Page 49 of Lush

Chill out. The Ashbournes own this. It’s safe.

“You’re free to go,” I said, seeing Erik near the car.

I was partially scared of what Erik would do to Reese, but it still felt weird to interact with Reese in front of my family, and not in secret.

Erik raised a brow. “I’m not gonna swing on him.”

“You have a company to run. You don’t need to babysit me.”

“And catch hell from Mama for not showing up and making sure the Ashbournes ain’t fuck shit up? Nah, Mama would have my head.”

“I’m thirty-three years old.” My chest felt tight. “If I can survive Paris on my own, I’ll manage here.”

Erik studied me for a long moment, jaw tight.

I held his stare, unflinching.

Finally, he sighed, shaking his head. “Stubborn as hell.”

“I learned from the best.”

A motorcycle roared up, cutting me off before I could say anything. My heart skipped as Reese sped in on his Harley Davidson Fat Boy.

Erik’s expression darkened. “Speak of the devil.”

The bike grumbled, then growled to a halt. I felt annoyance, excitement, and longing all at once.

Control yourself, Laurene. Focus.

Shit, I might have to let Gigi hook me up with her friend who sold vibrators.

Reese swung off the bike smoothly. Sunlight glinted on the chrome; his jacket clung to his shoulders. He removed his helmet, his tousled hair tumbling free, and his piercing green eyes locked on to mine.

Memories slipped in, uninvited—the countless times I’d ridden with him late into the night. Lying to Mom and Dad about seeing Noelle or attending a charity meeting. The rush of breaking the rules. The wind was blowing through my hair, and his body felt warm against mine.

“You got some fucking nerve,” Erik snapped, blocking Reese from me. “You just gonna show up like nothin’ happened? That ain’t cool, man.”

I placed a hand on Erik’s shoulder. “It’s okay.”

“She knew her way home,” Reese said flatly.

I was proud he held Erik’s gaze. Erik had a scary side.

Erik chuckled, and wiped his nose. “You’re a cocky bastard.”

“Just realizing that?”

I sighed.

Erik slapped Reese’s shoulder lightly, the gesture friendly at first, but I saw the way his fingers dug into Reese’s shoulder blade.

“Got some nerve, I’ll give you that,” Erik said, his tone still playful, but then his expression hardened. “But if you do that again and leave my sister stranded”—he stepped in closer, his voice dropping an octave—“I’ll whoop yo’ ass like you stole something.”

For a brief second, I saw Reese go pale.

I had to hold back my laugh. A tiny part of me enjoyed seeing this. I doubted anybody had ever talked to Reese this way before.

“Even God wouldn’t get me up off you if you do some dumb shit like this again.” Erik’s threat was clear. “Remember, you’re about to be family. Act like it. I’m only sayin’ this once. I would hate for you to have a black eye at the wedding and mess the photos and shit up.”

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