“I know you get it,” he continues. “You’ve seen it all. You know how fast this shit turns. And I don’t always know who’s actually in my corner anymore.”
Liam’s expression softens. “You know I’ve got you.”
Ash nods, but I can tell he’s still holding something back. “I’m just trying to do the right thing,” he says. “Protect my team, protect the brand. Keep the business side from going up in flames. But it’s hard, man. I built this career on my name, and now it feels like everyone wants to use that name to burn me down.”
There’s a beat of silence. Just long enough for the heaviness of it to settle in the room.
And for a second, I forget all about the music videos and magazine covers and the stupid, wild kiss we shared. All I see is a guy under pressure, fraying at the edges.
Liam pushes up from the armchair and claps a hand on Ash’s shoulder. “You’ll figure it out. You always do.”
Ash nods—grateful, but distant. He checks his phone and sighs. “I’ve gotta head out. Meeting with management.”
Then he turns to me—briefly, almost carefully. “Nice meeting you, Olive. I’ll see you around?”
I force a smile. “Sure thing.”
He looks back at Liam. “Thanks for letting me drop in.”
“Anytime,” Liam says.
And just like that, Ash steps into his boots, and heads out the door—leaving behind nothing but donut crumbs and a strange tension hanging in the air.
4
ASH
Someone Squeaky Clean
The city blurs past my windshield, all sharp edges and traffic lights I barely notice. I’m gripping the steering wheel too tightly and replaying the same ten seconds over and over in my head.
Her breath. Her lips. The exact moment I kissed Olive Hart.
What the hell was I thinking?
I’ve kissed thousands of women. Models, actresses, groupies. Women who wore designer perfume and practiced their angles in front of mirrors. Women who knew exactly who I was and wanted the myth more than the man.
But none of them—none—were my best friend’s sister.
In fuzzy socks.
With powdered sugar on her leggings and a throw pillow between us like a makeshift battlefield.
It was supposed to be harmless. Teasing. Maybe a little flirtation.
Just something to cut through the tension that had been buzzing ever since I walked through Liam’s door and found her there—naked, dripping, furious… and way too beautiful for my peace of mind.
Butthat kiss?
It knocked the breath out of me.
And what really rattles me isn’t the kiss itself.
It’s the way she looked at me after.
Like she didn’t know whether to slap me or kiss me again.
And for a second—I wanted both.
