Chapter 7 #2
“Yeah, but they always play good stuff. They’re supposed to be in town for a concert this weekend.” That was as close as she would come to asking him out although getting ahold of tickets to what was probably a sold-out show would be nearly impossible.
He licked his lower lip. “Yeah, I’ve heard their stuff is good.”
She playfully punched him in the shoulder. “What? You’re not a fan?”
According to Forest, it was impossible for any male in the world not to be into Angel Fire’s pounding rhythms. He’d also said every girl wanted into at least one band member’s pants. She could recognize the band’s signature sound, but that was where it ended for her.
Ash laughed. “Not exactly a fan. You?”
“I’m not the fangirl type.” She shrugged. “Too busy with important things to follow any one band. I know what I like, but I can barely match a band with one of their songs. My brother likes Angel Fire and plays them nonstop. That’s the only reason I even know who that band is.”
A line formed between his brows. “Important things? Like what?”
“Well, like medical school, residency, and studying my ass off to pass the boards. I rarely listen to music, but I know what I like. That’s pretty much the end of it.”
Forest managed their shared music files. She’d push shuffle and let the music run, skipping over the tracks she didn’t like. Otherwise, she wouldn’t pay much attention. Forest, on the other hand, knew every band, every song, and the name of every musician, but then he knew just about everything.
“Oh.” A frown crossed his face and then disappeared. He downed the last of his coffee and chewed his lower lip. “Look, I know your life might be a bit complex right now, but it sounds to me like you should reevaluate your priorities.” He traced a circle over her kneecap.
She batted his hand away. “I don’t want to talk about my fiancé.”
“Asshat is back to being your fiancé?” He drew a heart shape on her upper thigh. “With the way you were kissing me, I’m surprised.”
“I said it was complicated. I’m taking the next three days to figure things out.” She waved her hands in the air. “My boss has a cabin, and he’s letting me use it. Just me, the woods, and miles of hiking trails to sort out my head.”
“What about your heart? You forgot about your heart. And where’s Mr. Asshat going to be?”
“He’s away on business.”
Ash grew silent for a long moment. “Three days?”
She nodded.
“Alone, in a cabin, in the woods, by yourself?” He looked at her like she was crazy.
Another nod. She wished he’d stop giving her that look. She wasn’t crazy.
“Interesting.”
She tucked her chin and glanced at him sideways. “How is that interesting?”
More silence.
Then, he suddenly leaned forward. “Do you believe in fate?”
With her history? “No, I don’t believe in fate.” What child deserved the hell she and Forest had endured?
“I do.” He stood and held out a hand. “Come.”
“Excuse me?”
“I happen to have three days free.”
“And?”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Um…what?” Her heart dropped, pounding fast and furious with the butterflies Ash had set aflight in her stomach.
He pulled her into his arms. “It’s time to uncomplicate your life. Last night, we missed each other, but now, we have a second chance. Looks like I have three days to persuade you to take a chance on someone who won’t treat you like your asshat ex.”
“What do you mean, like he treats me? You barely know me. I find it a bit presumptuous of you to judge me, my life, or the man I intend to marry.”
He tilted his sunglasses down, looking over the rim, letting her know exactly how serious he was. Velvet green held her captive. “You’re not marrying him. You and I both know this. Now, let me show you why.”
“I’m sorry, but you can’t invite yourself along on my trip. I don’t know anything about you.”
“You’re right. You don’t know me at all, but you want to.”
The couch pressed against the backs of her calves, blocking her escape route.
She put a palm against his chest to push him back.
Wrong move. The hardened planes of his muscles stretched under the soft cotton of his T-shirt.
His body heat radiated against her palm, and his heart thumped, slow and steady, beneath her hand.
An answering resonance sounded deep in her chest.
He covered her hand, stroking it with his long fingers. “What more do you need to know? We share a connection.”
She felt it all right. Every single breath, lick, and caress of it had awakened her senses. She remembered him pressing her against the wall.
“If we were somewhere more private, I’d have you stripped by now.”
His bold words should have had her running for the hills.
“I want to be buried deep inside you until you can’t think.”
Such blatant sexuality from a man would typically have her crawling inside her shell and dissembling as past memories overtook her conscious thought. The heat of his words, however, had washed over her, and for the first time, she hadn’t frozen from a man’s touch.
Wanting more of that, she ran her fingers over the fabric of his shirt and thought about all the reasons to say no.
“Ash, I’m sorry, but I can’t.” That was a lie. And, after Spencer's betrayal, didn’t she deserve a chance to find out if Ash might be right?
His hand curled around hers. “Take a chance, Skye. What do you have to lose?”
The urgency of his gaze was too much. She tried to look away. “You don’t understand.”
“Look at me.”
He bent down until his eyes were level with hers. Golden flecks in a sea of green stared at her with confidence and need. “Give me a chance.” He straightened and flashed a cocky grin. “After three nights with me, you won’t even remember his name.”
A shiver ran down her spine, but her practical nature overrode the reactions he’d pulled from her body. Was that all he wanted? Sex was the last thing she was looking for.
“Sorry, but I’m not interested in becoming another notch on your belt.”
He breathed out a long sigh and tilted his head back. “I’ve never been stood up until you. Never been denied until—shit, this is crazy, but what if I gave my word to keep my junk in my jeans?”
She burst out laughing.
“You think that’s funny?” His brows drew together as he regarded her with an intense stare. His voice lowered to a mumble. “Well, I’m serious. If that’s what it takes for you to let me come with you, I’ll keep my junk in my jeans.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, stop saying that.”
His eyes narrowed. “I never tease about sex.”
“You’d come with me, knowing there’s no chance of sex?” Dear God, had she just said yes?
He lifted her hand and brushed her knuckles against his lips. “Deal, but only for three days. After that, we renegotiate.”
“I have to go home and pack. Do you want to meet me back here after you get your stuff?”
He shook his head. “No, I can buy what I need on the way.”
“How is it that you happen to have free time?”
He flashed a mysterious smile. “I’ve got the time, babe.”
A worm of doubt wriggled in her belly. “Are you on vacation or something?”
“Kind of. More like, here on business, but as long as I’m back by Friday, it’ll be fine.” He gestured to the counter. “Look, let me pay for the drinks, and then we can go.”
“Never mind. I already took care of it.”
His mouth gaped. “You what?”
“I told you, I pay my own way.”
“You can’t do that.” He ran a hand over his back pocket, searching for a wallet he wouldn’t need.
“If you’re coming with me, you play by my rules. We split all costs down the middle. I have a rental to pick up, but I’ll pay for that and the gas.”
His lips formed into a thin line. “You don’t need a rental. I have a Jeep, and I’ll pay for all the gas.”
“We split the gas.”
He crossed his arms. One corner of his lips turned up, and he arched a single brow. “Does this mean, we’re negotiating?”
She laughed. “I guess so.”
“I drive. We split meals and any other activities straight down the middle?”
“Yes,” she said.
He held up a hand. “I’m not finished.”
She rolled her eyes. “Go on.”
“I’ll sleep on top of the covers if I have to, but we share the bed.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her retort.
“I get to hold your hand and kiss you as much as I like,” he stated his terms with another smirk.
“First base only but no sex,” she said. Kissing was good. Would she respond differently to him or grow cold and shut down?
“Well, let’s not get crazy.” His gaze flicked from her eyes to settle on her chest. “I mean, you have to give a guy something.”
She wasn’t sure if she wanted him touching her breasts, but she was willing to consider it. “Second base?”
His eyes narrowed. “Depends on your definition of second base. If you’re thinking of a little tongue, we’ve already done that. Quite successfully, I might add. If you’re talking about a little boob action, I’m all in. How about third base?”
That sounded dangerous. She didn’t want his fingers anywhere near down there. “I think second is far enough. Wouldn’t want to tempt you too much.”
His lips twitched. “I can keep my junk stowed, especially since we’ll be renegotiating on day four.”
His confidence had her smiling.
“We’ll see about that.” She thought of another condition. “And you wear pajamas.”
He frowned. “That’s ridiculous. I haven’t worn PJs since I was ten.”
“That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.” Her insides flipped. Were they really discussing sleeping attire? What would he look like in pajamas, considering how hot a pair of jeans looked sitting on his hips?
He vented a deep sigh. “I’m going to have the bluest balls at the end of these three days.”
She burst out laughing at his brutal honesty. The freedom with which he joked at his own expense was refreshing next to the rigidness of all things Spencer.
He lifted his hands, palms out. “I’m just saying.” He made a classic hourglass motion with his hands. “On the seventy-third hour, we’re having a talk. Now, let’s blow this joint.”