Page 11 of Hooking a Firefly
Chapter 5
Asharp sound echoed through the room and startled Ashlyn awake.She sat up quickly and pressed her hand to her chest.Her heart pounded and her breathing was ragged.What the hell… She scanned her bedroom, but there was nothing there that would indicate what had made the noise.The sun had not yet risen, so darkness permeated her room.Carefully, she slid her legs over the side of her bed and stood, then she walked silently through the room.Still nothing…
She didn’t know what had happened and there was nothing around to indicate if anything had.Ashlyn didn’t scare easily, but nothing would persuade her to go back to bed and try to sleep again.She was up, and she might as well get some work done.
Besides, if her sleep wouldn’t be haunted by nightmares, it surely would be by Harrison Thoreau.She should have found a way to extricate herself from that dance a couple nights ago.Now she had one more memory that would penetrate her will to steer clear of him.Not that the veil of strength she held in place was very solid to begin with.It wouldn’t take much to pierce it and make it fall forever.She didn’t really want to stay away from him.She wanted to wrap her arms around him and beg him to kiss her, love her, and never leave her.
That wouldn’t, shouldn’t, happen.
It was getting harder and harder to stay strong, though.That dance… She closed her eyes and allowed herself to relive it.Partly to settle her anxiety, and also because she wanted to play it again, over and over, until it was so embedded in her mind she could bring it back with little thought.
“This isn’t so bad, is it?”Harrison asked.He stared down at her and she imagined there was something there.The passion and love she craved, but it was probably all on her side.She had seen how he had acted with Jaylen Williams.They were clearly close, perhaps even in a romantic relationship.
“I never claimed it would be,” she retorted.There was a snippiness to her tone she couldn’t help.The thought of him with the sports news reporter irritated her.Even though she had encouraged him to find someone else.That didn’t mean she had to like it.He should find someone else to hold and to love.Because Ashlyn couldn’t be the woman he needed.She wouldn’t be there for him through the tough times or even the sweeter ones.Ashlyn wouldn’t have anyone.
He sighed.“Why do you always have to be so difficult?”
She shrugged.“I am who I am.I will not apologize for that.”
Harrison pulled her closer.She should object to that move, but she didn’t want to.Dancing with him was a pleasure she never thought she’d have or even thought to wish for.This moment should be savored, and she fully intended to do that.He leaned down until his mouth was next to her ear.“I would never change you.”He rubbed his hand over her lower back.“But if I were to be honest, there is one thing I wish we could have done differently.”
There were many things she would have done differently if there was a way to change them.Unfortunately, there was no going back.Their path was set, and they would have to accept that.So, she didn’t ask him what he wanted that they couldn’t have.She didn’t need to.Somehow, she knew they had the same wish.To go back and after that kiss, discover everything about each other, to restart their story, and accept the love they could have for each other.
“You don’t want to know?”His voice was hoarse, as if there was so much emotion bottled up inside of him he couldn’t contain it.
“I don’t need to hear it.”That was the truth, but he probably didn’t realize why she answered as she had.He would likely think she didn’t wish to know his innermost desires.Ashlyn wanted to know everything about him.She couldn’t voice that wish aloud, though.
He lifted his head and met her gaze.Heat filled his eyes as he stared down at her.She licked her lips because they were suddenly parched.Harrison’s gaze flickered down as her tongue slid across her lips.He sucked in a breath and she knew what he was thinking.It would be so easy to lean down and kiss her.Ashlyn almost leaned upward to meet him half way…wanting his mouth on hers as much as he seemed to desire it.
And she would have if the song hadn’t ended at that moment.They separated like two polar opposites repelled by each other.Ashlyn didn’t know what to do with her hands.If she had pockets, she would have slid them inside.“Um…” She glanced around the club.“Thanks.”Then she walked over to Faith and told her she had to leave.Staying with Harrison still there was out of the question.
Ashlyn rubbed her hands over her face and cleared the memory away.A kiss would have been a mistake, but oh, how she wished she had been brave enough to do it.It had been too long since Harrison’s lips had grazed hers.That long-ago kiss wasn’t easy to forget.The sensation… She shuddered at the memory.Ashlyn was so touch starved she didn’t know if she could handle any sort of passion.She was such a damn mess.
In another lifetime, she would have had all the time in the world to make him hers.To belong to him… There was nothing she wanted more than that.When she thought about a possibility of forever, Harrison was always there.She didn’t have a forever to offer him.If he was truly involved with Jaylen Williams, she had to keep her distance.He deserved to find love.Even if it wasn’t with her.
A coupleof hours later Ashlyn was making a cup of coffee when her doorbell chimed.She didn’t get visitors often and wasn’t expecting anyone.After putting some cream in her coffee, she wandered to the door.She opened the door and frowned.
“What are you doing here?”Faith hopped on her feet and grinned.She was a ball of energy or a spring about ready to shoot upward.Either way Ashlyn was already anxious at the sight of her.
“That is no way to greet your twin sister.”Faith brushed past her and then plopped down on her sofa.“Can’t I visit?”
“You rarely do,” Ashlyn retorted.She sat down in a chair and sipped her coffee.After her morning and lack of sleep, she needed the caffeine.“Is there a reason you are here?”
Faith sighed.“I was hoping I could talk you into spending the day with me.It’s a Saturday.You’re not working, right?”
Ashlyn frowned.Perhaps it was because Scarlett and JD had left for their honeymoon and Faith was feeling lonely.She never came to see if Ashlyn would spend a whole day with her.That was usually something she reserved for Scarlett.It was Ashlyn’s fault, of course.She kept everyone at a distance—even her twin.“I have some papers to grade.”She always had something to do.“But I suppose they can wait.What do you want to do.”
Faith nibbled on her bottom lip.“A lot of things.”
Her lips twitched.“Why are you avoiding the question?Spill it.”
She blew out a breath.“So, do you remember the hockey players last night?”
An image of Harrison flashed into her mind.He was the only hockey player she ever paid attention to.Somehow, she didn’t think Faith had Harrison in mind, though.Then she remembered the other two.One had asked her to dance.“Do you mean that behemoth that wanted me to dance with him?”
“Godzilla?”She laughed.“You’re lucky Harrison saved you.Ivan can be enthusiastic on the dance floor.He does everything in extremes.”Faith tilted her head to the side.“Actually, I didn’t realize you and Harrison were friends.”
“We’re not.”She didn’t need Faith asking too many questions.“He must have just decided to take pity on me.Now tell me what the problem is.”
