by Box Set
He looked out the window, and it was darker outside, but he couldn’t get his phone without disturbing Ashlynn. Bash figured it didn’t matter when they got back since the rest of their friends were probably hanging out inside their campers and tents. He stroked the side of Ashlynn’s cheek and thought about everything he’d discovered today, things that got him thinking about what he was going to do when his next part came through.
He hadn’t wanted to complicate his life, but the minute Ashlynn had flipped him the bird, he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind. He’d tried avoiding her, but there was no denying the pull she had for him. Even when they’d been younger, he’d wanted her, but it was different now. He was thinking like a man, a man who had a giant house in a posh neighborhood in L.A., with more cars than he had time to drive, and yet, nothing else to show for all of his wealth. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been camping like this, just chilling with friends. He couldn’t remember the last time he was actually happy.
Of course, he could have done without the blood and terror, but at least that had made him feel something.
He enjoyed the money and the fame, but not the way he had at first, when he’d been a poor, small town kid eager for the spotlight. As much as he loved his job, he didn’t know if he could go back to his old life of parties, women, and solitude.
Here in Promise he had friends. He had family.
And he had Ashlynn.
“Mmmm.” She stretched against him and when her arm almost clocked him, he laughed. She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “Sorry, I was tired.”
“I can see that. It’s alright, I was just listening to the rain.”
“What time is it?”
Now that she was up, he reached into the middle console for his phone and checked the time on the screen. “It’s a little after one.”
“Oh, man. Everyone’s going to wonder where we are.”
“Nah, they’re probably too busy to worry about us,” he said.
“Maggie and Troy maybe, but Karianne and Rebecca and Cliff are probably bored out of their minds.”
“Or...” Bash wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Maybe they found a way to occupy their time.”
“Oh, gross, I do not want to have that mental image flashing through my mind.” She scooted away from him toward the door and he was more than disappointed when she said, “We should go. George will be back soon with an update on Bernie.”
“Yeah, good old George.”
Ashlynn paused with her hand on the door. “Are you jealous of George?”
“What, just because the guy swooped in and put your mind at ease and saved the day by knowing the local vet? Nah, why would I be jealous.”
To his surprise she slid back over and planted a kiss on his cheek. “But, he didn’t come to my rescue when he heard me screaming or carry Bernie back to camp when he couldn’t walk anymore. You did.”
“Well, to be honest, I was already following you when I heard you yelling Bernie’s name.”
“Oh? I didn’t hear you. Why were you doing that?” she asked.
“Because I wanted to know what was going on with us. Last night, it seemed like we were connecting and then you got spooked and took off.”
“I already told you, I’m looking for something serious, not temporary,” she said.
“And I don’t know what I want, but I do know it starts with you. I like you, Ash, and I want to explore that.”
If he wasn’t being completely clear, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, his mouth sliding over hers gently. No pushing, just coaxing a response from her.
He didn’t expect her to take a hold of his biceps and open her mouth under his, allowing him access to her tongue. They danced together, breathing heavily, and Bash’s hands slid down her throat, gliding over her chest to span her waist.
Bash was shocked as hell when Ashlynn pulled back enough to take off her sweatshirt and t-shirt, leaving her in just a simple white sports bra.
“Okay. Explore me.”
***
Ashlynn knew she had just taken the rulebook and all her common sense and tossed them right out the window, but she didn’t care. She was tired of worrying about how she was going to feel when Bash left or if she was going to end up just as brokenhearted as the first time.
She couldn’t go another minute without feeling every part of him against her.
Bash helped her out of her sports bra before his lips closed around first one nipple, then the other. She threaded her fingers into his hair as he made love to her with his mouth, her legs trembling with need.
He brought his hands up to cover her breasts, his lips finding the slope of her neck.
“I thought you didn’t do it in cars anymore?”
He dragged his teeth across her sensitive skin and she gasped, “I guess you’re the exception.”
His deep chuckle vibrated against her sensitive flesh and she shivered.
While their hands tore at each other’s clothes, baring inch by inch to hands and lips, Ashlynn closed her eyes and listened to the tap of the rain, the rhythm of it making her body move against him until the last barrier was discarded.
She heard the rip of a condom and slowly opened her eyes, a sly smile on her lips.
“You thought you were going to get lucky this weekend?”
“Only in my dreams.”
“Ugh, that is a cheesy line,” she said.
“Shut up, I’m under pressure. As in, if I don’t get inside you now, I’m going to fucking explode.”
Her laughter was smothered by his kiss as he lifted her over his cock and flexed up into her as he held onto her hips. She moaned as he filled her, pressing down on him as he set her in motion, rocking her up and down on his length until she felt her muscles hum. The pressure built between her legs as the rain continued to pound, and he started moving fast, manipulating her until she was gripping his shoulders, releasing high, keening noises with every hard thrust.
When her orgasm broke over her, she threw her head back, lights exploding behind the lids of her closed eyes as she screamed. He kept moving, torturing her sensitive body in the best possible way until he finally jerked against her, his arms squeezing her waist as he groaned.
Ashlynn held onto the seat behind him and rested her forehead against his.
“I totally take it back.”
“What’s that?” He was gulping in air, his chest heaving against hers.
“There is something about sex in the backseat that is so fucking hot.”
Chapter 11
A week later, Ashlynn woke up in Bash’s bed alone. Since the afternoon in the back of her Jeep, they had spent every free minute together, a lot of them in bed. He’d even made an appointment right before her lunch at the clinic and they’d ended up playing a game of “dirty doctor” that had left Ashlynn dreamy eyed and smiling the rest of the day. The week had felt like a month, and the more she got wrapped up in him, the harder it was to think about him not being there.
She sat up and called Bash’s name, but there was no answer. Bernie was lying on the floor by her pile of clothes, his head barely lifting. Ashlynn thought it was sweet that Bash had started letting Bernie crash too, since that way she didn’t have to get up in the middle of the night to go home and let him out to pee.
Ashlynn frowned down at her dog, though, as he started rolling on top of her clothes. They’d been in such a hurry to get naked when she’d come over after work, she hadn’t been concerned about black fur covering her white tank top and jean shorts.
She climbed out of his bed with the sheet wrapped about her torso, taking the stairs quietly as she listened to Bash talking to someone.
“Well, yeah, that is a great part, but could they hold filming until the first of August? I’ve got a few personal obligations to handle before I leave Promise.”
Obligations? Did he mean the wedding, or the birth of his baby sister?
Or did he mean telling her it was over?
; Her foot touched the landing and the floor squeaked beneath her, alerting him to her presence. He glanced at her over his shoulder and held up a finger.
“Yeah, I’d appreciate it. Thanks.”
She smiled at him despite her racing thoughts as he turned around to face her.
“Hey, good news?” she asked.
“Yeah, a fantastic part. Let’s just hope they can be patient.” He took the few steps that separated them, and kissed her lingeringly. “Have I mentioned how hot you look in my sheets?”
“No, but considering this is the first time I’ve worn them, I’ll let it slide.”
“Mmm, thank you.” He nibbled on her neck, and she giggled.
Bernie clomped down the stairs behind them and her mirth intensified as Bash pressed tighter against her and Bernie tried to shove his head between them.
“Seriously, your dog’s obsession with crotches is disturbing.”
As much as she just wanted to laugh and be in the moment, the fact that they had only a week left until Troy and Maggie’s wedding was weighing on her. The last week had been a whirlwind of shared meals, going out with friends, and of course, wild, hot romantic sex.
But as the time drew closer to an end, she couldn’t help wondering what it would mean. Would Bash be done exploring what they had, or would he decide to stay? To make it work?
After all, how were they supposed to have a relationship if he was off every other month playing a movie hero and kissing some of the most beautiful women in Hollywood as his costars? How was she supposed to keep him interested when he had all that going on the minute he left Promise?
Bash’s phone rang again and he pulled away reluctantly, seeming oblivious to her mood.
“Hey, pop.” Ashlynn watched Bash pale as he gripped the phone to his ear. “I’m on my way.”
“What’s wrong,” she asked. “Is Jenna okay?”
“She started feeling bad last night, so he drove her to St. Luke’s in Ketchum. They’re taking her in for an emergency C-section now.”
“I want to go with you. Jenna is a friend and I want to be there.” She raced up the stairs as fast as her sheet clad body would take her, finally dropping it and racing buck naked for her clothes on the floor. She pulled them on in record time and came back down, tying her hair up into a ponytail.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Bash, still standing in his boxer shorts, quirked his mouth up into a little half smile.
“I tell you what. You go home and change, and I’ll swing by to get you in a minute?”
Her skin started itching and she looked down at her fur-covered body. She’d totally forgotten about Bernie snuggling and rolling his hair all over them.
“Yeah, probably a good idea. Just don’t leave without me.”
***
It took thirty minutes to reach the hospital and another fifteen to figure out where they needed to go. A nurse finally directed them to where the waiting room was for labor and delivery. Bash rounded the corner with Ashlynn hot on his heels and found his dad sitting, cupping his face in his hands.
“Pop, what’s going on?”
His dad looked up, his face gray, and Bash’s heart sank.
Ashlynn touched his shoulder. “I’m going to see what I can find out.”
Bash went to sit next to his dad on the couch, resting a hand on his old man’s shoulder. “Pop? Tell me.”
“I don’t know. The C-section went fine, and they took the baby down to the NICU because she was a few weeks early, but they said she looked great. I stayed with Jenna as they moved her into her recovery room, but when the nurse came in to check her a few minutes ago, she acted weird, like there was something wrong. She kicked me out of the room and then I watched six other nurses rush in after her.” His dad looked at him with red-rimmed eyes, and Bash realized his dad was weeping. “I can’t lose her, too. First your mom walked out, and then you. I can’t lose Jenna. I love her so much.”
Bash wrapped his arms around his dad, and let him break down against him. It made Bash realize for the first time that maybe he had been more of the problem than his old man. He was the one who had been ashamed of their little apartment above the garage and the fact that they didn’t have a lot of extra money. Bash had worked his ass off to save money for his car in high school and clothes that didn’t come from the Goodwill.
He remembered the times he’d blown his dad off when he’d wanted to show him how to do something on a car, how he’d wished that his dad could understand and respect his dreams. Now he realized he’d never done the same for his dad. He’d made his dream of owning a shop seem small time and stupid, but it had been everything to him.
And now, his dad might be losing the only person he thought understood and loved him for who he was.
It was surprising that for as much as they butted heads, Bash never realized he and his dad wanted the same thing.
Acceptance.
Hugging his dad tighter, he whispered, “She’s gonna be okay, pop. You’ll see. She’s gonna be fine.”
Ten minutes later, Ashlynn and a tall man with a head of thick dark hair came into the room.
His dad seemed to recognize him. “Doc, is she—”
“Mr. Valentine, your wife and baby are fine. Your wife had some excessive bleeding, but we were able to stop it before it became critical. She’ll be weak for a few days, so we’ll probably keep her one more day in the hospital, but we’ll wait and see how she feels.”
“Can I see her?” Samuel asked.
“Of course, follow me.”
Bash and Ashlynn walked along behind Samuel and the doctor, and when Ashlynn reached out to take his hand, he was grateful she was there.
They waited in the doorway as Samuel rushed in and leaned over a pale Jenna, brushing her blond hair off her forehead.
She opened her eyes slowly, and gave him a small smile that nearly undid Bash.
“Hey, handsome. I didn’t worry you, did I?”
“Woman, I love you, but if you ever scare me like that again, I won’t be able to take it.”
Her hand covered his. “I’ll do my best.”
When his dad laid his head on his wife’s chest and he saw those big shoulders shaking again, he pulled Ashlynn out of the room.
“We should give them a few minutes.”
“Of course.”
Her tone was distant, and he glanced her way. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking about how lucky they are. Finding a love like that.”
Bash didn’t know what to say to that, so he just pulled her into a hug, resting his chin on the top of her head.
TXB1
Ashlynn watched Bash holding his new little sister, rocking her gently as he paced his stepmother’s hospital room. Samuel sat in a chair next to Jenna, holding her hand, and Ashlynn felt a little left out, as if she was intruding on a sacred family moment.
“We’ve definitely decided on a name,” Jenna said.
“Oh, yeah?” Bash asked.
“Yep. Candace. Do you like it?” Jenna asked.
“I do.”
Ashlynn’s heart squeezed as she imagined a completely different scene involving just the two of them, her sitting up in the hospital bed while he paced around her room, holding their baby while they argued over names.
Oh, God, you cannot think like that.
But it was too late. It hadn’t taken long at all for Ashlynn to realize that when she saw her future, it was filled with fantasies about Bash. Bash mowing their lawn, taking Bernie for walks, and pushing their children on the front swing in his yard. Their yard.
Because against her will, she was already in love with him.
What the hell was she going to do now?
Chapter 12
Ashlynn smiled as her best friend and her new husband came into the barn at Promise Farms, beaming at each other. The barn was beautifully decorated with white, twinkly lights and round tables surrounding a sawdust dance floor.
Bash stood ne
xt to her holding a microphone. It was time for their toasts, and although they had worked on them at the same time, neither one knew what the other would say to their friends.
Troy and Maggie took their seats at the head table and once everyone had settled, Bash started talking.
“For those of you who don’t know me, I grew up with Troy and he was the best friend I’ve ever had. Which is why I’m so glad he found a woman just as genuine, funny, and kind as he is. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and hope to someday find what you guys have. A love worth waiting for.”
His words sliced through Ashlynn and she tried so hard to keep a smile on her face as she took the microphone and cleared her throat.
“Maggie and I have been best friends since infancy, and the thing I feel completely confident in is the fact that Troy loves her more than anything and she him. These two people would move heaven and earth to be together and I know that nothing will ever separate them. To Maggie and Troy.”
Ashlynn tossed back her glass of champagne and quietly snuck outside, just needing a moment of air.
She and Bash had spent another blissful week together, visiting with Jenna, Samuel, and the new baby, Candace, and at one point, she’d watched Samuel and Bash step outside and talk. When they’d come in, Bash had been in an unbelievably good mood and when they’d arrived back at her place, he’d made love to her with so much passion and joy, she’d nearly blurted the words.
But last night, she’d stopped by his place to find his bags packed and waiting by the door.
“You’re not leaving yet, right? The wedding is tomorrow.”
“No, I’m taking off afterwards. Just saving time.”
He’d tried to get her to stay, but she’d made up an excuse about Karianne coming over. Then, she’d called Karianne and asked her to come over and stay so she wouldn’t do something stupid.
Too bad stupid had officially left the building.
“There you are,” Bash said, coming up along the side of the barn next to her. “I wanted to talk to you before I leave.”
Ashlynn wiped at her eyes, trying to avoid his gaze so he wouldn’t see she’d been crying. “It’s okay, Bash, you don’t have to say anything.”