Page 14 of The Master

“I’m glad,” he said, “but you need to be more careful with her. She’s special.”

“She is,” I agreed. “I’m damn lucky to have her.”

“You are.” A small smile played at the corners of his mouth. “And when you’re not being an ass, she’s lucky to have you too.”

A weight I hadn’t noticed I was carrying slid from my shoulders as I realized I hadn’t done any lasting damage to my friendship with Finley. I couldn’t be reckless like that anymore, just doing what I wanted, how I wanted, and expecting him to take my side. He’d always had my back, and I hadn’t let myself see how often I’d taken him for granted. He might still want to watch out for me, but he now had Ashlee, and I couldn’t blame him for wanting to look after his daughter.

“I want this to work with her,” I admitted. “I’ve never cared about that with anyone.”

“She’s good for you,” he said.

While he didn’t add it, I heard the opposite statement as well, a warning that I needed to heed.

I wasn’t necessarily good for her.

But I planned on doing my best to, at the very least, not drag her down. First on that list was making up to her for my asinine behavior last week. After lunch, I’d reach out to her with an idea I already had forming in my mind.

* * *

I senther a text a few minutes before she usually went to lunch, asking her to meet me in the lobby. If she was surprised by the invitation, I couldn’t see it in her reply. Granted, she’d simply saidokay,but one word could say a lot. I just hoped my plan would go over well, and she wouldn’t think I was trying to push her.

I wasn’t used to being this nervous when I wanted to take a woman somewhere, but I supposed that was a good thing. It meant I was looking at her and our relationship as different than anything else I’d been a part of.

The moment I stepped off the elevator and our eyes met, her face lit up, and I decided that I wanted to see that expression on her face more often. All the time, if possible.

One step at a time, no matter how much I wanted to rush things.

“Did you sleep well last night?” I asked Ashlee as I leaned down to kiss her cheek.

Her eyes widened a bit, but she didn’t pull away. I was a little surprised at the public affection myself, but I was glad I’d done it. I didn’t want her to ever feel like I was hiding her or what we were.

“I did,” she said. “Did you?”

“Not really.” I said it with a smile. “You were doing…thingsin my dreams.”

“Things,” she repeated as her cheeks turned pink. “Are you going to tell me whatthingsthose were?”

“Not yet, but I promise I will.” I was already thinking of a plan for that. “I’d like you to have lunch with me today. I have reservations for us.” I held out my hand.

“I’d enjoy that,” she said, linking our fingers together.

As we walked out to the car, I went over what I’d say once we got to the restaurant. This week ended with a three-day weekend from Friday after work until Monday evening, and I wanted her to spend it at my house in the Hamptons with me.

We needed some time away from all the chaos, time to spend just with the two of us, no worries about work or family, or any of the other distractions we had around here. I’d promise her that if she didn’t want us having sex this weekend, we wouldn’t. I’d sleep in one of my many guest rooms. Not ideal, but if it allowed us to move forward, I’d be happy to do it.

I wanted this more than I’d wanted anything in a long time, and I hoped that she would want it too.

Ten

Ashlee

Lunch with Nateon Monday had been great, and his surprise trip sounded divine, especially after a crazy week where we’d barely had time to do more than talk for a few minutes on the phone. Then a few minutes before I was ready to leave for work, someone knocked on my door.

The young man who handed me the box politely declined when I offered him a tip, saying that the person who sent the gift had already tipped generously. That alone was enough to confirm who’d sent them, even without a note. But there’d been a note. More than a note, actually, but I opened the box first.

A beautiful bouquet of red and white roses and baby’s breath lay nestled in tissue paper, filling my entire apartment with a rich scent almost immediately. I took a minute to admire them before turning to look for a vase. Only after I had them in water did I pick up the note.

Le soleil, I hope you enjoy the flowers. Ask your friends across the hall to water them while we’re gone.

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