Ridge

Just Call Him Cupid

It’s late afternoon, and we have gotten at least a foot of snow so far, probably more. I’m watching it come down through the picture window in Ash’s office while we rearrange his schedule for the next few days. No one is traveling in or out of the ranch, and all meetings have been canceled until further notice. Technically, we are done, but I have one last thing to discuss.

“Ash, I need you to talk to your photographer. Cannon and I ran into her today in the kitchen, and she spent the afternoon with us playing basketball and taking pictures. I asked her not to take any of me, but I’m sure I’m in some of them.”

“I’m sorry, thanks again for watching Cannon today. I had to make a run to the barns because of the snow, or I would have done it. I’ll speak to her and remind her of the contract we signed that says I am to approve all pictures for the spread.”

“Thanks. Is there any way to get her to turn over the photos she took today? I think she recognizes me but hasn’t figured out who I am yet. If she does, she could leak those to anybody, and my days of living in peace would be over.”

“Of course, I’ll ask her about it tonight at dinner. Will you be joining us? I thought since she’s already seen you and all…”

“No. I’d rather not if you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine. I’ll have dinner sent up to your room.”

“I appreciate that. If there’s nothing else,” I ask standing up to leave.

“No, well wait, yes.” I stop and place my hands on the back of the wingback chair I just vacated.

“What is it?”

He leans forward with his elbows on his desk, “What do you think will happen if you’re found?”

I tilt my head to the side and wonder how this man became a billionaire. “What will happen is that the media will know where I live. They will come and ask for interviews and pictures and rehash my trial all over again.”

He sits back in his chair. “What if none of that happened? I mean, what if nobody is interested in the case anymore. It’s been five years after all.” I’m about to answer him when he holds up a finger, “Or, what if they did new interviews about how you were victimized into seclusion? This could be your chance to set the world straight.”

I wait for a beat to be sure he’s finished before I answer. “I’d rather not have any attention brought to myself, negative or positive. I’m happy now. I don’t want my life to be another media circus.”

“Are you happy, Ridge? I mean, I get that your life is uncomplicated now, but I worry about your future. What about love? What about kids, a family?”

I shake my head and snort, “Just because you’ve found Mrs. Perfect doesn’t mean I will. I’m good, don’t worry about me.”

“Okay, but if you change your mind, I think that woman you’re so worried about might be one to take a second look at. She’s beautiful, smart, funny, and she was checking you out in the kitchen.”

“Allison Green is the last person I want to take a second look at. Ash, no offense, but you’ve never been scorned by an uptown city girl. They’re ruthless, nasty, controlling, and unbelievably high maintenance. They’ll stab you in the back without a thought, steal your money, demand your time, demean you, and throw you out like yesterday’s trash. No. I will never be involved with a woman like that in any way again.”

“Wow. I had no idea you felt so strongly. Do you think every woman who grew up in a city is like that? I mean Livi Fox, yeah, she was a rich, entitled bitch with no morals, but I think she’s an exception to the rule.”

“It isn’t just Livi. Yes, she had a big influence on my opinion, but I also dated a lot of women who were like her, and I prefer the kind-hearted women of the country.”

“Well, okay. If you’re happy, I’m happy. I just want to make sure you don’t pass up a good opportunity. Allison seems great.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Anytime.”

I turn to leave, and when I open the door, I bump smack into the one person I don’t want to see—Allison. I grab hold of her shoulders to keep her from falling backward.

“Oh my gosh, sorry. I was about to knock,” she says. She’s wide-eyed with surprise, but something else looks different about her—she’s more natural, relaxed, approachable. After a moment of staring in silence, I realize she’s taken off her makeup. She’s also dressed casually in a Victoria’s Secret t-shirt and jeans instead of the tailored pink pantsuit from earlier, and on her feet, she has a pair of fuzzy yellow socks.

“Excuse me,” I say dropping my hands from her warm shoulders. “I was just leaving.”

“I’m not interrupting, am I?” she asks looking around me to Ash sitting at his desk. “I can come back later if you like.”

“No, come on in, Allison. What can I do for you? You got the clothes Stella sent up for you, I see.”

Ash is standing shoulder to shoulder with me now, and I get the feeling he’s going to start playing matchmaker if I don’t exit right away.

“Yes, please thank her again for me. I didn’t bring casual clothes. I thought we would be working the whole time. It’s good to get out of my work clothes and heels.”

“I’ll bet… makeup, fancy clothes, shoes, I don’t know how women can stand all that stuff,” Ash says. I know what he’s doing, he’s not very subtle.

Allison rolls her eyes, “You have no idea. If I could live in jeans and a sweater for the rest of my life, I would be perfectly content.”

“Really?” Ash says dragging out the word. I’d elbow him in the ribs if he were closer.

“Yes, I have to dress professionally for my job, but on my days off, I’m strictly au naturel.” She flashes her snow-white smile at the two of us, and for a second, I don’t hate her.

“That’s something I love about my Stella. She’s low maintenance all the way. I think I take longer to get ready to go out than she does.” They laugh, and I clear my throat. I need to get away from this redeeming Allison before I do more than not hate her.

“I need to be going, good to see you again, Ms. Green,” I say squeezing past her and through the door.

“Oh please, call me Allison. Ms. Green sounds so uptight.” She smiles as I’m leaving.

“Allison it is then.”

“Oh, before you go I wanted to tell you I edited you out of all the pictures I took today as you asked. It’s too bad. Some of them were good. We could have used one as an insert, The Sexiest Man Alive’s Sexy Assistant,” she says spreading her hands out in an arch in front of her to highlight the headline that will never be.

She smiles again, and there’s a twinkle of playfulness in her eyes. Ash is sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest like he’s watching a debate.

“Thank you for removing me from the pictures. It’s much appreciated. And, no thank you, I’d rather not be involved in the article.”

She shrugs, “Okay, suit yourself.”

I give her a fleeting smile and leave the room before Ash turns into a chubby angel with wings and an arrow dipped in a love potion to shoot through my heart. He means well, but he has no idea the hell my life was five years ago, and I’m not going through that again, not even for a beautiful woman.