by Jillian Dodd
The first Christmas after my dad died, Mom told me it was time to grow up. That Santa wasn't real. If I'm lucky enough to have kids of my own, I'm going to tell them Santa is real until they are fifty.
A handsome, broad shouldered man, who's greying at the temples, stands up and greets me. "You must be Ashlyn. We've heard a lot about you from Cade. I wish I could say the same about Cash."
"Dad, I've been working," Cash says in his defense.
"It's good to have you home," his mom says, wiping her hands on a dishtowel and giving her son a hug. Then she turns to me. "It's nice to meet you, Ashlyn. Would you like to come test out the fudge? Cash doesn't get any, since he hasn't called his mother lately." She gives him a little smirk. One that looks a lot like her son's.
We're licking warm fudge out of a bowl with our fingers when I notice Chloe's bracelet. It's made of thick black suede that's been hand painted and set with multi-colored crystals. "I love your bracelet. I have one at home. I love everything the designer--wait a minute. Are you that Chloe? The jewelry designer?"
Chloe breaks out into a wide grin. "Ohmigawd! You have one of my bracelets?"
"Yes, I love it. I bought it in a store in Santa Monica. I have the gold zebra iPad cover too."
"I'm seriously going to cry right now," she says, hugging her mom. "Ashlyn Roberts loves me."
"She's gonna love me more," Cade says, joining us in the kitchen. "I just got Vanessa Flanning to agree to take her as a client."
"You did? You're right. I do love you!"
"She's going to visit you Monday on set."
"That's perfect."
"I'm going to show Ashlyn the rest of the house," Cash says, possessively pulling me out of the kitchen, almost like he's mad at me. He takes me down a set of stairs and outside where you can hear the ocean and see the cliffs surrounding the cove.
He pushes me up against a stone wall and gives me a hard kiss, his hands cupping my ass. "You told my sister and Cade that you love them. I'm feeling insanely jealous."
Even though we had sex just a few hours ago, my body heats up. I wrap my arms around his neck and practically swoon.
"Uh, so how's the tour going?" Chloe interrupts, causing Cash and I to quickly step apart.
"It's fine," Cash says in an irritated tone.
"What all have you seen?" she asks in an innocent voice, but knowing she totally just busted us.
"I've been too mesmerized by the view to see the inside yet. Maybe you can show me around," I suggest.
"I'd love that. You can see my studio too. It used to be Dad's home office, but when he retired, he let me have it. I'm going to give Vale the grand tour too. She and Carter just got here."
"He brought Vale to the house?" Cash says, looking surprised.
"Yeah. He says they're just friends, but I think it's more than that," she replies, flashing the Crawford smirk in her brother's direction. "You'd know that if you hadn't ditched us for boring, cloudy Seattle."
Embarrassingly
Cash
While my sister takes the girls to see her studio, I go back in the kitchen.
"It's so nice to have all my boys here," Mom says, as she puts a roaster of lasagna in the oven. "I expect you are all coming to Cabo with us next month, as usual."
"I'd like to come, Mom," I say, "but I'd need to bring Ashlyn with me."
"No," Cade says.
"Why not?"
"That's my private time. She's work."
"She's personal now that you've involved me."
"You aren't supposed to get personal with her, remember? Tell me you're not sleeping with her."
"You didn't come home last night," Carter adds, tattling on me.
"I stayed at her house because she was very upset about her former manager attacking her. And although I made her change the security system codes, she was nervous because he still has a key. You didn't think about all that stuff before you fired him, did you, Cade? And what if I was sleeping with her? It would be none of your business."
"I'd fire you on the fucking spot," Cade says, to which Mom replies with, Language. "The last thing she needs is another guy dicking her around."
"Since when did your brother become just another guy?" Chloe asks, taking my side. Ashlyn and Vale aren't with her, thank goodness, and I have no idea how long she's been listening.
"You stay out of this," Cade says to her.
"I like her. If you won't let Cash invite her then I will. She's my friend and Mom and Dad have let me bring a friend on vacation every year since I can remember." Chloe's got her hand on her hip. My sister has always gotten her way--and she never had to cry to do it. She's stubborn, opinionated, and awesome.
"Fine," Cade relents. "But I don't have to talk to her."
"Maybe you should sleep with her yourself, Cade," Chloe says, taunting us both.
"I don't sleep with my clients," he says.
She rolls her eyes. I can't help it, so do I. We both know that wasn't always the case.
Chloe says, "Why don't you just call Palmer and tell her you love her?"
"I don't love her."
"Yeah, you do," she says, going toe-to-toe with him.
He shakes his head. I still don't know the whole story of what happened with him and Palmer Montlake. Being away at college meant I didn't get involved in the daily drama.
Cade tells our sister to mind her own business and marches away, Chloe clearly hitting her mark.
He's storming out of the door when Ashlyn and Vale come back in.
"Is he mad?" Vale asks.
Chloe, never one to pull a punch, says, "He'll get over it. So, Vale and Ashlyn--my new best friends--did my brothers tell you we're going on a family vacation soon?"
"No, Cash didn't say anything about it," Ashlyn says, not able to hide the sadness from her face.
"Carter told me, but I wouldn't want to intrude on his family time," Vale says.
"Don't be silly," my mom replies, "the more the merrier."
Which, honestly, shocks the hell out of me. Mom has a strict no-girlfriends policy.
"You didn't tell me about your trip," Ashlyn says.
"Even though we go every year, I sort of forgot it was coming up so soon."
"Did you ask your sister to invite me?"
"No, I didn't, but I want you to come."
I pull her into the bathroom--so no one sees us--then set her up on the counter, push her legs apart, and give her a deep, long kiss.
One that sets me on fire.
"It's killing me not being able to touch you." I slide my hand up her thigh and under her skirt, rip off her underwear, unzip my pants, and plunge myself inside her. She grips my sides tightly and thrusts in time, clinging to me.
"I'll go anywhere you want," she says when it's over. Which is shockingly--almost embarrassingly--quick.
Then we rejoin my family and try to pretend we're just friends. Well, I try to. She's much better at it than I am.
"Why does your mom have a strict no-girlfriend policy?" she asks as we're driving home.
"My brothers go through women as often as they change their underwear, and Mom doesn't want to get to know a girl she'll never see again. It's Cade's fault, really. We always used to get to bring a friend. Then one year, Cade brought some girl and they were either fighting or fucking. There was a lot of drama, so Mom said never again. That you could only bring a girl if you were engaged."
"So, technically, since we're married, I could go."
"Technically, yes."
"But you don't want to tell them."
"I don't want to tell them until I'm sure when I wake up in the morning you will be there."
She goes silent.
And I know why. She wants me to tell them. To tell them how I feel about her. Because until we tell everyone it isn't really real. We're like two actors on a movie set--pretending to be in love.
Only we're not pretending.
"Remember how you asked me why I didn't like the houses we saw?" she finall
y says.
"Yeah."
"It's because they weren't like your house. It felt like a home. It was so cozy and comfortable."
"It's because of the people who were there, Ash--not just the decor."
"I really like your family. Your parents seem like the perfect couple. Your mom showed me the photo of her and your dad when they were Homecoming king and queen. He looked handsome in his football uniform and she looked so pretty wearing her sorority colors. I kind of have family envy."
"You shouldn't. Technically, they're your family now too."
"My parents were college sweethearts. My dad was both a star high school athlete and very smart. He chose academic scholarships over a track scholarship and graduated with an advanced degree in Math. He had a really good job and a bright future. He invented something for the company he worked at and got a big bonus for it. He bought my mom her dream house and himself the car. I loved our new house, but after he died the house didn't feel like a home."
"We'll find you the perfect house," I say, squeezing her hand. "I promise."
Making Bacon
Ashlyn
"Good to see you, man," Maddox says to Cash as we head into the movie premiere after party. "Sorry about your flight. We missed you at the wedding."
We're just inside when I notice Carter.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at a football game instead of a movie premiere?" I ask him.
"Vale got invited and asked me to be her date."
"Oh, really?" I say with a grin, teasing him.
Maddox slaps him on the back. "Oh, how the mighty fall."
"Shut up. We're just friends," Carter says.
"Uh, huh. Sure you are," Maddox replies.
"So what did you think of your first red carpet event?" Harper asks Cash.
"Honestly, it was a little crazy," he replies.
"You'll get used to it," Maddox says.
"Especially if you're going to be spending time with Ashlyn," Harper tells him. Then she turns and gives me a discreet wink. And I know what that means. She thinks Cash is hot and I should get with him.
Little does she know, I already have.
A lot.
We grab food and some drinks while discussing the movie we just saw and then Harper and Maddox tell us about their amazing honeymoon.
And although I often have dates for red carpet events, it feels different with Cash by my side.
"I don't want to ditch you," I tell him after we've eaten, "but I have to go do what I'm supposed to do at events like this--mingle. Will you be okay here for a bit?"
"Of course," he says sweetly.
I'm in the middle of a conversation with the movie's director when Harper says, "I don't mean to interrupt, but I need to borrow Ashlyn for a minute," and drags me away.
As soon as we're alone, she gives me a grin. "What's going on with you and baby Crawford?"
"Baby Crawford? He's bigger than his brothers."
She gives me a smirk. "And you know that, how?"
"Shut up. I wasn't referring to that. I'm talking about his size."
"So am I," she smirks.
"I get it. You are all sexed up from your honeymoon. It's all that's on your mind."
"Cash is hot. It's obvious that you think so. And it's obvious the boy is drooling over you. So what's the deal?"
"We're working together. That's all it is."
She nods like she understands but throws me off guard when she says, "So you gave him back his keys?"
"Gave who back his keys?"
"Ben Smith."
Crap. "Oh, yep. I did. He was very grateful."
"You are such a little liar! You told me you had Ben Smith's phone."
Shit. I'm busted.
Thankfully, Maddox comes up from behind us and slides his arm around Harper's waist. "How's my sexy wife?"
"Harper Harper is fine," I tease.
"I think we've determined that I'll be keeping my maiden name," she says then gives her new husband a kiss.
"So, Miss Ashlyn," Maddox says. "Carter and I were just talking about you."
"What about?"
"I heard you borrowed his plane, left our wedding with some guy, went to Vegas"--He gives me a little elbow nudge--"and joined the Mile High Club, uh--a few times. So, who was the lucky guy?"
"Um, his name was Ben Smith."
"Oh, duh. I don't know why I didn't put that together. He's the guy you were asking about on our honeymoon. So was he a waiter after all?"
"Yep. Hey, I'm gonna go grab a drink. Be right back," I say, quickly escaping.
I'm halfway to the bar when Harper catches up to me. "You told me that Ben Smith was a lawyer from Seattle. Baby Crawford is a lawyer from Seattle whose flight got delayed, so we didn't think he showed up. But now I'm not so sure. Are Ben Smith and Cash the same person?"
"Shhhh. Don't say that!"
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"No, don't be silly. Cash and I met on the beach. I thought he was Carter. I had bacon."
"You had bacon?"
"Yes, Carter was making bacon."
"I think you're making bacon with Cash. And if you're not, you most definitely want to. You're giving him your sexy eyes."
"I am not!"
She does a sexy pose back at me. "Oh, yes, you are. Tell me."
I pull her out of the ballroom and to a quiet hallway. I know how she is. She won't quit bugging me until she has the truth. Her bullshit meter is as high as Carter's.
"You absolutely cannot say any of that in front of Maddox. Or Carter. Or Cade. Definitely, not Cade. Or anyone," I say in a panic. "Please, I'm begging you!"
"Ash, calm down."
"I can't fucking calm down until you promise me--swear to me on your husband's pecker--that you won't tell anyone."
"Fine! I swear on my husband's pecker--I don't think I've ever used that word regarding his fine--anyway, I swear. Tell me."
"Ohmigawd. Okay, so Zach broke up with me at your wedding. I had been doing shots."
"With the groomsmen. You should know you can't keep up with those beefy boys."
"I should by now. Anyway, I decided to drown my sorrows in champagne, took a bottle off the table, and left."
"Where did you go?"
"Just outside. Away from all the happily ever after."
She gives me a hug. "I'm sorry you were sad. So then what happened?"
"As I'm leaving, this guy says, Hey, Hotass, where you going?"
"He actually called you Hotass? Isn't that kind of sexist?"
"The way he said it was adorable."
"Oh, boy. Then what?"
"I almost fell. He saved the champagne. I told him he looked familiar. Asked if he was an actor or a model. He said a lawyer. I asked where he was from. He said Seattle. I said he had cute hair. He said he had lots of cute parts. I asked how he knew the bride and groom. He said family friend. I asked if he wanted some champagne. He said yes, so we sat on the golf course and drank."
"And?"
"I was kinda drunk and decided I wanted to have fun. Asked if he was interested in a no-names kind of night. He said yes. I called him Sexy. He called me Hotass. We had sex. Twice. It was fun. So we decided to be even crazier and go to Vegas."
"Where you had sex on the plane too?"
"Yes. He's--remember what you told me? About how I should marry the guy who does me up against the wall."
"You want to marry him?"
"Yeah, about that." I close my eyes. I need to tell someone the truth before I burst. "We got married in Vegas. We signed a prenup on a napkin and promised not to sue each other for money when we got a divorce after."
"What!?"
"Shhh!! I know! It was crazy, but it was also the funnest, hottest, best, most amazing night of my life."
"And you didn't know who he was?"
"No."
"But he knew who you were?"
"Yeah."
"And then what?"
"I snuck out the next morning and di
dn't find out his name. I got home and was taking a shower when I noticed this." I hold out my hand, showing her the ring.
"That's an engagement ring. Is it real?"
"It's very real. After we decided to get married, I went and bought a white dress while he bought the rings. He even got down on one knee and proposed on a balcony overlooking the fountains. When I texted you, I was trying to find him so I could give back the ring."
"But, you didn't," she says slowly.
"Right."
"Why? And when are you getting divorced?"
"Um, I don't know that we are."
"Why not?"
I bite my lip.
"You're in love with him? Ash, how could you be? You just broke up with Zach. You thought he was going to propose."
"You were right. Zach was the wrong guy for me. I had just had the worst week of my life and was only looking for a hookup." I get tears in my eyes. "But Cash turned out to be so much more."
"So, he did you up against the wall?" she asks.
"And everywhere else."
She grabs my hand. "Don't cry. Tell me why haven't you told anyone."
"Because he'll get fired."
"Fired. Why?"
"His first day on the job working for Cade, he was told to babysit me. To make sure I don't get into any trouble. And Cade's only rule was that he couldn't sleep with me."
She rolls her head back and sighs. "What a freaking mess."
"I know."
"But you're wearing the ring."
"Yeah, I always wear big rings to events like this. No one will think anything of it."
"That's not what I meant. You're wearing the ring because of what it means to you."
I look down at it and sigh. "Yeah, I am."
"Apparently Carter and Chloe have a bet going as to how long it will be before you sleep with Cash. Carter said the two of you have crazy chemistry, but I still can't believe you got married in Vegas. How did you do it without anyone finding out? Like the press."
"I wore a long blond wig, and we both used fake IDs."
"So what's your plan now?"
"I have no idea. But I know I don't want to divorce him. Ever."
"Is your marriage even legal?"
"What do you mean?"
"I wouldn't think a wedding would be legal if you gave fake names."
"I never thought of that."
"Well, you're married to an attorney now. You should be able to get free legal advice."
"Shut up."
"Can I just say something?" she asks, putting her hand on top of mine.
"Yes."
"I've never seen you as happy as you are tonight, which makes me really, truly happy for you. If Cash makes you this happy and is doing you up against the wall, don't let anything get between you. Okay? And you need to tell his family right away, so this doesn't blow up in your face."