Page 10 of Chasing Sparks

It’s one of his favorite lines where I’m concerned, but I consider it a term of endearment. Plus, he’s not wrong in his assessment. Stubbornness runs through my veins.

“Nothing good ever came easy.”

“Not true,” he murmurs, capturing me in a fierce kiss, his tongue tangling with mine. “I make you come really easy. Again, and again.”

With every word, I fall deeper under Ash’s spell. By the end, my entire body quivers from his touch.

Tilting my chin up, Ash forces me to meet his gaze. “Stick around tonight.”

Then he’s gone, his boots echoing across the wood floor as he returns toBlackLotus—to the trio of women waiting for him. Important women, wanting to discuss life-altering ideas. All while dressed in lingerie.

My little green monster is on a rampage tonight.

“Little predate action?”

I nearly jump out of my skin at Mina’s voice over my shoulder. Spinning on my heel, I feel the flush rise to my cheeks as I re-button my blouse. “Not hardly.”

“Sure looked that way.”

“That would require us to actually go on a date.”

Mina furrows her brow and shoots me a confused look before handing me a cup of coffee. “I thought you two were having dinner tonight.”

Huffing out a noisy breath, I roll my shoulders back a few times. “So did I, but Ash canceled earlier today.”

“Again?”

See? It’s not just me. Ash’s behavior is suspect, at best.

Still, being the cool and collected woman I am—at least on the outside—I opt to play it off.

No. Big. Deal.

Will Mina see through my facade? Without a doubt, but I’m going down with the ship on this one.

“It’s a work thing. A few scouts from some magazine wanted to interview Ash for an upcoming issue.”

“But you don’t buy that reason.” For someone so young, Mina certainly knows how to cut through the bullshit.

“You didn’t see the way they looked at him … or the way he ate up every second.” Scrubbing my face with my hands, I release a loud groan. “This is a bad idea. I should shelve any plans with Asher Hammond and return to my previously scheduled life.”

“The life before the local tattoo god took up residence in your heart?”

“Sure isn’t taking up residence in my bed,” I mutter. “And don’t let Ash hear you mention his name alongside the words love, heart, or happily ever after. You’ll send him hurtling for the nearest exit.”

Mina offers me a casual shrug as she pours herself a cup of coffee. “Maybe it’s totally innocent, Ori, and those women aren’t into Ash. People do have other reasons to visitBlackLotusbesides drooling over the owner. You know, like getting pierced or tattooed.”

I should fire my friend. It would be easier than enduring any more of this conversation. Figures Mina would throw logic into my emotional free fall.

But logic is not my strong suit when it comes to Ash. Mostly because I’ve let the man into my heart, and now, all bets are off.

And it’s silly. Absolutely, ridiculously silly.

Ash and I spent one scorching night together, where we moved from enemies to friends to lovers at warp speed. Then we toyed with each other for the next week until he stormed into my bookshop to claim he doesn’t want to like me.

But he does.

He really,reallydoes.

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