Page 208 of Chasing Sparks

“We’ve got lots of those happening,” Ash murmurs, dropping a kiss beneath my ear.

We sure do, even if we aren’t together for all of them.

“Can we talk?”

“Absolutely, but can it wait two minutes? I have to go up and say a few words to the guests. You know how it is.”

“Of course.” I rise on tiptoe to kiss him. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

Ash makes his way through the crowd to the small stage, accepting the microphone from the svelte singer with a smile. “How’s everyone enjoying a taste of the Gatsby era?”

Applause sounds from around the speakeasy, and my heart clenches with pride as Ash works the crowd like a master.

“I can’t believe I’m actually standing here. This has been a lifelong dream for me, and now she’s here. She’s real.” He holds up his glass, his eyes locking with mine. “And I have one person to thank for that. Oriana Thorne, I never saw you coming. A lot of people here in Sparkwood probably remember how much we hated each other, but a faulty lock on a basement door changed all that. Some sexy lingerie didn’t hurt, either.”

Laughter ripples through the crowd, but Ash’s grin softens as his gaze stays fixed on me.

“She loves lingerie. The sexier, the better. And she doesn’t need an occasion—says it makes her feel sexy. I’ll bet she’s wearing some right now.”

A few more chuckles rise up from the bar patrons.

“The thing is, Ori doesn’t need anything to be sexy. She’s the total package—brilliant, beautiful, and absolutely one of a kind.”

He pauses, and for a moment, the crowd fades away, leaving just the two of us in the room. “You changed me, Ori. I heard every word you ever said, and I wanted to say them back. But I was a fool—I thought I had time to get my head straight. Then life went sideways, and you walked away. The color drained from my world, and I realized the only story I want to tell—theonlylife I want to live—has to have you in it.”

Everyone in the speakeasy pivots to look at me, my eyes bright with tears as I raise my glass in a toast. “Sorry to break it to you, Hammond, but you’re not getting rid of me that easily. Besides, you make a mean cocktail and I kind of like you a little bit.”

Actually, I adore you, which is exactly why I’m going to let you go.

Ash’s face splits into a wide smile as he hands the microphone back to the singer and makes a beeline through the crowd for me. “Hey, little one.”

“Hey, yourself.”

“You wanted to talk? Let’s go.”

We stroll hand in hand to his office, and he latches the door behind us, turning to me with a mischievous grin. “What did you want to talk about? How to get you out of that dress?”

“Tempting, but I’m not up for this many voyeurs.” I motion to the couch. “Have a seat.”

“Time for a striptease?”

“Not quite.”

Ash’s eyes widen slightly as he sits down. “I hope I didn’t embarrass you with the lingerie comment.”

Resting my foot on the edge of the couch, I hike my skirt to reveal the thigh-highs and garter belt underneath. “You were spot on.”

His gaze darkens, and he licks his lips, his hands tracing the contours of my leg. “Fuck, but you’re pretty. Come here.”

His touch sets my skin on fire, but I press my hands against his chest, stopping him. “Wait,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “Let me say this first.”

He leans back, a curious expression crossing his face. “Okay. The floor is yours.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about the world tour?”

Ash runs a hand along his jaw, his gaze flicking to the far wall. “Because I’m not doing it.”

I perch on the edge of the couch, resting a hand on his knee. “But you wanted to go.”

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