Page 4 of Booked Solid

October 17th…

I was trained on how to withstand torture should I get taken while on a mission, given coping mechanisms on enduring numerous techniques that might, and would, be used. While I have no doubt they’d be effective in that situation, the experience, and survival, of others proving that, none of them hold up against Ashton.

I’d cave in a second, willing to agree to anything she asked of me. If I believed in witchcraft or magic, I’d say she’s an enchantress. A woman that will have you bound to her with just one look. Which, aptly enough, is basically what happened.

As suggested, we’d found a motel, neither of us noticing until we’d decided on that course of action how tired we were. In the form of a blessing and a curse, there was only one room available. Continuing that theme, it had two twin beds. I still haven’t figured out whether that was a relief or a disappointment to her or myself.

Seeing her exit the bathroom in her pajamas, a pink shirt and gray and pink plaid boxer shorts, had me thanking the Lord for her. Hearing her breathing, knowing she was right there, that I hadn’t imagined meeting her, allowed me to sleep peacefully for the first time in years. I may have survived my stint in the military, but there are moments I doubt my sanity did. Ironically, Ashton is driving me crazy with her mere existence and I welcome it.

“You’re awful quiet today,” the source of my thoughts points out.

“I’m thinking.”

“About?” I intentionally gave that response, knowing she’d want me to expound on it, so I give her the truth. I want her to know where my head is, and where my heart is going.

“You.”

“Is this because I swiped the last bite?” She wants to know, making me chuckle. We’d hit the restaurant across the street after checking out and she’d ordered apple cinnamon waffles. That had sounded good, so I’d requested them, too. They were, though Ashton had teased me, saying they had nothing on Ella’s, the owner of a diner where she lives.

“It was onmyplate,” I remind her.

Not in the least embarrassed, she defends herself. “You snooze, you lose.”

“I was chewing, woman.”

“I reject your reality and substitute my own. You held up a finger, and there was one bite left, so I assumed that meant go ahead.” I hide my smile, though she surely knows I’m honestly not upset. I love that she’s so comfortable with me, that she had no qualms in seeing what she wanted and taking it.See me, see me, I silently plead.

“It wasn’t that,” I reassure her.

“Then what was it?”

“Would it be wrong to admit I’m glad you couldn’t fly?”

“A little bit,” she responds. I’m on the verge of apologizing, truly sorry that her return home was interrupted, but her next sentence stops me. “Except that would mean I’m wrong for the same reason.”

“Two wrongs make a right,” I say straight-faced.

“And two Wrights made an airplane,” Ashton contributes, cracking us both up.

Seeing a sign ahead, I take a chance and ask, “How soon do you have to be back?”

I feel her staring at me, perhaps trying to discern where I’m going with this or trying to, as the case may be. Is there a purpose to my question other than curiosity? I nod, hoping she understands my response. It could be taken as encouragement or confirming that I have a legitimate basis. “I have some extra time.”

“How do you feel about sea lions?”

“I’m quite fond of them.” Flipping on the turn signal, I switch to the lane on my right and take the exit a half mile later. I wait for Ashton to notice where it’ll take us, grinning when she does. “La Jolla Cove?” She pauses, probably remembering when I’d looked it up earlier on my cell. “You planned this.”

“Sort of.” She raises a brow. “I’d hoped.” Ashton waits to see if I’ll continue, and since she seems to need to hear it, and I need to share it, I add more honesty, “I want to prolong the inevitable.”

“Which is?”

“Having to say good-bye.”

“Is it, though?”

“You have a life to get back to,” I mumble, serving as a reminder to both of us.

“You don’t.” Ashton slaps her hand over her mouth. “I did not mean it that way.” I assure her I didn’t take it as such. “Only that you’re trying to find where yours will be.”

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