"Ah, but that's what these are for," Ashton gestured to the blanket and pillows arranged invitingly on the floor.
A soft wave of warmth spread through me. It was so perfectly Ashton, unexpectedly thoughtful, subtly romantic, transforming even a simple meal into something special.
He plunked down the food and pulled me to sit beside him. We settled in, surrounded by comfort and the aroma of Italian spices.
"Tell me about your treasure hunting," he said between bites.
I dove into the story of each find, describing the intricate carvings on a mahogany dresser set to be delivered and the delicate China set that seemed to whisper stories of elegant dinner parties from the past. Ashton listened, nodding along, his interest more than polite—it was genuine.
"You have a great eye for detail," he said, his admiration clear.
"Thanks," I said, a blush rising to my cheeks. "Enough about me. How was your day?"
"Surprisingly smooth," he said, wiping his hands on a napkin. "My partner's been talking about retiring, and today he made it official. Looks like I'll be stepping back into the practice sooner than expected."
"Wow, that's big news," I exclaimed, impressed. "Sounds like things are falling into place for you."
"More than I could've hoped," he said, his relief palpable. "The best part is, I won't need to worry about hiring any staff for my side of things."
"Seems like we both had a day of wins," I said, leaning back against the pillows.
"Here's to many more," Ashton raised his soda can in a toast, the faux firelight dancing in his eyes.
The glow from the electric heater cast a warm light over us, creating an illusion of coziness that complemented the softness of the blanket beneath us. Ashton grabbed my hand when we finished our pizza, his touch gentle yet charged with something more.
"Erin." He sounded low and serious in a way that made me turn to look at him directly. "I've got to be honest with you."
I waited, my heart picking up its pace.
"I'm falling for you. Hard." The words hung between us, and vulnerability flickered across his face.
I took a deep breath, emotions swirling inside me. "Ashton, I..." My words trailed off, unsure how to articulate the complexity of my feelings.
"Hey, it's okay," he said quickly, squeezing my hand. "You don't have to say anything you're not ready to."
I mustered a smile, grateful for his understanding. "It's not that simple for me. Falling in love, I mean. With everything that's happened in my life, I can't just dive headfirst into a relationship."
He nodded, his eyes searching mine. "I get that."
"But," I said, "what I can tell you is that I feel like I'm falling, too. It's slower, maybe, but it's happening." I got a twinge of fear even as I spoke the truth, aware of how much I was risking.
"Then that's enough for me," Ashton said, his smile genuine and reassuring. "We'll take this at whatever pace you're comfortable with. I'm here for the long haul."
Hearing those words, I allowed myself to lean into him, resting my head against his shoulder. The moment felt fragile and precious, like a bubble that could burst at any second, yet I wanted to see where this would go.
Ashton's gaze held warmth, a silent promise that seemed to bridge the distance between hesitation and certainty. My heart rate picked up, not solely from desire but from the connection that had steadily woven itself around us.
Ashton brushed a strand of hair from my face, and I let out a content sigh, feeling a peace I hadn't known in a long time.
"Thank you." Those two words carried the weight of my gratitude for more than just the moments passed.
"For what?" he asked, his voice low and laced with drowsy satisfaction.
"For being patient. For...this." I swept my hand in a vague gesture that encompassed the room, him, and the intangible something that hung between us.
"Erin," he said, but I pressed a finger to his lips.
"Let's just stay like this for a while," I said, craving the quiet cocoon we had created away from the world and its demands.
