Page 69 of Chasing Sparks

“Are you done now?” Ash asks.

“No, I’ve got plenty more if you’re interested.”

“Always interested where you’re concerned.”

“While I appreciate this faux show of concern, I’m fine. Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m surprised by last night. We both know I’m not your type. Casey is far more your speed.”

Ash’s gaze narrows, his amusement fading. “Who spouted that nonsense?”

“You did. That first night.”

Ash snorts out a laugh. “Since when do you listen to me?”

“Since yesterday.”

He inches closer, his presence overwhelming as his voice drops, rough and insistent. “No, you’re not my usual type. You’re sexier, smarter, and cooler than all those other women combined.”

“Sexier, huh?” What a load of bullshit.

“Way sexier.” His lips brush my neck, sending an unwelcome shiver down my spine.

I place my hand against my neck, blocking Ash’s access. “Does Casey know this piece of information?”

Ash’s mouth quirks in a wry smile, but his eyes remain fixed on mine. “I forgot one more quality. You’re also way more of a pain in my ass.”

“I consider that a positive trait,” I retort, my voice sharp despite the warmth creeping up my cheeks. “Still didn’t answer my question.”

“Ori—” Ash exhales heavily, running a hand through his hair in obvious frustration. He doesn’t want to get into it. He’d rather gloss over everything and pray I forgive him.

Not happening.

I throw up my hand to cut him off. “You know what? Forget I asked. It doesn’t matter, anyway.”

Another noisy exhalation escapes him, and he shifts his weight. Seems the man about town doesn’t enjoy being scolded.

Too. Damn. Bad.

Normally, I’d hear him out, but the truth is, Ash doesn’t owe me an explanation. I built our relationship—if you can even call it that—on dreams of my own creation.

He told me how he operated that first night. No uncertain terms. No hedging.

He hasn’t changed.

I have.

Any further discussion is just salt in an already festering wound.

I don’t want to see the gleam of sympathy in his eyes, that look of pity when he realizes I’ve fallen into the same trap as countless other women.

Women who love Asher Hammond.

Women he doesn’t love back.

Promises he never made. Feelings he never had.

The list goes on, and now I’ve joined their ranks, despite every determination that I was different.

To see that look in his eyes and realize I was wrong?

---