He smiled a little at that.“I wouldn’t have minded fixing it, if you did.”
“That’s just it.I thought you were a shy, tongue-tied handyman who was raised on a farm.Who was nice enough to come over whenever I called.Just being polite.”
“I’m not shy.Not really tongue-tied.I just didn’t want to lie to you so I thought saying the least I could about anything having to do with my job was better.That’s why I stuck to stories about growing up.”
Thank goodness.This all would be a nonstarter for her if he’d been lying to her the whole time.Or probably if he was really that shy.“I see that now.”
“And that’s not the kind of man you want?The shy, kind-of-bumbling guy?”
She took a step closer.“No.I was attracted to youdespitethe shyness.Not because of it.”
He tilted his head to the side.“Good.I never minded being here, you know.I wanted to.I always hoped you would call.”
She took another step forward like a magnet pulled her.Her fingertips itched to touch him.
“And, of course, I wanted to help.Because I knew...”He trailed off, looking down at the ground.“I knew what happened with Tyler.”
The heat building inside her completely dissipated with his words.
She should’ve known, of course.Should’ve guessed that he knew about Tyler.Omega Sector wasn’t that big.Ashton obviously knew Joe and so it made sense that he’d know about Tyler’s death.
She could feel something inside her shriveling.Shy or confident, Ashton still hadn’t been here all these months because he wanted her.
“Summer, what?What just happened?Tell me.”
She took a step back, studying the ground.She couldn’t say it.It was too hard.She shook her head.
But he just stepped closer.“What, Summer?Tell me.”He slid a finger under her chin, the first time he’d touched her since he’d walked into the condo.
“I thought you were here because you liked me, okay?Me.Everybody else in my life knows about Tyler.Knows how he died.Thinks of me—to at least some degree—as the poor young widow and single mom who lost her husband tragically.”She threw up her arms, volume rising again.“I thought you were the handyman who didn’t know anything about me!Who was just too shy to ask me out.”
“Summer—”
She stepped back farther.“But instead, just like everyone else, you were just here because you felt sorry for me.Wanted to make my life easier.I just want someone to want me forme.For that desire to be completely untainted by the ‘poor young widow’ scenario.”
He threaded a hand through his hair.“It wasn’t like that at all.Was never like that.”
“But you knew about Tyler’s death before you started your handyman duties.”
He took in a deep breath.“Well, yeah.Everyone knew.”
Exactly.Everyoneknew.She turned her face away, letting out a sigh.
“And that’s always going to be the case, isn’t it?You’re never going to be able to see me without it being through the widow filter.You’re never just going to see me as Summer, the woman.”
Vaguely aware she was being unreasonable, fussing at a man who’d done nothing but help her for months but seeming unable to stop, she turned toward the kitchen.
“Summer—”
She didn’t turn back to look at him.Couldn’t look at that gorgeous face, those brown eyes.“I get it, Ashton.I really do.You’re a decent person.You don’t want me to struggle.But I don’t think it’smeyou really want.”
She walked into the kitchen but barely made it two steps before his large hands snaked around her waist, spinning and pushing her up against the counter.
She gasped, unaware he could move so silently or quickly, although she shouldn’t be surprised.She grasped his biceps to keep her balance.
“Our history will always be complicated because of my involvement with Omega, but you damn well can put away any doubts that I don’t want you,” he said, leaning in so their faces were just inches apart.“Because mistakes or no mistakes, secrets or not, I have always wanted you with a ferocity that eats through me.”
Then he kissed her, his hand reaching to curl around her neck, the hold possessive.His tongue traced her lips before thrusting into her mouth.
