It’s all very curious, Ashton still being in town. “You must miss your sister, or is it Basher that keeps dragging you back?” I ask. “Because you’re herea lot.”
Ashton laughs, and I start because it’s a real laugh not a wry chuckle that he usually does.
I like the sound of it.
“Sounds like you’re almost offended by that.”
“If you’re putting down Battle Harbour because there’s nothing you like to do, then yes, I am offended. People come here for the outdoors, even in the winter. You could try it—or you could not come back.”
Ashton’s mouth turns down like he’s sad, and it confuses me, because what on earth would make himsad? Billionaire. Party boy. Lover of beautiful women, and brother to fantastic Fenella. “Is that what you want? Me not to come back?”
“I didn’t say that, and why would you care?”
“Well, I kind of feel responsible for you after our little tête-à-tête in the street.”
That makes it sound like more than him running me down with his car happened between us. And why? Why would he do that? It’s almost… that smile… it’s like he’sflirtingwith me.
Again—why?
“Don’t,” I tell him. “You’re not responsible for me. For the last time, I know it was anaccident.”
I say that a little too loudly.
“I like Battle Harbour,” Ashton confesses. “There might not be much to do when there’s seven feet of snow, but there’s something about it.”
“There’s a lot about it.”
“You’ll have to show me. At least, tell me about it because Iwillbe around, whether you like it or not.”
I never said I didn’t like it.
If we were flirting, that’s what I would say.
But we’re not flirting, so I don’t.
“Basher likes me as his wingman,” Ashton continues. “He’s a big boy, so I don’t know why, but Mabel has him scared, and he wants me around to hold his hand.”
“What did Mabel do to scare him?” I do understand Basher’s fear because Mabel Crow can be scary. She’s definitely a strong woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid of telling someone exactly what they did wrong and what they need to do to fix it.
“I think she just stands there andlooksat him like he’s a bug. No idea what the attraction is. I’m partial to women who smile at me. Even when I hit them with a car.”
Again—what is he doing? There’s been plenty of time and opportunities for Ashton to flirt with me. Why now?
“Did you know that the King’s Hat has doubled the income since she’s been a manager?” I ask him, because I’d rather talk about Mabel than wonder why he smiles at me like that. “Kalle did a good job, and Edie was fantastic when she ran the place. No one knows what Mabel is doing differently.”
“It’s probably Basher and all the beer he’s crying into. Let’s go back to what you do around here.”
So I do. I tell him about living in a small town, the markets and festivals and fairs. I tell him about the Christmas parties the king and queen used to host.
He likes hearing about the high school parties, where groups of us would head to the pond in the woods, or to the beach after a baseball game, staying out late.
He asks questionsabout who was there, what I did, and who I did it with, like he’s trying to find out more about me.
And then I turn it around on him and ask what it was like growing up as a Carrington.
We talk for the entire morning, the two of us sitting on the couch with the cats. Ashton shows a talent for keeping the fire burning brightly, and we have playful arguments on my playlist of songs. He opens up about so many things, which is a surprise, considering what Abigail said about him being guarded and unable to show vulnerability when she sent him home from The Suitorette.
Maybe he’s learned his lesson.
