He wasn’t the boy outside his banker/father’soffice sitting on a chair too big for him as his legs never touched the floor, wishing for acceptance but never receiving it.
Matt didn’t need to pretend to be someone else to feel.
During the flight he was too keyed up to sleep. He kept imagining finding Ashley and falling to his knees.
At least his father had given him everything he might need to follow through on his plans.The problem Matt always had was figuring out what he wanted to do as he had more money than most countries possessed.
They landed in Miami, where he had a limo ready to pick him up. He gave the driver the address.
They drove in the dark of night past neighborhoods with gas stations, pawn shops, and a strip club. His heart stopped.
Ashley shouldn’t live here.
Off themain street, the side streets were quieter, but his stomach tightened as the driver pulled before a small condo building.
Seriously, this was Ashley’s home?
His college-era condo near the school and the studio had been in a huge building, nothing like this three-level. He got out, and walked to the front entrance, intending to ring her floor.
But the front door of the buildingwas propped open. Where was security?
Did he just go and knock?
His heart raced that this might be dangerous, but he had to try.
The driver spoke on his walkie-talkie, probably to Morgan security, but Matt slipped in and headed toward her apartment number.
Outside her door he straightened his spine, took a deep breath and knocked.
No one answered.
Maybeshe was sleeping.
He stepped back unsure what to do and then he heard the door unlock and it opened a crack. A chain kept her from opening it all the way. He remembered her saying that she knew self-defense. She probably needed to in this area.
The beat of his heart grew but his eyes widened the moment he saw her.
Her hair was wild, her eyes were sleepy, but she was the prettiestwoman he’d ever seen, even in her pink cotton t-shirt that didn’t match the yellow shorts she had on. She hugged the door and met his gaze. “Matt, this isn’t the neighborhood for you.”
Her first words were about him. He shivered. “This doesn’t look like Miami.” She just stared at him so he pointed past her and asked, “Can I come inside?”
She sucked in her bottom lip and then nodded.“Not all of us live in mansions on the beach. My condo is for those of us who work, and just want peace and quiet when they come home.” She slid back the chain and let him inside.
Yet it had zero security and this wasn’t anywhere he’d want to be. He pressed his lips together to suppress his inner snob as he said, “The brown carpets seem… dated.”
She crossed her arms and asked, “Whatdo you want?”
To not insult her. To tell her he loved her. He quickly noted the boxes and suitcases lined up on the wall behind her. He stepped closer and hoped she opened up. “Where are you going?”
“I’m still making that decision.” She didn’t lower her arms.
He swallowed and wished he could go back in time and stop himself from being a fool.
Matt glanced up at thewall and saw a map. He walked past her and pointed to it as he said, “Well, I see Hawaii, Texas and New York all have circles. Does that mean you want to go there?”
Ashley lowered her hands. “They are possibilities.”
Good, she was talking. He turned toward her and she smelled of the apricot soap she had the first time he’d met her. He lowered his head. “I’d like for you to considerCalifornia.”
