Page 23 of The Seductress

“Buy you your first car. I need to do some more research on what’s the safest thing on the road now.”

“I was just teasing.”

“I’m not. Give me a kiss baby I gotta go.”

“But you haven’t had breakfast.”

“I’ll grab a cup of coffee but there’s no time for anything else.” I kissed the pout from her lips and headed out the door.

I had no thoughts in my head, no worries. What could possibly go wrong after a night like the one we shared? I was more convinced now, not that I needed it, that I’d made the right choice. Giving her the card was a big step for me, and only a few weeks after finding out someone else had had me on the line. But it was proof positive that I did not see my girl in the same light at all.

I threw myself into workstraight off and for the first time in weeks didn’t give any thought to Jen and her bullshit. I wanted to keep the glow from last night going I guess and didn’t need anything marring it.

I got lost in paperwork as usual, confident that all was right in my world and things were as they should be. Ashley should be rolling out of bed any minute now from the quick look I’d taken at my watch, and hopefully she was planning another welcome home surprise for yours truly. My dick was all for it and I had to change my thoughts before I embarrassed myself as he jumped behind my zipper.

Damn, I think I was having more sex now than I did as a teen. Back then, I was too focused on school and getting the fuck out of thehell that was my life. Now things had come full circle. I had the wealth, the multiple homes no fear of ever going hungry again and more of everything than one man could ever need, and now the icing on top, the perfect girl at my side.

I still hadn’t heard from my future in laws so I guess Jen’s threats were nothing but hot air. Still, I was keeping an eye on her all the same because I knew it wasn’t over. I was hoping her sister knew better than to share too much about Ash and I, but since I didn’t have anything to hide, I wasn’t going to bring it up. I just didn’t want anything negative touching my girl.

My girl! Sometimes the fact that she was just that gave me a jolt. She was almost half my age, which maynot seem as much of anything to worry about at eighteen and thirty. But what about when we get older? Oh well, I’m not going to worry too much about it now. This town was full of May- December relationships, most of which had stood the test of time. I’m more than sure that I could keep my girl happy in the years to come.

Chapter 14

Ashley

***

I laid on the bed turning the card over and over in my hand with a silly grin on my face. This meant so much to me. That he would trust me like this said a lot. As if the giddiness that still lingered from what we’d shared the night before wasn’t enough, this on top of that was enough to make my heart burst with emotion.

I rolled around on the bed feeling so loved, so cherished, and absolutely spoilt. I didn’t need this gesture to prove his love for me of course. Each time he touched me itwas hard to miss. But this, this was another step forward for us I think.

I suddenly realized that I’d never held this much money in my hands at once. Sure it wasn’t actual paper money, but it was as good as. I sat bolt upright in bed. What if it was a trap? After all hadn’t my own aunt just tried to swindle him? What if he’d given me this card to see my reaction?

I looked at the card like it was a snake about to strike. I didn’t come from wealth, not the kind of wealth Simon enjoyed. What if I did something wrong? What if I over spent? Would he see me as just another gold digger? Would everyone else? I’d never cared much about his wealth until now.

When I looked at him, I didn’t see dollar signs. There was so much more to love about him. Like the way he stood with his head cocked to the side when he was listening to me go on and on about something or another. Or the way he rolled the sleeves of his fitted sweaters to just below his elbows. And the way he shoved his hands into the front pockets of his slacks. Or how about the way his hair was wild and all over the place when he awoke in the morning? Would all of that now be overshadowed by doubt?

Panic set in as I tried to calm myself, to get back to that feeling of only a few short minutes ago. Could he be setting me up? I didn’t think so, but already I was buying things in my head. What did that say about me if anything? Did it mean that I wasusing him?

Inside, I knew that to be false, but what if that was the impression he got? I thought of the beautiful dress that I’d always wanted, the one I’d already priced over the years as trends changed. What if I decided to ditch that since I could now afford something more extravagant? Did that mean I was a user?

My stomach hurt with the implications and what had seemed like a good thing a little while ago now seemed like an albatross. Was it wrong to want nice things, to dream? I’d not given his money much thought until now. But what if he had?

I flung myself from the bed and got dressed in a hurry, calling down for the car. Tony didn’t ask too manyquestions once I told him I was going to my parents’ house, and I didn’t correct his assumption that Simon knew about my little trip.

Mom would know what to do. I threw the card in my bag and flung it over my shoulder as I ran down the stairs and out the house. Outside, the air was crisp and fall was in full bloom, but my usual joy in the season was tarnished by the thoughts in my head.

If Tony noticed my subdued manner, he didn’t mention it and I was glad for the silence as I tried to bring order to my thoughts. I rushed out of the car with a quick goodbye and I’ll call you when I’m ready and ran inside to my mom.

“Ashley. I wasn’t expectingyou.” She was in the kitchen having her morning coffee. The cup stopped halfway to her lips when she got a good look at my face. “What is it, what’s wrong?”

“Oh momma.” I threw myself at her the way I did when I was a child and was hurt by some slight or other that seemed like the end of the world.

“Oh sweetheart, did you two have a fight? It’s not the end of the world.” I shook my head wildly and tried to explain through sobs until I got it all out.

“Oh, don’t be silly. I’m sure he doesn’t think any such thing. Now dry your tears and tell me what’s going on.”

“Momma, I told you. What if he thinks that’s all I want from him?What if he thinks I’m like her?” She rolled her eyes at that and sat me down next to her after cleaning my face. “I’m sure that’s not true. Why all you have to do is look at him to see how he cares for you. I think it’s just all hitting you at once is all and that’s natural.”

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