But my perspective is playing tricks on me, and in an instant I’m standing a mere foot away from the object of my desire.
I’m momentarily at a loss for words, and of course, Dale doesn’t deign to speak to me.
Finally, I say, “Your dad is looking for you.”
He doesn’t reply.
I clear my throat. “Did you hear me?”
“I’m not deaf.”
“Then…aren’t you going to go find your dad? He said you guys came together.”
“My dad’s a big boy, and so am I. We don’t need to check in with each other. He’ll go home if he can’t round me up.”
“But then how—”
“I’ve got several family members inside the bar, any of whom can give me a ride home. But I don’t need any of them.”
“You don’t?”
“No,” he says, “because I’m going home with you.”
My heart thumps wildly.
“But I live—”
“For Christ’s sake, Ashley. We’re going to my place.”
“But Talon said he’d see me at home.”
Dale shakes his head. “You’re a big girl too. You don’t need my father’s permission to go with me.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Good. Now unlock this fucking car.”
I pull the fob out of my purse and click it. My whole body is throbbing from his nearness. From his Syrah-colored voice. From the thought of what he’ll do to me at his place.
But he could just mean I’m to drive him home and then leave.
I draw in a breath. Whatever he means, I’ll deal with it. One way or another. For now, I’ll assume he just wants a ride home.
“Get in,” I say.
He takes the fob from me. “I’ll drive.”
I shake my head. “You’ve been drinking. I haven’t.”
“I had one glass of wine, Ashley. You’ve seen me drive after drinking more than that. Besides, you drank with Brendan. Latour.”
His tone is… I’m not sure what it is.
“That was hours ago. I haven’t had anything since.”
“Impressive move,” he says, “for Murphy to serve you such an elegant bottle.”
“Was it? To serve an almost doctor of wine one of the best wines out there?” My tone is sarcastic.
“To pretend he knows shit about the grand crus.”
“He’s a bartender,” I counter. “He has to know about wines.”
“He knows about wine, all right,” Dale says. “How to choose the right wine for the right woman.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
“Only from where I’m standing.” He waves the key fob and opens the passenger door. “Get in.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Dale
I’m heading into the chaos. I know this, yet I can’t stop myself.
I want Ashley.
Brendan may have shared an expensive bottle of wine with her, but I’ll share my body with her. I have to. It’s no longer an option for me.
My love for this woman may be the only thing that can keep the monster at bay. If I focus on the good side of what’s coming out, maybe the bad will stay buried.
Even I don’t believe that, but at least it may delay its release. I have to believe in something.
Denying myself what I want from Ashley will only quicken the process. I have to do what I can to stay sane.
This woman drives me into a frenzy. Somehow I allowed her in, allowed her to start breaking the structure I’ve built around my heart—the structure that, up until now, has been unbreakable.
I drive her in silence to the guesthouse.
She turns to me. “I need the keys now.”
“Oh?”
“To…” She clears her throat. “To get home. Er…to the main house.”
“You’re not going to the main house.”
“But…I have work tomorrow. It’s late.”
“And I’m your boss. I say you can go in late if you need to.”
Already I know she’ll be at work bright and early, even if she doesn’t get a second of sleep tonight. That’s who she is, and it’s part of what I love about her.
Why did I have to meet such a wonderful woman? I have no right to her. No right to screw up her life.
None of that matters, though. I’m going to take her anyway. I’m going to take her because I need her.
I love her.
I don’t labor under any delusion that she could possibly return my feelings. In fact, she’ll never know my feelings. I won’t let her in on that weakness.
I’ve seen what loving a woman can do to a man. It can knock down every wall until a man is nothing more than a puddle of emotion.
For most men, that isn’t a problem. Their emotions don’t take over. For me?
I’m different.
I’ve hidden so much inside for so long, and now it’s roaring to get out.
I’ll control it as best I can, but I need Ashley to do that.
I need to touch her, kiss her, fuck her brains out. I’ll let the good take over for as long as I can.
I fear it won’t be long enough.
She meets my gaze, her blue eyes sparkling. “All right, Dale. Let’s do this.”
We walk side by side to the front door, and I punch in the key code.