Page 71 of Phillip

“What do you mean?”

Phillip shrugged. “I still caused enough trouble for them to send me to wilderness camp.”

She knew the story from there. He hadn’t shared much about losing his parents, but Ashley had known about the crash on the way to pick him up. “You don’t have to auction it off.”

He brushed her off. “I do.”

“No, you don’t. You don’t have to do anything—”

“I appreciate that, but it’s listed in the program—”

“So what!” She stood. “Donations change all the time.”

He grinned softly. “I appreciate that, and as many memories as the Ferrari holds, I’d like to see it raise money for the camp.”

“Phillip…” She could raise money for the camp in another way. He could even buy it at his own auction! That was the bonus of being a billionaire.

He took her hand. “That wasn’t what was on my mind, but I’m glad I told you.” With a quick squeeze, he turned for the desk, flipping to another page of notes for the auctioneer.

Ashley stood behind him and rested her hands on his shoulders. He was a ball of stress, and sharing about his car hadn’t helped. She kneaded his tight muscles. “Do you want to tell me what else is wrong?”

“I think that’s all the hard-hitting confessions I can handle tonight.”

Her curiosity piqued at the prospect of something that emotionally charged. She wanted to press but held back. He asked for room, and she would give it. Ashley leaned down and rested her chin at the crook of his neck. “There’s nothing left to do. Let’s go home. We’ll meet again bright and early.”

“I wish you’d come home with me tonight.” His voice rumbled as though he needed more than her naked in his bed.

She wanted to whisper that everything would be fine and hold him until he knew that to be true. “I need to get ready at home.”

“I have a shower,” he offered.

“It’s late, and I haven’t picked out what I’m going to wear, much less which accessories.”

“You got me on accessories.” Phillip stretched back in the office chair. His tired eyes and drained expression had her curling into his lap.

She nuzzled against his chest. “We can cuddle here for a few minutes. Maybe you’ll feel better.”

He stroked the back of her hair then sighed. “Probably not until I get something off my chest.”

She glanced up, wondering what his hard-hitting revelation would be.

“It doesn’t do either of us any good, but I think you should know.”

She laid her cheek down again and let the steady rhythm of his heartbeat quiet her growing alarm. “If you want to share…”

“I had a conversation with your mother also,” he admitted quietly.

She tensed. “A conversation like Mother had with Sean?”

His hair-stroking stopped, and Phillip cupped the back of her neck as if she might pull away. “Do you remember the weekend your parents came to Cambridge, before your mother was the dean’s special guest?”

The weekend before she broke up with him. Her stomach lurched, and Ashley lifted her chin.

He pressed his forehead to hers. “I met your parents for breakfast.”

“No, we didn’t.”

“Imet your parents for breakfast.”

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