Page 4 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“Admirable,” Ashley said, smiling softly.

Cameron tilted his head to the side. He stepped back and waved an arm at the mat, presenting it to her. “Do you want to show me how it’s done?”

The dare in his words was visceral, and the mat scrunched beneath her shoes as she took his place.

It was familiar territory,herterritory, and confidence filled her as she placed her feet correctly, bringing her arms up for balance in a basic kickboxing stance.

Ashley followed through, planting her foot at the forty-five-degree angle, and pulled her right arm back for counterbalance as her tibia slammed into the punching dummy with awhack.

The silence lasted for a single beat.

“Well, you make it look easy,” Cameron drawled.

Ashley shrugged. “I don’t manage this place for nothing,” she said.

His gaze trailed over her, and she tried not to feelwarmabout it. “Fine. Want to show me a few pointers?” he asked.

Cameron’s scent was dim, even this close, but that hint of something sweet… vanilla, honey. It was something she wanted to sink into.

Or sink her teeth into.

“I can do that,” she found herself saying instead.

What? Oh no.

This had already gone too far. This was too much excitement for her. What she should do is turn right back around and stand behind the welcome desk, where she belonged. Working her little 9-to-5 and then going home to her empty house where she would have an uneventful dinner to close out an uneventful day.

Thiswas the complete opposite of uneventful.

Talking to an actual movie star?

Swallowing, Ashley steeled herself beneath that glowing hazel gaze, and gestured toward the mat in front of the dummy. “Okay, show me your starting position,” she told him. “I’m Ashley, by the way.”

“I know,” he said, leaning close, tapping the metal name tag attached to her collar. Her cheeks flamed as he held out his hand. “I’m Cameron.”

“I know,” she echoed, taking his hand, but careful not to brush their wrists together.No scent marking the celebrity.

His lips twitched and Ashley was trying very hard not to be starstruck, but it wasn’t going very well.

“I was working from memory, in my defense,” he said as he stepped up and put his feet into the wrong position.

“You’ll get better,” she told him without thinking.

A single brow lifted at her and she smiled at him, contrite. “Sorry.”

He pursed his lips and she almost apologized again, but he stopped her, waving a hand. “It’s… actually kind of refreshing not being treated with kid gloves. Do your worst,” he said, holding his arms out.

“Show me your kick again,” she said.

He did, and shetsked, spying the issue. “Okay, so your first problem is you’re stepping across. It might feel natural that way, but you’re putting all your power in the wrong place. Step to the left corner with your left leg instead of the right,” she said, tapping the toe of her shoe into his left ankle to emphasize.

He followed her corrections without question, and when he kicked again, he grinned. “That already felt so much better,” he admitted.

That grin was a thousand watts and Ashley was blinded by it.

“You have all the basics. Just make sure to pivot, and open your hips. Hit with your tibia?—“

“Not your foot,” he finished.

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