Ashling

Ash had no idea how to dress. Did they dress up for dates in America? She’d only worn jeans and her flower shop t-shirt every day since she’d gotten here. She closed the shop a tiny bit early so she could get ready and then was stumped.

She realized she didn’t have Jessie’s number to even text to find out how dressy she should be. She probably wouldn’t have texted that question anyway. She didn’t want him to know how in knots she was. She felt unsure and afraid.

Ashling showered, dried her hair, and debated on how Jessie might like it. Up or down? Dress or jeans? Blouse or sweater? Panties or thong?

Ugh, panties, big white ones. And army boots. That’s what she should do. She should look angry and closed off and chase this man away for good.

But she knew she wouldn’t. All day, between customers, and marketing, and ordering supplies, her brain would flash to the way her body felt up against Jessie Hoolihan’s. The way his strong arms lifted her and how his hands touched her. She’d let her mind stray enough that even Aunt Theone noticed.

“Where’s your head? You almost dropped that vase.”

“It fine.” Aunt Theone was there taking up space and criticizing, but she cleared out, and that’s when Ash closed up.

Ashling shook off her daydreams. The day was so busy that it flew by and before she knew it was time to get ready to go on a proper date with a man she’d already shagged.

It wasn’t like she had millions of choices. When Ashling moved from Ireland, she had one suitcase, and traveled light.

Despite her recent activities with Jessie, Ash didn’t dress to attract shagging. She liked to be comfortable and classic, and in the end that’s what she decided to do for this date night, wherever they wound up.

She chose the little black dress she’d packed. It was a shift dress that skimmed her body. She topped it with her favorite short denim jacket. She kept her white legs bare and donned a pair of black leather boots with the tiniest of heels. She wrapped a silk scarf around her neck too. She was usually cold whatever the activity, and the scarf would help.

The one concession she did make to sexiness was a matching black bra and panty situation.

But if she kept her head about her this time with Jessie he needn’t know about her underwear.

God, she really needed to keep her head.

She decided to wear her hair piled on her head. She thought she looked more serious this way. Maybe that would help her from falling into Jessie’s arms.

She put on a little powder, gloss, and mascara, more makeup than she ever wore at the flower shop. And assessed herself in the mirror. She’d actually done a little work to make this apartment cozy. Her mirror was salvaged, along with the bathroom vanity. It was an old dresser that she’d dropped a sink into.

She was handy, and it came in handy, in making Uncle Peter’s apartment over the store her own.

Ash popped in two little gold hoop earrings, and that was enough. She didn’t want to overdo it. What if they did something like bowling?

Did Americans bowl on dates?

She’d soon find out.

Ash made her way down to the shop to wait. Maybe he’d be late. Maybe he’d change his mind. Maybe she should change hers.

The door opened, and her heart sank.

“Where do you think you’re going?” It was Aunt Theone.

“I’ve got plans.”

“You’ve got plans? Your job is to watch this store. Your job is to make sure no one thinks it’s empty. Your job is to be figuring out this mess we’re in.”

“Aunt Theone, I am not a slave, though you pay me like one, and I’m not a prisoner, though you’re currently treating me like one. I have half a mind to quit altogether and leave you with this mess.”

“Oh, really? Well, I’d think twice about that as I am the one who’s in charge of your green card. When you say quit, I’m sure you don’t mean back across the ocean and all the way home. With nothing to show for it.” Theone’s tone was pinched. Why did this woman hate her so much? Ash didn’t want to mess with her official working papers, so she backed off. She wanted to fight back, but Theone had the power. It was her store.

“Look, I’ll be grabbing a bite, that’s it. I haven’t eaten all day. Don’t worry about the store. I’ll lock up tight.” Ash put a smile on her face.

“Well, you look ridiculous. I don’t know if that’s what they wear out in Ireland, but here, plain, plain, plain” Theone said to her. Ash winced. She was already nervous about what to wear.

“I think she looks beautiful. Stunning, actually.” It was Jessie. Theone had Ash so rattled that she didn’t hear the bell when the door opened.

“Thank you, Jessie.” Aunt Theone took a second to survey Jessie. Suddenly her voice turned sweet.

“Oh, I was just teasing her. I tease. Don’t I, Ashling?” Aunt Theone had a fake smile plastered on her face.

“All in good fun.” She wanted to roll her eyes at Aunt Theone but decided against it. Ashling was embarrassed, unsure, and horrified that her aunt had keyed right into what she was worried about. That she didn’t know what she was doing on a date with this man.

“Well, don’t keep her out too late. She’ll turn into a pumpkin!” Aunt Theone said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Jessie replied politely.

“And you better lock up tight. If anything is stolen or damaged it’s coming out of your wages. Understand?” Aunt Theone still had a smile on her face, but there was nothing but malice behind it.

“Got it. Good night, Aunt Theone.” Ashling was done playing nice. At this point, she wanted to curl up and hide. Aunt Theone gave Jessie one more look up and down and then left. Mercifully.

She turned to really take in Jessie, now that Theone was gone. He was so handsome. It struck her like it was the first time she’d laid eyes on him.

Jessie Hoolihan was a fine specimen. Judging from his attire she’d done okay. He had dress pants, a tight fitted shirt, and a blazer. Damn, he could dress well! But it wasn’t so formal as to make her feel uncomfortable. Maybe she was okay, despite Aunt Theone’s insults.

Ash busied herself closing the register and turning off lights. She scurried about because she couldn’t quite look Jessie in the eye after he’d seen the humiliation she stood there and took from Aunt Theone.

“Sorry about that. My aunt is, well, she’s my aunt by marriage. But she’s awful.” She tried to keep her tone light. She didn’t want him to see how much it hurt to work with someone who hated her.

“Completely awful. Can you just stop for a second?”

“What? Is there something wrong?” she asked him and stood still in the middle of the store.

Jessie, he put a hand on his chest like he was holding his heart in.

“You’re so beautiful I can barely stand it.”

“Oh, come on now.” Ashling dropped her head and stared at the floor. He so easily made her blush.

“It’s just true.”

“Stop. I didn’t fall off the potato truck, Mr. Hoolihan. I know you all have those models and whatnot fallin’ all over the gym and the what, the Octagon. You’ve seen your share of pretty girls.” She walked past him and out the front door of the flower shop. She stood on the sidewalk and waited for him to come out. She had to be no-nonsense even though she felt senseless with Jessie.

He followed her out, and she leaned back around him to lock the door.

“You probably need an alarm system.”

“You seemed overly focused on the locks at the shop.”

“Until about three years ago this neighborhood was rough. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I’m tough, don’t worry. I can’t afford a fancy system. There’s a bat under the counter, and as you can see Aunt Theone has the manners of a vicious dog.”

“A bat?” Jessie seemed frustrated for some reason, and he rubbed his hands in his beard. She remembered exactly what that beard felt like and turned from him.

“Yah, a bat. Now, what’s on schedule for our date? I’ve never been on one in America.”

“Well, I guess the pressure’s on then to show you how we do things here.” Jessie put a hand on the small of her back, and it started her heart beating a little faster. She was trying not to show how she reacted to his voice, his eyes, and God help her, his touch.

“My car.” Jessie maneuvered her toward the truck parked at the meter. She was short, and she had a tight dress on. She looked at the big step and worried she’d rip the thing.

“Whoa, that’s a big step.”

Jessie opened the door and before she had a chance to figure out how best to get in the cab of his pickup he picked her up and deposited her on the front seat.

“Holy Christ, warn a girl when you’re going to pick her up like a ragdoll.”

Jessie laughed.

“I love your accent. And that you’re always pissed off.” He closed the door, and she watched him walk around and get in the driver’s seat.

“I’m not always pissed off.”

Jessie looked at her sideways.

“Okay, maybe eighty percent of the time.”

He laughed again, and she couldn’t help but laugh too.

“So, where to?”

“First up, dinner.”

“Okay, where?”

“The Grand City Museum of Art.”

“Jesus, am I dressed up enough?”

“Perfect, we’re a really casual town, and you look like a redheaded fairy princess.”

“Shut it.”

“See? Pissed.”

They drove through downtown Grand City and pulled up to a gorgeous building with columns. Ash had driven by it when she was delivering on Gus’s days off, but she’d never been inside.

“They have a restaurant?”

“Yeah, I’m told it’s one of the best meals you can get on a Friday night.”

What a strange place for this fighter to bring her, an art museum? But it was beautiful. They walked slowly through the galleries lined with paintings, up a grand marble staircase, and into to an open space that was the Grand City Museum Restaurant. This had to be the most lovely setting in the city for a quiet dinner.

To her relief, she looked to be dressed well enough.

They walked through to their table and Ash could see all the women turn to look at Jessie. She’d seen him shirtless, in full muscle mode, so she knew he was impressive, but the dress shirt, pants, and blazer were just as fine. He wore sweats and suits equally well, she was pleased to discover.

They had a table in the corner, and Ash just took a minute to look around. She’d been surprised by this town at every turn. It was so lovely but also rough in spots, not unlike the place she came from.

“So far so good? American date living up to the hype?”

“I’d say, you turned a few eyes there, Hoolihan.”

“I’m a little famous.”

“And only a little humble I see as well.” But she said it with a smile. She liked Jessie’s swagger. It was so American, so different than the boys back home.

“It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”

“Really now.”

“So how’s the flower business?”

“Okay, it’s okay. But you met Wade? He’s from the city, and he was there to remind me we have building codes to comply with. Fixes we can’t afford.”

“He was also there trying to make the moves on you.” Jessie looked angry when he said it.

“Moves? Ahck, well the clock is ticking.”

“So you’re going to make that deadline for the architecture prick guy, though. I know you will.”

“Probably shouldn’t say ‘prick,’ we’re in a fancy restaurant.”

“Ah, sorry.”

She lowered her voice and said, “Prick guy isn’t giving me much time. But I have a plan.”

“Tell me.”

“Well, we got the money from the sale. I’ve used that on marketing to get the word out. Now I have three prongs to put into action. First off I need three weddings a weekend from May to August, that alone will . . .” She stopped mid-sentence. The flower arrangement in the center of their table was in her way, and she moved it. Then she stared at it.

Then she looked around.

“Holy Mother of God.” She stood up.

“Are you okay?” Ash was counting the tables and then in her mind the flowers at the front of the museum. She wondered where else they had arrangements.

“How many flowers do you think this place needs a day, a week?”

“I can tell you I have no idea. A lot?”

“Damn straight a lot. I’m going to get this business. Yes, I am.”

She was inspired, on fire, and doing mental math on what to bid, who to pitch. Ha! Another avenue she could pursue to earn money for the flower shop. Getting the museum would lead to other clients. She just knew it.

Ash leaned over and put Jessie’s face in her hands. She kissed him square on the mouth. It was spontaneous. She just had to kiss his face. And she did.

“What was that for?” They were still nose to nose. And Ash realized she probably should have thought that kiss through since she was trying to be fierce and standoffish and clearly failing. Jessie put his hand under her chin and held her there. Well, if you’re going to be forward, thought Ash, go all in.

“I just wanted to thank you for bringing me here. I’m going to make the fourth prong of my attack for the flower shop thanks to you. Also, you're so damn good looking. I lost my head a bit.”

“Glad to help.” And this time Jessie kissed her. Right there over the bad centerpiece. They both settled back down, but the kiss had broken the ice, they were holding hands. Somehow kissing him had turned a switch. They were touching. They seemed to have to touch. Even at the table.

They were also talking. It was easy for her to talk to Jessie and he seemed to open to her too. As intense as her attraction to him was, just talking to him was easy and relaxed.

Jessie put his hand over hers as they had coffee and dessert. And somewhere along the line, her dreams for the shop and a life here unfurled.

“I have so many ideas about the shop sometimes I trip over them trying to get it accomplished. Maybe even someday have a little place to grow some of my wildflowers in the summers.”

“You’ll get them all accomplished,” Jessie said.

“What about you?” She realized he’d coaxed her into talking way more than she’d planned, way more than she normally did. And she didn’t know any more about him. This was the opposite of her time with Sean or any boyfriend. Sean thought flowers was her hobby.

“Well, I’m a fighter, as you know. Do you know what MMA is?”

“I guess yes. Mixed Martial Arts, right? All the kinds of fighting smashed into one octagon.”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“So you’re good at it I gathered from the night I brought you those flowers.”

“Yeah, I am. I’ve been watching it, learning it, coaching it, and competing in MMA my entire life.”

“And you’re about to have a big fight?”

“Yes, actually that’s what the flowers were about. I beat the hell out of the other contender for the title in my weight class and got a pretty nice offer from the 21C.”

“Uh, 21C? Is that like UFC?”

“Yes, bigger, it’s the 21^st Century Fighting League, founded by Meyer Thompson. If you make it there, you made it.”

“And you did.”

“All but clinched, baby. My title fight is at the end of the summer.”

“Wow, in Las Vegas or something?”

“Actually, here, in Windsor, Canada. It’s the biggest thing at end of the summer in sports.”

“Oh.”

“Thompson’s a billionaire, his brother is too and coincidently owns a television station here in town. They’ve got a lot of Michigan ties. So yeah, you’re not the only one helping to juice the local economy.”

“I’d say you’re doing more than me, it appears. So what comes after?”

“What do you mean?”

“You win I am sure. But then what? Do they make you keep fighting?” Ash wondered how long the human body could withstand the punishment that must go with this career of Jessie’s.

“Well, I could defend the belt once or twice. I could go after another weight class. Or I could go into the movies.”

“The movies?”

“You’ve heard of Craddock Flynn?”

“Every Irish girl with a pulse has.”

“Well, he trains out of Great Wolves Gym here in Grand City, as you know. My new manager is a shark, so maybe movies could happen.”

“Goodness.” Ashling wondered again what she was getting into. And also wondered what this man who clearly had big dreams saw in someone whose dreams were much more rooted. Literally.

“All that depends on the next few weeks.”

“How so?”

“Gotta build the brand.” And Jessie lifted his arm and flexed his bicep.

“Oh, Lord.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. Jessie’s humor and confidence were so infectious.

“And I’ve got to keep Whitey happy. If finds out how much I’m touring and shit before this fight he’s going to murder me.”

“He’s not on board?”

“His priority is training and coaching fighters. Not tweeting and endorsing.”

“So MMA titles and then Oscars. Makes my little dreams of running an American flower shop seem rather tiny.”

“Not at all, not in the slightest,” Jessie slid her close and put his arm around her shoulder. He squeezed her in tight and whispered in her ear, “Are you ready for the next part of your first American date?”

She liked the smell of him, clean, not a whiff of body spray. Just soap, maybe aftershave, and something else, maybe just him. She nodded and answered, “I guess so.”

They made it back to his truck, and this time it wasn’t a surprise when he scooped her up and plopped her down.

“No arguments, that dress is too tight to mess with,” Jessie said by way of explanation.

“Is that a complaint?”

“Not at all, not at all.” And Jessie looked her up and down and bit his lower lip. It sent a shiver through Ashling.

Jessie got in his side and put the keys in the truck. Then he hesitated. She felt a tension between them. The sweet discussion of dreams and goals fell away and the moment in the warehouse the other day slid to the front of her brain. It heated her up, and Jessie’s look made her think he remembered the same thing.

Without word, Jessie had an arm around her shoulders, and she was surrounded by him. His lips were hot on hers.

His kiss fired her blood. She sank into the feeling. His strong arms were around her. His hand slid to her hip and pulled her close to him.

If the kiss continued, she had no doubt where it would lead. Where she wanted it to lead. She leaned back slightly to catch her breath. They’d come together just now so quickly and without thinking.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t fucking wait until the end of the night.”

“No need to apologize.”

“That’s the problem with you. I can’t stop wanting to kiss you.”

“Okay, that really doesn’t seem like a problem.”

And there they were again, his lips on hers. His tongue darting in. She felt herself straining to be close to him and melting at the same time.

The instant reaction he got from her was strong and surprising. Any thoughts about protecting herself against this man’s charm evaporated. He could have her with a look, no question, but when he touched her, it drove her mad.

She felt his fingers move up her leg and the hem of her skirt rising with them, and Ash’s only thought was, yes, faster.

At that moment bright headlights from an oncoming car illuminated the both of them. They were in a museum parking lot, for God’s sake. And she didn’t care!

“Okay, so, if I don’t slide over here we’re never going to make it to part two of this American date.”

“Right, unless this is what you do on all of your dates, Jessie Hoolihan.”

“No. Actually, I’ve never really taken a woman out on a date before either.”

“What?”

“I want to do everything right with you,” Jessie said, and she watched his eyes travel over her now totally hiked up dress.

“So what does that mean?”

“So that means put your seatbelt on and stop trying to distract me with your sexy everything.”

“Sexy? That’s ridiculous.” She straightened up her dress and flipped down the rearview mirror. Her hair was looking disheveled from their encounter. She fussed at it and knew it was probably a lost cause, so she undid a few of the pins. Better down than up looking like she’d just had sex in the front seat of a pickup truck.

She turned to see Jessie looking rather desperate.

“What?”

“Yes, sexy, and you’re trying to kill me. Pretty sure.”

“Oh, please, let’s roll. Where to?”

“We’re going to a place where I can keep my hands on you, and it’s acceptable.” She felt a ripple of excitement.

“Oh, we’ll see about that, Hoolihan. We’ll just see.” She looked out the window in an attempt to conceal her smile.

Jessie Hoolihan might think she was a sure thing, but she sure did like teasing him. It appeared she really enjoyed torturing this big musclebound fighter.

He didn’t have to know that it would only take one more bite of his lip and she’d take her own clothes off for him.

Jessie kept both hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road.

She didn’t know where they were headed next on this date, but she didn’t care. And for the rest of the date, all thoughts of work, debts, marketing, and the million things she needed to do fell away.

Ashling’s mind was on Jessie, and she wanted his body on hers.

She looked out the truck window and hoped he couldn’t see her blush.

They parked outside a club with a blue neon sign that read Billy’s Lounge.

“Hippest place in Grand City right now. I hope you like live music.”

“Sure.” He held her hand and pulled her into a club that looked like it could have been straight from the 1950s. It was packed. People at the bar, people on the dancefloor, people at tables.

“Jessie!” The bartender called his name, and they made their way over.

“What can I get you two?”

“How about two Crisp Apples?” Apples?

Jessie produced two bottles of Angry Orchard cider and handed her one.

“I don’t drink much, training you know, but one won’t hurt.”

“Cheers,” she hit the neck of her bottle to his and took a drink. If the museum was a grown-up date this was the opposite. Billy’s Lounge was fun, loose, and a look at the cool kids of Grand City, Michigan. She’d worked nonstop and really hadn’t had much of a social life since she got here.

They drank their beers and listened to the music. Though a dozen people came up to Jessie and said hi and patted his shoulder, he never let go of her hand. He never left her to talk to the people at Billy’s Lounge, though clearly, they all knew him.

“Let’s dance.” Then, another surprise, Jessie led her out to the crowded dancefloor, but it still felt like they were alone. Jessie held her in his arms, and they swayed to the music. Every so often he’d slide her out for a twirl. They had to have looked mismatched, his size and her lack of it, but she fit in his arms like she was made to be there. And he seemed to only see her even as other people that knew Jessie swirled in and out of Billy’s Lounge.

She felt like the two of them were in a bubble. It couldn’t be real.

“So how did Billy’s make the cut for the American Date?” Jessie leaned down and tilted his ear to hear her.

“Honestly, this is more my speed.”

“So how did the museum get in the mix? It was nice and gave me some inspiration, but it was, uh, not what I expected.”

“I confess, Craddock Flynn and Zeke Powell, fighter friends, suggested the museum. They said you’d be impressed and it would show my sensitive side.”

“I see. Well, it was fun, but this is better.”

“Glad you like it. I was nervous.”

“I think you’re pulling my leg, Jessie Hoolihan.”

“Not at all. You’re intimidating.” She laughed. The idea that he was intimidated by her was ridiculous.

The song they were dancing to ended and the band announced they were done for the night. It was late, Ash realized, later than she’d meant to be out, but she didn’t want the night to end.

“I suppose it’s time to get you home.” Just as he’d done when they got to Billy’s, Jessie ushered her through the crowd. She’d always fended for herself and admittedly had a chip on her shoulder. She wanted to do things her way. But it was nice that he seemed to want to protect her as they walked out of the club and to the parking lot.

During the couple hours they’d been inside the club the weather had turned. It was raining, hard.

“We’re going to have to run for it!” Jessie grabbed her hand and led the way as they raced to the truck. He clicked the lock and popped her in. But they were pretty well soaked.

“Sorry, about that, I should have brought it around to you.”

“I’m not going to melt.” Ash sluiced off a bit of water from her sleeve.

Jessie leaned over and wiped a raindrop from her cheek. And it was over, the struggle not to kiss, the effort she’d put into staying as cool as she could was too much. Jessie’s lips on hers were insistent, and her response was his passionate equal. They were in the same spot again. It made her drunker than any apple orchard cider.

He moved her hair out of the way, and his strong hands pulled her forward to him.

She was ravenous for his touch, for his lips on hers, and she didn’t hold back.

“You drive me crazy.”

“Jessie.” She didn’t have words, only sensations.

“No.”

“No what?” She wasn’t the least bit shy in the current situation and realized she’d easily have shagged in the parking lot without a concern about anyone walking by. Not the best idea. Ash was losing her head fast over Jessie Hoolihan.

“I’m trying to do things right.”

“So far so good.” She smiled at him.

“You’ve got a wicked smile. That’s new. I haven’t seen that one.” He slid his hands to her hips and held her there. Energy surged between them.

“Shut up, Hoolihan.”

“I didn’t plan for the date to end in the cab of my truck. I just can’t keep my hands off of you,” he said, and Ash could see he was honest. He really did want to have a proper date, but here they were again. Ready to go at it in the parking lot.

“So is the date over? Was this the last stop?” she asked.

“No, I was going to try to convince you to come to my place for coffee or whatever.” He was so earnest, handsome, sexy, and her answer was easy.

“Well, you succeeded then.”

“Yeah?”

“I am very interested in coffee or whatever.” Jessie abruptly separated from her and put both hands on the wheel. It was jarring.

“Put your seatbelt on. I can’t be trusted to obey the speed limit.”

He pulled the truck back out onto the road.

“I suppose I should have asked you where you live.” She braced herself with her hands as he took a rather fast turn.

“Not close enough, not nearly close enough.”