His brows quirked with mischief while her cheeks flushed again.
He focused on the traffic and curled his fingers around her hand. “You look scared to death. Don’t be. I pride myself on being a man of my word.”
This whole situation was crazy, their agreement was insane, but she was willing to take a chance on Ash.
Half a block later, he pulled into the driveway of her modest two-bedroom brownstone.
Forest had wanted to buy her a bigger place, but the mortgage fit within the salary she pulled from her job at the hospital. He didn’t like that she’d taken out a mortgage either, but it was important to her to live within her means as a physician.
Ash put the mirrored sunglasses back on and hopped out, coming around to open her door. She wasn’t sure what to think about the fact that he shared that trait with Spencer.
“Come inside.”
He shook his head. “Too risky.”
“What does that mean?”
“This isn’t the cabin. Our three days haven’t officially begun yet. Best I wait in the car.” He lowered those stupid glasses and pinned her with a penetrating deep gaze. “Me and my junk will be right here. Don’t take too long. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to come looking for you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
He pushed the glasses up, hiding his beautiful eyes. “If I come in there, I’m going to kiss you. If I kiss you, I’m going to touch you.” He took a step toward her, closing the distance, forcing her heart into a rapid flutter. His voice lowered as he spoke in her ear, “I’ll peel off all your clothes and make you forget all about your maybe, maybe-not fiancé until my name is the only sound you make.”
She imagined him doing exactly that and bit her lower lip.
He took a step back. “Technically, our trip hasn’t started. My promise isn’t in effect. As soon as I pile you into my Jeep and take you to this cabin, I’m going to regret giving you my word because I already know what it feels like to touch you. Unless that’s what you want…”
She had no words.
He gave a shake of his head. “Okay then, I’ll be waiting right here. I’m not fucking this up. Not that I don’t want to follow you right now. Sex is great. But you should know, I’m after the bigger prize.”
Holy hell in a hand basket. Did this guy have no filter?
With the sunglasses, there was no way to know if he was telling the truth or teasing.
Half of her wanted to find out if he would carry through on his threat. As threats went, that one sounded like a lot of fun.
She twisted the door handle and stepped across the threshold. “I’ll be out in ten minutes. No need to come get me.”
Her bags were already packed. All she needed to do was tell Forest and cancel the rental car.
Inside, the quiet of her house reminded her of the starkness of her life. The one devoid of a strange man, a three-day agreement, and scorching kisses that threatened to undo everything she’d fought to build.
She scanned Spencer's prenup into a file to send off to Forest.
Spencer promised a future she’d always dreamed of having. Could she really walk away from all the time she’d invested in achieving her most precious dream?
But she needed answers. And Ash might be the only clear signal in the confusing noise of her life right now.
A loud pounding sounded on her door after a few minutes.
“Skye,” he called out, “it’s been fifteen minutes. Don’t make me come in there. I don’t like breaking promises.”
She glanced at the door, a ghost of a smile lifting the corners of her mouth. While she knew next to nothing about Ash, her gut told her that his singular comment encapsulated the truth about him.
As much fun as it would be to let him in and have him ravage her as they both wanted, deep down, she knew they needed to wait.
“I’m on my way!”
