I was also kind of hurt that he hadn’t told me he was leaving town but then I reminded myself that it was my idea to be on a break. He was only following the rules.
“He did.” I settled at the island, Sam right next to my knee hoping for a dropped piece of sausage or cheese. “But if he mentioned where she lived, I don’t remember.”
“Seattle,” George said around a mouthful of pizza. “He flew out tonight. He said he’d be back in a few days barring any issues with Kathy. I assume you’re here to talk with him about this break that you’re on?”
So George did know about it. I wasn’t surprised but I was embarrassed, the heat rising in my cheeks. He had to think I was the dumbest person on the planet, not being able to deal with my grandmother.
“I guess he told you about it.”
I didn’t know what else to say.
“I told him to text you that he was going out of town, but he said that he couldn’t because you were both on a break.”
His tone told me all I needed to know about his opinion of said break.
“I handled this badly.”
“That’s kind of an understatement.” George took another big bite. “How’s your grandmother?”
“Fine. She’s leaving for Washington tonight. She’s canceling the rally.”
“What about the houses?”
“I understand that they can’t be saved. It’s sad but that’s the way it is.”
“You know Kyle has an engineering firm looking into that.”
“I do and maybe they’ll have good news, but I’m not going to count on that.”
He nodded and reached for another slice. I was thinking that maybe I needed to stop at one and see how it sat in my tummy.
“That’s very wise. Hope for the best but expect the worse. That’s what my mom used to say.”
“Gran said something like that, too.”
“Your grandmother is…quite a woman.”
“Is that your polite way of saying she’s a piece of work?”
George grinned and took a draw from his beer while Sam leaned even closer to me, looking up with his big brown eyes. The pleading, the begging. I didn’t know how Kyle kept from feeding this cute puppy a juicy steak every single day.
“That’s one way of putting it. She’s made a hell of a lot of noise and made Kyle’s public relations firm earn their money this week.”
“She means well. She’s passionate about helping people. It’s not all about getting re-elected. She really does want to do her best. I think she just got a little lost.”
“I’m not questioning what she’s done for her constituents. I’m only concerned with what she’s doing to my friend. And you, too. I’d like to think that we’re becoming friends.”
He said it with such a gentle smile. Kyle had good taste in people.
Well…he had chosen me, after all.
“I’d like to think that, too. I’d never hurt Kyle on purpose. I want you to know that.”
George’s smile was replaced with a far more serious expression. “I’m glad to hear that. You have to understand him, Ashlyn. He’s laser-focused when he’s going after what he wants and that’s why he’s been successful. He’s willing to do the work and put in the time. He does whatever it takes and he’s goddamn brilliant. A freaking genius. Watching him work…it’s amazing. But that’s how he approaches relationships, too. If he believes in it, he throws himself in. All in. And I’ll be honest with you. I’ve never seen him this in before. Ever. You’re his person, and for him, that’s it. Just like Kyle is Sam’s person. You have the power to make him incredibly happy or break his heart. It’s your choice what you do.”
My throat had tightened listening to how Kyle loved me. I loved him that way too, but I hadn’t been showing it.
“I won’t break his heart. I came over here to tell him that. I’m all in, George.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Now why don’t you go home and pack a bag?”
I wasn’t sure I understood what he was telling me.
“A bag? What for?”
“To fly to Seattle, of course.”
Of course. Because I was Kyle’s person and he was mine.
* * *
Kyle
It was a girl. I’d lost a hundred bucks to George, but my sister Kathy and her husband Jesse now had the most beautiful little girl I’d ever seen. I’d sprinted into the hospital just as she was beginning to push. I’d done the hospital-uncle thing often enough now to know what that meant. A baby was imminent and sure enough less than an hour later Paige Marie had arrived with a mop of dark hair on her head and the tiniest bow for a mouth.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the place, both sides of the family tearing up at the sight of the newest addition. I wasn’t immune and I choked up when Jesse put baby Paige into my arms. Wrapped in a pink-striped blanket, she hardly weighed anything and had fallen asleep from her exhausting first night out into the world.
My heart was far too large for my chest and I could feel every single beat against my ribcage.
This. Right here.
My relationship with Ashlyn was fragile and new but I could see the two of us together – in a few years – getting married and having a baby. Maybe even a boy. He would have my hair and chin and Ashlyn’s beautiful blue eyes. He’d learn kindness and a respect for the past from his mother, and he’d have a zest for the future from me. He’d be the best of both of us.
We had a hell of a lot of work to do before any of that would happen, but we had to be together to do it. We had so many firsts to look forward to if Ashlyn would only see how good we could be. I sure as hell had never thought about getting married or having a baby until I’d met this woman. She’d changed everything for me. One day I was an unashamed workaholic, the next I’m planning a future. No one was more shocked than I was.
As soon as I returned home I was going to see Ashlyn. Fuck this break. I needed to convince her that we could make this work. It wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready to do the work if she was, too.
Mom and baby were tired and Jesse was as well, although he seemed to be high on adrenaline and black coffee. He might not sleep for days or he might crash the minute we left the hospital room. With a promise to come back in the morning after grabbing a few hours of sleep we one by one drifted away.
I wasn’t the last to go. My parents had that distinction, but the sun was coming up when it was my time to leave. There was a large window at the end of the hallway between two elevator banks and from there I could see the orange and pink sky growing brighter with each passing minute. By the time I checked into my hotel it would be sunny outside, or as sunny as Seattle could be this time of year. I’d grab some breakfast and then hit the sack. My eyes felt gritty and my back was tight from sitting on the plane and then in an ergonomically nightmarish plastic chair in the waiting room. A hot shower would help and then later I might send Ashlyn a text. Just a hello and ask how she was doing. Nothing major. Just to touch base.
I missed her already.
The elevator doors slid open and I had to blink several times because I was sure I was hallucinating. The women standing there looked so much like Ashlyn. But she couldn’t be. Because I was in Seattle and she was back in Arborville. I was so tired I was having some sort of episode. Maybe I shouldn’t even be driving the car I’d rented at the airport.
She pressed the button to hold the doors open since I hadn’t made a move forward. My feet were stuck to the tile floor as if I had glue on the bottom of my tennis shoes.
“Hi.”
My hallucination could speak.
“Hi,” I said, still not moving. “Are you real?”
Her smile made my heart beat faster. “Yes, I’m real. George told me where you were. I just flew in or I would have been here sooner.”
I didn’t know if it was her voice or the fact that I was beginning to comprehend that she was actually standing in that elevator, but I finally stepped in and the doors slid shut. There was no one el
se in the car with us and there was so much I wanted to say, but I didn’t even know where to begin. Luckily, I didn’t have to say anything. Ashlyn spoke first.
After she reached out and pressed the red emergency stop button bringing the elevator to a shaky halt.
“I want to apologize.”
I wanted to sweep her up into my arms. I didn’t care what she had to say. She was here.
“You stopped the elevator.”
“I did. We need to talk, Kyle.”
“This is a hospital, Ash. They need the elevators. You can’t stop them.”
As much as I wanted to be a spontaneous dude I couldn’t help but think this might not be the greatest idea in the world. But it was the cutest and the most romantic. She’d definitely earned points for that. Maybe we’d tell our kids about this someday.
“I’m not mad anymore, Ash. I love you.”
“I love you, too. And I’m just so sorry. I read Shelby’s book on the plane ride here and it said that couples need to work at their relationships. That agreeing on everything is no guarantee that it will all work out. I’m ready to do the work.” She took a deep breath and placed her palms on my chest. I could feel the heat of her skin through the cotton of my button-down shirt. “I sent Gran back to Washington. The rally is cancelled.”
She had no idea. George had sent her here and she’d come, but she didn’t know.
As for Shelby’s book? I had no clue what she was talking about. I’d ask her later.
“It would have been anyway. The engineering report came back, babe. We can save two of the houses and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Her eyes went wide and then she flung herself into my arms. I captured her lips with mine and it was the sweetest kiss I’d ever had with a woman. It said more than we ever could with words.
Reaching over, I pressed the red emergency button and the elevator shuddered for a moment and then began descending. We were still kissing when the doors slid open. A group of people had gathered while waiting and there were a few giggles and one person whistled as we strolled out. Ashlyn’s cheeks were pink and mine might have been, too. I wasn’t big on public displays but today I’d make an exception.
Leading her to where I’d parked my rental, I loaded her single bag into the trunk and then slid behind the wheel. I still couldn’t believe that she was here sitting next to me. It was surreal and wonderful all at the same time.
“I would have been home in a few days.”
Smiling, she placed her hand on my mine. A simple gesture but it meant so much. We might not get much sleep back at the hotel. My mind was wandering into other more sensual places. From the look on her face, she was thinking it, too.
“I know, but George suggested I come and I really didn’t want to wait.” She leaned over and pressed her lips to mine. “Because you’re my person, and we’re supposed to be together.”
Ashlyn and I were surely going to disagree about things in the coming years. We didn’t always see eye to eye. But today she’d spoken the truth.
We were supposed to be together.
I hope you enjoyed Kyle and Ashlyn’s story! There will be more in the Man Trap series coming soon.
Thank you for reading Tease Him.
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About The Author
Olivia Jaymes is a wife, mother, lover of sexy romance, and caffeine addict. She lives with her husband and son in central Florida and spends her days with handsome alpha males and spunky heroines.
She is currently working on a new contemporary romance series – Man Trap in addition to her other ongoing series.
Visit Olivia Jaymes at
www.OliviaJaymes.com
Other Titles by Olivia Jaymes
Danger Incorporated
Damsel In Danger
Hiding From Danger
Discarded Heart Novella (US Kindle Only)
Indecent Danger
Embracing Danger
Danger In The Night
Reunited With Danger
Window to Danger
Road to Danger
Unwanted Danger
Cowboy Justice Association
Cowboy Command
Justice Healed
Cowboy Truth
Cowboy Famous
Cowboy Cool
Imperfect Justice
The Deputies
Justice Inked
Justice Reborn
Vengeful Justice
Justice Divided
Seeking Justice
Military Moguls
Champagne and Bullets
Diamonds and Revolvers
Caviar and Covert Ops
Emeralds, Rubies, and Camouflage
Midnight Blue Beach
Wicked After Midnight
Midnight Of No Return
Kiss Midnight Goodbye
The Hollywood Showmance Chronicles
A Kiss For the Cameras
Swinging From A Star
Wild on the Red Carpet
Love in the Spotlight
And the Winner is
Tease Him (ManTrap Book 2) Page 20