Page 131 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“I tried to hold out longer, but…” she sighed wistfully. “You know, you see that one person and it feels like no time has passed at all even though you’ve both lived entire lives in the space of their absence?”

Kenzie had a knowing little curl to her lips. “I don’t know, but do tell.”

A smile tugged at her, and then she told them the whole story. From the bits they knew—that she’d been giving him the cold shoulder to give himself a taste of his own medicine—to the bits they didn’t.

The sparring, and the night he’d come by to look at photos, and the way he’d cried?—

“I love a man who can show emotion,” Kenzie said, shaking her head while Jordan rolled her eyes.

The tentative truce they garnered, the book she’d spotted him reading?—

“A romance? Fuck this perfect guy,” Jordan said before arching a brow. “But you already did.”

Ashley smirked before continuing on about the too-fancy dinner?—

“Wait, wait, you’re telling me some famous client wanted to impress you with a high-class restaurant and you’re hung up on his bodyguard?” Kenzie asked.

Ashley tilted her head to the side, “Well…”

“Oh, so this story getsbetter,” Jordan teased, leaning forward. “I can’t wait for it to get complicated.”

More than you know,Ashley thought.

And complicated it got, as Ashley told them about the birthday plans, the hike, thekissthat started it all, and then the?—

“Oh my god, thesame fucking night?!” Kenzie screeched, flapping her hands. “Holy shit, Ashley.”

Jordan closed her dropped jaw. “Okay, I need to find a mate, like, yesterday, if the right one can make someone like you, Ms. Rules and Logic, throw it all out the window. How’s it so far, walking on the wild side?”

Kenzie leaned forward, and Ashley wondered if she and Jordan realized how in tune with each other they were.

“It’s definitely… something,” Ashley said, feeling the echo of Dylan through the bond. “I can feel him all the time.”

“What’s it like?” Kenzie asked, propping her head on an arm.

“It’s weird. Like, I can feel him even right now. He’s… amused. So C—his client must be doing something silly.”

“Where did you bite him?” Jordan asked.

Ashley tapped her other shoulder. “Same spot on him.”

“So it was at the same time?” Kenzie asked, leaning across the table. She fanned herself. “Oh my god, that’s hot,” she said, glancing at Jordan.

Jordan met her gaze. The stare lingered, and Ashley cocked her head to the side.

What was that?

“Can confirm. It was very hot.” Ashley’s cheeks flamed.

“So how do you feel about it all? I mean, what’s next?”

Ashley swallowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, like, where does Dylan live? Is he going to move back here? Oh shit, you’re not leaving, are you?”

For the first time since this whirlwind romance part of her story had begun, she… paused.

WheredidDylan live? Surely he wasn’t planning to go back after he got done with guarding Cam. Would they move in together? A happy thrill shot through her at the idea. Howwerethey supposed to navigate life together after the job was done?

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