Ashton Scott

Returning with dinner, he passes me a white paper bag. “Your cupcake, in case you want it first.”

I track his movements as he searches my cupboards and drawers for plates, cutlery, and glasses. He’s still wearing his three-piece suit. His pinstripe suit. Those things are dangerous to womankind.

Stop looking at the damn suit.

Ashton Scott is not the man for you.

Dragging my attention away from him, I open the cupcake bag. He’s right. I do want it first.

My eyes widen as I look at what he had delivered. “Jesus, Ashton, are you trying to kill my hips?”

He joins me at the table. Eyeing the four cupcakes in front of me, he says, “You’re going to need more than one tonight.”

“Oh, God, what have you done? Tell me now!”

He smiles, and I do my best to ignore it. And the lust that hits me. “Let’s just say your next few weekends are now booked, so I’m preparing for backlash. The cupcakes might help.”

My eyes narrow at him. “You’ve already booked those resorts, haven’t you? I could be busy those weekends.”

“You’re not busy,” he says calmly, as if he knows for sure. I want to throttle that arrogance out of him.

Then it hits me. “You know my schedule?” My voice is practically a shriek.

He holds my gaze. Doesn’t give me an inch. And he sure as hell doesn’t allow me to look away. “Lorelei,” he starts, his voice deep, “you should know me well enough by now to understand that I have made you my priority.”

I should tell him where to go.

I want to.

Really, I do.

Instead, my core clenches and I simply stare at him.

And I don’t say anything.

He stands and moves around to where I’m sitting. Placing one hand on the table and one on the back of my chair, he bends so our faces are close. “This is the last time I’m going to tell you that you will be mine. You can run and you can say no, but I’m not a man who will accept either of those things. I will be patient, Lorelei, and I’ll do whatever you need to believe in me, but I won’t give you forever. And in that time, I won’t stay away.” His voice drops to a growl. “You are not a woman I can stay away from.”

I thought Ashton had taken charge already.

I was wrong.

This is him taking over.

And if I ever thought I had a hope of holding him at arm’s length, I was wrong about that, too.

When Ashton Scott wants something, he gets it.

He made that promise to me and he’s keeping it.

Right now, I’m certain that whatever he asks for in this moment, I will give.

I’m also certain my life is about to change.

24

Ashton

“Jessica!”