Ashton Scott

Understanding flashes in her eyes. “Yeah,” she murmurs. “I’ll come with you.”

37

Lorelei

I move fast to match Ashton’s pace as he strides with purpose towards the hospital cafeteria. Anyone else would assume he was on a mission to get coffee; I know he’s on a mission to escape his father. Gregory Scott hasn’t given me many reasons to like him this morning. He doesn’t seem as interested in his wife’s health as he does in his business. I can see why Ashton struggles so much with him. And I’ve also been given a glimpse at the dynamics between Alessandra and her father. I don’t know her very well yet, but it’s obvious she’s desperate for Gregory’s approval. And from what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think that approval is easy to achieve.

Reaching for Ashton’s hand, I attempt to slow him down. “Ashton, can we walk a little slower?”

He does as I ask but doesn’t say anything. However, he grips my hand in a way that lets me know he needs me.

A few minutes later, we reach our destination, and he orders our coffees. I watch him closely, taking in the hard set of his jaw and the tense bunching of his shoulders. His father has him wound so tight.

Rubbing his back gently, I murmur, “I’m sorry you’re going through this.”

I don’t expect a reply because he’s intently watching our drinks being made and appears to be deep in thought, but he surprises me when he turns and bends to brush a kiss across my lips. “Thank you for being here with me.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

His eyes stay glued to mine while I continue to rub his back. We don’t speak, but we don’t need words. The silence we share speaks volumes, as does his body language. I’m slowly learning to read my man.

We sit at a table once our drinks are made. Before we have a chance to talk, Ashton’s phone rings and he has a short conversation with Alessandra before ending it and standing. “They’re giving Mum an angiogram and she may need stents. I’m going to head back there to talk with her doctor.”

I pass him his coffee and then follow him as he walks to the waiting room. This time I don’t ask him to slow his pace. I know how desperate he is to talk with the doctor. His mission is interrupted, though, when a blonde woman calls out his name and runs towards us just before we arrive at our destination.

“Fuck,” he mutters, coming to a stop. When she reaches us, he greets her, “Cassia.”

That name causes my stomach to knot with apprehension. Cassia is the woman he was with for years.

She moves closer to him and places her hand on his forearm. The way she touches him and then rubs his arm is intimate, and I stiffen.

Looking up at him with what appears to be genuine concern, she says softly, “I’m so sorry to hear about your mother. I came as fast as I could.”

I blink as I swallow hard.

She came as fast as she could? She makes it sound like he wants her here. Maybe he does. I don’t know anything about the relationship they have now. Perhaps they are still friends. I could kick myself for not knowing this, because now the knot in my stomach is tightening and making me feel stressed. Or anxious. Or jealous.

God, I’

m jealous. I don’t do jealous. It’s not something I’ve ever really experienced while dating. Probably because half the time I’m trying to keep the guy I’m dating at arm’s length. But I’m feeling it right now with Ashton and Cassia. The way she’s touching him is too much for me. I want to rip her hand off his arm and tell her to back away from him. Away from my man.

Where the hell are these thoughts coming from? This is not the day for them. Not while Ashton is worried over his mother. I attempt to lock them down tight and not let them out. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about, anyway. Ashton has made it clear how much he wants me, and he’s always been honest, so I trust him.

Without waiting for Ashton to respond, Cassia goes on. “How is she? What have the doctors told you so far?”

It’s after she asks these questions that she shifts her gaze to take me in. She inspects me with a fine toothcomb, and by the end of it, I feel like I don’t meet any of her criteria for being worthy of her attention because she doesn’t acknowledge me in any way. She simply turns her gaze back to Ashton and waits for him to answer her questions.

“We’re on our way back to speak to the doctor now,” he says, shrugging his arm away from her. His cool tone does wonders for the knot in my stomach, and I take the opportunity to stake my claim.

Sliding my arm around his waist, I say, “Hi, I’m Lorelei.”

Ashton’s arm snakes across my shoulders and he pulls me close. I take it as a signal to Cassia, and I guess she does too because she stares at his arm for a long moment before meeting my gaze again.

“Cassia,” she says, her voice icy. Looking back at Ashton, she says, “I’ll come with you.”

Ashton’s jaw clenches. “There’s no need. And besides, it’s just family.”

I secretly cheer on the inside and instantly feel like a bitch. Maybe Cassia really just wants to check on Ashton’s mother.