10. Asher #2
I wouldn’t tire of sitting here listening to her tell me mundane things all day long. And when she asked me to give the show a try, I knew I would find a way to get her to watch it with me.
My phone beeped. Sutton thought it was a timer I’d set as a reminder to go turn her car off but it was just the mechanic letting me know the work was done.
I made my way back outside, gave the man the cash tip I’d promised, adding a little extra because they’d brushed off her car, and then grabbed the keys and headed back inside.
Sutton watched me walk up and took the keys from my outstretched hand. “Thanks, Asher, you really didn’t have to—” The look I sent her cut her off.
“Are you distracting my employee?” Quinn asked as she walked up to Sutton's desk. She must have just gotten back from her meeting.
“I’m sorry,” Sutton started, sitting up straight. “He wasn’t—”
“I was kidding, Sutton.” Quinn smiled as she came up to me and gave me a hug.
I’d tried fighting her the first time she’d done it but she wouldn’t relent, and I was used to them now even though I preferred not to be touched.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the airport?
” she asked as she pulled back, her eyes bouncing between Sutton and me.
She knew damn well Jaxson was already at the airport and was waiting for me since he’d been texting the group complaining that I was late. I was never late.
I’d been ignoring them all as I got the coffee and detoured here.
“On my way,” I replied as Sutton looked up at me.
“You should have said something. You did not need to come and clean my car off and then let me ramble on.” She shook her head and I felt Quinn’s eyes on me.
“Do you want my keys next, Ash?” Quinn asked with a smirk on her face.
“No,” I shot back at her. She and I both knew she hadn’t driven into work today, and if she had, Knight would’ve had someone here every hour cleaning off her car.
I looked back at Sutton and found her eyes on me. “The engine needed time to warm up anyway.” I noticed Quinn step toward her office to give us some privacy. “I’m heading to Toronto, but I’ll be back on Wednesday.”
It felt wrong leaving her, but at least I knew she had a brand-new set of winter tires so she could drive safely.
One less thing for me to worry about. She had a lot on her plate that she shouldered all alone.
That shit didn’t sit right with me. So I would do what I could to take some of that weight on for her.
“Okay.” She looked like she was trying to figure out why I was telling her this.
“I’m going to text you.” I raised an eyebrow as she smiled.
“Says the man who hates texting,” I heard Quinn mutter. Guess she hadn’t given us that much privacy. I shot her a look over my shoulder before focusing back on Sutton.
“Why do you say that like it’s a threat?” she asked. I shook my head at her but she was right; my tone had been rather threatening. “Okay,” she said when she realized I wasn’t going to say anything.
I held her eyes for another moment so she knew that I was serious and then nodded at her and forced myself to turn around.
“Safe flight, Ash,” Quinn said as she gave me another hug. “Getting quite chatty there, grump number one,” she whispered in my ear as she pulled back with laughter dancing in her eyes.
“Don’t start,” I grumbled before I headed out of the office to get to the airfield.
Knight
How’d it go?
Me
Jaxson wants to bring them on.
Jaxson
Their security staff is top notch. Most are ex-military and are intimidating as fuck.
But also…
Well trained and very professional. They’ve made good money in the five years they’ve been open and would be a good addition to the team. They don’t like the business side so they’re happy to sell so we can manage that part.
Oli
Any major issues when you looked through their files?
Me
No.
Noah
Anyone else feel like getting information from Ash is as comfortable as getting a root canal?
Quinn
Noah, you’ve known him for over twenty years. You aren’t used to him by now?
Noah
Oh, I’m used to it but it still sometimes shocks me.
Will
You guys are home tomorrow?
Jaxson
Yeah, we’re heading to a bar near the hotel for some food.
Someone wants to be out of here before 6.
Oli
Why?
Noah
@Will. I noticed the topic change.
Not cool man. I was looking for anyone who agreed with me about how hard it is to get details from Asher Lawson.
Also, are you bringing company back to your rooms this evening gentlemen?
Quinn
You ask that of everyone (except Theo) every time someone is out of town Noah.
Knight
Business trips are not made for you to fuck a stranger.
Noah
Debatable.
Quinn
I have an idea why Ash wants to get home…
Me
Quinn.
I shook my head at my phone. She normally didn’t get involved and kept things to herself but she fit in well so harassing each other was part of the deal. Jaxson looked up at me from the other side of the table with a raised eyebrow.
Noah
Please share with the class.
Quinn
Hmmm *thinking emoji*
Noah
QUINN!!!
Quinn
I don’t know Noah…you’ve been a little mean lately.
Oli
He’s always a little mean. It’s part of his charm.
Will
Uh-oh
Noah
I am not MEAN! I kid around, most people (including all of you) find my sarcasm and wit charming.
I let out a sigh, put my phone face down on the table, and rubbed a hand down my face, exhausted by the day of being around people that expected me to talk.
“Hi, guys.” A woman came up beside me, her hand running along my shoulder. I tightened my jaw. “You look a little lonely over here.” She left her hand on my back while Jaxson bit his lip trying to hold in a laugh.
I hated this. This was not how I picked up women, not that I had any interest in it tonight. But even when I did, I was the pursuer.
The woman’s blonde hair was styled and her tits were pressing against me but it was doing nothing for me. Especially because her hair wasn’t the specific color of honey blonde I couldn’t get out of my head.
This woman didn’t hold a candle to Sutton.
When did she become my measuring stick?
“Are you from around here?” She practically purred the question at me as I sat there stiff as a board.
“Nope, just here for tonight,” Jaxson replied as I glared at him.
I stiffened as the woman leaned into me and whispered in my ear.
“Want to get out of here? You look like the perfect man to rock my world for a night.” I moved my eyes to her as I smelled the alcohol on her breath.
I ignored Jaxson as he held up his phone.
I didn’t like whatever it was that he was doing.
“Not tonight,” I said as I leaned away from her. She looked me over and when she met my narrowed eyes she finally removed her fucking hand from me and cleared her throat.
Jaxson and I must have looked like easy bait, sitting here alone with no wedding rings on, drinking beer on a Tuesday night.
“What about you, handsome?” The woman looked toward Jaxson. My lips twitched as I took a sip of my beer. I normally preferred bourbon but it felt too pretentious to order that here when I was already in an expensive suit.
“I’m going to have to pass too,” Jaxson said, holding back a grimace.
“Your loss.” She shrugged as she continued on her perusal of another man.
“Not a word.” I pointed to Jaxson, shaking my head as he laughed.
Two hours later we were stepping into the elevator heading to our suites. The rest of the night had been uneventful and I was planning to head to my room and see if I could get Sutton to text with me. I had my hands on the railing and my head against the wall.
“Uh-oh.” Jaxson’s eyes darted to me. I lifted my eyebrow at him as he rubbed a hand over his head.
“I didn’t think about the time difference when I sent a photo of that woman pressed against you to the group.
” I looked at him, trying to figure out where this was going.
“Q was still at work when the photo came in.”
I scowled as we stepped out of the elevator. He looked over at me with a cringe on his face.
“Spit it out,” I grumbled.
“Sutton and Q were looking at something on her phone. She saw the photo.” I glared at him as I grabbed my phone and started dialing. “Q said Sutton told her it was fine but she seemed bothered by it.”
“Damn it,” I muttered, the call going to voicemail as I walked to my room.
“Sorry, man,” Jaxson called from behind me as I went inside.
I paced in the living room for a few minutes, looking down at my phone. When she didn’t call me I decided to call again. But it went to voicemail. Again. Even with the time difference she should be home by now.
“Fuck.”
I knew that I could sleep with whoever I wanted.
Sutton and I were friends, whatever that meant for us.
But I didn’t want her to think that that was the kind of man I was.
That this was what I did when I left town.
I didn’t want her to think I was unstable or only looking for a good time.
I didn’t want her to think she couldn’t trust me. That had never really been me.
I stopped my pacing to stare at the door. I could go next door, get Jaxson to find Iris’s number. He would have it for me in under ten minutes and then I could make sure Sutton was okay but also get her to talk to me. And if he couldn’t, I would be calling the jet and leaving. Tonight.
Dialing the phone one more time, I stood glaring at the door, already planning to go to Jaxson as the phone kept ringing. I took a step, assuming that I was about to hear her voicemail telling me to leave a message yet again since the ringing felt endless.
“Hi.”
I froze mid-step as her voice came through the phone. “Sutton?”
I heard her let out a little laugh.
“You called me.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
“You didn’t answer,” I said as I moved back to the couch and sat down.
“Sorry, Soph and I just got home and she is one grumpy little bean tonight so I was trying to get her settled.”