Chapter 24
"Frank, how are you doing?" Ashleigh said into the phone as she sat in her mother's car outside the Captain's Catch, watching the guests arriving dressed in their finest. The auction looked like it was turning out to be the event of the season. She was happy for Jill. Hunter was in there somewhere. Her heart kicked up a beat just thinking about it. She didn't like the way she'd left things with him. He didn't deserve the brush-off now any more than she'd deserved it fourteen years ago. The look in his eyes when she'd told him the results of the pregnancy test mirrored her own. He'd been disappointed. In that split second, she'd watched his hope die.
She wanted it back for him… and for herself. She wanted that happily ever after, and she wanted it with him. She only hoped he wanted it too. Yes, he'd lied to her; he kept secrets. He held a part of himself back from her. But hadn't she done the same? Her father was right: it was time to forgive. To move past all the old hurts and open herself up enough to take a chance on love. To let herself be happy.
Frank paused. "That depends. Are you calling me from the air? Because you're supposed to be on your way to Paris."
"I know."
"So, tell me you are sitting comfortably in your first-class seat, sipping a glass of Chardonnay and eating a porcelain crock of warmed nuts."
"I can't. I'm sorry. I'm still in the Hamptons."
"Ashleigh, I told you how important it was for you to be there. Todd is paying the crew extra to meet you on the weekend. Which he'll be paying regardless of whether or not you show up. This is not a good way to start to work on this movie."
"I know, you don't have to tell me. But it couldn't have been helped."
"Do I even want to know?" He sounded exasperated, and she didn't blame him.
"I couldn't leave. Not yet. I have some unfinished business. But I will get there before Monday, I promise." Come hell or high water, she thought.
"I'm not sure I believe you. And if I can't, what is Todd going to think?"
"That my family comes first and I need to be here with them right now."
"All right, I'll let him know, but don't be surprised if you lose the role after this."
Let the chips fall where they may. "Thanks for understanding, Frank." Ashleigh hung up, got out of the car, and walked into the restaurant, more determined than ever. Tonight she'd ask Hunter to give them a chance. To wait for her, even though she didn't know how long she'd be gone. To take it slowly and see what happened.
In the crowded room, servers were clearing dishes from the tables. She'd missed dinner, but it didn't matter—she'd had something from the hospital cafeteria after spending the day with her parents. She couldn't ever remember having a better day with them, and hoped there would be many more to follow.
Across the room, Hunter leaned on the bar, Violet's hand on his arm. Ashleigh brushed off the instant flash of anger and strolled casually toward them, aware of the attention she was attracting as she walked through the room in her beaded black evening gown shimmering around her.
"Hunter. Violet," she said as she approached them. He glanced at her, his eyes hooded and unreadable.
"I thought you were on your way to Paris," he said, his voice flat, igniting a spark of doubt. She pushed it away.
"Yes, congratulations on getting the part." Violet's tone dripped with insincerity.
"Thank you." Ashleigh faced Hunter, turning her back to Violet and edging between them. "May I steal you away for a moment? There's something I'd like to discuss."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Violet interjected, and shifted closer to Hunter. "The auction is about to start any moment."
"Hunter?" Ashleigh said, ignoring Violet.
Hunter looked at her, one eyebrow raised. "She's right. I shouldn't leave. Not now."
"Really, Hunter?" Ashleigh sucked in a deep breath and forced herself to slowly release it. Violet's victorious smile, not to mention the possessive way she was rolling her hand up and down his sleeve, was pushing Ashleigh toward the breaking point. "I realize you've never been one to fight for what you want, Hunter, but I never thought you were a coward."
There, she'd said it—the ugly thoughts that had been festering inside her and the true reason his hiding the truth about his money had upset her so badly. She just hadn't realized it until this moment. He was a billionaire. He could have come for her at any point in the last fourteen years, explain about his dad and fight for her. But he hadn't. He let her slip away.
"A coward?" he asked, his eyes widening.
"Or perhaps you're just unwilling. Perhaps you like taking the easy way out. Well, there she is," Ashleigh said, swinging her arm toward Violet. "Miss Easy."
"How dare you?" Violet said, and, in one quick movement, threw her drink in Ashleigh's face. A large gasp sounded throughout the room. Cameras started clicking.
Ashleigh wiped the alcohol out of her eyes and off her cheeks. Great, everyone was watching… and listening. The photographers were going to love this as much as her mother was going to hate it. But, truth was, she didn't care. Enough was enough.
"You deserve that, you haughty bitch," Violet sneered.
Ashleigh launched herself on Violet, going for the hair. She almost had it in her grasp when Hunter grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back. Violet came at her, but out of nowhere, Michael pulled her back.
"Hey, there, she-cat. Time to calm down," Michael said.
Hunter quickly ushered Ashleigh out the doors leading to the veranda, and closed them behind him.
"What the hell was that?"
"Me doing what I've been wanting to do for a long time."
"Did you have to do it here? This is Jill's night, and you ruined it." His voice was cold, his eyes hard.
"Are you kidding? I didn't ruin it. I made it. These people will be talking about this for months."
He raked his hands through his hair. "Are you really that arrogant?"
"Are you really that stupid?" The words hung in the air between them.
"I think I am. Obviously, I am, because here I am, standing outside with you, giving you exactly what you wanted."
"You know what, Hunter. I changed my mind. I was right the first time. I don't want anything from you." She took a deep breath and shook her head at her own stupidity. She should be on a plane right now, sipping wine and studying up on her French. But was she? No. She was standing here, making a fool out of herself, hoping he'd sweep her into his arms and kiss her senseless. She was the stupid one.
He looked incredulous. "You don't want anything from me?" He stepped forward, hulking over her and pushing her up against the outside wall, his face next to her, his hot, alcohol-tinged breath fanning her cheek, his lips mere inches from hers. "Are you sure?"
She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. Why the hell did he still have this effect on her?
"Yes," she said, stubbornly lifting her chin.
"Liar." His lips slanted over hers, but he didn't touch her. His dark eyes stared into hers, daring her to push him away, or worse, to stop him from doing what they both wanted and kiss her.
Her heart was pounding a mile a minute. She didn't know what to do. How had everything gotten so out of control? Her nostrils flared with his warm scent as desire coiled in her belly. He was so strong. So intense. So much a man.
"You want me," he said, his words caressing her senses. "Say it."
"Yes." And then his lips were on hers. She wasn't sure who kissed who first; she only knew that her arms were around his neck, her chest pressing against his as his tongue filled her mouth.
***
He couldn't stop. The taste of her was intoxicating; her scent filling him seeped deep into his mind, reeling him in and refusing to let go.
He loved Ashleigh, God help him. He always had. And he wasn't about to let her slip away. She was back here, making a scene, for only one reason: she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
He wasn't about to disappoint either of them.
With her back against the wall and his body pushed against her, he couldn't stop what was about to happen even if he wanted to. His tongue swept inside her mouth, possessing, commanding. She was his. He knew it, she knew it—it was time she gave in to it and surrendered.
He moved his hands to her hips, where he yanked her dress up, holding tightly to the silky fabric, as he continued devouring her mouth. Pressing against her belly, his cock ached. The sounds of her moans were music to his ears. She lifted one knee up, and he moved his hand between her legs, feeling her heat.
Oh, yes, she wanted him. He grabbed her between the legs, cupping her core. Her eyes shot open, meeting his. He slipped his fingers inside the satin fabric of her thong and pushed inside her. She was hot and wet, and at that moment he wanted her like he hadn't wanted anyone before.
"What made you come back?" he growled, his finger moving deep inside her.
"I wanted to see you," she said on a heavy breath, and fumbled with his pants.
"Why?"
She squirmed on his hand as the heel of his palm pressed against her swollen nub and his fingers continued to work their magic.
"I…" She inhaled a deep breath. "I didn't want to leave… without fixing things." She finally finished on a gasp.
Fixing what?
"Us."
"So there's an us?"
"Yes."
That was all he needed to hear. He grabbed her by the hips and pulled her legs up to straddle him.
"You said you wanted me to fight for you."
"Yes," she said as he teased her, pressing with his cock against her opening, slipping the head inside but then pulling back out. It took everything he had not to bury himself to the hilt, but he didn't. He wanted her to beg for it.
For him.
"You could have come for me. You could have explained. Why didn't you?"
"Truth? I didn't think I deserved you."
Surprise entered her eyes. "And now?"
"Now I don't want to live without you."
"Then don't."
It was all he needed to hear. He buried himself inside her, pushing in as deep as he could. She held on tight to his shoulders, her legs wrapped around his waist as he drove into her, her moans in his ear urging him forward as tension rose within both of them.
He loved this woman. Loved her with everything he had. And he wanted her. But he wouldn't wait for her on the half-baked promise that she'd be back some day. He wasn't going to put his life on hold for her. She either wanted him, all of him, right now, or she didn't want him at all.
Her choice.
The ball was in her court now.
He bucked his hips as the pressure built to the breaking point.
"I won't wait for you," he said.
She lifted her chin, her head tilted back, her face contorted with passion.
"But if you want me, if you want us, I'm here. Now. The choice is yours."
She didn't respond as her breathing came quicker and quicker.
"I love you," he said, as the crescendo rose within him.
"Yes," she said on a scream, and then she lost it, convulsing, her muscles squeezing as she tightened around him.
That was all it took to send him careening over the edge, falling hook, line, and sinker. Not knowing if he'd ever be able to recover.
"I love you," he said again as he took the fall. He was buried inside her, his head nestled in the crook of her neck, her hair cascading around him. He wrapped his arms tightly around her. He never wanted to let go.
"I love you," he whispered again, though he doubted she could hear.
"Hunter!" he heard someone call.
Reluctantly, he pulled back, set Ashleigh on her feet, and zipped up his pants.
She was breathing heavily, her lips swollen, her eyes glazed.
"I have to go."
"What?"
"Sorry." He righted his clothes then turned and walked away, painfully aware that she hadn't told him she loved him back. Or said that she'd stay. Not once.