Matt added thewater to the machine and poured some of the fresh-ground coffee into the filter.
Maybe if Belle wasn’t such a rule follower, he’d warm up to talking to his sister-in-law. But what mattered most was that his brother was happy, so he was happy for them.
Peter cleared his throat. “Matt, what’s going on?”
In a few minutes he’d have his coffee. No need to beat around the bush withhis brother, but he wiped his eyes to get out the sleep. “So, I met your surrogate out in California.”
“She really did leave town then,” Peter said. “Elizabeth wasn’t happy when my lawyers added a line about Ashley staying away from my son.”
Ashley had to escape because of his family? She hadn’t said that. Matt glanced at his staircase as he asked the burning question, “So if I seeher again it’s not going to cause you a problem?”
“She gave us our baby after Jennifer cornered her into carrying the egg. My lawyers were worried as she’d never had her own child before the surrogacy, and we hadn’t had a contract before she gave birth, when both circumstances were unusual. But Ashley cooperated and never asked for anything.”
The way all that spilled out made himrealize that Peter was being completely honest. He heard the bamboo floors creak on the stairs and he stood taller. A shadow grew on the wall. “I have to go. See everyone after I finish this movie.”
Peter said, “Goodbye.”
He hung up and turned to greet his guest.
Ashley was in a simple white t-shirt like she’d slept in the one she wore yesterday, but had shorts on that hither mid-thigh. She’d pushed her long brown hair out of her face and asked, “You were on the phone?”
Her brown eyes shone from her clear skin.
Most women he knew never walked out of their room without makeup on, but Ashley… she was beautiful. His heart sped up as he said, “With Peter and Belle.”
Her lips pressed together and the memory of kissing her last night was enjoyable.“Don’t tell me their son’s name. I don’t want to know.”
Philip was a cute boy though. He looked like his father, but Matthew zipped his lips. “Oh, okay.”
The coffee began dripping in the glass carafe but Ashley’s nose wrinkled as she looked from it to him and said, “I can make us coffee.”
Yesterday’s coffee had charged him for the entire read-through of his scene. But nowso did seeing those long legs of hers.
The image of tossing them above his head while he took her caused him to step back and cross his arms as he wasn’t ever this… randy. She’d already found the metal espresso maker in a cupboard as he said, “You don’t have to.”
She glanced over her shoulder and shrugged. “You enjoy my coffee, and I want a cup myself.”
His taste buds beganto water. He let his hands fall to the side and followed her as she mixed the sugar into the coffee. “So about Peter and Belle…”
Her eyes widened. “Yeah? I hope they are all happy.”
They’d given him permission in a way to be with Ashley. He hadn’t intended to ask for it, but he was grateful that their being together wouldn’t cause a family war…He and Ashley needed to be photographedtogether often. Matt relaxed his shoulders. “They’re planning a big wedding.”
She poured her magic liquid into cups and stirred swiftly. “That’s nice. I won’t tell Jennifer when I see her this morning.” She handed him the Cuban coffee and said, “Here.”
He took it and sipped. Perfect. The drink would pump him up for hours and tasted like coffee heaven. He blew to cool it then gulpedit down as he couldn’t have enough. She poured him a second cup. He smiled at her as they sat down at the table and said, “Thank you. Ashley, about last night-”
“I can be out of here within an hour. Just let me change,” she sat straighter.
“Whoa, what did I say?”
“Last night, your family and Jennifer… this means you thought about me and probably want me to head to a hotel.”
He reached for her hand and ignored the zap in his fingers. “No. I want you to stay.”
Her hands were soft. “And be your pretend girlfriend?”
For now ,yes. His heart whispered something but he shut out the murmurs of whatever it tried to say. Ashley was temporary in his life. “Yes.”
