His sister said, “Put her on speaker. I want to talk to her.”
Interesting. He hadn’t expected that reaction, but he pressed the button and said his sister’s name so Ashley heard, “Liz…”
“Matt,” she saidand came through. Ashley turned from the oven and he walked over, holding his phone in his palm.
He pressed his hand on her lower back and said, “Okay… Ashley, my sister wants to talk to you.”
Ashley turned the burner to low and flinched, then smiled to hide her first reaction. “Hello, Ms. Elizabeth.”
His sister laughed as she said, “Don’t hello me Ms. anymore. My son, Brandon,misses you.”
Ashley stood taller and her facial features relaxed. “Ah, he’s a cutie.”
“Look, I told Peter I was unhappy you were told to leave after being outed as a secret surrogate,” Elizabeth said. “When you and Matt come back home, you’re absolutely welcome in my house as a visitor and hopefully a friend.”
Ashley’s face blushed as she stared at her feet. “You don’t haveto do that.”
He rubbed her back. His sister had always been sweet and it was good that his family liked his new girlfriend. The thought hit him fast but he didn’t say anything as his sister said, “I insist. Come and visit.”
Ashley massaged the back of her neck. “Okay. Thank you.”
After a few minutes of small talk, he hung up the phone and kissed Ashley’s cheek. Her face wasstill flushed but she focused on cooking. He held her waist and she smelled like hercafesitastill which reminded him of home as he said, “I didn’t know what my sister would say but I’m happy that she reached out to us.”
She turned toward him and her breathing warmed his skin and soul as she asked, “Why?”
Ashley was the woman he’d never imagined in his life, yet she fit in perfectly.He hugged her. “Because… nothing is in our way for really dating and I think you’d be a great girlfriend.”
Her mouth parted but then the food sizzled and she returned her attention to their lunch. She flipped the chicken and vegetables and snuck a peek at him through a lock of blonde hair. Her eyes were glistening as she asked, “Is that what you want, Matt?”
Despite everything inthe past, he still wanted her in the here and now. He kissed her soft cheek. “Yeah. I want you. We’ve been getting along pretty great so far.”
She wiped her eyes like she’d shed a tear he hadn’t seen, then stifled a cry. “Lunch is almost ready.”
His pulse quickened, but he didn’t let go of her and asked, hoping for clarification, “That’s all you have to say?”
A tear rolleddown her cheek that she brushed away. “I… I don’t want to cry. I’m happy.”
So she wanted this too—for them to be together. She wanted him for more than just a day. Perfect. He turned her toward him and turned off the oven. “Ashley, you’re sweet. Don’t cry.”
She laughed and let her forehead rest on his chin. “Let’s eat already.”
Ashley trembled in his arms. He rubbed her sideand back as his body grew warm and said, “We can…”
Her eyes met his fast and she licked her lips as she nodded. “I never want this day to end.”
Her sweet kiss prompted desire within him. He needed another taste, but not where the gardener or the maid might see them. He gently claimed what he wanted to ravish. He lifted his head and motioned toward the stairs. “Good. Neither do I.Let’s go back upstairs.”
She took his hand and they climbed upward. On the third step, he stopped. This time the interruption wasn’t his, but hers and he patted her left hand, “Your phone is ringing.”
She ignored it and tugged on his arm. “I don’t have anyone I need to talk to but you.”
Since she’d waited for him, he could take a literal cold shower right now if she neededto answer the phone. “Are you sure?”
“Whoever it is, I’ll talk to them later.” They finished climbing the stairs.
Once he was sure they were free of any windows he took her mouth in his, suddenly, to possess her. Ashley was his now and he intended to prove that to her.
Chapter 11
