“I’m serious,” he said calmly. “This is the second time you’ve acted recklessly. Punching someone in public, with that many witnesses, won’t look good.”
“Oh my gosh.” Panic crept in. “You’re right. I didn’t even think about that.”
Memories flashed through my mind. Police lights. A warning. The thin line between lucky and not.
“What should I do now?” I asked, my voice tight. “What if they report it?”
Ashton paused, then said casually, “Well… I could always offer the witnesses something. A few years of complimentary club membership might help them forget.”
I stared at him. “You’d do that?”
He waited just long enough for hope to flicker across my face. Then he smirked.
“No,” he said flatly. “That’s bribery. And I don’t do that.”
My face burned. “Oh my God. I can’t believe I almost agreed to that.”
He shook his head, something almost amused in his eyes as he pressed the ice pack back into place.
“Worst case,” he said, “statements are made. Best case, everyone wants to forget it happened.”
“Right,” I muttered, a sinking feeling settling in my chest. With a stunt like that, I doubted anyone would forget.
“Well,” I said, forcing a casual shrug, “at least you’ve got something for your side if you ever need leverage in a custody battle. I practically handed you proof that I’m not exactly Mother of the Year.”
My tone was light, almost teasing.
But Ashton stopped.
He looked at me steadily, his blue eyes intense. “I would never do that. We’re a team, remember?”
The weight of his words nearly undid me. Almost. Our faces were close enough that I caught his gaze flicking to my lips, and on impulse, I licked them.
Ashton tensed instantly, his expression hardening.
The moment shattered when his phone rang, making me jump. He sighed, clearly irritated by the interruption.
“Who could that be?” I asked, suddenly awkward.
“Probably my mother,” he said, answering the call. “I just left her a message. I need a backup in case Donna presses charges. You’re lucky my mother and Donna’s mother are friends. She’s been helping her with business over the past few years.”
“Oh.” I was momentarily speechless. I had never imagined his mother would step in to help me, given how little we knew each other.
Ashton gestured for me to stay put and walked away to talk, leaving me on the sofa, my heart still pounding from the closeness we had just shared.
A few moments later, he returned.
“How’s the hand?” he asked, nodding toward the pack I was still holding against my knuckles.
“Oh… it looks better,” I said. It did, even though a dull ache remained.
“That’s good.” He took the pack from me and headed toward the kitchen.
Instead of putting it away, he pulled out a pan, a few onions, some spices, and a cutting board.
It looked like I was about to have an early dinner at his place.
Chapter 32
