Chapter 17
Ashleigh followed Jill out of the house and toward her office in the other bungalow.
"How's it been going?" Jill asked, a hint of trepidation in her voice.
"Really great day. In spite of Violet. I think Marty got some terrific shots. They should hit the press tomorrow."
Jill visibly relaxed. "Oh, good. I was worried when I saw the mess Violet was in when she left. Did you see what happened?"
Ashleigh shook her head while trying unsuccessfully to hold in her grin. "I didn't. The photographer was taking my picture at the time."
"And working with Hunter?" Jill looked at Ashleigh sideways as they entered the house and walked down the hall toward a makeshift office in the back.
"It's been all right." Ashleigh bit down on her bottom lip, still imagining she could feel the press of his lips there.
Jill let out a sigh of relief as she dropped down behind the fold-up table she was using as a desk. "He really cares for you. A lot."
"I know, but we agreed to keep things casual. We have different lives now, very different, and if I get this next part, I will be gone to Paris for months." Ashleigh pulled up the plastic chair in front of the table. "We did have a great night when we went to the premiere," she admitted. "So good, in fact, that sometimes I forget why we broke up in the first place. But every time I think about how he took my mother's money to dump me, I'm reminded to keep him at a distance. That kind of betrayal is not something one can easily forgive or forget."
Jill grimaced. "I know. I remember. It was awful. I'm really sorry about everything that happened between you back then. The worst part was the money didn't even help my dad. He still died."
Ashleigh's head snapped up and her chest tightened. "What are you talking about? What do you mean it didn't help your dad?"
"The money Hunter took from your mother—it was for an experimental drug that the insurance wouldn't cover. It was really the only hope he had, and we couldn't afford it."
Stunned was not a strong enough word for how Ashleigh felt at the moment. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about."
Confusion crossed Jill's face for a split second before she took a deep breath and set her hands down on the desk. "My father had been diagnosed with cancer. A rare one. We had health insurance, but none of the treatments helped. He was in a late stage already. Had he gone to the doctors earlier, maybe they could have helped him. But by the time he was diagnosed…" She sighed. "The health insurance only covered so much. And they didn't cover experimental treatments. Mom knew this specialist, she'd read about him, and about the treatment he was offering, but the insurance wouldn't cover it. It was cash or nothing. I don't know how your mother found out. But she contacted Hunter one day and asked him if he could save my father, would he do it? Of course, he said yes."
Tears misted Ashleigh's eyes.
She felt sick.
"Hunter would have done anything. We all would have. She said she'd pay for the experimental treatment cost. All Hunter had to do was break up with you and let you go."
Ashleigh's throat closed as she tried to swallow.
"Hunter took it really hard, first losing you and then Dad."
"I didn't know." Ashleigh shook her head. "I'm so sorry. I hadn't even known your dad was sick back then. Why didn't Hunter tell me?"
"No one knew. That's the way my dad wanted it. And, as it turned out, there wasn't anything anyone could have done anyway. The procedure didn't work."
Ashleigh felt sick. "Hunter took my mother's money to save his father," she said under her breath, still trying to absorb it all.
"Yes. I can't believe he didn't tell you," Jill said.
"Neither can I."
"It killed him to do it," Jill continued. "He really cared about you. He always has."
Tears filled Ashleigh's eyes, but she blinked them away. "I would have helped him if only he'd come to me."
"You were a kid. We all were. But at least now you know the truth."
"Only it's too late now, Jill. Years too late."
"If you still love each other, it's never too late."
Ashleigh wished she believed that, but there was still so much between she and Hunter. Things hidden and left unsaid. She wasn't sure she could ever open herself up enough to trust again. Not with Hunter—not with anyone. "That's what I used to think," she said. "But I don't believe in fairy tales. Not any longer."
***
Tonight would be the night Hunter would take Ashleigh back to his bed and convince her she never wanted to leave it again. They'd had a great afternoon at the Habitat house, and he only wanted to build on that. He set up a table on his back patio, complete with silver, crystal, and a crisp white tablecloth. The evening would be catered by Muse in the Sand, his favorite restaurant in Montauk. A seared tuna appetizer and a grilled salmon entrée, along with their famous grilled vegetables and garlic whipped potatoes. Top that with their raspberry cheesecake for dessert and it would be a night to remember.
He pulled into Ashleigh's driveway at seven. She was already waiting for him. He let his gaze slide over her body, the short white dress with spaghetti straps that showed off her gorgeous, long, and silky tanned legs. Strappy tall sandals on her feet were extremely enticing, but what got him the most excited was the rolling travel bag she pulled behind her.
He decided to take that as a good sign.
He got out of the truck and opened the door for her. But as soon as he got close, he saw the puffiness around her eyes. She'd been crying.
"Is everything all right?"
"Why didn't you tell me about your dad?" she asked before she even got into the truck.
"What do you mean?"
"That he was sick. Your sister told me you took the money from my mom to try to save him. Why didn't you tell me? All these years I thought I was just an easy payout. A very profitable lay. Can you imagine how that made me feel? You could have saved me that anguish with one phone call, one simple letter telling me the truth. But no, you were too selfish to even care." She was so angry that her lower lip was trembling and moisture swam in her eyes.
"It wasn't like that," he said in a cracked voice. "I did care. It ripped my heart out to send you away, and then once my dad died, it was like I did it all for nothing. I was in a very bad place."
"I could have helped you if only you'd have let me."
"I wanted to, trust me. I'd lost so much. I thought maybe I could fix things. With the last of my money, I flew to California. I found you, but you were so happy; I didn't want to ruin that for you. I didn't want to pull you into my hell."
Her eyes narrowed with confusion. "Wait. You came for me?" Astonishment hung in her voice.
"Yes, you were with friends. A man. I didn't want to interfere. Not after what I'd done."
Tears spilled down her cheeks. She brushed them away. "You should have. Maybe…"
"Please give me a chance. Dinner. We still have so much to say to one another."
"I'm not sure I can handle another confrontation, not after the knock-down, drag-out I just had with my mother."
"No stress. Nothing but good food, wine, and relaxation. I promise."
Doubt crossed her face.
"Come on. I know you're going to love it."
"All right."
He leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly against hers, encouraged when she didn't pull back.
He took her bag and put it into the back then helped her into the truck, shut the door behind her, and climbed behind the wheel. She stared up at her house as they pulled out of the driveway. "I guess no matter how long and how far one goes in life, home will always be the same. The same wounds, the same angry words."
He reached out and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry."
"So am I. I guess I've been here long enough to know there is no place for me here. Not anymore."
"I hope I can change your mind."
She gave him a skeptical look.
He smiled. "I have just what you need to take your mind off all your problems. Wait until you see it."
Her lips twisted into a smirk. "Oh, really?"
He wanted to kiss that smirk away, to tell her yes, really. And show her exactly what he meant. But it was still too soon. "Yes, really. Wait until you see the dinner I have planned."
"I hope you didn't go to a lot of trouble. I was really hoping for a quick bite before I catch a car service into the city. I have reservations at the Conrad. I'm heading in for my audition."
He thought quickly. He had to turn things around. "I tell you what, since dinner is already arranged, why don't we go back to the house—no crowds, no fans, and, best of all, no family. We can relax over a great meal and then I'll take you wherever you want to go. Sound like a plan?"
She sighed. He could see the indecision warring across her features. "I'm really not going to be very good company."
"Wait until you taste this food. It will cheer you up and put that sparkle back in your eyes. I promise."
She smiled and looked at him, her beautiful brown eyes meeting his. His heart tripped in his chest. He couldn't let her get away. Not again.
"All right."
"Terrific, because we're already here." He pulled into his sweeping circular driveway and parked.
He got out and opened her door. "I hope you're hungry."
"Famished." He led her into the house, shut the door behind her, and caught the exotic scent of her perfume. Nice. Feminine. Seductive. He led her to the patio out back and up to the table already set and overlooking the ocean. It was time she met the real Hunter, the man who got where he was today with one solid belief—when you wanted something, you didn't stop until it was yours.
His fingers brushed the silky skin of her back as he led her to her seat and pulled her chair out for her. If the time were right, he would lift the long waves of her red hair up off the nape of her neck and run a stream of kisses from the top of her spine to the soft spot behind her knees. He wanted to reacquaint himself with every inch of her beauty.
"Ready?" he asked softly.
She looked up at him and nodded. His eyes caught hers and held for a long moment, then he stepped back, breaking the spell. "I'll be right back." He went into the house, took out salads, a dish of house-made dressing from the restaurant, butter, and the sashimi from the fridge, and then took a basket of rolls out of the warming tray, placed them on a platter, and brought it to the table.
"Wow, Hunter. This looks incredible."
"Mother Nature is providing the entertainment." He pointed toward the beautiful view as the sun dipped in the sky.
Though the sight of her sitting there was more beautiful than any sunset he'd ever seen.
"Hopefully, I can give you a good memory tonight, so you won't be so long to come back for a visit," he said after he took his seat—though after tonight, if he played his cards right, he was fairly certain he could convince her to never leave.
She gave him a small smile.
"Your dad is doing better now?" he asked as they dug into their salads.
"Much. Though he's not out of the woods yet. And I haven't been able to spend nearly enough time with him. I'm hoping to sneak back into the hospital after my audition tomorrow and visit with him one last time before I go back home to Los Angeles."
Home. If he had anything to say about it, this would be her home. He poured the wine and handed her a glass. She took a sip, her tongue peeking out to swipe her lips as she set the glass down. If only she knew how enticing those lips were. How badly he wanted to plunge his tongue into her mouth, to lick the wine off her silky tongue. To revisit the place of his tortured dreams. Expectation and warmth spread through him.
"Hopefully the auction will get some coverage from the photos today," she said.
"Today was a lot of fun. I appreciate everything you've done to help Jill, and I know she does, too."
"After what she did for my father? Absolutely. I'd do anything to help her. Besides, I love Jill."
He smiled. "Good. I do too."
Her gaze caught his, and it was all he could do not to whisk her into his arms right then and there. Surely, she had to see how tortured he was, how their heat was practically burning the air between them.
"I've always loved that about you, Hunter. Your love for your family is the most important thing to you; it's why I understand what you did."
Understand? He couldn't help noticing her choice of words. She might understand, but did she forgive?
"I wish I had known why you needed the money earlier, but I don't blame you for doing everything you could to save your dad. If I was in your position, I would have done the same."
A heavy knot loosened in his chest. "Thank you," he said, surprised by the emotion in his voice. Her words meant everything to him.
"But that doesn't mean I forgive my mother," she whispered.
"Yep. Completely agree with you there."
Her gaze caught his and it was all he could do not to jump up from his chair and pull her into his arms right then and there. They both reached for a roll, and his hand touched hers. The warmth in her fingers tightened his insides. He didn't know how much more of this he could stand.
"Are you ready for the main course?" he asked.
"Absolutely."
He went back into the house, took the platter with the entrees out of the warming tray, and brought them back out to the table. Ashleigh's strap had fallen off her shoulder, and before he took his seat, he swept it back up her arm, his fingers lingering on her satiny skin.
She looked up and smiled at him, then took one bite of her salmon and moaned. "Oh, Hunter, this is fabulous."
"Try the potatoes. They will melt in your mouth."
She took a bite of that next and looked upward. "Heavenly." Yes, it was, and so was she. He took his seat, but couldn't take his eyes off her mouth. He wanted to nibble on her lower lip, to taste the wine on her tongue, to devour her right then, and kiss her senseless. But he'd have to wait. If he could. Hearing her voice, smelling her subtle perfumed scent, and watching that damned spaghetti strap slip down her shoulder was doing him in. He wanted to rip it off her. He would rip it off her. Soon.
By the time dessert was served, she'd told him all about her life during the last fourteen years, sparing no detail.
"How about tomorrow night? You said you have an audition in the city, right? We can celebrate."
"Let's wait and see if I get the part first."
His gaze captured hers and held. "I have no doubt you can get anything you set your sights on."
Now all he had to do was convince her that what she wanted was him.