try. Thanks again. For everything.”
Ryan waved goodbye and closed the door, and we made our way to my car.
I could tell Sloane was still upset when he pulled the Camry onto the main road, so I offered, “I’m sure he’s fine. It’s like when people drop their kid off at daycare and he cries, but the minute they leave, he’s laughing and happy.”
“I just feel like I’m letting him down.”
“You’ve made sure he’s well taken care of. That’s hardly letting him down.”
Sloane reached for my hand and squeezed it.
“Thanks. I needed to hear that.”
“It’s true, so anytime.”
He seemed lost in thought as his fingers lazily traced my bare kneecap. It wasn’t long, however, before they slowly skimmed up my thigh. My nipples pebbled as his touch moved higher.
His voice was husky when he asked, “You know what else I need?”
My legs widened on their own volition, and I whimpered, “Hmm?”
He ran his finger down the seam of my pussy over my panties, and I just knew the satin was damp.
“I need to taste your sweetness.”
Feeling bold, I reached across the console to stroke the denim over his bulge and purred, “What a coincidence. I need to taste your saltiness.”
“Baby girl… this car is too small to pull over and fuck you in.”
“So, drive faster.”