By the time she’d recovered from her coughing fit, she realized Rory’s eyes were narrowed again. Probably because Nash’s hand was still on her back.
Again, the devil leaped onto her shoulder, urging her to shock her brother by kissing Nash, just as she’d shocked Josh.
But she couldn’t give in to the devil this time, not with Kevin watching—and after she’d insisted to Nash that they couldn’t do that anymore.
“On that extremely embarrassing note,” she said in a self-deprecating tone, “I’d better get to the café and store now.” She shot serious looks at both Nash and her brother. “Keep Kevin away from anything dangerous, or it’s both your heads on a platter.”
They both nodded, understanding that if anything bad happened to her son, she would tear them to pieces with her bare hands.
She gave Kevin a hug before she left, one that he seemed a little embarrassed to receive in front of the guys.
“See you later, Mom,” he said in a slightly gruff voice, obviously ready for her to stop hovering.
Ashley wasn’t surprised when Zara walked with her to her car. “I’m thinking you’re going to have some serious stories to tell at our next girls’ cocktail night, aren’t you?”
Though she supposed she could have tried to act cool, Ashley couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “Being with Nash was amazing,” she confirmed. “But it’s over now.”
“Why on earth is it over?” Zara sounded flabbergasted that anybody would willingly choose to stop rolling around in bed with Nash Hardwin.
“It’s complicated.”
“Because of Kevin?”
Ashley nodded. “One kiss yesterday at the café, and the whole town is already gossiping about us. If it was just about me and Nash, I could deal with gossip. After all, I’ve had lots of practice with that after getting pregnant in high school. But it’s not just about me. It’s about Kevin too. And his welfare is a line in the sand I refuse to cross.”
“I’m assuming people are talking about Nash’s arrest record from years ago? I know I’ve only just met him, but I have a hard time putting the person he seems to be now in the shoes of the much younger man who committed those crimes.”
“I know, that’s exactly how I felt when I first met him in Vienna.” Ashley sighed as she realized she wasn’t going to get away with giving Zara less than the whole truth. “I also can’t let myself get too attached to him.” She instinctively put her hand over her heart. “I really like Nash, and not just because of how incredibly sexy and unexpectedly sweet he is. But since we all know it will never work long-term, it’s best to put a stop to things before they go any deeper. Otherwise, it’s going to hurt too much after he’s gone.”
“Trust me,” Zara said in a gentle voice, “I get it. Love is really hard sometimes.”
Ashley was shocked by what Zara had just said. “I’m not in love with Nash.”
Zara looked doubtful. But rather than debating Ashley’s feelings for Nash, she simply said, “Well, he is definitely in love with you.”
“He couldn’t possibly be in love with me! Especially since we’ve agreed to keep things squarely in the friend zone from here on out.” Ashley couldn’t keep the panicked tone from her voice. “The time we’ve spent together has been amazing, but we haven’t known each other long enough to fall in love.”
“I used to think that way too. But when I fell for Rory, I swear it happened in an instant. He says it was the same for him. And take Cassie and Flynn—love hit them like a lightning bolt. Lola and Duncan too.” Zara smiled. “If there’s one thing I can say for the Sullivan family, it’s that love at first sight seems to run in your genes.”
Ashley laughed despite herself. She couldn’t deny it, not given the way so many of the Sullivans’ relationships has played out over the years. When they knew, they knew. When it was right, it was right. And it was forever.
“Nash can have literally anyone he wants,” she protested.
“I get that he has fame and fortune, but you have so much more than that. You’re one of the best moms I’ve ever known, you’re brilliant at running the family business, and you’re an amazing sister.”
Ashley gave Zara a hug. “Thank you for giving me so many props this morning. I appreciate it. Keep an eye on the boys for me, will you?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let them get up to any trouble. And I promise that none of us will let any harm come to Kevin.”
As Ashley drove out of the parking lot, she stole a look in her rearview mirror at Nash and Kevin standing outside the van discussing their plans.
Ashley had always wanted a male role model for Kevin, to work with him and teach him valuable life skills. Her brothers and her father had done so much to pick up the slack from Kevin’s useless father over the years, but she could see her son blossoming already under Nash’s attention.