Page 13 of Ashes to Ashes

I never expected Ash Devereaux, but I was thankful forhim.

“I’m going now,” he whispered and I nodded, shoving my small hands back into my pockets.

His leaving was for the best. I wasn’t sure what the rules were for this type of interaction, but I’d seen The Bodyguard and I knew well enough that we were playing with fire. We were attracted to each other—that much was clear to me now—and while most of our night together remained tucked away in the alcohol-soaked recesses of my brain, I was smart enough to recognize that, for better or worse, we had amazing sexual chemistry that could combust at any moment if we let it. I was pretty sure we weren’t supposedto.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?”

As he walked backward toward the door, his eyes never leaving mine, he smiled. “And the day after, and the day after, and the day afterthat.”

His return to lightness helped restore balance betweenus.

“Ugh,” I grimaced. “Don’t remindme.”

His hand cupped the spot over his heart. “Again, bullseye. What is with you and those barbed arrows?”

“Like I said before, you’lllive.”

I tinkled out a tiny laugh.

His face grew serious as he stopped and stared at me from across the hall. “And so will you,” he vowed, reminding me why we were here in the first place.

“Right,” I said with a nod and a flattening of mylips.

His eyes flashed with sympathy before they turned flinty and determined. “First and foremost, I’m here to protect you, Rae. Neither of us can forget that’s what this—” his hand flicked between us “—is about.”

“No, I know,” I agreed. “You’re my bodyguard.”

He rocked back on his heels. “I am,” he agreed. “But I’d also like to be your friend … if you’ll letme?”

I studied him for a heartbeat or two. “Isn’t that against the rules?” I asked, needing to clarify how things were going to be between us. The truth was, the contract between Rocky and McClintock Security hadn’t said anything specific about fraternization.

“Do I look like a man who follows the rules?” he asked with agrin.

“Honestly?” I replied, mimicking his earlier question. When he nodded, I laughed. “Yes, you look exactly like someone who follows the rules.”

“Oh ye of little faith,” he teased before turning and punching a code into the screen at his shoulder. Twisting his head around, he tossed me another dimpled smile. “See you tomorrow, Rae.”

“Bye Ash,” I said, raising my hand in a half-hearted farewell as he disappeared through the steeldoor.

And then I was alone again with plenty of time to sort through my thoughts. Lord knew I had more of them than I knew what to dowith.

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