Ashton Scott

Leaning against the balcony, I close my eyes and draw in another deep breath. I love being with Ashton, but I’m beginning to have doubts we’re a good match. We’re both too strong-willed, and while I’m willing to bend, he doesn’t seem to even know the meaning of that word.

“Here, you’re cold,” Ashton says, cutting into my thoughts as he places his jacket over my shoulders.

I secure it around me and face him again. Nodding at his phone, I ask, “Is everything okay?”

He exhales sharply. “I don’t know. That was Cassia again. Apparently Mum and Dad’s fight has escalated to the point where Mum has started throwing things.”

I frown. “Is that usual for your mum?” I’m still to meet her. The dinner Ashton had organised for Thursday this week had to be postponed.

“No. It concerns me.”

“You should go over and make sure everything’s okay.” I don’t want him to leave while we’re in the middle of discussing our problems, but I don’t want him to ignore his mother if she needs him.

He shoves his fingers through his hair again, agitated. “I don’t want to leave until we figure this out.”

I’m such a mix of emotions right now, and I’m fairly sure he is too, so it would probably be for the best if he left. Some space might give us time to think.

“Go. I’ll be here when you get back.”

He watches me thoughtfully for a long few moments, as if he’s trying to decide if I really will be here. Finally, he nods. “Okay. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

“Don’t rush, Ashton. We need some time apart.” I hate saying that, but it’s the truth.

Determination settles across his face as he moves closer to me. His hand sneaks around my waist, and he pulls me to him. His grip is firm, determined, and his tone is demanding when he says, “Time apart is exactly what we don’t need, Lorelei. Tell me you’ll be here when I get back.”

I look up into his eyes, a little breathless at the sudden change in his mood. While I don’t love the Ashton who just takes over in some situations, I do like this bossy, demanding one. This is the Ashton who makes me feel wanted rather than just feeling like a piece of property to be owned and controlled. “I already told you I would be.”

His eyes search mine. “Tell me again.”

I place my hand on his arm. “I’ll be here.”

He stalls for a few moments before bending to kiss me. It doesn’t begin as a deep kiss, more a brush across the lips, but the electricity that is always between us is heightened today. We may be angry at each other, and unable to come to an understanding, but there’s no denying how much we desperately want each other or how much we truly want to resolve our differences.

By the time he’s finished with me, I’m an achy mess of need. I don’t want to be, but I am. I cling to him, pulling his mouth back to mine. I don’t want to let him leave. I don’t know why I have the sudden feeling that him walking away from this right now is the absolute wrong thing for us, but I do. All I want to do is beg him to stay, but I don’t. Not when it’s his mother who needs him.

I end the kiss and push him away. “Go,” I say, all breathy.

He stares down at me with confusion, which I don’t blame him for. I’m confused by my mood swings, so I know he must be. He doesn’t argue, though. A minute later, he disappears out of my sight, and I wrap my arms around myself again. The chill in the air has intensified, and again, I can’t decide if it’s the weather or what’s going on between Ashton and me. All I know is that my gut is twisting with unease, and I’m unable to fathom why.

49

Ashton

“Go home, Ashton. Your mother is just experiencing one of her moments,” my father says to me when I arrive at their house. He pours a Scotch and adds, with contempt, “I’m not sure why Cassia thought it necessary to involve you in this. It’s not like you’re part of the family these days.”

I ignore his attitude towards me. “Where’s Mum?”

“Cassia is putting her to bed.”

I have no fucking clue what’s going on here or why Cassia is involved, but I intend to get to the bottom of it. Stalking out of his office, down the hall to their bedroom, I reach for the door only for Cassia to open it and slip outside, closing it behind her.

“She’s almost asleep,” she says quietly, clearly trying to impress upon me that I shouldn’t interrupt her.

I scowl. “Move out of the way, Cassia. I want to see my mother.”

“No,” she says with a firmness that’s rare for her. Cassia may have argued with me over many things while we were together, but it wasn’t often she took this tone. “She’s too upset. Let her sleep it off and then come by tomorrow and see her.”

I don’t know if it’s the fact I had to see my father, or that I’m irritated to find Cassia here, or if it’s the turmoil I’m feeling over my arguments with Lorelei today that does it, but I grip her arm and pull her away from my mother’s bedroom. When I’ve got her down the hall, I demand, “What the fuck is going on here, and why does it involve you?”