Ashley smiles, but her attention is on me. She studies my face for several seconds before saying, “So thereissomething going on with you.”
“What do you mean?” I ask her.
She reaches over and pats my cheek gently. “You look exhausted, J.”
CHAPTERNINE
Ashley
“Like I told you, I’ve had a little issue with sleep,” he says.
I look more closely at Jared’s eyes. “Well, your dark circles aren’t quite as dark this morning. So what’s up with the insomnia?”
“When Declan retired, it was a lot of pressure,” he admits. “We were the defending champs, and anything less than a repeat would be a disappointment.”
“So you think you were a disappointment last year because you didn’t win it all?”
He shrugs.
“J.” I take his hand and squeeze it. “What is this really about? Because I’m calling bullshit on the Declan angle. The Jared Storm I know doesn’t feel pressure.”
“True.” He exhales like it pains him to even talk about his feelings.
That’s a Storm for you. Their daddy was a good man, but he wasn’t big on emotional chats, and their mama died so long ago. The four brothers are great guys, but handling big emotions isn’t one of their strengths.
“So what’s going on? You know that whatever you tell me won’t leave this room.”
He squeezes my hand back. “After we won, I felt like I’d reached my dreams. All the ones I’d promised my parents I’d achieve. And when you reach the pinnacle and no one is there to celebrate with you…” He lets go of my hand and flicks it in the air like he’s conflicted. “It feels kind of lonely.”
My heart breaks. “So a part of you doesn’t want to win. Because then you’ll feel that loneliness all over again.”
“It’s psychological warfare,” he says. “It’s nuts.”
“It’s not,” I say. “It makes sense. I get it.”
Jared exhales. “I can’t let it continue into this season. I have to show up for my teammates.”
“You always show up. For everyone.” We lock eyes. “You’ve always shown up for me. And you’ll figure this problem out. I believe in you.”
His eyes warm. “I’m glad you’re in Montana, Ash. Do you want to go for a ride together before you start your day? I can saddle up two horses in no time.”
I smile. “I would love to. Let me just…” I grab my phone off the nightstand and glance at the screen. “Shit. Mia texted and wants to meet me asap. Raincheck on the ride?”
Jared winks. “Anytime, Ash.”
My cheeks warm, and I can feel my toes curling underneath the sheets. His brown eyes roam my face before landing on my mouth for a beat too long.
I swallow, and he drags his attention back to my eyes.
“I’ll let you get ready,” he says as he stands up.
His muscles are on full display underneath his fitted t-shirt and track pants. His messy hair and facial hair just add to his sexiness.
I resist the urge to ask him to stay, and he leaves the bedroom, shutting the door behind him so I’m alone with my lust.
But my pulse is all over the place, and my stomach’s flipping with butterflies. Jared’s heated gaze could melt an ice storm, which is perfect, given his surname. And as hard as I’m trying to keep a line between us, it already feels tenuous at best.
I’m not sure I even want to resist the sparks between us.
