“I’m staying.” His tone was unyielding as he followed her into the living room.
“Honestly, I’m a big girl. I’m fine.”
“Oh, I am very aware of how fine you are,” Lange said. He grabbed her arm to turn her around, sliding his lean, firm body up next to hers. His voice turned sultry. “And I know perfectly well that you are, indeed, a big girl.” He dipped his head to whisper seductively in her ear. “A woman. A very fine, very beautiful, very sexy woman. That’s why I’m staying.”
She was melting again. One touch of his hard body against hers, a few husky words from his silken tongue, and she was dissolving into a quivering mess of molten lava. “Lange.” It could have been a protest, could have been a plea. It came out as a whimper.
“We have your father’s permission,” he reminded her, trailing his lips down the side of her neck. With nimble fingers, he unzipped her dress and pushed the fabric from her shoulders. His rough palms slid over the creamy perfection of her skin, leaving tiny goose bumps of pleasure. “What more could you want?” He nibbled on the graceful curve of her neck, as his hands trailed lower, his fingers tracing the lacy edge of her bra.
“You,” she managed to say, her husky voice vibrating against his mouth. He pressed his tongue to her skin, loving how she purred against him. Her hands fell to his belt and she fumbled with the buckle, eager to have him free. “I want you.”
“Baby, you have me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“I think this was a wonderful idea,” Ashli told her friends a few days later, sinking into the booth at the Mexican food restaurant. “Shopping makes me hungry.”
“Hey, scoot over,” Rachel laughed, nudging Ashli as she slid in beside her. “Molly’s taking up the whole booth with all her bags.”
“What can I say, there was a sale. I believe in saving money,” the other woman said with a smile of feigned innocence.
“I totally agree. Like I always tell Kevin, sometimes you have to spend it, to save it.” As the waitress appeared with warm chips and salsa, Rachel took the liberty of ordering for her friends. They had been talking about it all afternoon. “Frozen Grande Margaritas, please, with salt.”
“I definitely worked up a thirst, carrying all these bags,” Molly sighed, readjusting the shifting pile.
“What’s your excuse?” Rachel turned to Ashli with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “There’s not enough fabric in that little bag of yours to work up anything other than a man.”
“Rachel, lower your voice!” Ashli wailed, her cheeks turning the same shade as the silky lingerie in question.
Her friends just laughed. “You never did tell us about that private celebration of yours Saturday night.” Rachel bit into a chip, watching the blush spread on her friend’s face.
“No, I don’t believe I did,” Ashli agreed breezily.
“Come on, girl, you gotta dish,” Molly insisted. “We’re two old married women here. We need a little reminder of what it’s like to be in a hot new romance.”
“I’m not sure I would call it a romance,” Ashli hedged. “I’m not sure what it is.”
“But it’s hot, isn’t it?” Molly asked with a knowing gleam in her eye.
Ashli hesitated for a moment. She normally did not talk about her private life, particularly with her employees. But Molly was becoming so much more, and Rachel had always been her best and dearest friend. Indulging in the sheer joy of merely having a relationship to talk about, Ashli gave in to the impulse and admitted with a raw, indulgent groan. “God, yes,” she shuddered.
Molly squealed in delight, and even Rachel smiled, happy that her friend had finally found someone. She still had her doubts about Lange Sterling, knowing that men as deep and mysterious and as blatantly sexy as the private investigator seldom stayed around to pick up the pieces of the hearts they shattered. She only hoped Ashli could survive a relationship with him and get out with her heart in one piece.
Without giving away too many details, Ashli admitted Lange had stayed at her apartment the last three nights. Her friends didn’t need to know that part of the reason he stayed was to protect her. Nor did they need to know how little sleep they had actually gotten, their insatiable need for one another greater than their need for slumber. And if she modeled her new little teddy for him tonight as she planned, that pattern wouldn’t be changing anytime soon. Just thinking about it brought a blush of anticipation to her cheeks.
“Look at her, she’s still blushing!” Molly teased. “After three straight nights, surely there’s nothing left to embarrass you, girl.”
“It’s the alcohol.” Ashli hid her flaming cheeks behind the salt-crusted rim of her oversized drink.
“Hmm. I’m just glad to see you finally getting a man. You could have your pick of just about any of them, but you never seemed too interested until you met Lange.”
“See, exactly what I’ve been saying,” Rachel interjected. “Men fall all over themselves around you, even though you hardly notice.”
“Oh, please, that’s not true,” Ashli denied.
“It is! Do you know how many men stare at you on a daily basis at The Tea Party? And how many I saw drooling - actually drooling! - over you Saturday night in that dress?”
“You’re exaggerating.” Ashli squirmed in modesty.
“Is she exaggerating how that man over there keeps staring at you?” Molly asked, nodding to a booth across the way.
“Oh, Lordy, that’s Jason Madison.”
“Who is Jason Madison?”
“One of my neighbors. He’s a total womanizer. I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m not interested in him, but he just can’t seem to take a hint. Especially now that he’s seen Lange stay overnight.”
“I guess he thinks since you welcomed Lange, you would welcome him?” Rachel guessed.
“Exactly. Oh, good, here comes our food. Let’s just ignore him and eat our dinner.”
“Hey, isn’t that the elderly couple from your condo?” Rachel nodded to the couple about to exit the restaurant.
“It sure is. And they have Mr. Parnell with them. I’m sorry I didn’t see them earlier, or I would have spoken to them. Mmm, this looks delicious.”
“It must be Daisy House day at Senor Montelongo’s,” Rachel quipped. She took a bite of an enchilada and practically purred. “Oh, this sauce is fabulous. You’ve got to try this. Here, Molly, you, too.”
“Mmm, wonderful,” Ashli agreed. “What is in that? Maybe we should try to come up with our own version for The Tea Party. It would be wonderful in a casserole. Is that some sort of a smoky paprika I taste?”
As the women dissected the melded flavors in the dish, the topic of men fell by the wayside. By the time they finished their meal and their margaritas, they had full tummies, lightened spirits, and slightly buzzed brains. Molly had to leave for home, but Rachel stayed with Ashli as she made a final stop at the beauty care store.
They were meandering down an aisle, browsing for new fragrances, when Ashli got the familiar sensation of being watched. Any buzz left from the alcohol vanished as she immediately sobered.
“Rachel,” she whispered urgently. “Do me a favor. Look around and see if anyone is watching me.”
“Why? Do you think your stalker is here? Is he watching you right now?”
“Yes, I think so. Don’t make it obvious, but do you see anyone looking our way?”
Rachel scanned the store. “Not that I can tell. This is so freaky. Didn’t it happen at this store once before? Maybe he works here.” She peered toward the cash registers, but all the clerks were busy with customers. There was no one else on their aisle, and no one at a distance seemed to be paying them any attention.
“Let’s just go. I’m not in the mood for shopping anymore.” Ashli put the sample bottle back on the shelf with the other fragrances.
They made a corner and came face-to-face with her friend from Ashli’s Tea Party.
“D-Diane!” Ashli stammered in surprise. She couldn
’t help but peer past her, searching for anyone who might be watching.
“Ashli, I’ve been meaning to stop by and congratulate you. You had a marvelous showing Saturday night,” the red headed lawyer said with a wide smile. Noticing Ashli’s distraction, she glanced over her shoulder. “Are you looking for someone?”
“Oh, no, no.” Ashli tried to laugh off her own foolishness. “I’m sorry, please forgive my rudeness. And thank you so much for that. I really do appreciate your thinking of us.” Ashli put her hand on the other woman’s arm, hoping to convey her sincerity.
“A well-deserved honor,” Diane assured her, encompassing Rachel in her smile. “So, did you buy the dress?”
“Not that dress,” Ashli said with a nervous laugh. She explained their conversation to Rachel. “Diane was the one to tell me about the little boutique where I bought my dress. She actually suggested another one, but it was a bit too . . . daring for my tastes.”
“It wasn’t your tastes we were trying to please. It was your Romeo’s,” Diane reminded her.
“Oh, he was plenty pleased with the dress she chose,” Rachel assured her with a laugh. She was slightly hurt that Ashli had confided in the other woman about Lange and consulted her in choosing a dress. That was what best friends were for. “The way he looked at her had to be illegal in some states. It was downright sinful.”
“Rachel!” Ashli threw her friend a look of chagrin, almost missing the pained expression that crossed the lawyer’s face. Catching a glimpse of it, she immediately felt sympathy for the other woman. “How about you? Any word from your ex?”
Diane visibly brightened. “Actually, yes. He called yesterday. Said he missed me and wanted to see me again. Apparently the little distraction from work turned out to be just that, a distraction. Still, a home cooked meal couldn’t hurt, could it?”
“Absolutely not. I think it might just seal the deal.” Ashli was truly pleased for her new friend, hoping Diane could be as happy with her boyfriend as she was with Lange.
“Are you free Saturday night?”
“Yes, I believe so. What did you have in mind?”
“Beats me, you’re the genius in the kitchen! Just be at my place in time to cook and run. Will seven be enough time for you to get out before he comes?”
“Sure, I can be done by seven.” It would still leave her plenty of time to cook at home for Lange, assuming he would still be there. The thought of him not being there was absolutely terrifying, and it had nothing to do with her safety.
“Great. Here’s my address.” Diane handed Ashli a business card with a handwritten address on the back. “And don’t get too fancy, we want him to think I actually did the cooking.”
“What are you two talking about?” Rachel asked in confusion.
“Didn’t you know? Your innocent-looking friend here is secretly a devious little minx. I helped her get her man, now she’s going to help me get mine back.” With a smug smile, Diane waved her fingers in the air. “I’ve got to go. See you Saturday. Tootles.”
Frowning, Rachel watched the red head disappear. “Personally, I think your friend is a little strange. Did you see that gleam in her eyes? It was almost evil.”
“She’s just excited about the prospect of getting her boyfriend back. He dumped her for another lawyer, now apparently wants her back. She thinks if I fix a home-cooked meal that she supposedly made, she’ll find her way back into his heart.”
“Humph. Hope she’s got more going for her that than. Apparently she’s either not too bright, or not too observant.”
“Why do you say that?” Ashli asked curiously. “She’s a lawyer. She’s got to be both.”
“Maybe so, but she had the wrong hair color in her basket. She picked up platinum blond by mistake.”
***
When Ashli arrived home, Lange was there waiting on her. He teased her about what she had in her little pink bag, recognizing the logo of a store known for its sexy lingerie.
“Do I at least get a private showing later on?” he asked hopefully as they ascended the stairs.
“We’ll see.” Her words were noncommittal, but her smile was provocative.
“This is all you bought after an entire afternoon of shopping?”
“I mostly helped Molly replenish her wardrobe. That woman loves to shop.” She laughed, remembering the pile of bags her friend had collected. “We also had a very long dinner with very large margaritas.”
“That explains the glazed expression in your eyes.”
Ashli handed him her keys to unlock the apartment, choosing to remain silent. Let him think she was still carrying an alcohol buzz. Better than letting him know the buzz she felt came solely from him, and knowing he was there waiting for her. She was quickly becoming addicted to him. Having him in her home, in her bed, was a feeling she was getting all too comfortable with.
“Have you eaten?” she asked.
“No, but I can order a pizza or something.”
“Nonsense. I’ll fix you something. What would you like?” she asked, going into the kitchen.
“I’m not going to ask you to come home and fix me something to eat, when you went out for your own meal.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” She opened the refrigerator and surveyed its contents. “There’s some of that meatloaf I made last night. Or I could make you an omelet, or a sandwich.”
“Or you could go take a bath, and I could make my own supper.”
“I thought I’d take another look at those files. I keep thinking I’ll see something that will help find Jasmine.”
He gave her a dubious look as he nudged her aside and took out the container holding meatloaf. Ashli stood back and watched, thinking how incredibly sexy he looked in her kitchen. Of course, he looked sexy anywhere, doing anything.
While Lange heated his plate and sat down at the bar to eat, Ashli collected the old files and climbed onto the barstool beside him. A comfortable silence settled between them, making such mundane tasks as eating and reading individually seem more like a couple project.
It wasn’t until Lange poured them both a glass of Chardonnay that Ashli spoke. “I keep thinking there is some significance that four of the women had blond hair and blue eyes.”
“I would agree, if the other three were not total opposites. It makes no sense.”
“But three were ethnic, four were blond. Not brunette, not redhead, not mousy brown. Blond. All with blue eyes.”
Lange swirled the wine in his goblet, watching the golden whirlpool and thinking how his own life was spinning out of control, and all because of a certain blue-eyed blond. God, if he wasn’t so weak, he would put an end to it right now. He didn’t like not having control of his emotions, his thoughts. Hell, his very existence. She had taken over all of them. And for the life of him, he couldn’t drum up the strength - not even the anger - to resist.
Disgusted with himself and his weakness for her, Lange tossed back the wine and welcomed the sting it delivered to the back of his throat. “Anything new happen today?”
“Actually, I think my stalker may have followed me to the mall.”
Lange whirled around, angry at her for just now mentioning it, even angrier at himself for just now asking. “What are you talking about? And why are you just now telling me?”
“Because nothing actually happened. I just felt like I was being watched. But Rachel was with me, and neither one of us saw anyone. It was the first time I had been back to the store where he left me the hair products, so maybe I was just jumpy.”
“But you don’t really believe that, do you?”
She hesitated before admitting, “No.”
He cursed beneath his breath. “I knew I should have followed you to the mall.”
“Lange, you cannot follow me, every second of every day. You have other clients that need your attention. And Rachel and Molly never let me out of their sight, I can assure you. Rachel even followed me home.”
“Still, I should have been th
ere.”
“I also ran into a friend of mine. She asked me to help her with a little cooking project on Saturday evening.”
“Do I need to go with you?”
“No, I’m just going over to her apartment. I’ll be home by seven.”
“I should be in about the same time. I’m actually meeting that lawyer friend of mine at six-thirty for drinks, to see if there’s a way we can force Mr. Parnell to allow security cameras on the house. I’m ready to catch this son of a bitch, once and for all.”
“I agree completely.” Ashli yawned and shut the file she had been reading. “Well, nothing new here that I can see. I think I may take that bath you suggested, after all.”
Just like that, whatever resistance he had been working up toward her dissolved at the thought of her naked. He groaned, knowing he couldn’t keep his mind on business, where it belonged, when his body kept sabotaging his best intentions.
“Maybe I should sleep on the sofa tonight,” he announced abruptly.
Ashli frowned. She wondered if she had done something wrong, or if he was really that angry at her for not telling him about the stalking incident when she first got home. Or maybe . . .
“It’s not you, Ashli,” he broke in on her thoughts. He already knew her well enough to know she was blaming herself, thinking she had done something to make him reject her. Again.
“Then I don’t understand. You would prefer to sleep on my sofa, rather than in my bed?”
He would rather sleep standing up, if it meant he could hold her in his arms. But this wasn’t about what he wanted; it was about keeping her safe.
“I’m getting distracted, Ashli. I’ve got to keep my head clear and in the game. This is too important for me not to stay focused.”
“You don’t want to sleep with me.” She tried to keep the hurt out of her voice.
Lange lifted a dark eyebrow and looked down at her skeptically. “After the last three nights, I think you know the answer to that. Maybe I just need some actual sleep tonight.”
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