“We are. We’re going to have road bumps, Gael. Don’t exclude me when you do something that affects me.”
He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. “I promise. Are you okay if my mom comes in?”
“Sure.” I was going to have to face them eventually. Might as well get it over with.
Gael spoke louder over my shoulder since my back was to the door, “Come on in, Mom.”
She came in and gave me a sweet smile. “I wanted to check on you and see if I could talk to Ashlin?”
My heart raced and I looked at Gael who raised an eyebrow to Erica. She answered his silent query. “I promise, it’ll be a good talk.”
Gael looked at me and I nodded. Leaning down, he whispered in my ear. “If you get uncomfortable at any time, come find me.”
“Okay.” I answered as he gave me another quick kiss on the lips.
Gael left the room and I stood there awkwardly. “Let’s sit on the bed if that sounds good to you, Ashlin.”
I sat and took a deep breath, wanting to get it all out there. “I’m sorry you had to see that picture and have been brought into this horrible game my ex is playing. I haven’t seen him since the day, I believe, Gael told you about with the threats. There is no reconciliation. I’m not a cheater.” My hands were shaking as I spoke.
“Do you care for my son?”
That was not what I had been expecting. Sincerely and openly, I responded, “I do. I thought I had found love with Harris, but that pales in comparison to what I feel for your son and we’ve just met. It’s making me question if I really ever knew what love was.”
“And do you now?”
Drawing an invisible infinity symbol, I swallowed hard. “I’m afraid to answer that from fear that I’ll either jinx us or lose him if Harris keeps up this game he’s playing.”
Erica’s hand lightly touched mine and it soothed me like a mother’s touch should be.
Softly, Erica spoke, “I understand. You and Gael will both know when the time is right to tell each other what is evident to Dave and me. I hate your ex has put you through this. It hasn’t altered our opinion of you in the slightest if that’s what you’re worried about. Dave and I know what goes on in relationships. We were young once, too. We hope you’ll keep coming around.”
“Thank you. I will. I promise.”
Gael came into the room abruptly. “We need to go. There’s a problem at the restaurant.”
Sitting in the office of Gael’s restaurant, I watched him pace the floor with his phone to his ear. People were streaming in and out with pieces of paper. He’d nod or shake his head and they’d leave. The atmosphere felt frantic.
“Fred, I appreciate it. Consider Gael’s Place your new client.”
He hung up the phone and came to sit beside me. Both his food and alcohol vendors had stopped all future deliveries without notice. Gael only used fresh ingredients so if he couldn’t get food, the restaurant would be closed within five days.
We knew Harris was behind it. In less than a three-hour timespan, Harris had struck twice. I had offered to call him, but Gael didn’t want me to. Harris probably wanted me to speak to him and would twist it against me somehow. Guilt consumed me. Both Gael and his father had been calling in every favor they had to find vendors that would take Gael’s Place as a customer. Harris had left hardly any stones unturned.
“I have all new vendors. They’re friends of family and want the business. They know I’m a loyal customer.” The stress and strain was evident. Gael dragged a hand down his face as I curled into his side.
My hand lay on his stomach as I tried to be comforting. I felt Gael relax. “What if he gets to these vendors Gael?”
“He won’t. They’re aware and they’d rather have lasting business and a reputation. They’re good people. I helped several of them get started, but couldn’t leave my current vendors out of a loyalty that obviously wasn’t returned. Fuck, Harris is a bastard.”
This is all because of me.
“Ashlin, don’t even think it. Give me a few more hours to make sure the staff is all good and we’ll leave.”
I kissed his neck. “Don’t rush. Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
Gael’s finger brushed my nipple and I moved to straddle him. His hands came down to my legs and moved up underneath my dress. I rubbed myself against him and a growl emitted from low in his throat. Reaching my sex, Gael tore the crotch of my panties and stuck a finger inside me enticing me to sit more upright as I rode his hand.
My orgasm was building and I knew we didn’t have much time. “Condom. Get a condom, Gael. I want to come with you in me.”