Ashton Scott

I straighten. “Ashton.”

“Lorelei.”

Oh, God.

That voice.

Tension swirls around us.

A delicious tension that I hadn’t noticed the last time we met.

As we stand in silence watching each other, Alessandra says, “Oh, my, this is going to be fun.”

Neither of us move.

Neither of us shift our attention from the other.

And when his smouldering gaze travels the length of me before finding my eyes again, my legs feel weak, and I know this could get messy.

6

Ashton

“You’re at McDonalds?” Jessica’s disbelief blares loudly. I might not be standing in front of her, but even over the phone, I can picture the look of shock I know is on her face.

I continue watching Lorelei as she stands in line to order food with Tony and her friend. “Yes.”

“Well, I’m going to call it because I’ve heard it all now.”

“Call what?”

“You’ve finally lost the plot. What the hell has possessed you? I mean, can you even remember the last time you were in a McDonalds?”

My gut tightens as I consider what has possessed me. “I’m pursuing a deal.”

“Bullshit, Ashton. You don’t close deals in fucking fast-food joints.” She pauses for a second. “Fuck me, are you chasing a woman? Because there’re only two reasons a man like you does shit—for work or for his dick.”

Lorelei’s laughter floats through the air.

Jesus Christ.

I’ve never been entranced by a woman’s laughter before, but Lorelei’s laugh causes me some pain as my cock hardens.

“You should go home,” I direct Jessica.

“And you should stop bossing me around.”

“I’m your boss, Jessica. That’s my job.” I crane my neck to watch Lorelei bend to retrieve something off the floor. A child has partially blocked my view, but I manage to catch a glimpse. Her fitted black dress barely covers half her thighs, and I watch as more of those toned legs are revealed to me.

“And you do it so well,” she says. “I just called to make sure you’re all set for your meeting tomorrow morning with the Brentley Group.”

“Fuck, I meant to get you to reschedule that meeting. I’m picking Jack up from the airport in the morning, and I’ll need to keep my day free to spend with him. Do I have anything else on tomorrow?”

She takes a minute before coming back to me. “Nothing I can’t postpone. You want me to do anything for Jack?”

I push my fingers through my hair as knots form in my shoulders. “Yes, can you phone Dr Winthrop and have him on standby. I’m going to convince Jack to see him in the next couple of days.”

“Shit, is he bad again?” Jessica knows all too well the history here.