Part 9 (2/2)

”Um, where would we go?”

”Buddy has a house in Malibu that he bought off one of his friends who was flirting with bankruptcy. No one's using it right now, so he said it's all mine for as long as I want it.”

Jill stared at him, trying not to be swayed by his stunningly gorgeous face. ”You want me to get in a plane and fly to Malibu with you? I thought we were having dinner!”

”We are.” He pointed to some bags in the backseat of the pickup. ”We'll take it with us.”

Jill shook her head. ”I can't go to Malibu. I have things...to do.”

He raised an eyebrow that was more teasing than mocking. ”I thought you were on vacation?”

”I am, but I have-”

”Things. Right, well here's a big idea. How about you do your 'things' when we get back?”

”And when will that be?”

He shrugged. ”Whenever we feel like it.”

”Don't you have to work?”

”I took some time off.”

”This is crazy! I can't just get on a plane with you and go to...to California because you... you...”

”Asked you to?”

”Yes! I don't have anything with me. You didn't say anything about going out of town!”

”If I had, would you be here?” Before Jill could form a response, he said, ”I didn't think so. Let me remind you we'd be going to a place that has stores where we can get anything you can't live without for a few days. So what do you say to some sand and sun? Doesn't that sound good?”

It did sound good. It sounded amazing, actually. But the practical lawyer in her had questions, and d.a.m.n it, she was going to ask them. ”Is getting me into bed the goal of this trip?”

”h.e.l.l, yeah,” he said in that s.e.xy drawl that made her blood boil. ”That's definitely one of several goals.”

Unaccustomed to such bold-faced honesty from a man, Jill licked lips that had suddenly gone dry.

Ashton's gaze zeroed in on her lips.

”What are the others?”

”Other what?” he asked, still fixated on her mouth.

”Goals.”

He tore his gaze off her lips and looked into her eyes. ”I want to see you relaxed, for one. I want to get to know you better, for another-and not just in bed.” Pus.h.i.+ng off the truck, he took a slow, lazy step toward her and reached out to release the second b.u.t.ton on her s.h.i.+rt. When she attempted to slap his hand away, he grasped her fingers and held on tight. ”I also want to see you let your hair down and have some fun.” As he said the words, he used his free hand to release the clip holding her hair.

Jill uttered a squeak of protest as her hair tumbled free.

”I knew it,” he said, running his fingers through the long strands. ”Thick and soft and very, very fragrant.”

”Ashton, I don't think-”

Jill hadn't even figured out how she planned to end that sentence when he was kissing her. His arms were around her, one of his hands was buried in her hair, and the hard wall of his body was pressed against hers. In her right mind, she would've pushed him away, but her right mind seemed to have deserted her. As their tongues mated and dueled, he tightened his grip on her hair.

After several long, desperate, pa.s.sionate minutes, he broke the kiss and pressed his lips to her cheek, jaw and ear. ”Come away with me,” he whispered, sending a tingling sensation rippling through her body. ”Take some time just for you. Let me take care of you for a few days.” His hands moved over her back, down to cup her bottom, bringing her in tight against the hard proof of his arousal.

With his muscles pressed against her softness, Jill couldn't seem to think of anything other than what it felt like to be in his arms, to be surrounded by his appealing scent, to know he wanted her, that he'd gone out of his way to arrange this getaway for her.

”Jill?”

She closed her eyes and counted to ten. ”Okay.”

His hands slid down her arms and curled around hers, gripping her tightly as he smiled at her. ”I promise you'll have fun.”

”I'm still not convinced this isn't a ma.s.sive conflict of interest.”

”You're not here because of Kate. I'm not here because of Buddy. It's not a conflict.” He released her hands. ”Stay here while I get the plane ready.”

As he walked away, Jill zeroed in on the way his faded jeans hugged his exceptional a.s.s. The thought that she might be able to touch him there or anywhere else she wanted-soon-made her feel a little lightheaded. Was that what she wanted? Did she want to touch him and kiss him and have s.e.x with him? Yes! G.o.d, yes, she wanted all of that. She wanted him. She'd wanted him for a long time, if she were being honest.

Her phone chirped with a text from Kate. Reid came over to where I'm staying and we talked and it looks like it might be back on... You won't believe what happened today. Call me when you can.

Jill's stomach fell as she watched Ashton roll out the plane. Would her sister's rekindled romance derail whatever was happening between her and Ashton? He surely wouldn't be happy to hear his dad was back with Kate. He'd probably be equally unhappy that Jill had known about it and hadn't mentioned it.

Was it selfish of her to want to find out what might be possible with Ashton before she told him his dad might be getting back together with her sister? Probably. Was it even her place to tell him? Before she could further contemplate the dilemma, he smiled and waved her over to the plane.

Jill decided that for once she was going to be selfish. The problems would still be here when they got back. She'd deal with them then.

Following a restless night, Kate was up long before the sun rose over the crystal blue water. She contemplated a shower but decided to wait to see what Reid had planned for the day. If they were going to the beach, there wasn't much point in showering.

In the tiny kitchen, she brewed a pot of coffee and was thrilled to find a container of half-and-half in the fridge. You had to hand it to the five-star resorts, she thought. They sure knew how to take good care of their guests.

Coffee in hand, she went out to the patio to watch the sun crest the horizon, wondering what this day would bring. She felt giddy and excited and...happy. For the first time in years, she was truly happy to know that today she'd see him, spend time with him, hold him, kiss him-and maybe more.

That he now knew how she'd felt all along was a huge relief and a load off her mind. She'd wanted him to know for such a long time that she'd hated the way things ended between them and had regretted it every day since. No matter what happened now, he knew the truth, and that had somehow freed her from the past.

She was beginning to wonder how long she had to wait to see him when a knock on the door had her scurrying inside. She tugged open the door and found him leaning against the doorframe looking relaxed and well rested and freshly shaven. He looked so good. So very good. After thinking about him for such a long time, to have him close enough to touch was seriously overwhelming.

They stared at each other for a moment charged with energy and desire.

”Come in,” she said, breaking the long silence.

”I'm glad you didn't change yet.”