“I would like you to meet my father and brother.”
His breath caught in his throat. Had he heard correctly? Impossible! “You want me to meet your family?”
She nodded. “If that is all right with you.”
“Uh...yes, I suppose it is.”
She offered a lazy smile. “I was thinking last night after your friends dropped me off that you probably wondered why I have been so hesitant about introducing my family to you.” She licked her lips. “So, I decided that I think it’s time you met them.”
“W-why now?”
“I want you to know that I’m not ashamed of them. My father has done the best he could in raising me, and although he’s not a banker or an owner of a shipping line—or a railway—he is still my father, and he has done what he thinks is best for my welfare.”
Ashton’s heart began to soften again. All this time he had wondered why she was so secretive about her family. Now he realized the reason. She must be ashamed of them, even though she tried to deny it. Yet she wanted to introduce him to them.
Nicole was not the thief his friends had tried to convince him she was. Even if her companion had a dark past, it didn’t mean Nicole had one. Ashton’s first instincts about her had been correct. She was as sweet and genuine as he first thought. She wasn’t trying to hide anything from him other than her guilt for being ashamed of the way her father had raised her.
“I think that is a splendid idea. I would love nothing more than to meet your family,” he answered honestly.
She sighed and smiled fully. “I shall arrange a day and time and let you know.”
“I’m available every night this week. The quicker, the better, don’t you agree?”
“Oh yes, Ashton.” Her eyes lit up once again.
The pain of his guilt disappeared, and relief swept over him, knowing that his friends had been wrong about her and that he had been right. His heart swelled with that strange emotion he had been getting lately whenever they were close, but this time, he didn’t try to fight it. He welcomed it, and warmth spread through him.
“Thank you, my darling Nicole,” he muttered before placing his mouth over hers.
Her fast intake of breath from the suddenness of his actions quickly turned into a heady sigh as she wrapped her arms around his neck and participated fully. His heart sang with gladness as he hungrily kissed her.
Satisfaction filled him, knowing he could now allow her to take his heart...as long as she took the rest of him with it. He was hers, body and soul, and he never wanted that to change.
Loud voices from outside his office broke his concentration. Nicole must have heard the noise as well because she pulled back and swung her head toward the door.
Grumbling under his breath, he moved away from her. “Forgive me, my dear, but I must take care of things out here first.”
“Ashton,” she said, quickly stopping him. “I must leave anyway, but...can we plan another meeting?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Another meeting?”
“Yes. A secret meeting.” Color bloomed in her cheeks.
“What do you have in mind?” He grinned, liking the idea even before she could tell him.
“Will you meet me tomorrow evening somewhere private? I...I want to be alone with you again.”
Excitement sprang inside him. “Where do you want to meet?”
“Do you recall the fisherman’s shack where we went that one afternoon in Meols?”
“Oh, yes. I remember.” He moved back to her and took her in his arms again.
“Liverpool also has some shacks by the water.”
He nodded. “I will meet you there tomorrow night.”
“Around seven?”
