Page 78 of Captivated By You

He laughed. “That’s not a reason.”

I huffed. “Okay, how about this? Didn’t you think I deserved to know you were having him followed? And is that even legal?”

“It’s perfectly legal, and I get your point. From now on, I’ll forward on the reports I’m sent.”

“You get reports?”

“Yeah. The firm I’ve hired sends me a weekly update.”

“And what is he doing now? Forster, I mean.”

Ash’s smile spread fast. “He’s taking orders at a fast-food place over on Westlake Avenue.”

“Hmm. It’s an honorable profession for a dishonorable man. And remind me to avoid Westlake.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m not being snobbish about the job. But I do enjoy the fact that he had to give up his nice apartment and now lives in a one-room studio in a less-than-salubrious part of town.”

“Good.”

I ignored the pinch of remorse at Forster’s enormous fall from grace. The man was a misogynistic bastard who thought women were nothing more than sexual playthings. I hoped he lived out the rest of his days regretting his actions.

Ash traced his pinky along the side of my hand. “Now, can we forget about him and concentrate on us?”

I gave him an impish grin. “What did you have in mind?”

His eyes shifted to my cleavage. “You’re really asking me that?”

“You are such a man.”

“Guilty as charged.” He slipped a finger underneath my chin and leaned in for a kiss. “I love your family, by the way.”

I groaned. “I’m surprised you’re not running for the hills with their grilling and Mom’s inappropriate and, frankly, premature plans for the future. I shall be having words.”

“Don’t be so hard on her. She wants you settled and happy. That’s what every mother wants for her child.”

“If she had her way, I’d have a ring on my finger and a baby in my belly within the year.”

“Would that be so bad?”

My breath caught in my throat, my lips parting. I studied him for signs of teasing. There were none. Holy shit, the man was serious.

“Jeez, Ash, let’s enjoy each other before we start down that road.” I beamed at him in case my words hurt his feelings. “You have tits to fuck.”

* * *

Ash ushered me inside the car with a warm palm to my back that did nothing to settle the horrible swirling in my gut. I couldn’t quiet the voice inside my head that kept whispering the real reason for my presence here was down to our personal relationship. That, in coming here, Ash had seen an opportunity for us to spend time together but had hidden it inside the need for a business trip.

I wouldn’t have minded the former, if he’d just come out with his reasons and been honest with me. If he truly was looking for my professional opinion on a hotel whose performance wasn’t up to scratch, then he’d been far too sketchy on the details.

He sauntered around the back of the car and got in the other side. We fastened our seat belts, and the car pulled away.

“I’m nervous.”

Ash frowned. “Why?”

I nibbled my lip. “I’m still not sure what my role is. You said you wanted me to see if I could spot areas for improvement, but with what? The manager?” I didn’t feel the least bit qualified to do that. “The hotel itself? The staff?”

“All of the above.”

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