Ashton Scott

He pulls out the chair next to me and sits, casually dropping his sunglasses on the table. “I can wait.”

My relaxed mood disappears, replaced by irritation and the possessiveness I feel whenever I think of him. Unfortunately, he’s been on my mind more than I care to admit. I believe Lorelei when she says she’s not interested in him, but I want him completely out of her life.

We sit in silence for a good five minutes while waiting for Lorelei to return. I refuse to utter a word and give him the satisfaction of thinking his presence concerns me. And when Lorelei comes our way, I ignore the way he watches her with the kind of look that says he believes she’ll be his again. He won’t. I’ll make sure of it.

“Boston,” she says, clearly surprised to find him here. Her eyes dart between us. She seems a little unsure of the situation.

“Hey,” he says as he stands and attempts to brush a kiss across her cheek. The fact her hands go to his chest to hold him back causes a swell of triumph in me. Not to mention the confusion written all over him when she does this. That causes a whole lot more than triumph. It damn well makes me want to swoop in and lay my claim. But I don’t. Instead, I remain seated, my cool demeanour intact. Boston Haynes needs to know he doesn’t concern me at all. Even if that isn’t quite the case.

“Why are you here? Is Amber okay?”

“She’s fine. I came looking for you because I never heard back when I texted you about meeting Crave. I’m doing some more work for them this afternoon, so I don’t want you to miss out on the opportunity again.”

Lorelei runs her fingers through her hair, which I’ve learnt is a nervous habit of hers. “I’m busy today, Boston. Ashton and I already have plans.”

The asshole glances at me before looking back at her. “I’m sure Ashton won’t mind you taking some time out to meet one of your favourite bands.”

It fucking annoys me that he’s putting her in this position. The manipulation tactic he’s using isn’t one I’d ever use on a woman I care about. I shove my chair back and stand, ready to let him know he’s overstepped boundaries here when Lorelei lets loose on him.

“You’re right, Ashton wouldn’t mind, and he’d certainly never stop me from doing something I wanted, but I would mind. And do you know what else I mind? That you would try to manage me in this way. I’ve told you where I stand with us, and I’d appreciate it if you could respect my feelings.”

Boston watches her silently for a moment before saying, “And I told you where I stand, Lorelei. I told you I’d give you space, but I also told you I wouldn’t walk away again. This is me not walking away.”

This is news to me, and it’s clear in the way Lorelei glances nervously at me that she knows I’m wondering when that conversation took place.

“Please go, Boston.” Her carefree mood of earlier has also disappeared, her entire body now tense.

He takes a few moments, but finally he nods. Before she can stop him, he kisses her cheek. “I’ll be in touch.”

We watch him leave, neither of us saying a word. When he’s out of sight, Lorelei turns to me, nervousness still clear in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I forgot to ask Francesca for your coffee. I’ll go do that now.”

Coffee is the last thing on my mind. Not when I can barely think straight due to the overwhelming possessiveness clawing at me. “When did you speak to Haynes?”

“Ashton, let me go get your coffee and then we can talk about this.”

“No,” I say with force, “We will talk about this now.” No fucking way am I going another minute not knowing about that conversation. I have never done well with people I love keeping things from me, but what I’m feeling about Lorelei keeping something from me twists my gut more than anything ever has before. This will be dealt with, and it will be dealt with now.

46

Lorelei

I’ve never seen Ashton this worked up. Or this demanding. And he’s been pretty demanding at times. But his forcefulness is at a whole new level.

“I went to see him the day after he came to my apartment.” I sound a lot more confident than I’m feeling. My stomach is a mess of nerves. Partly from the way Ashton is watching me and partly because I feel guilty for keeping this information from him. But mostly from the way he’s watching me so intensely. I can’t read him. Well, I know he’s upset, but he seems more upset than the situation calls for.

His nostrils flare. “And you didn’t think I’d want to know that?”

Sienna warned me I was wrong not to tell Ashton I’d gone to see Boston, but I’d honestly thought it best not to tell him and stir the situation up. I can see now that I made the absolute wrong decision.

“I’m sorry, but I thought if I went to him and made him understand we were over, that I could stop things getting out of hand where he was concerned.”

“And do you think that worked?”

God, his voice has turned cold almost. It makes me feel so distant from him. It’s a place I don’t like to be. “I honestly believed it would.”

“So you knew it hadn’t?”

“Ashton, don’t—”