Page 15 of Savannah Sweethearts

“If her parents have anything to do about it, it will stay past-tense. But as far as I see it, we’re picking up where we left off.”

Ashley’s mouth was in a tight line, and I could see the anger in her eyes from across the room. I started to move toward her, but AO stopped me and told me to wait. He was right; causing a scene would help nothing. We were mature adults now.

When the music stopped, Ashley kissed her father’s cheek and turned my direction, but he caught her by the wrist. Ever so gently, she removed her hand from his, shook her head, and walked away from him.

And once again, I wondered if I was worth losing everything for. I knew I wasn’t. All the love in the world couldn’t replace income and lifestyle. That’s why I had walked away before. There was no way I would ever be good enough.

No. No more would I think that way. Those words had been planted in my brain by the Gloss family, and I had believed them as a kid. Now, I was a man, and I knew I was good enough—for Ashley, for my daughters, for them. I was better. Money didn’t buy the things that mattered most. Besides, I wasn’t poor; I just wasn’t as rich as they were.

Ashley kissed my cheek. “Are you okay, mon ange?”

Fire lit through my body. I hadn’t heard that nickname in so long, I had completely forgotten about it. It meant my angel in French, and she had taken to calling me that when we took French together in school.

I took her hands in mine and searched her face. “Mon ange?”

Pink lit up her cheeks as she bit her lip and nodded. “Ouí. You’ve always been mon ange. Do you not like it anymore?”

I looked her in the eyes; my throat felt raw, and I could almost feel moisture prick at my own eyes. “Am I still ton ange?”

She brought my hands up to her cheeks and kissed one, then the other. Her voice was a soft whisper. “If you want to be, Tyrell.”

Licking my lips, I tried to wrap my head around the fact that she had more or less said she loves me without actually saying it. And she had just come from what looked like a heated discussion with her father. “Your dad? What did he say?”

She shook her head and took my hand. Leading me outside, she sat me down on a bench and paced in front of me. “No, you first. Are you mon ange? Regardless of what my parents or anyone else might say? Because I can’t go through that heartbreak again.”

I knew if I hesitated, she would think I didn’t love her, and I did—with everything in my being. Was it enough? I would never know.

Throwing caution to the wind, I took her hands and recalled the pet name I had given her. “As long as you’re mine, Dream Girl.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she fell into my lap. Her arms wrapped around me, and she buried her head in my shoulder. Naturally, my arms went around her as I held her, my hand smoothing her hair. This I would protect with every fiber of my being. Along with my girls, Ashley had returned to her place as the center of my world.

When she lifted her head and swiped her tears, I brushed her hair back from her damp cheek. “See? Everything is okay. We can take this as quickly as you want. For the girls’ sake, though, I ask that it not be lightning speed.”

A deep, wavering breath expelled from her chest. “Well, for my parents, as well. Daddy was not happy when I told him he no longer got to say who I spent time with. And he was not happy I had turned down his greasy friend. He said he could cut me off.”

“Ashley, I—”

Her hand went up to stop me. “Please, let me finish.” I shut my mouth. “Thank you. He said he could cut me off, and I told him he could do no such thing. I’m well into my majority, so my trust is no longer in his hands. And as I’m over twenty-five, my shares of the company are mine, and I reap the benefits. I haven’t lived off his money in years, which I doubt he realized because Tanner still lives off Daddy’s money whenever he can.”

She took a deep breath and stood up from my lap. “I live in a studio apartment to keep costs down. I scrimp and save. I don’t have all the streaming services or the top internet plan, and I don’t eat at fancy restaurants. Now, I know I can spend money with the best of them—and certainly, I have when it’s called for—but day to day, I’m just an average girl trying to survive and put money into savings.”

When she finished her rant, I stared at her for a few moments to see if she would pick back up. Her hands were balled into fists, and her shoulders were tense. After a few seconds, her hands released, and her shoulders dropped back down. I just watched as she relaxed.

My raised eyebrow made her giggle. She knew I was looking for permission to speak, and she nodded. I stood and faced her. “Ashley, I have never doubted your ability to survive and thrive on your own. But I can take care of you. I make enough for you, me, and the girls to do all right.”

Big, doe eyes widened and reflected the moonlight. “Are you…”

“Oh, no! No! Not at this point.” That definitely had not been a proposal. “You’ll know when I’m asking you to become Mrs. Harris. But not yet.”

Taking her hand in mine, I pulled her close. “Can I have this dance, Miss Gloss?”

“I thought you’d never ask, Mr. Harris.”

Ashley

The phone rang bright and early, and I wondered who would be calling me before sunrise. When I saw Tyrell’s name, I perked up, but the panic in his voice when I answered popped the bubble.

“Ash, my mom fell, and I need to take her to the hospital. I can’t get ahold of Sabra. Can I bring the girls to you?” He spoke with such speed, it took a moment for my brain to catch up with what he had said.

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