“You don’t need to apologize to me for your daughter being upset.” Ashlyn took a step closer, until the bouquet of flowers was all that stopped their bodies from touching.
“Will you go out for dinner with me tomorrow night?” he asked.
“I would love to.”
“Can I kiss you now?”
Ashlyn laughed and moved the bouquet to the side so she could step into his arms when he opened them. “You’d better.”
Chapter
Eleven
August 18th
11:50 A.M.
Taking a deep breath, she climbed out of her car.
This wasn't going to go well.
It never did.
Ashlyn had been dating Grant for three months now, and if they’d been hoping things would magically improve with his daughter’s attitude, they would have been sorely mistaken.
Thankfully, they hadn't expected a magic turnaround. Lindsay had put her foot down and made it abundantly clear that she would not accept her father in a relationship with anyone.
For the last three months, Ashlyn had done her best not to take it personally, only because she was ninety-nine percent sure that Lindsay would have hated anyone Grant brought home and not just her specifically.
Still made it hard though.
She was trying. Doing her best to show both kids that she didn't want to be their new mom, they had a mom, and she didn'twant to replace Lara, but Lindsay didn't care. She just hated her. That hatred hadn't dimmed even a little bit, and some days when they did something all four of them together, Ashlyn had to try really hard not to lose control of her emotions.
While she’d never yell at the girl, she definitely might cry, and she knew Lindsay would find a way to try to use that against her.
But Grant was worth fighting for, worth going through all this turmoil because Ashlyn refused to believe that Lindsay would hate her forever. She just had to prove herself. Thank goodness things with Kevin had been easy from the start.
Using his love of all things car-related to her advantage, she was building a strong bond. She’d even wound up keeping the Porsche from the attempted abduction that she’d intended to sell because the twelve-year-old had been so excited about it. It had taken a large amount of self-control not to blurt out that she’d buy him one when he graduated college—then he’d be a little more mature than if she got it when he got his license—but she didn't want to buy Grant’s kids love, she wanted to earn it.
She’d still buy him the car, though, she would just surprise him with it. Being a millionaire in her own right with her jewelry brand made her proud. She wasn't just living off the trust fund from her billionaire stepdad or taking handouts. She worked hard for everything she’d earned, but his money, name, influence, and connections had definitely helped.
Carrying the picnic basket she’d painstakingly packed with all of Lindsay and Kevin’s favorites, Grant’s, too, she headed down to the boat. It was a gorgeous summer’s day, and Grant had invited her to join him and the kids out on the ocean.
Of course, she’d said yes. While she treasured their alone time dates, where they got to know each other without the pressure of the kids weighing them down, she enjoyed these family get-togethers, too. Well, at least she enjoyed time withKevin, and she hoped each time that Lindsay might ease up on her a little.
“Why isshehere?” Lindsay snarled the second Ashlyn reached the boat.
Guess today is going to be another bad day.
Hang in there, don’t give up, Grant is more than worth it.
Since that was absolutely true, she forced her lips up into a smile. “Morning, Lindsay. I made some of those strawberry cinnamon scrolls that you like.” Actually, she’d been up half the night looking up recipes and baking them from scratch. She was trying so hard to win over Lindsay, and it was disheartening that she failed every time.
“Yuck. I hate strawberries,” Lindsay snapped, even though Ashlyn knew that absolutely wasn't true. Grant said they’d been her favorite fruit since she was a baby.
“Linds,” Grant rebuked, coming up behind his daughter and giving her a disapproving frown. “Don’t lie. And where are your manners? I raised you better than this. Morning, honey, you look gorgeous.” Grant gave her one of those panty-melting smiles of his, and Ashlyn shook off the tension and smiled back.
“I missed you,” she admitted as she took his offered hand and stepped onto the boat.
