Ash went right on ahead, ignoring him. “You might have had a lot of dates, Jay. Women might find you attractive, but when was the last time one of them came back for dinner? I bet you probably don’t even think to ask because that’s beyond you right now. That’s okay, for the time being, but one day, you’ll want something more and you’ll realize that being good looking or being uh- skilled in- well- you know- will only get you so far. An actual real woman wants a guy who will have her back no matter what. And even endure a family dinner with an obnoxious brother.”
Silence. Dead utter silence filled up the room.
Finally, Ash’s dad cleared his throat. “On that note, I think I’ll excuse myself. I have some reading to get back to.”
Jason shrugged, pushed his plate forward, and asked for a second helping of pie. Ash settled in beside him and gripped his hand like she wasn’t ever going to let go. And for some really crazy reason, that was just fine with him. Her mother gave Jason a second piece of pie then went into full on mother mode, offering him a container of frozen homemade chicken noodle soup or any one of the medicines in the kitchen cupboard. She buzzed around making him a care package to take with him.
Which was just about the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him.
He sat through it all, Ash beside him, her fingers entangled in his in silent support, wishing it was real.
Wishing that he was really her boyfriend. If he had a say in it- and he planned on it- he was going to convince her that they could do this. That they could be something real. He wasn’t going to let her get away.
When Ash’s mother presented him with a huge baggie of food, including that chicken soup after Ash started mumbling about having to get back home and get some sleep before the reunion, Trace accepted it gratefully.
He was glad that after a round of hugs, which included not just another handshake but a real bro hug from Jason, he was thankful she had her back to him as she walked to the car.
He may have had something in his eye that he needed to take care of. And no, it wasn’t dust.
It was official. He’d just handed in his man card.
And damn, it felt good.
CHAPTER 13
Ash
“Thank god, we got through it.” Ash allowed a small smile to play over her lips. She turned to Trace, who looked more than a little exhausted in the passenger seat beside her.
“It wasn’t that bad,” he protested, and she had the strange notion that he wasn’t just trying to be a good sport. That he really meant it.
“So…” she pulled up in front of her apartment. Trace’s sports car was parked on the street. She’d protested against taking it to her parent’s, because she didn’t want them to ask questions. She knew for a fact her dad and probably her mom would lecture her about getting into what they termed a death trap. It was just easier to take her old, ugly, family sedan. “Do you want to come in for a bit? I know that you’re not feeling well, so it’s alright if you don’t.” At Trace’s sidelong look, she quickly tacked on, “it’s not for sexual favors. I just wanted to talk a little about the reunion tomorrow.”
“Right. Of course.” Trace opened the door and unfurled himself out of the car. It was still easier to get out of than his low ass sports car. He waited until they were standing in front of her door to lean in. “Are you sure we can’t just skip the talk and go for the sexual favors after all?”
Ash’s body reacted like it always did to Trace. As her brother pointed out, asshole that he was, Trace was gorgeous. He was sexy in a way that she couldn’t even explain. On a whole different level than any man she’d met before. Probably because, like she’d also told her brother, he was sweet. He was genuinely a good person. He didn’t have to, but he made an effort for her. Like they were actually in a real relationship and he cared about her. Like he wasn’t just trying to give her a boost of confidence for the reunion by sleeping with her and awakening her inner goddess. Inner goddess- his words, not mine.
Ash fumbled with the key and eventually got the lock to turn. She thrust open the door, body tingling and on fire, panties long past being soaked, breathing sharp and fast, heart pummeling her ribs, and all that good stuff that she’d come to acquaint with Trace and his proximity and his dirty words and his mouth and his hands…