Page 137 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“Stop it,” she groaned, and shoved him away playfully.

“Okay, quit being sickening and get in here,” Cam called from the dining area.

Dylan chuckled and they made their way over, finding Cam rifling through bags of takeout and placing containers on the table.

Dylan did what he was good at and melted into the background, watching Ashley interact with them. Cameron was completely at ease around her, and he didn’t know if they noticed, but they bumped elbows and wrists and arms far too often to be casual. They were scenting each other, a silent, casual claiming, even if they didn’t know it.

Ashley’s gaze lingered on him while he talked, and every time she glanced away Cameron took the opportunity to study her, too.

River didn’t seem to mind that his partner was scenting and flirting with an alpha. In fact, the way River gazed at them, head cocked, made Dylan wonder if their thoughts were similar.

Maybe packing Ashley up wouldn’t be such a challenge after all.

And now, with the heat coming?

He had the perfect plan.

29. IS THIS A DATE?

ASHLEY

I’m bored,River’s text had said.What are you up to?

And now here they were, in Ashley’s house, her cheeks flushing as she gave River the tour.

“So this is where it all started for you two, huh?” River asked. “You and Dylan? Little rascals running around together?”

Ashley snorted. “Yeah, this is it!”

Cameron and therefore Dylan were at cross fit, and River apparently didn’t have any work to distract him at the moment. A free day, a day off.

“I’ve actually been thinking about remodeling a bit,” she shared as they completed the loop, gaze working over every inch of outdated paint and carpet and wallpaper.

“How come?” River asked, and slid into one of the breakfast bar stools while she opened the fridge to get them drinks.

“I don’t know,” she lied. She did know, but was too afraid to say it out loud. “I’m outgrowing it.”

River smiled, a dimple in his cheek appearing. “Well, why not start today? What else do you have going on?”

“I—” Ashley balked, because she’d had these plans forever, but had found excuse after excuse.

Now she had someone offering to help and, well… she couldn’t think of a reason not to right then. Between the two of them, they could get at least one room painted, yeah?

She studied him. “You’re not one to sit around, are you?”

River shrugged. “I am a work-a-holic. It’s hard to sit still.”

She laughed, because it really was just that easy. “Fuck. Okay. Yeah… yes, let’s do it,” Ashley agreed, pushing a bottle of water in River’s direction.

“Do you know what paint colors you want?” River asked.

With a grin, she admitted, “I’ve been thinking about doing this for ages. I even know which room to start with.” She squinted at him, a little intimidated by how excited she was at the prospect of starting this project. “Do you really want to help?”

River glanced at her keys on the edge of the bar. “Do you want to grab a coffee while we’re out?”

“You read my mind!” she gushed, and they shared a matching smile.

A person to run errands with and start a DIY project? In her late twenties, this was certainly considered a date, right?

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