Josh seated her at the breakfast bar, his strong fingers flexing around her waist as he lifted her onto the bar stool. Although she was tall, he tossed her into place without a single grunt.
He grinned at his easy accomplishment and swiped a finger over her cheek. “You have ink on your face.”
She started to get up to clean it off, but he stayed her with a hand on her arm.
“Leave it. It makes you look cute and studious. Eat your dinner.”
“Yes, Dad,” she quipped.
“Ashley.” The strange note in his voice drew her attention from the pile of glistening spaghetti to him.
His blue eyes glowed, and a soft smile curved his lips. “The last emotion on my mind is fatherly. Frog warned me not to do my normal flirt and leave. With you, it’s hard.”
“Why, because I’m a nerd?”
“No, sweetheart. It’s because you’re sweet and sexy and intelligent. Every time I glimpse you, I get an urge to strip off your clothes and feast on you. I’m eager to see you in your new lingerie.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I hope you followed my list.”
“I did, but I added a couple of items for my viewing pleasure. Cheeky, I know, but a man needs hope.”
“You want me too?”
“Very much. You’re an unexpected package, Ashley Townsend. Any man is lucky to have you in their life.”
Ashley speared her spaghetti with a fork and twirled the pasta onto the tines. “I’m hearing abutin your words.”
“I promised Frog I’d keep my hands to myself. I’m a man of my word.”
“Hmm.” Ashley forked pasta into her mouth. She moaned at the hint of truffle oil, the spinach and corn and herbs, and the al dente spaghetti. It was sex in a mouthful. Ashley swallowed and twirled more pasta around her fork. “This is delicious. Thanks so much for cooking dinner, Josh.”
His phone rang again. “Sorry, I’d better get this. It’s my sister. Keep eating.” Josh stood and retreated, but Ashley could still hear his side of the conversation. “Fuck,” he said. “Send it through. They’re trending on social media? Yeah. All right. Thanks for letting me know.”
Josh hung up and returned to his seat.
Ashley took in his expression, and her stomach did a slow churn. Tension bled into her, and she clenched her fork until her knuckles whitened. “What is it? What’s happened?”
“Yourfriendhas started a social media campaign. They’ve flooded the different channels with posts saying you’re unfit to lead the country and that voters are stupid if they vote for you or your party.”
Ashley scooped up her phone, and almost instantly, it rang. She frowned at the unknown number. Every instinct told her that whoever wished to talk to her meant her harm.
“Hello.”
“Ashley.” A husky voice. Masculine, but one she didn’t recognize.
“Who is this?”
“Put the call on speakerphone,” Josh whispered.
“Who’s there?” the man asked.
“My fiancé. We were eating dinner. How can I help you?”
“You ruined my life. Because of you, I lost everything.”
“Who is this?”
“Have you seen my social media posts? I will destroy you,” the man snarled. “Once I’m finished, you will lose everything.” Seconds later, he disconnected the call.
