Foolish Hearts

by Synithia Williams

  “You can’t do this,” the man said with finality. “I won’t let you do this. I’ve got the backing of the board. No one will support you. The best thing for you to do is leave now.”

  Anger boiled inside of Russell. Who the hell did this guy think he was? He knew nothing about Ashiya. He didn’t know how smart she was. How determined she was. The way she didn’t let anything get in the way of what she wanted. He was fucking lucky to have her there, and he’d better realize that quick.

  Russell got to the almost closed door where their voices came from. He didn’t knock or introduce himself. He pushed the door so hard it slammed against the wall. Ashiya gasped and pressed a hand to her chest. Her wide eyes filled with relief when they met his.

  The guy, her cousin, jerked around and faced Russell. He was tall, broad, with dark skin, and eyes that would have shot daggers if they could. He wore a dark gray shirt with black slacks that matched the ominous look in his face.

  Russell crossed the room to Ashiya’s side in a few determined strides. He let his eyes roam over her for any signs that her cousin had put his hands on her. Thankfully, her peach shirt and blue-and-ivory-patterned skirt were neat and in place, nor was there a hair was out of place on her head. After his quick perusal of her body, he met her eyes. She seemed frustrated and tired, but she didn’t seem afraid. Good. If there had been any hint of fear in her eyes, he was going to punch her cousin’s teeth out of his mouth.

  “Russell—”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  Ashiya and her cousin spoke at the same time. Russell studied Ashiya for another second for any signs of distress. She nodded and gave him a weak smile. He felt a modicum of tension leave his body. She was fine.

  He spun toward her cousin and straightened his shoulders. “I’m Russell Gilchrist. I’m here to assist Ms. Waters during this transition.”

  The guy’s eyes narrowed. He pointed a finger at Russell. “There won’t be a transition. She doesn’t belong here, and—”

  “You don’t get to decide if she belongs here or not,” Russell said with a wave of his hand. “From the way I understand it, Ms. Waters is now the majority shareholder in the Legacy Group. Therefore, she can do what she wants. No matter the will of the rest of the board, she has the last word. Including firing you, which is something I recommend she do immediately.”

  The guy’s eyes widened. Ashiya stepped closer to him. Russell continued before either of them could speak.

  “Now, before you say something more you’ll regret that will influence her decision about your tenuous role at the company, I suggest you pack your stuff and leave.” He balled his hands into fists. He let all the rage coursing through him after listening to the guy berate Ashiya as if she were a kid enter into his voice. “Now.”

  To his credit, her cousin didn’t back down or cower from the lethal tone of Russell’s voice. Russell silently waited him to say another thing. Her cousin’s eyes flicked to Ashiya and then back to Russell. Without another word, he turned and stalked out.

  Ashiya pressed a hand to her forehead. “Thank God that’s over.”

  Russell whipped around to face her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, and was surprised to realize his hands trembled. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Do you need anything?”

  * * *

  ASHIYA HAD BEEN more irritated than afraid of her cousin. Her Uncle Grant could rant and rage ten times worse than Levi Galliard ever could. One thing she’d learned from watching her mom and late Aunt Virginia deal with Grant and men like him was to let them go ahead and vent out all of their frustrations and then cut them to the quick once they were through. Which was exactly what she planned to do with Levi. Despite all his threats of getting the board against her and telling her what she couldn’t do, she knew very well what she could do. She could come in and fire his overconfident ass.

  A part of her really wanted to do that. The only reason she hadn’t done so immediately was Brianna’s insistence that the her Grandmother Gloria and her sisters wanted the family together. Firing Levi, no matter how tempting, wouldn’t bring her closer to her family or The Dragons. At least not immediately. Plus, she needed Levi’s knowledge about the company to keep the things stable.

  Still, she’d gotten all prepped and ready to remind Levi that she could fire him immediately when Russell came through the door in all of his white knight, slay the bad guys, save the girl glory. Ashiya was a bona fide sucker when it came to fairy tales. She was well aware that they were unrealistic and had some pretty fucked up storylines, but that didn’t stop her from sighing happily at the end. Nor did that stop her heart from fluttering like hummingbird wings at the protectiveness in Russell’s eyes.

  She’d never played the damsel in distress, and what she was about to do would probably have Elaina rolling her eyes so hard they’d fall out of her head, but at the moment all she wanted was for that look to remain in Russell’s beautiful hazel eyes.

  “I’m okay,” She let her voice waver. With a sigh, she let her shoulders slump beneath his touch. “It was just all so much.”

  She waited from him to pull away as if her touch burned him the way he typically did. Waited for his eyes to ice over and suspicion to enter his gaze. Instead, concern erased his anger.

  “He had no right to yell at you like that.” Steel lined Russell’s voice.

  “He’s upset,” she said, keeping her voice contrite.

  “Being upset doesn’t mean he gets to treat you that way.”

  Ashiya placed her hand on his chest. His heart thumped heavily beneath the muscles. It took everything in her not to pull him closer. “Thank you for stepping in like you did.”

  The gratitude heavy in her voice was not part of her damsel act. She meant it. Few people fought for her unconditionally. Russell had always promised to have her back. Hope burned brighter knowing he continued to do so.

  His body stiffened beneath her hand. She saw the doubt creep in his eyes. Maybe the hand on the chest was too much.

  “Ms. Waters, do you need anything?” Brianna’s voice came from the door.

  Ashiya pulled back from Russell before he could let her go. His fingers lingered on her shoulders before dropping away. Embarrassment made her face hot at being caught trying to entice Russell with a helpless act. She turned away quickly before Russell could see her blush. “I’m fine.”

  Her foot twisted and she stumbled. Russell immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Get her some water, please.”

  “Of course,” Brianna said and hurried away.

  Ashiya looked up into Russell’s face. She knew she had to look dumbstruck. That’s how she felt. Dumbstruck and elated. His arms were around her again.

  She smiled up at him. He cleared his throat and looked away, but he didn’t pull away. “Have a seat.” He led her across the room to one of the couches.

  Ashiya sank onto the cushions, and he sat next to her. She bit her lower lip to keep the giddy grin from taking over her face. No matter what he might say, he still cared about her. No way would he be like this if he didn’t.

  He moved to slide away. Ashiya wrapped her hand over his to stop him. When his eyes jerked up to hers, she held on tighter. “Thank you for stepping in like that.”

  “I was worried he would hurt you.”

  She frowned. “Levi? No, he reminds me of Uncle Grant.”

  Russell scowled. “Then he’ll definitely try to bully you.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “He might try, but his bark is worse than his bite. Uncle Grant is scarier.”

  The dark look that had been in his eyes earlier when facing Levi came back. “Don’t underestimate him. You should fire him.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

  “Why not?” he asked as if she were crazy.

  “He’s worked for the company for most of his life. He’s like the mal
e Elaina, from what Brianna has told me. He knows the company in and out. If I want things to remain stable, then I need him.”

  Russell shook his head. “Not if he disrespects you.”

  “I agree. This is all still a shock to him, and he’s lashing out. If he doesn’t calm down and see reason, then I’ll let him go. Besides, I doubt he’ll keep up the temper tantrum now that he knows I have you on my side.” She squeezed his hand. “Thank you again for agreeing to help me. I know this isn’t what you wanted, but I do appreciate you.”

  He must have realized his hand was still in hers after the squeeze, because he pulled away. “Helping you helps Robidoux Holdings.”

  He gruff words might have been spoken to dampen her spirits, but the half-hearted way he spoke them had the opposite effect. She would get him back. She just had to be patient.

  “That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t thank you.”

  An awkward silence grew between them. He glanced at his watch. “I should go. You’ve already had a hard day with your cousin, and I need to find my rental property. We can talk tomorrow.”

  Ashiya slid closer to him and grabbed his arm. “No, please stay here.”

  His eyes widened. “What?”

  She scrambled for words that wouldn’t make him immediately bolt. “I mean, there’s no need to pay for a rental. This place is huge, and since we’ll be working together, you might as well stay here.”

  He was pulling his arm away before she even finished talking. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “There’s an entire guest suite on the other side of the house. I promise I won’t come over there, and I will leave you alone to come and go as you please. Plus, I don’t like staying in strange places by myself. I feel like my grandmother’s ghost is watching me in every room. I’d feel safer is someone else were here besides me.”

  She lowered her eyes after the admission. Every word was true. She was afraid to stay there alone. The house was too big. Too quiet with just her there. The staff didn’t stay the night. The place was unfamiliar. She’d gotten through the nights so far with sleeping pills to keep away the nightmares of the last time she’d been all alone in a strange place, and woke up foggy-headed, wishing Russell were near.

  She hadn’t planned to ask him to stay. It wasn’t until this moment that she considered asking him. Even if she already knew the answer he’d give.

  “I’m sorry. I know that’s too much. You don’t have to stay here with me.” She tried to infuse her voice with confidence, but it trembled.

  A long silence passed before he said, “I’ll stay.”

  Her head jerked up so fast she almost put a kink in her neck. “You will?” The relief in her voice made her cheeks heat with embarrassment again. She cleared her throat. “I mean...are you sure?”

  He took a long breath and looked back at the door. “No, I’m not.”

  “Thank you,” she said sincerely.

  Russell looked back at her. He held her stare for several long seconds. Ashiya didn’t try to mask her feelings. Staying alone in a strange place scared her. Having Russell next to her made her feel safe. She needed him, and she wasn’t too proud to let him know that even if it meant a rejection.

  He sighed, stood, and ran his hands over his pants. “I’ll get my bags out of the car.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  RUSSELL TOSSED AND turned through most of the night. He finally fell into a fitful sleep around five a.m. He dreamed about running in and saving Ashiya from her cousin, who in the dream had morphed into some sort of green-eyed, gray-skinned monster trying to eat her. He’d not only slayed the monster and rescued Ashiya, but afterwards pulled her into his arms. They’d fallen onto the floor and had passionate, carpet-burn-for-days, sex.

  He’d woken up drenched in sweat, chest heaving, dick hard, and a wild cocktail of lust, embarrassment and anger boiling in his system.

  Why had he agreed to stay here? Scratch that. He knew exactly why he’d agreed to stay here. When had he ever been able to resist that pleading look in Ashiya’s eyes?

  He knew better. Knew she was okay and that her cousin hadn’t harmed her. Still, the moment she’d looked up at him with those big, beautiful eyes and offered one of the many guest rooms, he’d caved.

  He was such a fucking idiot. Had he not just told Isaac that he wasn’t going to get involved with her again? He could practically hear his cousin’s told you so laughter when he found out. Which meant Russell couldn’t let him find out. He would tell Ashiya this morning that he wasn’t going to stay here anymore. Robidoux Holdings had secured a place for him, and he was going to stay there.

  After showering and dressing, Russell went in search of Ashiya. She was typically an early riser. He remembered that from when they dated. She was always bright and cheerful first thing in the morning without the aid of caffeine. Instead of her morning brightness irritating him—he wasn’t ready for a coherent conversation until after a cup of coffee—he’d enjoyed seeing her smile and hearing her infectious laughter. Waking up with Ashiya next to him had started his day off better than any cup of joe ever could.

  The smell of coffee led him to the kitchen. There he found the same woman who’d answered the door the day before. Brianna, if he remembered correctly. She’d brought Ashiya water the night before, showed him to his room on the opposite end of the house, and then disappeared. He wasn’t sure what her role was or if she lived there. She was dressed in tan slacks and a black button-up shirt and held a coffee mug in one hand and her cell phone in the other.

  “Good morning, Mr. Gilchrist,” Brianna said in a crisp, professional voice. “Would you like some coffee? We also have tea if you prefer.”

  “Coffee is good.” He glanced around the kitchen. “Where’s Ashiya?”

  Brianna put her phone and mug down and pulled another mug from the cabinet. “She’s still asleep.”

  Russell froze. “Asleep?” he glanced at his watch. It was nearly eight in the morning.

  “Yes. She doesn’t get up before ten.”

  “Ashiya? You’re mistaken. She’s an early riser.”

  Brianna poured coffee into the mug, then turned to him with a curious look. “Are you sure about that?”

  The way she asked the question made his cheeks heat. He had a feeling Brianna wanted to know what was up between him and Ashiya. Admitting how he knew she was an early riser would only feed her curiosity. He wasn’t there to give anyone insight on his personal relationship with her.

  “When we’ve worked together in the past, she always seemed like a morning person,” he said. “I wouldn’t expect her to sleep in.”

  “Oh.” Brianna’s shoulders slumped a little, and for a second, her professional demeanor slipped into one of disappointment. “In the few days she’s stayed here, I’ve had to wake her up. I was on my way to her room now to do that.”

  He declined cream and sugar, and Brianna handed him the cup of coffee. Russell narrowed his eyes. “Do you stay here, too?”

  “Oh no. I live in Bluffton. It’s a town across the river. I was Ms. Gloria’s personal assistant. Though Ashiya hasn’t hired me for that role. Her grandmother asked me to step in and help her out as she gets used to taking over things around here.”

  Russell breathed in the divine smell of coffee before taking a quick sip. “You come over and wake her up in the mornings.”

  “That’s not an official part of my duties, but Ashiya said it’s okay for me to make her get up if she’d not up before ten. Besides that, I’ve been going over the various assets her grandmother left to her, getting her up to speed on where her grandmother left off with various projects, and answering her questions about the family.”

  Russell took a long sip of the coffee. That wasn’t like Ashiya. Not only wasn’t she one to sleep past eight in the morning, but it didn’t take a lot to get her going. He hated the kernel of worry that
wormed its way into his midsection.

  The urge to find her bedroom, wake her and ask what was going on was damn near a push on his back. He glanced at Brianna, who watched him intently. If he did go searching for her, it would only make Brianna even more curious about the nature of his relationship with Ashiya. After he’d charged in the night before and threatened her cousin Levi, he was sure rumors would spread about him being more than a business partner and consultant to her. He didn’t need that for a few reasons. One was that he shouldn’t get into the habit of being Ashiya’s savior, but the biggest reason was to protect her from personal attacks from her cousin. He had no doubt Levi would use a relationship between him and Ashiya as a reason to further discredit her.

  “I’ve got to go out and run an errand,” he said. He’d let Brianna deal with the new non-morning-person Ashiya and go visit the detective about his brother’s case. “Will you let Ashiya know? I’ll be back by lunch, and we can go over some of the company information.”

  Brianna nodded. “I will. That’s probably a good idea anyway. She’s more focused in the early afternoon.”

  Russell frowned, but kept his concerns to himself. If something was wrong, he’d find out about it later. “Thank you.”

  “Do you mind if I ask where you’re going? Do you need directions or anything like that?”

  Russell had the address of the police department memorized.

  He shook his head and put down the coffee mug. “No. I know exactly where I’m going.”

  * * *

  ASHIYA SIPPED COFFEE from the bright red mug in her right hand while she flipped the pages of the latest Legacy Group quarterly reports with her left. It was her third cup and she still felt as if there was cotton in her head. A side effect of the sleeping pills. She hated not getting up early and getting a jump start on things, but without them, she’d either be unable to fall asleep or she would have gone in search of Russell and done something stupid like ask him if he’d hold her until she drifted off.