Page 36 of Indecent Ventures

Ashleigh smiles. “Thanks, but I’ve got it. You can go with them.”

“I’m not totally useless. I’ll at least help you clear the table.” I whisper, “I’d rather hang with you.”

“Thanks, Collin. I appreciate it.”

Everyone leaves except Ashleigh and me as we begin clearing the table. At some point, she looks up at me, “Why do you let them talk to you like that? They’re wrong about you. I tell Mac to lay off, but then he gets all jealous and crazy wondering why I’m protective of you. He can be a nut at times.”

“Well, Iammuch better looking than him.”

She rolls her eyes. Everyone rolls their eyes at me.

“He’s so much like my father. It’s amazing,” I say.

She sighs. “I know.”

“Everything is good between you two, right?”

She nods. “Of course. I just…”

“What?”

“We’re in a bit of a disagreement right now and you know how Mac is about getting his way. I want to go back to work, and he doesn’t want me to go.”

“He’s such a caveman like my father. Do you want me to talk to him? You were a teacher, right?”

Her face lights up. “I was and I miss it. If you don’t mind, I would love for you to talk to him. Lucy starts full-day Kindergarten next year. I need something to do.”

“Consider it done.”

“Thank you.” She grabs my arm. “You’re a good man, Collin. And I personally think you’re right about the business.”

“Thanks, Ash. It means a lot that you believe in me.”

“I do.” She’s quiet for a moment. “I know my friends are a little vanilla for you. I get it. If you change your mind, know that they ask about you all the time.”

I give her a small smile. “Thanks. They’re just not my type. I’m sorry.”

“I understand. I can’t help that I want you to meet someone who makes you happy. You have so much to offer. I just know that one day you’ll meet someone who checks all the boxes, whatever they may be.”

I’m quiet. Too quiet.

Her eyes widen in shock. “Collin, did you meet someone?”

I let out a long breath. “There’s someone I’m interested in, but she’s off limits to me.”

“Why?”

“I don’t really want to say.”

She looks at me with so much compassion. “You know I’m always here if you need to talk. I won’t judge you.”

I nod.

“For what it’s worth, I think you’re an amazing man. Anyone, regardless of the circumstances, would be lucky to have you. Why do you think all my single friends want you?”

“Because I’m hot and ridiculously good in bed?”

She laughs. “Well, maybe the hot part. I couldn’t say much about the rest of it. But you’re an awesome guy. Don’t let your father or your brothers convince you otherwise. And if there’s a woman you want, and she wants you, I say go for it. Fuck everyone else. Since when do you care what other people think? It’s one of the things I love most about you. It makes you special. You swim against the current. You don’t always go with the flow. You’re uniquely you and I adore you.”

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