Chapter 6
ASHLEY KNEW HER father well, considering half her childhood he’d been deployed, and right now, he was on edge. Something happened while she’d been in the little girl’s room. She didn’t know what, but she suspected it had something to do with Derek.
“You two are being awfully quiet,” she said, glancing between the two of them.
“Enjoying the evening,” her father said as he stared off into the night.
Only she noticed his gaze was fixated on Derek, who had separated himself from the crowd while he talked on his cell.
“What happened while I was gone?”
“Nothing,” her father said.
She knew she wouldn’t get anything out of him, but she’d bet she’d get Mitch to talk. “What’s this nothing my father is talking about?”
Mitch leaned forward, looking across her at her father, who gave Mitch the evil eye.
“That’s a damned if I do, damned if I don’t kind of question. No matter which way I answer, one of you is going to be mad.”
Placing her hand on his thigh, she gave him a little squeeze. “As my mother would say, it’s best to stay on the good side of the person you’re wanting to kiss good night.”
Her father laughed.
Mitched coughed, then chugged his beer. “That just makes it worse, but if you must know, Derek stopped by.”
“What did he want?” she asked. Three times, Valerie had cornered her, begging her to be a bridesmaid at the wedding. Three times Ashley declined and informed her cousin that no way would she even attend.
Finally, Ashley had enough and tossed Derek’s affair in her face. For a second, Ashley thought Valerie might ask who the woman had been, and then Ashley would have seriously considered letting the cat out of the bag. Of course, the cat, as in Valerie’s sister, showed up at the tail end of the conversation, looking a little white around the edges.
This was not a good way to start a marriage. Secrets and lies only destroyed people.
“He babbled on about something that didn’t make much sense.” Mitch laced his strong fingers through hers, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand.
“Can you be specific?” she asked.
“He doesn’t like Mitch, so he’s just trying to cause trouble. Nothing any of us should concern ourselves with,” her father said.
“I hate to say this because I’m enjoying the handsome men I’m sitting with, but I’m going to be glad when this weekend is over and I don’t have to look at Derek, Valerie, or her sister.”
“On that note, I’m going to hit the hay,” her father said, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ve got an early flight.”
“I’ll walk you to the elevator,” Ashley said, before turning her attention to Mitch. It was odd how much she felt like she’d known him his entire life. Normally, she’d be uncomfortable having her father meet her boyfriend—was Mitch her boyfriend? “I’ll be right back, so don’t move.” Boldly, she cupped the side of his face, gazing into his rich eyes and giving him a quick kiss. His pupils widened slightly, which made her belly roll with that pitch of excitement right before a roller coaster plummeted down that first steep fall.
“I won’t move a muscle.” He stood, stretching his hand out to her father. “It’s been a real honor to see you again.”
“Likewise, but I’m guessing our paths will cross soon.” Her father guided her from the pool area to the lobby. After the incident with Derek, it had taken her awhile to be able to look her father in the eye again. The shame and humiliation of having her naked body ogled over by the men under her father’s command still haunted her heart.
Her father had been telling her for the last four years that she had nothing to be ashamed of. That she did nothing wrong and he’d never once been embarrassed by what she’d done, only by what Derek had done.
Which to her was one in the same. She’d let Derek take the pictures, so he’d have them for his private viewing while deployed. She doubted she’d been the first girlfriend of a soldier to do it. Even so, Derek had made it dirty. Pornographic.
And she hated him for it.
“When were you going to tell me about your new boyfriend?” her father asked, once inside the hotel lobby.
“Honestly, Dad, yesterday was the first I’ve seen him in months, so don’t go calling him my boyfriend just yet.” Everything about Mitch made her want to take that leap of faith that he wasn’t a liar like Derek had been. But first, she’d need to see how things were when they got back to Jacksonville. It could be they were just caught up in a whirlwind moment and when they returned to real life, they could see where their relationship might go.
That was the biggest cop-out. Of course there were sparks flying and had been since he showed up for his first physical therapy appointment.
Attraction didn’t make for a lasting relationship.
If she even wanted one.
Not to mention, who knew where Mitch would end up being stationed, and she’d moved around so much as a kid, she didn’t want to leave her little house on Doctor’s Lake.
“He’s quite taken with you.”
She smiled. “I do like him a lot.”
“He’s one of the good guys, and if it helps, your father approves.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a man crush,” she said, as the elevator doors swung open.
Her father laughed. God, she loved that laugh. It was throaty and low, and when she’d been a little girl, she’d recorded it, so she could listen to it anytime he’d been deployed and she’d been feeling sad.
“I love you, sweet girl.”
“I love you too, Dad.” She gave her father a long embrace before watching him step into the elevator. She stood there for a moment, collecting her thoughts. Mitch had a been a surprise in many ways. He made her feel whole again. Even when Derek showed his ugly head, Mitch’s presence gave her strength.
“You look deep in thought,” Mitch said from somewhere behind her, making her jump.
“Geez, you scared me.”
“Sorry, but I got worried you might not be coming back. You’ve been gone a long time.”
She rested her hands on Mitch’s shoulders. “Awe, feeling a little lonely?”
“That, among other things,” he said, his hands firmly planted on her hips as he brushed his mouth over hers so softly it tickled. “Where’s your father?”
“Went to his room, why?”
He didn’t answer. Instead he heaved her to his chest and kissed her again. This time with intent. His tongue swirled around in her mouth, searching for something in every crevice.
A few people walked by, their heels clicking on the floor. She knew she should pull away, but God, it felt so good to be in his arms. He drew her in like a dark sky that gave way to the bright stars and moon.
The elevator dinged.
She took that as a sign to head upstairs.
“Excuse me,” her father’s voice echoed.
Mitch pressed his cheek against hers. “Is that your dad?” he whispered.
“Yes.”
Her father tried to look mortified, but she saw the amusement in his eyes, and that meant the world to her.
“You forgot this,” Mitch said, not looking in her father’s direction as he pulled something from his back pocket, waving it in the air, keeping his face hidden behind hers.
“That’s what I came back down for.” Her father snagged the envelope from Mitch’s fingers, who buried his face in her neck. “You two have a good night.” Her father stepped back into the elevator and disappeared as the doors closed.
“That was embarrassing,” Mitch said, kissing her neck. “Want to take the stairs, giving him a chance to get to his room before we enter one of ours?”
“That’s a bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”
“Nope.”
She laughed. “Let’s go to your room.”
“Negative. I’m right next to your father.”