Ashton Scott

This message isn’t from Cassia, though.

Jessica: Sian has more properties for you. At this rate, you’ll be the king of Willow Street.

The king of Willow Street?

I don’t know for sure what she means, but I have a sneaking suspicion Ashton is planning something for Willow Street. It was how we met after all, when he came to me trying to buy my property.

Why hasn’t he told me?

I place his phone down and find my clothes. My heart races as a million thoughts explode through my mind.

Ashton kissed Cassia last night.

She thinks he felt something.

He’s doing a deal that involves my street.

Yes, my street. I have a lifetime of memories there and a network of friends with businesses there who want the same for Willow Street that I want—for it to remain untouched.

I force down the sick feeling rolling through me and hurriedly dress. I don’t know what I’m doing, why I’m dressing rather than talking to Ashton about this, but I can’t think straight enough to change course.

“Lorelei.” His deep voice cuts through my thoughts, and my head snaps up to look at him. He’s standing in the doorway between the en suite and the bedroom, towel wrapped around his waist, frowning at me. “What are you doing?”

I swallow hard, all the thoughts in my head slamming together causing the biggest mess in there that I can ever remember.

“You kissed Cassia?” I blurt, not caring that I sound needy. Dammit, this man has me all kinds of crazy over him. I have never in my life acted like this.

His frown deepens as he moves towards me. “What?”

I motion wildly at the dresser where his phone is. “And you’re buying up Willow Street?”

He glances at the dresser and reaches for the phone. After reading the messages, he drops the phone on the bed as he walks my way.

His jaw is set hard, his shoulders determined. “I didn’t kiss Cassia. She kissed me. And for the record, she’s wrong—I felt nothing. But I’m not entertaining a conversation about that because as far as I’m concerned, there is nothing to discuss.”

I flinch. His words are sharp, and I don’t know what to do with them.

He advances closer. “As for Willow Street, yes, I’m purchasing property there, but that was never a secret. You’ll recall I tried to buy yours the day we met.”

My breathing picks up, the uncertainty I’m feeling over what’s happening, a heavy weight on my chest. The things I want to say to him get caught in my throat, and all I manage to get out is: “I didn’t know you were trying to become the king of Willow Street.”

He scowls. “Don’t use Jessica’s words on me.”

I cross my arms over my chest, almost like I’m trying to protect myself from his ice. “So what’s the plan, then? Are you going to buy us all up and bulldoze us so you can extend your empire and cash in?”

“Fuck, Lorelei, now you’re twisting this—”

I drop my arms, annoyed at the arrogance rolling off him. “No, I’m not twisting anything. I just want to know what the plan is here. Clearly I need to be ready for it because it’s going to affect me.”

“It won’t.”

“How can you say that? Of course it’s going to affect me if you develop Willow Street.”

“Only in a good way. You’ll reap the benefits of what I have planned.”

I madly shake my head. “You don’t get it, Ashton. I don’t want Willow Street spoiled. Why can’t you just leave it how it is?”

His nostrils flare as his frustration grows. “You’re not thinking straight. Developing Willow Street is a smart business decision. You need to take the emotion out of this.”