She shrugged and turned her lips down. “I mean, it would be nice if they could come out of these interviews a little on the chill side. Might make people like me have an easier day on the job.”
“Was it that bad?”
“Let’s just say that tiny me trying to pull these two gigantic ass men apart wasn’t a walk in the park.”
“What about James?” I asked about her partner.
“He’s out sick, and I’ve been paired with someone who’s fresh out of training. Girl, that boy don’t know his right foot from his left. I think I’m going to see about staying partnered with him, though, because he has the potential to be?—”
“Hold that thought, Tommi.” I interrupted my cousin and rushed by her in the direction of Ashton, who was walking out of a door with an officer. The officer said something to Ashton, and he replied before he nodded and started walking in my direction.
He paused the minute that he saw me, dropped his head, and shook it.
“Fuck.” I heard him mutter as I approached him.
“Ashton.”
“What are you doing here?”
“First, I wanted to thank you for sending the flowers, candy, wine, and card. They were very nice and thoughtful. A girl could get spoiled with lavish gifts like those.”
“Don’t count on ’em from me,” he grumbled.
“Before you explode on me again or blow the moment, let me say that I understand why you were upset, and you had every right to be. Honestly, it’s been on my mind since you left the restaurant. Also, I accept your apology, and I want to apologize to you.”
“For what?” he asked with his face screwed up.
“For blindsiding you the way that I did, Ashton. You’re a great athlete but an even better man. You didn’t deserve that. It didn’t matter how important the story was or how much I thought you deserved to know the truth. There was a better way of handling the situation. I apologize.”
He bobbed his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Still waiting for the reason that you’re here. I didn’t call you.”
“No, you didn’t. Let’s just say that I have friends in important places.”
He sneered. “I didn’t take you for a country girl.”
I smirked. “You got it. It goes over most folks’ heads when I say that.”
It was a play off the song, “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks.
“Yeah, I listen to a little bit of country every now and then.”
“You’re just full of surprises, Mr. Santoro.”
“And you’re just full of pivots and digressing, aren’t you, Ms. Dubois?”
“Touché. The reason I’m here is because I want to help you deliver a story that’s beautiful and heartfelt. A story that paints you in a light that will touch your fans and endear you to their hearts, even through the upcoming storm.”
“What storm?” His expressive, thick arched eyebrows dipped down as he scowled at me and licked those full, pouty lips. That movement alone entranced me, because they looked so damn kissably soft, and I wondered just how soft and plump they were.
I wondered what his lips would feel like on a woman’s body, turning her hot with fever one moment and sending a chill of anticipation down her the next.
Ashton was a gorgeous man; some might even describe him as beautiful. His mixed parentage of his African-American mom and Italian father gave the man good genes. He was six-four and muscular all over with broad shoulders, a massive chest and arms, and slim hips. He was bowlegged and sexy as hell, and the man knew it, but he was humble.
Ashton’s blemish-free cappuccino skin was enhanced by the most beautiful, tilted jade-green eyes and a broad, Nubian nose. A shiny, thick black beard, mustache, and soul patch surrounded full pouty lips. His thick, curly hair that was shaved on the sides was usually braided on the court but sometimes worn in a ponytail in off-season. He kept a clean lineup all the time.
Thinking about how handsome and fine he was, paired with his amazing personality, made me wonder why a woman would cheat on a man like Ashton. There had to be a reason his wife turned from a faithful, loyal woman to an around the way ho.
“Chanel, what storm?” he repeated, forcing my attention back on him and off his beautiful features.
