Page 9 of The Seductress

“I’ll explain everything when you get here.”

I’d set up the meet here because I didn’t want anyone or anything breaching the sanctity of what was going to be our family home. Not until I know which way the wind blows anyway.

This was once my bachelor pad,which I wouldn’t be needing any longer. I’d never taken anyone to my other country estate where we were now hiding out, and since Ash had made her preference for the quiet of the country known it was decided that that’s where we’d set up house. I was going to surprise her with a team of decorators who would turn this place into more of a weekend getaway for the both of us, but that would come later.

“Sit down baby, it’s going to be fine. They’ll be here in a couple of hours.” I’d brushed off the office once again which was no big deal since I was just a phone call away. I’d not shirked my duties this much in my life but somehow it wasn’t the cluster fuck I’d always imagined it would be if I took time away from my empire; something else that had changed sinceshe came into my life.

She was a bundle of nerves, pacing the room as she bit into her lip. I was surprisingly more relaxed than I had been at the prospect of facing her parents. I had nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of. And once I explained the situation to them I was hoping they’d see things my way.

I pulled her down onto my lap the next time she got close enough. She was strung tighter than a bow. “What’s the worse that can happen?” I shook her gently when she failed to answer. “They can disapprove I guess.” She bit into that lip again and I reached up to ease it from between her teeth before she hurt herself.

“Okay, they can disapprove and then what? Would that stop you fromloving me?”

“Of course not, what a silly thing to say.” I preferred the feisty glare she turned on me to the whipped look she’d been wearing all morning.

“Would you still want to marry me even if your family says no?” I was asking but it was more of a rhetorical question than anything else. Even if I had to drag her to Vegas, which was a quick two-hour flight in my jet, that’s exactly what I’d do and everyone else be damned. I couldn’t fault them for having reservations if they did, the situation was fucked no doubt, but I wasn’t going to let that stand in the way of our happiness.

“I just want them to be happy for us. I don’t want them to say anything against our relationshipbecause that would taint it somehow.” I sometimes forget how young and inexperienced she is. Hugging her just a little bit closer, I set out to soothe her nerves.

“Babe, you have to give them room for doubt. You and I both know that this thing between us happened quicker than is the norm and just because you and I know how we feel about each other others may not see it right away. We’ll have to give them time to get used to the idea.”

“I guess. I just wish it was all over.”

“It will be soon. They’ll come, we’ll talk and then we’ll know where we stand. There’s no point in driving yourself crazy over it now is there?” She played with her ring and mused,but her body was no longer so tense.

I held her close for the next hour, talking about insignificant bullshit to take her mind off her worries. Had I not been so certain I probably would’ve been as nervous as she was, but I know me and I know I’m not one to give up something I want.

I tried to get her to eat something but she wasn’t having it so we watched something on TV until it was almost time for her family to arrive. When the buzzer rang almost two hours later she nearly jumped out of her skin. “Stop it, just let me handle it okay.” She nodded but went back to biting her lip as I moved to open the door.

“Hey come in.” I stepped backto allow her parents entry and of course she was the first thing they saw. “Ashley? What in the world are you doing here? I thought you were with Kendra? What’s this? Where’s your aunt?” Her mother Janet reeled those questions off in quick succession, while Paul the dad stood just inside the entrance with a bemused look on his face.

All eyes turned to me as my girl seemed to have lost the ability to speak. “Why don’t we go in and sit down?” I could see they wanted to question me farther but good manners had them both moving forward and into the sitting room.

“Can I get either of you anything?” I was pleased that Ash took a seat next to me even though I could see the fear in her eyes. Thisonly made her parents more confused as they refused my offer.

“No, just tell us what’s going on.” Paul finally found his voice as he looked from me to his daughter and back. “There’s no easy way to say this so I’ll just get right to it shall we?” I took her hand the one wearing my ring, into mine and from the sharp intake of breath across the room knew that half my work was already done.

“Ashley?” Her mother again addressed her. “I’ve asked your daughter to marry me.” The usual questions followed, all involving my involvement with her aunt. I did my best to answer all their questions without giving too much away. Ash remained silent throughout the inquisition only putting in her two cents when it seemed her dad wasn’tgoing to relent.

“Dad I love him. I’m sorry if that hurts you but…”

“But he was sleeping with your aunt only a week ago.”

“That’s not true, I’ve never taken Jen to my bed. Yes it’s true that I was moving in the direction of marriage, but only because I thought she was something she isn’t and because I’d convinced myself that it was time I settled down.”

I saw the look that passed between them then and knew that they knew what I was saying. I didn’t take them to task for not sharing with me, they were Jen’s family after all and owed me nothing. But I won’t let them hold it against me that I found out and was making changes.

“But Ashley you’re so young. What about school?”

“She’ll still go to school, nothing about that has to change. But she’ll be doing it as my wife. Do we have your blessing?” The room was dead silent for what felt like forever. Then Paul cleared his throat and took his wife’s hand in his.

“We need time to think about this. Our family might not have much, but we do have morals and this, this is going to stir up a hornet’s nest.”

“I appreciate that, but know that the only thing your blessing or lack thereof changes is whether your daughter has the wedding of her dreams with her family beside her, or me taking her away somewhere and getting the deed done. Either waywe’re getting married.”

I squeezed Ashley’s hand for support when it trembled in mine because I knew this was the part she feared most. Paul got to his feet ready to argue, but I sat back in my chair and relaxed. I’d said all I was going to. I would’ve asked them to keep our conversation from Jen but realized that would be highly unfair. However they chose to deal with her was on them, I couldn’t ask them to let this come between them and whatever relationship they had with her.

“Ashley let’s go.”

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