Bait: Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set (32 page)

“Wow. You are quite the consummate gentleman tonight. Kind of like a new and improved elder version of Quinn Andrews.”

“I want you to have the best night possible,” I said. “I mean it, Ashton.”

“Well you’re starting off strong, Quinn,” she replied. “I loved the drive over. So much better than my stinky rental.”

She took my arm and, with weak knees, I led her inside restaurant. This woman could floor me with a single touch and she didn’t even know it. But that might be the best part of all.

I gave my name to the hostess and she checked the computer. “Ah, here we are.” She pressed a few buttons and then studied the screen. “Let’s see…” she started, “Mr. Albertson asked that we inform you that he won’t be able to make it for dinner this evening, but he wishes for you two to have a nice time in his absence.”

Could the elder gentlemen be any more obvious? Good grief. I smiled. Somehow I guess I expected this, especially after my talk with Albertson earlier. Now, I just had to keep Ashton from getting pissed about being hoodwinked and leave me.

“Follow me,” the hostess requested. “We have the best table in the house for you and the bill will be taken care of by Mr. Albertson.”

“I wonder what happened to Mr. Albertson.” Ashton whispered as we walked to our table.

Mr. Albertson wants me to have a shot with this perfect girl.

I wasn’t going to tell
her
that, though. “I’m sure he’s okay. I’ll call and check on him after dinner. He’s getting up there and he still runs five miles a day. He’s been complaining about his knees lately.”

We were led to a table taking up prime real estate in a quiet corner that overlooked the Gulf of Mexico. Lazy waves lapped at the shore as the moon lit a sparkled pathway from the sugary sands to the water’s horizon. Breathtaking. The view never got old, no matter how long I’d lived here. I pulled out the chair with the best view and offered it to Ashton.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile. I wasn’t sure if she was thanking me for the chair or the view for its beauty. “This place is amazing.”

“How’s Griffin doing these days?” I asked. I already knew the answer, my mother kept my ear full of information about the goings-on back home. The small talk was just a selfish ruse used so I could hear her sing.

“He’s getting married in a couple weeks, but I’m sure you already know that.”

I nodded. “My mom’s mentioned it a few times. Do you like his fiancé?”

Before she could answer, the hostess returned with a basket of hot rolls, glasses of ice water, and a wine list. She went over the dinner specials and told us that our waiter would be with us shortly. I felt bad for being curt with her, but I could only focus my attention on Ashton. Everyone and everything else was an unwelcome interruption.

“He got engaged to a girl he met in college,” she explained, reading the wine list. “Her name is Sara. She’s sweet, I guess.”

“Do your parents like her as much as they did Caroline?” I asked.

Caroline and Griffin had been high school sweethearts. Everyone thought they would end up together, married with ten kids. However, the fateful night of the senior party, Caroline and Griffin broke up. I suspect I knew the reason why, but would never tell Ashton.

The waiter swung by and took our order. I requested a bottle of Spottswoode Cabernet for us to share, and Ashton ordered the scallop linguine. I got the dinner special of blackened grouper, but with how excited and nervous Ashton made me feel, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to enjoy it as much as usual. Being this close to the ocean afforded a spectacular selection of fresh fish.

“I guess they thought Griffin and Caroline would be together forever. But he seems happy with Sara.” She picked up a piece of roll and slathered it with butter. “She is a little more settled and family-minded than Griffin. I think she’ll be good for him though. In the long run.”

I let my eyes roam over her dress, appreciating the neckline and the way the lace skirted around her ample cleavage, lifting it as if it were on display for my hungry eyes. I imagined trailing a finger down the line of her collarbone, hooking it inside the fabric and pulling. Baring her perfect breasts for my eyes and tongue.

I found myself wishing we were having dinner at her hotel room instead of out in public. I wanted some real alone time with Ashton. Privacy, where we could talk candidly and tell each other what was really on our minds. Her words were like birdsong, and soon I wasn’t even making sense of them. I got so lost in the beat and rhythm of her sweet voice.

“…a bridesmaid at their wedding. It will be interesting to see if Caroline shows up. I know she’s invited.” Ashton took a sip of her wine. “You and your family are invited, you know?”

While I hadn’t received an official invitation to Griffin’s wedding, my mother had reminded me about it a million times. During our last conversation she told me that it was time for Griffin and I to mend fences and move forward with our lives. I wasn’t so sure I was ready to forgive Griffin for what he’d done to me. Not only had it sent my world into a tailspin, it had destroyed any chance I’d ever had of being in a real relationship with Ashton. One where I was allowed to cherish and adore her other than in my own private thoughts. However, if I wanted a relationship with her now, then I needed to make amends with her brother too. It was something that I would definitely consider.

“How are your parents?” I asked.

“Dad is retiring next year,” she said with a smile. Her parents were the best. So kind and loving. “They are still talking about the Keys.”

I laughed. “Your mother never liked the beach. If I remember correctly, she was more of mountain girl. How did he win that war?”

“Yeah, she’s not convinced yet.” Ashton shrugged. “So he hasn’t raised the victory flag yet. I think they’ll compromise and end up in Arizona or something.”

“My parents will probably stay in Georgia forever.” They liked their routine that was for sure.

“I love the beach. I wouldn’t mind waking up to sand and sun every morning.” Ashton winked at me.

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of Ashton moving to Destin. Thoughts of us cuddled together on the beach, basking in the warm spring sun, floated across my mind.

“The beach definitely has its perks,” I agreed. “Except when you get sand in your underwear.”

“I won’t ask you to elaborate on how that happened,” she said with a fake scowl. “What do you love most about living here?”

“Everyone is on island time, for one. No rush. Just laid back and casual.” I clicked off more reasons on my fingers. “Two, the weather is almost always sunny here. Three, you get this view every day,” I said pointing out the window and leaning back in my chair. “The defense rests. What more do you need? Heaven.”

“It is very nice here,” she said, taking as sip of her water. “I’ve always loved coming to the beach on vacation.”

I grabbed a piece of roll and took a small bite. To occupy my mouth before I shouted out how much I wanted her to stay. I needed to hear more reasons why Ashton loved it here. If she could see herself living here, then half of my battle was already won. She just needed to forgive me and learn to trust me again. No problem, right?

“How is your grandmother?” Ashton asked.

“Nanna is doing pretty good. You know that my grandfather passed away right before I graduated college?”

Ashton reached across the table and touched my hand. “I heard about that. I’m so sorry. I know you were close.”

I stared at the spot where our skin was intimately connected. The place electrically charged.

“Thanks,” I said. “It’s been hard on my grandmother. That’s why I moved back here permanently. Nanna was diagnosed with dementia shortly after Papa passed away. My mother wanted to put her into full time care, but I couldn’t do that to her. I convinced my parents to let me move in and take care of her.”

Ashton’s eyes started to well up with tears. She wiped the corner of her eyes with the cloth napkin.

“While I’m at work or out of town on business,” I continued, “I have a full-time nurse that takes care of her. It’s heart wrenching when I’m with her and she doesn’t remember who I am. She is always confusing me with my dad or Papa. I guess it’s good she doesn’t think I’m a stranger. She still knows I’m family, just not her favorite grandson.”

Ashton put her hand on top of mine again. “It’s so sweet to see how much you care for your Nanna. She’s lucky to have you.”

The waiter came back with our dinner orders and set them down in front of us. I was a bit disappointed the food had arrived to distract us from each other, but damn, did that food smell delicious. My stomach rumbled.

Ashton dug right into her scallops, swirling the pasta with her fork. “This is really good,” she said, stopping to savor each bite. “Too bad Mr. Albertson missed it.”

I had a feeling Mr. Albertson was just fine with the fact that I was alone here with Ashton, enjoying his restaurant of choice. Taking a bite of my own dinner, I agreed.               “They only serve the freshest seafood.” I held up a bite of grouper. “This big guy was swimming along earlier today, happy as can be, until a fisherman came by and hooked him.”

Ashton giggled, holding up another scallop on her fork. “Just like this little guy?”

“They were probably best buds,” I teased her.

I glanced up and caught her eyes with mine. It felt so right. So natural to be here like this enjoying a meal and conversation. Like we’d never been apart from each other. Ashton was nothing like the usual pretentious women I’d dated since living in Destin. Most of the women here were trust fund babies or divorced divas looking for another sugar daddy. All they wanted to do was sit on the beach and collect an allowance. No determination. No drive. Ashton was hard-working and fun-loving, used to having her own thing going on. And that was hotter than hell. I watched her lick her lips before taking another bite of the creamy pasta.

I wanted to kiss her so badly. Lean across the table and capture those luscious lips, brush them against mine.

“How’s work?” I asked, trying to snap out of my persistent daydream. It niggled at me constantly like a gnat swirling my head.

“Well, let’s see,” Ashton started, “I work way too many hours and spend more time on the road than in the office, but I’m sure you do the same. I’m up for a promotion, especially if this deal goes through. I never thought I would make this kind of money at my age. Most of our childhood friends are waiting tables or bartending,” she said, face glowing with pride.

“You deserve it all,” I said. “You’re fantastic at your job and I can tell you love what you do. It’s written all over your face.”

She blushed. “Thank you. That means a lot, Quinn.”

I poured the last bit of wine in her glass. “Should I order another bottle?” I wondered if Ashton was getting a little drunk. We’d each had three glasses of wine and she’d never been much of a drinker. At least then. He realized as much as he wanted to know everything about this new version of Ashton, it would take time. And I was at war with the clock.

“I think I should quit while I’m ahead,” Ashton answered. Her cheeks were flushed as she loosened up even further. But I didn’t want her getting too inebriated. I wanted her to remember tonight.

“Probably a good idea,” I said.

She pushed her plate away. “That was the best dinner I’ve had in a long time.”

“Same here,” I agreed.

The busboy came by to take our plates away. We declined dessert when the waiter offered. We finished off the wine and Ashton finally dropped the bomb. Even though I’d been expecting it, part of me had hoped she’d forgotten.

“I want to know why.” She met my gaze and held it until I answered.

“Why?” I stalled. I knew what she wanted to know. I just wasn’t ready to answer. It was the one thing standing between us, the night that had ruined everything. “You want to know what happened that night?”

“Yes.” Her eyes never left mine.

If I was going to earn her forgiveness I knew I needed to finally tell her what happened. Even at the cost of tearing her family apart.

“I will tell you everything,” I said and looked around. Couples were dining within a few feet of us and what I had to say was private. “But not here.”

She nodded. “Okay, where?”

“Let’s go back to my house. Nanna will be asleep and I need to relieve the day nurse. It’s a beautiful night to chill on the patio.”

She narrowed her eyes at me and fidgeted, but in the end she agreed. We rode back to my beach cottage in silence. I only lived a few blocks away, so at least the ride was short. After checking on my grandmother, I made a pot of fresh coffee for us.

“I love your place,” Ashton said.

An old Florida beach cottage that was built in the 1970’s had been home to my grandparents for years. My grandfather had it renovated a couple years before he died. My grandmother lived in the main cottage and I resided in the guest cottage, which sat at the rear of the property by the swimming pool.

It was nothing special, but it met my needs for the time being. The beach was a five-minute walk, but close enough for us to hear the waves collapse against the shore and feel the salty breeze. We sat on the edge of the pool, our feet hanging in the cool water. I handed Ashton a cup of coffee.