Page 20 of Worth the Scandal
Oh, sweet Jesus. Instant fire. Entire body aflame. I’m so turned on I think my brain just short-circuited. I feel it right through my core, a deep aching. Asher Kingston has awoken the beast, and my 2 years of fantasy comes crashing down around me.
“G-g-goodnight,” I manage weakly, my voice shaking.Seriously, Scarlett? That’s all you’ve got. Pathetic.
I walk to the door and unlock it, offering Asher a “I’m safe, get lost” wave. And that’s it. My one chance at redemption my one chance to be more than no names, no strings, no expectations.
I. Am. A. Total. Mess.
I somehow stumble into the house, eternally grateful that Ted is already asleep, because I cannot face my dad right now with any semblance of dignity. I linger at the back window looking out toward the granny flat before I stroll out to my little slice of paradise. Mum used to sit here every afternoon when thesun was going down. It would stream through these windows, and she would paint the most beautiful sunsets you’ve ever seen. I took those afternoons for granted sitting here chatting away with her. I’d give anything for just one more, especially right now. I open the back door and carry myself to the granny flat. Stripping quickly, I hop into the world’s fastest post-night-out shower before crawling under the covers and immediately texting Shell to check she’s alive. Then, of course, Jen gets the full scandalous play-by-play.
I finish my message dramatically to Jen with “One day in Dawson’s Ridge and I’m convinced I’m trapped in some hick-town reality dating show. Send immediate backup.”
Just as my eyes drift closed, my phone pings loudly, lighting up the dark room.
king.asher has followed you and requested to message.
Playing hard to get clearly isn’t in his playbook. Universe, seriously—my dream guy, and of course, he’s exactly the guy I’m not supposed to want.
Curious, I open his message.
Sweet dreams, darling. I know mine will be.
Oh my god. Underneath all that cocky swagger, he’s a total softy.
Who the hell are you really, Mr. Mysterious?
I don’t even manage to reply, sleep pulling me under with the message still glowing in my hand.
And my dreams, well they’re anything but sweet.
Chapter Seven - Asher
The Mustang’s engine hums beneath me, but it’s nothing compared to the roar inside my head. I’ve had Shazza (that’s her name, yes, I named my car) for 2 years, got her as a parting gift when I left Sydney from my pop—only one proud enough to acknowledge what I’m doing for myself here. Anyway, Shazza has been the only stable girl in my life for a while, I bet ya she’s jealous of the hot brunette sitting shot gun right now.
Scarlett’s in the passenger seat, legs crossed, heels kicked off, French martini still buzzing in her veins, and I’m gripping the wheel like it might save me from every damn bad decision I’ve already made tonight. If she was anyone else I’d probably be pissed that her feet are tucked against Shazza’s original leather interior—but she isn’t.
Man, she is something. Why the hell did I go?
I wasn’t supposed to. I knew Collins had texted, he over heard Shell relaying their plans to Ted this arvo. Knew Shell would be there. Knew Scarlett would be in that bar in something that would make me forget my name. And I still showed up. Glutton for punishment, it’s the only logical answer.
I try to focus on the road. On the double white lines up ahead between the lanes, and how the foggy air is hovering above the surface of the road. On the fact that Ted—her father, my coach—would have my head on a platter if he knew what I was thinkingright now. What I’ve been thinking since forever—since we met. The whole towns been talking about her return. Mrs Peach at the coffee shop hasn’t shut up about Ted’s hot shot daughter since word got around she was heading back here.
My jaw tightens and my body goes rigid as I flash back to the Golden Sparrow. That damned bar. That fucking dress. The one she’s sitting in right next to me, that’s way too short for her to be curled up like that.
Collins had barely had time to hit send on his text—“Scarlett’s here”—and I was already throwing on a shirt. I told myself I was just going to swing by. Say hey to the boys. Check in on Shell.Yeah right.
I didn’t expect him to be all over her. Brendan, what a shit name. That sleazy grub had no clue how close he came to losing teeth. When I saw his hand wrap around hers…Something snapped, I couldn’t hear my thoughts. Blood rushed, my pulse quickened and all I wanted to do was rip every single one of his fingers off. All the rules—Ted’s, the team’s, my own—ceased to exist. I wasn’t a Ridgeback. I wasn’t debuting. I was just a man watching some other asshole touch the girl I haven’t been able to forget for two fuckin’ years.
I can still feel the heat in my palms when I dropped those martinis on the table. I didn’t plan on stepping in, but I had to. Even if it meant dragging her back into VIP like some caveman. Even if it meant the guys on the team saw me completely, unapologetically unravel around her.
Hell, Jace made it worse. “So, it’s true!” he laughed, like my thing with Scarlett was some myth he was excited to see play out in real-time. I told those few lads because I trust them with my life and I nearly combusted at training when I saw who coaches daughter was, they thought I was having a stroke. Anyway, so I had to tell them. Boys had to pick their jaws up off the floor when I finally got it out.
I can’t even look at her without remembering. Her lips. Her voice. That night when she pressed me against the wall in her apartment building like I was the air she breathed. When we stripped away names, futures, logic.
Now we’re here, and I’m doing everything I can not to look at her thighs or her lips or the way her fingers keep tapping her knee like she’s thinking about kissing me too.
She finally breaks the silence. “You planning on acknowledging me at all, or is ignoring me a strategic choice here?”
God, her voice. Even annoyed, it makes me want to slam on the brakes and drag her onto my lap.
