Maybe I should have just called her or, shit, messaged her.
Ainsley interrupts my inner turmoil by opening the door.
“Ledger?”
“Hey, hi, umm.”Shit, get it together.“Hey, Ainsley.”
“Hi.” She says it skeptically like she’s unsure how to react to my presence at her door. And who can blame her, really? I can’t even say a sentence confidently around this woman.
“So, I just got some great news and thought I’d tell you in person.” There, simple and straightforward.
“Umm, sure. Do you want to come in?” She still looks unsure, but this is a positive step.
“That’d be great.”
I follow her into the living room, where she sits in a chair, and I take the couch.
“So, I got a call today from the organizer of the National Landscaping Association, and he let me know that your presentation was picked. Not only picked, but they want to it to be one of the feature presentations.”
She sits, staring at mewide-eyed.
“You got it?” she whispers.
“Yeah.” I smile.
“Oh my god! You got it! Yes! I’m so happy for you!” She jumps up and claps before slamming into me with a bear hug.
I wrap my arms around her and breath her in. She smells like fresh air and wildflowers, and I want to drown in it.
She gently pushes away, and I hear a mumbled, “Sorry.”
The only thing running through my head are the words,Come back. I haven’t earned it yet, but I will.
“I came over to ask you to come with me, all expenses paid, of course. You know this presentation inside and out, so I think it would be a tremendous benefit to have you there with me.”
“Yeah, whatever you need for work, I can do.” She nods, and I can see her entire focus turning back to work.
“It’s in three weeks. I’ve had the room booked for a while, but I upgraded to a two-bedroom suite, so you can come, if that’s okay. It’s the only option they had. I can send you the details.” I can hear how stilted my voice is, but I liked seeing carefree Ainsley again, and I’m nervous she’ll say no. It just makes me realize I have a lot more to do to show her the kind of man I really am.
“Shouldn’t I be doing that? I mean, as your assistant?” She smirks.
“Possibly, but I booked the room right after last year’s conference.” I slap the tops of my legs before standing up. “Well, I guess I should go. I’ll send you the travel details as soon as I have everything.”
I want to stick around, but I know I need to slowly work myself back into her good graces.
“I really am happy you got it, Ledger. I know it was important to you.”
Locking eyes with her, my heart starts to pound.
She looks sincere and genuinely happy—something I don’t think I’ve seen on her since she moved here. I don’t know the full story of whathappened in Austin, but I do know she wasn’t happy. But this Ainsley? This Ainsley is breathtakingly gorgeous. I want to tell her so many things right now, but I know the right step is to go home and plan an epic trip to Las Vegas.
“Thank you for making it happen. The presentation was what made this possible,” I tell her before turning and heading to the front door. I hesitate for a second, wanting so badly to ask her to dinner, but decide against it. I need to figure out my head and how to not be a bumbling idiot around her before I jump again.
But now, I’ve got a timeline. Three weeks until the conference, and I’m going to plan the best damn time she’s ever had.
Chapter 16
Ainsley
