Until Ashlyn

  “So I guess you’re not sharing.” I laugh, and she shrugs, chewing like crazy then swallowing hard. She then leans over, without taking her cup from me, and takes a huge gulp through the straw.

  “There’s one chocolate one left.” She smiles, and I shake my head.

  “You’ve got chocolate all over your teeth.”

  “Do I?” She grins, showing off her chocolate-coated mouth, and I toss back my head and laugh.

  “You’re a nut.” I wrap my hand holding her drink around her back and tug her into me.

  “I’m not a nut.” She leans up, giving me a chocolaty kiss, then freezes when someone whimpers behind us.

  Peeking around me, her eyes widen. “Mom,” she whispers, pulling from me. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine, I’m fine. I have to go.” She rushes out of the coffee shop with Ashlyn hot on her heels. I follow close, but not too close, and wait a few feet away, watching Lilly pull her daughter in for a hug, closing her eyes. I can’t hear what she says to her, but I can see her mouth move. Then she leans back, kisses Ashlyn’s cheek, and sends me a wave before getting into her car. Standing on the curb, Ashlyn wraps her arms around her waist while her mom backs out and drives off.

  “Baby,” I murmur, seeing tears in her eyes when she starts toward me. Holding my arms out, she comes right to me and drops her face to my chest while wrapping her arms around my middle. “I hate the tears. Please stop crying.” I do hate them; they are something I have no control over, something that makes me feel helpless when it comes to her.

  “She… she saw us.”

  “I know,” I confirm, and her forehead bobs up and down against my chest.

  “Let’s get into the office where I can put this shit down and hold you.” I kiss the top of her head.

  “’Kay,” she agrees, taking her drink from my hand in the one still holding the paper bag full of her treats, and twining my fingers with her free ones.

  Walking the few feet to the office, I let her go to unlock the door then let her in before me, only stopping briefly to shut off the alarm. “We have patients coming in soon,” she reminds me as I wrap my hand around hers and lead her to the back, without doing the normal routine of turning on the lights and starting up the computers.

  “Matt can do it when he gets in,” I say softly, once we’re in my office and the door’s closed. Taking her drink and the paper bag from her grasp, I drop both to the top of my desk, along with my coffee. “C’mere.” I take a seat in my chair then maneuver her into my lap, with her legs over my thighs, and wrap one arm around her back. “Now tell me what she said,” I say as I push a large hunk of hair over her shoulder so I can see her face completely.

  “She told me she loves me, that she’s still angry.” She pulls in a deep breath, and I can see a fresh wave of tears swimming in her eyes. “Then she said she’s happy for us.” A single tear falls down her cheek, and I catch it with my thumb while my teeth clench shut.

  I knew her parents would both be happy for us. I knew if I could ever make Ashlyn see me for more than her boss and a dick we would have something beautiful. Something like what my parents had before they died. Something her parents have now. I know I shouldn’t have married her in Vegas. I knew when she suggested we get married as a joke, I should have taken her back to the hotel and put her to bed so she could sober up. I didn’t do what I should have done. Instead, I took her directly to the nearest wedding chapel, where I bought us each a ring from a cheep plastic display case, and then stood in front of a guy who looked a lot like the Hulk.

  She laughed herself silly up until it was time for us to say our vows to each other. During that part of the ceremony, I would have laid down money she was sober. Her words were clear, her eyes too; she was in that moment with me, completely conscious of what was taking place. I know I took advantage of her, but I regret nothing. I wanted her to admit there was something between us, and I got my way in the end. I just hate that the relationship between her and her parents was collateral damage.

  “They’ll come around,” I assure softly, tucking her head under my chin then wrapping my arms around her middle, holding her tighter against me.

  “I hope so.” Her quiet, sad voice grates at my skin. I know I need to give her parents time to come to terms with what happened, but with the way she sounds right now, I know I won’t give them much. I can’t stand seeing her this sad, especially when I know the reason why she’s so hurt. “We really should get out front before Matt thinks we’re in here having sex.” She pulls her head back and smiles a beautiful smile, and I grin back then look at the door.

  “Or we could just have sex,” I suggest. Dropping her face, her forehead rests against my chin as she laughs, and her hands twiddle with the front of my shirt.

  “I didn’t think I could ever be this happy,” she quietly says after a moment, and I pull in a breath, swallowing down the shards in my throat. I didn’t think I could ever be this happy either, not until her. Dipping my chin, I kiss her forehead and help her off my lap, stopping her when she starts to walk away, grabbing her hand.

  “You gonna be okay?”

  Her face softens as she turns toward me, stepping between my thighs. “I’ll be fine.” She bends at the waist, resting her palm on my cheek, then touches her mouth to mine, pulling away far too quickly. I want to drag her back into my lap, but I know we don’t have time. Letting her go, I stand and watch her pick up the paper bag and pull out a white cake pop covered in sprinkles, shoving the whole thing into her mouth.

  “I’m not even going to be mad at you right now,” I mutter, then laugh when she shrugs and sashays out of the office with her cup of coffee in her hand and the bag tucked under her arm. Standing there I watch her as she goes, enjoying the view of her ass in a tight pencil skirt that shows off her curves, and the heels on her feet that make her legs look unbelievably long.

  Before we were married, I made it a point to put my foot down about her choice of office attire. She’s beyond gorgeous, and I fucking hated seeing men check her out. I hated the way their eyes would glaze over when she spoke to them, the way they would watch her come and go from a room. Even more, I hated knowing that if one of them ever built up the courage to ask her out, she could say yes and there was not one goddamn thing I could do about it.

  Until now. Now, she’s mine. It’s my ring sitting on her finger. It’s me who she’s in love with, and it’s my cock that makes her breath catch every time I enter her. Men can look and fantasize all they want, but none of them will ever experience firsthand what it feels like to have her. None of them will ever know what it feels like to have her love, because every part of her is mine.

  Chapter 7

  Ashlyn

  Hearing my cell phone ring, I reach my hand out and pat the bedside table until I find the offensive piece of junk, squint one eye open to hit the answer button, and put it to my ear. “’Lo,” I breathe, half asleep as Dillon tucks his head into the crook of my neck and wraps his arm tighter around my middle, pulling my back closer to his chest.

  “Angel girl.”

  “Papa?” I bolt upright in bed, accidentally elbowing Dillon in the stomach, making him grunt and mutter something I can’t make out. Pushing my hair out of my face, I look at the time, and ask, “Is everything okay?” It’s after ten in Alaska, where my mom’s parents live, which is late for them to be calling.

  “I just got off the phone with your mama.” Oh, God. I plop myself back down on the bed and squeeze my eyes closed, feeling Dillon move away from me, then see the light turn on through my closed eyelids. “She told me you ran off and got married to your boss. Is that true?”

  “Papa,” I sigh. I love my mom’s parents, but they are a little bit crazy and a whole lot in-your-business, and have been that way since I can remember.

  “Hold on, woman!” Papa shouts as the phone is jostled on his end. “I’m asking her. No, she hasn’t answered yet. I just asked the damn question. Hold your horses. No, I’m talking to her. D
ammit, give me the phone back,” he barks, and the line goes silent for a moment. Opening my eyes, I sit up, finding Dillon up in bed. His back against the headboard, the sheet down around his waist, and his eyes looking at me intently.

  “You better tell me that your mama was pulling my leg and that you did not get married to a man I have not met or approved of!” Memaw shrieks in my ear, making me wince.

  “Memaw—”

  “You did, didn’t you?” she asks before I can answer. “You got married and didn’t even think to call me and your papa?”

  Staring into Dillon’s eyes, I whisper, “I did get married.” I watch as his face softens and his eyes darken. Leaning over, he pushes my hair back over my shoulder and kisses my neck, causing my eyes to slide half-mast. Scooting closer to him, I tuck myself into his side, resting my cheek against his chest and listen to Memaw shout.

  “I can’t believe this! Frank, can you believe this?”

  “I ain’t got no choice but to believe it,” Papa mutters, and I fight back the laughter I feel bubbling up inside of me.

  “What the hell happened to the good old days, when a man would ask a woman’s family for consent to date her?” she grumbles, and this time I can’t fight the laughter I feel, so I press my face into Dillon’s chest and let it go. “Are you laughing?” she asks in disbelief.

  I laugh harder, asking, “Would you like him to pay you in cattle for my hand in marriage, Memaw?”

  “That would be a start, though, I do think you’re worth more than a few head of cattle,” she mutters dryly, making me giggle.

  “What the hell are you talking about cattle for, woman?” Papa shouts from a distance, and I tilt my head back to look at Dillon, wondering if I should put the phone on speaker so he can hear for himself what real crazy people sound like.

  “Nothing,” she snaps. Then whispers, “When did you get old enough to get married, baby girl?”

  My laughter dies in my throat and my eyes fill with tears. “I don’t know,” I whisper back, listening to her pull in a ragged breath.

  “Please tell me that he makes you happy,” she pleas quietly, and my eyes close tight.

  “I promise you he makes me happy,” I say, feeling Dillon’s fingers still on my side, where he was drawing lazy patterns, and then his lips at the top of my head press there.

  “Well… I guess I got no choice but to be happy for you then, do I?”

  “I would like you and Papa to be happy for me. I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you, but things have been a little crazy around here.”

  “I bet.” She sighs, then mutters, “Hold on, your granddad is biting at the bit wanting to say something. Darn it, Frank, let me let the darn phone go before you strangle me with the stupid cord!” she shouts, and I laugh once more.

  “Angel, is your young man there with you?”

  “Yes, Papa.”

  “Put your phone on speaker so I can say something to him.”

  “Papa,” I sigh, knowing what’s coming and not really wanting to subject Dillon to it.

  “Now, angel girl,” he demands, and I reluctantly put my cell on speaker and hold it out between Dillon and me.

  “Okay, he can hear you.”

  “You there, young man?” he asks, and Dillon smiles, kissing my forehead.

  “I’m here.”

  “Good, now you listen to me, ’cause I’m only going to say this once. If you hurt my girl, I will fly my old ass to Tennessee, kidnap you, bring you back to Alaska, and let the bears have your cold, dead body. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

  “I understand,” he says with a smile on his handsome face.

  “You better take care of her.”

  “I will,” he agrees adamantly while looking straight at me. The soft look in his eyes making my stomach fill with butterflies.

  “Good, now I expect to hear that you two are planning a trip out to see us soon.”

  “I’ll make it happen,” Dillon agrees, and I lean farther into his side.

  “Angel?”

  “I’m here, Papa.”

  “Love you, girl.”

  “Love you too,” I say, then hear the phone go quiet for a brief second.

  “Love you, baby.”

  “Love you, Memaw,” I whisper, closing my eyes.

  “Call me when your guy isn’t around so you can tell me about him, and send me pictures to my e-mail. I hope he’s good-looking,” she mutters, and I open my eyes, tipping my head back to look at Dillon.

  “He’s very handsome. You would definitely approve,” I confirm, and he rolls his eyes.

  “Well, at least there’s that,” she grumbles, but I can hear in her tone that she’s smiling. “We’ll talk soon.”

  “We will,” I agree, and the phone goes dead in my hand.

  Taking the phone from my grasp, he tosses it to his bedside then rolls me to my back and looks down at me. “Your grandparents are crazy. Now I know where you get it from.”

  “Whatever, I’m not crazy.”

  “You are, but I’ve become addicted to your brand of crazy,” he confesses, roaming his hand from my neck down over my breast.

  “That’s good,” I breathe as he dips his head and kisses me in a way that proves he certainly does love my kind of crazy.

  *

  “I still cannot believe you are married to Dillon.” July, my cousin, sighs dreamily across the table from me, and I watch her husband, Wes, turn his eyes to her and narrow them.

  “I’m sitting right fucking here,” he growls, and she smiles, shrugging, then takes a sip of the chocolate shake in front of her.

  “Have your parents talked to you?” she asks, and I move my eyes back to her, fighting back laughter as Wes does something to her under the table that makes her eyes widen.

  No, they haven’t—not about that anyway. My dad still sends me messages daily that simply say “I love you,” and my mom does the same. It’s been a week since they found out, and I really don’t know how much more time I should give them. It’s getting old. Yes, I should have told them I got married, but it’s not as if I went to a nunnery, got the nuns drunk, and filmed an episode of Nuns Gone Wild in the middle of Sunday mass. I got married to a man I love. Okay, so I didn’t know I was in love with him when I married him, but I am in love with him, and I know he loves me. We’re happy, really fucking happy, and they should be happy for me.

  “No.” I shrug, and her face softens.

  “They’ll come around. Just give them time,” she murmurs as I take a giant bite of my hamburger and wash it down with some Coke.

  “Everyone keeps saying they’ll come around, and I know they will, but to be honest, I’m kind of getting pissed off at them.”

  “You’re their only daughter,” Wes puts in, and I look at him, with his dark messy hair, blue eyes, stubble-covered jaw, and faded black tee that is molded to the muscles of his arms and chest like a second skin. My cousin might think Dillon is hot, but seriously, her husband is totally gorgeous in that dark and wild kind of way.

  “Yes, and that’s kind of my point.” I point my fry at him. “They can be mad, but really, what is the point? God forbid I walk out into the road and get hit by a car,” I state, and he raises a brow. “They’ll feel guilty for doing this, for making this into a giant deal, when it is really just semantics.” Now that Dillon and I have been together for a while, I know we were supposed to be together. “What would it have mattered if we dated for a week, or a year, before he popped the question?”

  “Your dad would have known about it. That’s the difference,” he says softly, and I nod.

  “Yeah, but the outcome would have been the same,” I tell him, sitting back and feeling sick. I shouldn’t have eaten so much, but then again, I always eat too much when I come here.

  “Enough about me. How are things with you guys?” I ask, looking between the two of them. For a while now they have been trying to have a baby with no luck. I know one day it will happen for them, I just hope it’
s soon. I hate seeing my cousin disappointed each month, and I know Wes hates it even more than I do.

  “Good. We leave in three weeks for Barbados. You and Dillon should come along. It’ll be fun.”

  “I wish,” I mutter, taking a sip of Coke. “Things have been getting really busy at the office. We’re actually looking into hiring another receptionist and two more techs to help out.” I sigh. I really do want to take a vacation, but I know I can’t right now.

  “Dillon really is a big deal in the dental world, isn’t he?”

  “He is,” I agree with a nod. I used to think he was just being pompous, but he really is amazing at what he does. “And since he remolded the office and updated everything, we are constantly getting new patient requests which is great, but with only him and I on staff it doesn’t make it easy to get away.”

  “Even with how great the office looks, I still hate going there.” July shakes her head, and I roll my eyes.

  “You’re a wuss.” I giggle, and she kicks me under the table, making me laugh harder.

  “I can’t help it that I don’t have a high pain tolerance.”

  “I still love you.” Wes kisses her cheek, and she turns her head to smile at him, resting her hand against his jaw. Watching the two of them, I wonder if Dillon and I look as sappy as they do right now.

  “I really should get back to the office. Thank you guys for stopping by to invite me to lunch.”

  “Anytime, and seriously, think about Barbados.”

  “I will,” I agree. And I will think about it, but I know there is no way for me to pull a trip like that off. Not right now, unless I went without Dillon, and I’m definitely not going without him. I reach into my bag for money, but Wes slides his card to the waitress as she passes the table. “Next time, my treat,” I say, looking at him, only to have him shake his head in denial. “Whatever.” I roll my eyes then scoot out of the booth and lean over to kiss each of their cheeks. “Call me. We need to set up a girls’ night soon,” I tell July.

  At the same time, I hear Wes mutter, “Fuck me,” which makes me smile.