Frowning, Ashton closed his eyes. No wonder he had not felt like a real man very often. Lately, he wondered if he even knew how to make it through life by himself. Little did Nicole Bastian know, but her kiss evoked feelings in him he’d never felt and made him ponder his life more meaningfully.
And now...now he wanted to prove to someone, even if it was to himself, that he was a real man. That he could do what real men did. A man who could handle challenges and a man he could be proud of.
“What are you thinking about over there?” Steve asked after several moments of silence.
Ashton snapped out of his thoughts and looked at his business partner. “I’m trying to think of what I can do to help the police.”
Steve rolled his eyes. “There is nothing we can do here unless you want to come to Liverpool and work out of that office.”
Hope sprang inside him. The Liverpool office was larger, as was the area. He would be able to accomplish so much more living there.
“I’ll do what I have to do,” Ashton said quickly and assuredly.
“Then let’s plan on you starting next week. Maybe between the three of us, we will catch us a thief.”
“Agreed.” Ashton stood, his legs pushing back his chair until it hit the wall. “I will get everything situated and find a place to live in Liverpool. I’m certain my father has a townhouse still in his name that I can use. I’ll hound the police until we catch the criminal, and I won’t rest until it is done.”
Gradually, a smile pulled on Steve’s mouth—something that didn’t happen often. “Good for you, Lee. I’m happy to see you have grown a backbone.”
Although the comment was meant as praise, Ashton felt the hint of an insult behind the true meaning. But Larson was correct. Ashton had never shown his business partners that he could stand up for himself or make his own decisions.
But starting today, he would turn over a new leaf and become the man he had always wanted to be. He would make his business partners proud to be their friend. And he would let one certain woman know that he was truly a Prince Charming.
THE MORNING PASSED too slowly for Nicole, and she wanted to scream with frustration. Of course, now that the whiskey-ring fraud case was over for her, she literally had nothing to do but sit and wait for the next assignment. Or, in this case, wait for the morning to pass so she could come up with some excuse to go into town.
She couldn’t let her relatives know the reason she wanted to go shopping. Certainly, her aunt and uncle would be watching her closely if they knew she was somewhat interested in Mr. Ashton Lee.
Silently chuckling, she shook her head. So maybe she was more than somewhat interested in him. The fact that she hadn’t stopped thinking about last night at the ball told her she was definitely infatuated with the charming man who knew how to kiss and leave her breathless. Never had her heart beat so hard or felt the urge to stay in a man’s embrace as she had with him.
She had lain awake after retiring for bed last night, just staring at the dark walls in her room as her mind went back over everything she and Ashton had said, every touch, and especially, every time her heart skipped a beat. Even though she hadn’t gotten much sleep, she was still up at the crack of dawn, hoping the morning would pass quickly so she could ride into town and see him.
Nicole had wandered through the house and even outside, wanting something to do that would keep her mind occupied. Reading didn’t even help. She even started writing a couple of letters to her father and brother but found her mind drifting off several times, unable to concentrate.
Never had she felt such restlessness, and the more restless she was, the more upset she became. This was certainly a different emotion for her, and she wished she could go back to feeling normal once again. Yet she caught herself smiling, daydreaming, and yes, even laughing much more now than ever.
A loud knock sounded on the door, and she jumped in her chair. Her uncle had allowed her to use his study while she wrote letters to her father and brother. She had closed the door so as not to be disturbed.
“Come in,” she called.
The door opened and a familiar head poked inside. She hitched a breath and leapt out of her chair. “Gordon!” She widened her arms and met her brother in the center of the room, hugging him. “What are you doing here?” Suddenly, worry filled her chest, and she pulled back. “Were you able to deliver the package safe and sound?”
He winked and squeezed her hands. “You doubt my ability to do the job?”
Relieved, she shook her head. “No, but your surprise visit worried me for a moment.”
“I gave the package to Father, and he will take it to the lieutenant at the Metropolitan Police.”
Suspiciously, she narrowed her eyes on her brother. “Then why are you here?”
He glanced behind him toward the hallway and closed the door. She walked with him to the sofa and sat.
“We have been given another assignment from Father,” he said in a lower voice.
Dread washed over her. “So soon?” Couldn’t she enjoy a little holiday? If even for a few days?
He nodded. “Unfortunately, the Metropolitan Police wants this to be our top priority now. Apparently, a railway is being robbed. This railway was the one the queen uses to send money to other countries for support. We need to find out who is stealing from the queen.”
“Oh, dear. It sounds very important.” She frowned, knowing her time with Ashton Lee would be very limited. “When do we start?”
