A moment later he was in heaven as he claimed her lips in a kiss that seared his soul.
Ashley’s kiss left a warmth stronger than the soaring sensation of glowing reviews.
As it ended, she hugged him and said, “Wow.”
She laughed and the sound made his heart grow bigger than the Grinch’s had in the book or movie.
The boxesaround them and the living area that had nothing in it made his skin jumpy. He tugged at her to head to the door. “What do I need to help you with so we can leave here?”
She turned around in her small apartment and said, “I’ve pretty much put everything in boxes already.”
He took out his phone and sent a voice text. “Security, I’ll need you to move some boxes. I’ll text the addresses.”
Holding her hand, he rushed to the door. She yanked hers free. “We said we’d talk about that.”
They needed to settle quite a few things, he knew that, but first he needed to touch her again. Everywhere. He winked and laid on the charm. “Look, I have an unexpected two-week vacation and I see you have New York and Hawaii on your map. So we need to get on my jet and we can talk aboutwhere you’d like to go first.”
She pressed her hand to her heart. “Vacation?”
Good. Yes. Her and a beach were exactly what they both needed. “I want to show you that life with me is better than ever being alone, again.”
“Lead the way.” She picked up her pocketbook.
Perfect. With Ashley he now had a chance at a happy life for real and not just a pretend one for a film.She was real and made him see himself in the mirror, not just the pantomime where he only lived to please a crowd. Until he’d met her, he’d thought only other people had the secrets to happiness. But now anything was possible.
Chapter 18
Ashley fixed her new diamond stud earrings she’d bought herself in the diamond district of New York last week.
The past two weeks had been amazing but so was returning to Matt’s house in Hollywood.
She had money to spend but rarely bought anything. As Matt’s official new girlfriend it was time to buy something she could wear for any occasion and look fabulous.
As she walked down the flight of stairs, she saw Matt drinking the coffee she’d made for him earlier and watching the delivery truck from his living room windows in his estate.
Yeah! Her shoulders grew lighter as she realized her stuff had finally arrived from Miami. She headed toward the door from the bottom step to the foyer, but Matt wrapped his arms around her waist and held hertight. “Ashley, the movers will handle everything.”
In her past life, she was in charge of the arrangements.
She relaxed as she saw Medina, now in black pants and a white shirt for her uniform instead of the Victorian like skirt, outside with the movers. The housekeeper would take good care of things.
Ashley turned in Matt’s arms and nodded. “Medina looks happy.”
Hewinked at her and she pulled back so as not to wrinkle his nice blue shirt he wore today, tucked into designer jeans. “We have two full-time housekeepers who will keep the house in tip-top shape. We’re running late.”
Fair. She grabbed the white pocketbook she’d bought in New York as well and checked that her white ballet slippers were spotless. “I still feel strange meeting with your agentand then heading to the studio with you. I don’t have anything to do there.”
He held her hand and led her outside, away from the moving truck. “Andy wanted to meet you and thank you in person.”
“For what?” she asked as he handed her the helmet.
He hid his face under his own helmet and said, “He’ll tell you.”
Okay. This was the life she’d chosen. The life she wanted.She hopped on the back of his motorcycle and hugged him.
Matt’s strong shoulders blocked most of the wind, except the sting of her flying hair out of the helmet that creating kept her on the edge of her seat, waiting for more adrenaline.
A few minutes later he stopped by a posh black iron fence for a garden cafe on Rodeo Drive and tossed the keys to the valet.
