Dirty Desires E-Book

Michelle Love

• Herausgeber: Michelle Love
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Lost love can be hard to overcome, but maybe she can help me find my way back again...

Her backside is what first caught my attention. Round, firm, plump, juicy.
Those are the words that ran through my mind when I first saw her bent over the table in front of me.
For a couple of years, she'd filled my fantasies, and now she was filling my dreams too.
But someone else had lived in my dreams for a long time.
I didn't want her knocking that person out of my life forever.
Pushing her away seemed impossible.
No matter how hard I tried, my arms kept pulling her back to me.
And just when I was able to let it all go, it all came crashing down on me again.
Had I been cursed? Doomed to live life without love?
Or could she break that spell?

Keywords: billionaire, bad boy, office romance, steamy romance, contemporary romance, love books, love stories, new adult, alpha male, romance, action, adventure, steamy romance, small-town secrets, hot, alpha hero. free book, free novels, romantic novels, sexually romantic books, guaranteed HEA, no cliffhangers, happily ever after.

Leseprobe

Dirty Desires

A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance

Dirty Network Book 3

––––––––

By Michelle Love

©Copyright 2024 by Michelle Love - All rights Reserved

In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights are reserved.

Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

Table of Contents

Dirty Desires

Blurb

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty–Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Dirty Desires Extended Epilogue

Ashton

Nina

Ashton

Nina

Brady’s Bad Girl

Brady

Veronica

Brady

Veronica

Brady

Sneak Peek - Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

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Blurb

Lost love can be hard to overcome, but maybe she can help me find my way back again...

Her backside is what first caught my attention.

Round, firm, plump, juicy. Those are the words that ran through my mind when I first saw her bent over the table in front of me.

For a couple of years, she’d filled my fantasies, and now she was filling my dreams, too.

But someone else had lived in my dreams for a long time. I didn’t want her knocking that person out of my life forever.

Pushing her away seemed impossible. No matter how hard I tried, my arms kept pulling her back to me.

And just when I was able to let it all go, it all came crashing down on me again.

Had I been cursed? Doomed to live life without love? Or could she break that spell?

Chapter One

Nina

I inhaled the exquisite scent of the espresso I brewed in the Hammacher Schlemmer Four Specific Brew Barista Machine my friend and coworker Lila Cofield had bought for me to create Liquid Heaven. That’s what she and my other coworker Julia Wolfe called anything I brewed up for our late morning pick-me-ups at WOLF, the news network we all worked for.

We would convene in Lila’s office around ten each and every weekday to chat about anything and everything as we sipped on some high-octane formula to keep going strong throughout the day. Well, until lunch anyway.

We had worked together for a little over two years and knew each other inside and out. Julia had married the owner of the network, Artimus Wolfe, not long after she went to work as his assistant. Lila was the co-anchor of the Morning News and she and her co-anchor, Duke Cofield, had begun seeing each other not long after they started working together. After a two-year relationship, they’d gotten married just a couple of months ago.

And then there was me. Nina Kramer, cue card girl, social media assistant to Lila, and single as could be.

I had my eye on a man who also worked at our network. But with over two years passing without us becoming anything more than just friends, I had nearly lost hope of anything progressing between us.

The office door opened, and Lila and Julia came in with upturned noses to take in the coffee’s aroma. “Is it almost ready, Nina?” Lila looked past me, checking out the machine.

“Almost.” I got the mugs ready, placing them on the table as the last bit of espresso came out. “Have a seat, and I’ll serve it up shortly.”

Julia and Lila took seats across from one another on the two sofas that faced each other. We had a little triangle laid out and I always sat in the chair at the pinnacle of the sofas. It made for easier group chatting that way.

The round coffee table in the middle served us all. Julia had brought blueberry scones and laid them out nicely on a paper lace doily. “I picked these up at the bakery two blocks over. I haven’t tried them yet. I hope they’re as yummy as they look.”

Running one hand through her blonde ponytail, Lila winked at Julia. “I’m sure they’re delicious, Julia. So, what’s this big news you were talking about as we walked to my office? I admit, you’ve got me very curious.”

I filled the cups with a mixture of coffee, espresso, and caramel cream and then placed them on the table in front of my friends. “Here you go, girls. And what’s this news, Julia? I’m curious, too.”

Julia picked up the mug, taking a long sniff of the coffee before she’d even say a word. Lila and I exchanged glances, her right eyebrow raised, her blue eyes sparkling the way they always did when she was set on getting some answers. Always, the journalist was our Lila.

We both turned our eyes on Julia. Her long dark hair had been pulled back; her big brown eyes seemed to laugh at us. “You two! It’s nothing, really.”

Lila was adamant. “You can’t say you’ve got big news, so just shut up, Julia. Come on. Spill it.”

“Yeah, Julia. Spill it.” I sipped my coffee as I continued to stare at her.

“Okay,” she finally gave in. “Artimus and I are going to start trying for a baby.”

I was stunned.

Lila was ecstatic as she jumped up and grabbed Julia in a hug. “I’m so happy for you two!”

It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy for her and Artimus, but I was feeling left out.

And just as I had nearly pulled myself together to stand up and join in the hug, Lila burst out, “Me and Duke are trying too!”

“Ah!” the two of them screamed as they jumped up and down.

Now, I really felt left out. I sat there in silence, trying to push the selfish thoughts out of my head, but they wouldn’t be pushed away.

Why have I waited so long for Ashton Lange to realize we’re meant to be together?

Now, here were my best friends having babies—or trying to, anyway

Both of them were married, and now they were both working on growing their families with the men they loved. And what was I doing?

Making coffee, writing on cue cards, and answering tweets for Lila. And nothing else!

My social calendar seemed be too full of time spent waiting on Ashton Lange to make a move. Now I was beginning to realize just how stupid that had been on my part.

The sudden silence made me look up at my friends, only to find them looking right back at me. Julia looked back to Lila. “Maybe this wasn’t the best time to say something,” she said, looking a little shamefaced.

Then, I was at the center of the hugs and attention. That only served to make me feel worse. “Quit it, you guys. I’m fine.”

They let me go and took their seats once more. Lila patted me on the leg. “No, you’re not fine. And this needs to be said, Nina. It’s time to shit or get off the pot.”

Julia nodded. “It is. It really is. You waiting around for Ashton doesn’t seem to be working, Nina. Look, I know he’s a great guy, but he’s got issues that run too deep.”

Taking a drink of my coffee, I knew she was right. “It does seem like he can’t get over losing his fiancée. I mean, it’s been years now. If his grieving or guilt or whatever is going on in his head hasn’t subsided by now, then I doubt it ever will.”

Ashton Lange, the station’s favorite producer, had been engaged once upon a time. It had been about four years since the accident that took the woman’s life. Ashton had been at the wheel of the car, from what I’d been told. Not that he’d ever told me a thing. Others had.

Ashton and I were pretty close. We were great friends. I had always thought that would lead to something further someday. Two years later, I wasn’t sure anymore.

Julia clucked her tongue, taking my attention away from staring into the creamy abyss inside my coffee mug. “Before you just go and decide Ashton isn’t worth your time, let me ask you. What is it that attracts you to him?”

That was easy. “His demeanor. He’s sweet, thoughtful, caring, perfect in every way.” I put my mug down, kicked off my heels, then pulled my feet underneath me. “And he’s so cute. Those blond wavy locks that fall to the tops of his shoulders—they’re hard to resist running my hands through. And when he wears it in a man bun at the base of his neck, my lips ache to kiss that exposed neck, to trail my lips up and down.”

Lila laughed. “Oh, honey, you’ve got it bad.”

“She does, doesn’t she?” Julia asked, then sipped her coffee. “What else attracts you to him, Nina?”

His eyes shone in my mind. “Those cerulean blue eyes dance when he’s being funny. And then there’s his body—tall, muscular—and his ability to be completely sexy on top of all the rest of his attributes. He’s the total package. To me, he is, anyway.”

Julia sat up, and I could tell she’d put on her thinking cap as her dark eyes were wide and her lips were pursed. “Okay, so let’s lay this all down so we can help you figure out where to start with this man who you are clearly so hopelessly in love with.”

“In love?” I shook my head. “Let’s not go that far. I can admit that I’m insanely attracted to Ashton, but I can’t say that I’m in love with him. Not when we haven’t even kissed. Or gone out on a date, I might add.”

Lila wagged her finger at me. “You two eat lunch together almost every day. And sometimes dinner too. Now, in my opinion, that’s a date.”

“Not mine.” I laid my head back on the chair as I imagined what the end of a date with Ashton would be like. “My idea of a date ends with a kiss. Not a ‘See ya later, Nina,’ the way our lunches and dinners always end.”

Julia agreed, “I can see where she’s coming from. Okay, so let me help you see things clearly here, Nina. You have wanted this man for two years now. Your only competition is the memory of his dead fiancée. He hasn’t dated at all since I’ve known him, which is as long as I’ve worked here at WOLF. I think that’s a good sign, don’t you?”

I had to admit that it didn’t hurt anything, “It’s an okay sign, I guess. But that sign has been lit up for a couple of years now, and so far, it hasn’t helped me a bit.”

Lila stood up and put her hands on her hips, looking as if she had a plan. “Okay, here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to put things into motion, Nina. No more waiting around. You’ve got to be proactive.”

Julia agreed, “Yeah, be proactive, Nina.” She stood up, too. “Now, what would a proactive woman do when she was out to prove to the man she wanted that she was worth moving on from the memory of a lost love?”

They looked at me as if I knew the answer to that. My eyes moved back and forth, looking at each of them. “Are you two being serious? Obviously, I don’t know the answer to that question, or I wouldn’t be here, getting stared at and lectured by two women who have everything else all figured out.”

Lila looked at Julia and asked, “Do you think you’ve got it all figured out, Julia?”

She shook her head. “I know I don’t. But what I did have going for me is that I knew what I wanted. I wanted Artimus. He wanted me. And we made it happen.”

“I don’t know if Ashton wants me.” I chewed on my fingernail as I thought about that. “What if he doesn’t?”

Lila scoffed at the idea. “Phooey! He wants you. We’ve all seen him look at you with pure lust, and sometimes he just smiles when you walk by. He’s into you, big time. I think he’s just afraid of losing a woman he loves again. You have to let him know that he doesn’t have to be afraid.”

“And how can I do that?” I had no idea how to help anyone stop being afraid of anything, never mind help someone stop being afraid of death or losing loved ones. When they both shrugged, I wanted to jump up and pull their hair. “Ugh! This is impossible.”

“It is not,” Julia said with a stern tone.

“She’s right,” Lila added. “Nothing is impossible unless you allow it to be. And you’re not going to allow that, Nina.”

“I’m not?” I was feeling skeptical and not a little self-pitying.

Julia stomped her foot. “Heck, no, you’re not going to allow that. Now, let’s brainstorm. What is it that wins a man over almost every time?”

Lila smiled. “Sex.”

I sighed and shook my head. “I’m not going to just go to his office and offer my body up to him, Lila. So, think of something else.”

Julia looked at Lila as if she were crazy. “Come on, Lila. Be for real here. We both know Nina isn’t that kind of girl. She’s not the type to seduce him by wearing nothing but an overcoat before dropping it and leaving her naked body on full display for the man. She’s just not the type, even if it would bring Ashton to his knees, begging to worship at her altar.”

I had to laugh because that was just ridiculous. “You guys don’t know the man at all, it seems.”

They both looked at me as Lila said, “But you do. Now let that sink in, and now come up with at least one thing you can do to put a chink in that armor he has around his heart.”

Standing up, I decided I was going to give this a real shot. And my nose led me right to one of my secret weapons, which everyone loved. “Some women say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

At least I had one idea to work with.

Chapter Two

Ashton

An enchanting scent wafted past my nose as I sat at my desk in my office at WOLF, reading about how lighting could be used in the studio to enhance the viewer’s watching experience. The smell had me looking up to find Nina Kramer coming in with a mug of steaming coffee in her hands. “Hi there.”

I pushed the papers away and leaned back in my chair, taking her all in. “Hey, Nina.”

Her ash blonde hair was pulled back into a hairclip, and her green eyes sparkled as she set the mug down in front of me. “I brought you something I’ve concocted.”

It was well known that Nina brewed a mean pot of coffee. She and her friends, Lila and Julia, had powwows around ten each morning, and everyone knew that coffee took center stage.

Our boss, Artimus Wolfe, seemed to be the only man who had ever been offered a cup of the magical liquid. Being Julia’s husband had its advantages, I supposed.

And here I was, the recipient of a cup of bliss, handed to me by the maker herself. “Thank you. And to what do I owe this honor?”

Nina took the seat in front of my desk, which wasn’t unusual. We were good friends, and we had been since the inception of WOLF. I was the one who’d hired her as the cue card girl in the very beginning. There’d been something about her that I’d just liked right off the bat.

First of all, she was easy on the eyes. To me, she was a petite little thing. Being six feet and two inches myself, a bit on the taller side, her five-foot-five height made her seem small to me. The smattering of freckles that dusted across her nose and the tops of her cheeks made her look adorable.

But Nina had a sexy quality to her, too. Round hips and a butt that wouldn’t quit were offset by a tiny waist. Her tits were world-class too. They were at least a size D. But those were all things I tried very hard not to notice on a day-to-day basis.

I loved the way she dressed, too. Always so professional. And it was no different as she sat in front of me, offering me coffee. Nude heels made her legs look long and lean. A form-fitting navy blue skirt hugged her curves well, and a tan lace blouse tucked into that skirt completed the outfit perfectly. My eyes were glued to the mounds of plump flesh just underneath that fabric. I pulled them away to look her in the eyes.

Really, I tried hard not to dwell on her many attributes.

Her smile was bright as she said, “I just thought you might like to try some of my coffee, that is all.”

Picking it up, I took a sip and found my taste buds dancing with delight. “This is great, Nina. I’d heard tell that you were once a barista—and one hell of a great one at that. But I was certain it had to be a myth. In two years of working together, I have never seen a cup of the mystical brew.”

She laughed and leaned back in the chair, making herself comfortable. “And now that you have, what do you think?”

“I think I’m already addicted.” I took another sip and knew I wasn’t lying about the addiction; the coffee was fabulous. “I hope this isn’t a tease, girl.”

“Nah, I think I can bring you a mug each day.” She leaned forward to whisper, “But you can’t tell a soul. I don’t want to end up making pot after pot each day for everyone else. This is a special thing, and I only do it for special people.”

I’m special to her?

I knew I was kind of special to her, but not coffee-special. “Lucky me.” I took another sip then sighed. “It really is wonderful. Thank you.”

“I was thinking a while ago that I don’t know that much about you.” She looked over her shoulder at the open door. “Mind if I close that, Ashton?”

I had no idea what she was on about, so I nodded. “You can close it.”

She got up, closed the door, then came back to sit down. “We’ve worked together for a pretty long time, and yet I hardly know one personal thing about you. Like your family. Where are they?”

“My parents moved from New Jersey, where my older sister and I grew up, to Georgia.” I leaned back, resting my head on my clasped hands. “Mom inherited her grandparent’s small farm there. My parents sold their home and moved a few years ago. My sister, Annabelle, is married and has two kids. They live in Hawaii. Her husband is the manager of a hotel there. We get together once a year at the farm on my parents’ wedding anniversary. Other than that, we only talk on the phone, as everyone has their lives to lead.”

“You live alone in your Manhattan apartment, don’t you?” she asked. Then her lips formed a straight line, and one small crease moved across her brow. It gave me the impression that she was concerned about my living arrangement for some reason.

“I do live alone. And if you know someone who is in need of a place to live, I’m not really interested. I like my life just the way it is, and I’m not into having a roommate. I like the solitude of living alone.” I leaned forward to rest my elbows on the desk as I looked at her.

She shook her head. “I don’t know anyone who needs a place to live. I was just asking. You see, I’m curious, Ashton. I know you were engaged once, and I know what happened. Did she live with you in that apartment, and you just don’t want anyone else to intrude on her memory?”

My heart stopped beating. I’d told only my closest friends, Artimus and Duke, about that. I should’ve expected that they would tell their wives about the accident and that the wives, being Nina’s best friends, would tell her. But why she was bringing it up now, I didn’t understand.

Shoving my hands through my hair, I pulled it back as I thought about what to say. Finally, something came to me, “No, she and I didn’t live in that apartment together. I had to move out of the place she and I shared. I couldn’t stand to be there without her.”

“Before her, did you have roommates? Or did you live at home with your parents?” She gave me a stoic stare as if she were analyzing me.

I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not, but my mouth kept talking anyway, “I lived in the dorm at Columbia before moving in with her.”

“So, you’d always lived with other people until she passed away, and since then, you’ve lived alone.” She shook her head. “How can you stand that? I mean, I’ve lived with other people my whole life. I can’t imagine living all alone.”

I wasn’t about to tell her that I would rather live alone than have anyone know that I still had nightmares about the accident that took my fiancée’s life. About once a week, I would wake up screaming. No one needed to hear that.

With a shrug, I said, “I like it that way, Nina.”

A smile curved her plump pink lips. “How’d you meet her, Ashton? How did you meet this woman that you asked to spend the rest of your life with?”

No one had asked me that since before she died. I gazed into Nina’s eyes as I told her about that time in my life. “A few friends of mine and I were on spring break in Florida. Her family owned the hotel we were staying at in Miami. Her parents had brought her from India only a few months earlier, and they all worked for her uncle there. She worked in housekeeping, and we ran out of towels. I was looking for more and was sent to the laundry room by the man at the front desk to get some there.”

“Was it love at first sight?” Nina asked with wide eyes.

I laughed. “Yeah, it was.” I could see her face in my mind. “She was sweaty and aggravated when I came into the laundry room and asked if I could have four towels. She didn’t even turn around. She shouted at me that I would have to wait, but they were still drying. Then she turned around and saw me. She and I just looked at each other for a long time in silence, and then she apologized.”

Nina sighed, then said, “So that’s what love at first sight is. Interesting. How long did it take before you two became a couple?”

“No time at all. I ended up hanging out with her all of spring break. She wanted to go to college, so when I got back to New York, I got a job and a small apartment, and then she came to live with me. We lived together for six months before I asked her to marry me. She wanted a big wedding. Her family was happy with that and was going to pay for all of it, as it was their tradition as Hindus. The date was set for a year from the day I proposed.”

Nina looked a little sad as she asked, “What was her name, Ashton?”

No one had asked me that since her death. I hesitated to even say it for fear I might break down, but then I let it slip from my tongue, “Natalia Reddy. She was beautiful and fun-loving. A real free spirit. I loved her more than I had ever loved anyone in my life.”

“And then you were hurt more than you’d ever been in your life too,” Nina said, her words hushed, as if she was thinking about that fact. “Do you have a picture of her?”

I pulled out my wallet and took out the only thing I had left to remember Natalia by. “This was taken only a few days before the wreck.” I pushed it to Nina.

She picked it up and looked at it. “She’s beautiful, Ashton. I’m so sorry that it all ended the way it did.”

“We were only a few weeks away from the wedding date when it happened.” My gut clenched as I recalled it. “It began to rain, and the day had been hot. The police said that the oil had pooled on the pavement and then mixed with the rain, and that’s what made me lose control of the car. Everyone said it wasn’t my fault, including her family. But I blamed myself. I still do.”

“But you shouldn’t.” She slid the picture back to me. “I’m sure Natalia would hate for you to blame yourself for an accident. She did love you, after all, Ashton.”

Looking at Nina, I saw her in a new light. There had always been an attraction between us, but I wasn’t ready to go down that road again. Somehow, though, the way she was talking to me made me feel closer to her than I had been to anyone since Natalia.

Tapping the top of my desk, Nina got up. “Well, we’ve got work to get to. Did you really enjoy the coffee?”

“I really did. And the conversation, Nina. I haven’t talked about her with anyone in such a long time,” I found myself admitting to her. “I feel a little freer, having spoken to you.”

“Good. Feel free to talk to me about her—or anything else—anytime you want to. I think I’ll be stopping by with some fresh coffee for you from now on.” She waved as she opened the door to leave. “Bye. Will I see you at lunch?”

“You will. I’m thinking cheesesteaks.” I put Natalia’s picture back in my wallet.

“Yum. Sounds good.” She left my office, and I was left staring after her.

What just happened here?

Chapter Three

Nina

After a week of stopping by Ashton’s office with a cup of my magical coffee, I thought things were going well. We didn’t have any more talks about the fiancée he’d lost, but we did have small little chats about subjects we’d never discussed before.

Things like which season of the year we each liked the best. It turned out that we were both lovers of the fall. I liked the cool weather, finding it a relief from the heat of summer. Ashton liked it better because of all of the colors of the leaves.

It was spring then, nowhere near the fall, but I found myself suggesting that he take a driving trip once the colors began to change. He only shook his head, then let me know that he didn’t like to take scenic drives anymore. I left it at that.

He had told me that the weather was hot the day of his accident. I knew it wasn’t in the fall, so that did give me hope that one day he and I might be able to take a drive some fall afternoon in the future. I could always be the driver if he wasn’t up to it.

Ashton needed to get back to living a full life. It was becoming more and more apparent that it only looked like he was living a normal life from the outside. He seemed fun and social at work, but having these more in-depth talks made me realize that wasn’t the full picture. It was when he wasn’t at work that worried me.

What does he do when he leaves the station?

That was on my mind a lot. I pictured him smiling as he did most nights as we all left to head home after a long day at work. We all went our separate ways, catching cabs, or walking to the subway station, or getting on buses. We all had places to go, and most of us had other people there when we got home. Ashton didn’t, and that made my heart hurt for the man.

I had talked to my roommate Kyle about why a man would want to live alone. Kyle was about Ashton’s age, around thirty. He’d been married and had a son that he got every other weekend, so I knew he would empathize with what Ashton was going through.

I was only 23 and had never lost anyone I had loved, not that I had ever really been in love. Tommy Smith in high school couldn’t be called real love. That was teenage lust, at best. And I’d never gone out with any guy in college more than a time or two. What Ashton was going through was completely foreign to me.

Kyle had told me that Ashton probably just didn’t like to be around people very much and that he liked the break from everyone when he went home. He said quite a few people who were outgoing, fun-loving, and really social could also be introverts, needing downtime to replenish themselves.

I didn’t think Ashton needed downtime, though. I thought there had to be something else. But I couldn’t put my finger on it; other than that, he really didn’t want to be hurt by losing another person he loved.

But I had hope that little by little, I was beginning to get under his skin, bringing me a little closer to his heart. That’s the place I wanted to get into. I wanted to set up camp and live there with the man who took up space in my thoughts more often than not.

As bad as I wanted things to progress between us, I played my hand nice and slow. Something told me that Ashton Lange could not be rushed into anything. He was very nice on the outside, but I had a feeling that if you tried to dig too deeply that he could turn into a fierce animal, protecting his vulnerable underbelly. The thought made me sad at times.

One would never suspect the strong, virile man of housing such sadness, guilt, and pain. Not that he ever really showed me that side of him, either. No matter how he tried to hide it, I could see it at times. Now that we were talking more about things that were more personal than what we wanted to eat or what was going on at work, I could see things in his eyes.

His gorgeous cerulean eyes could hold joy and laughter in them, and most would only see that. I was getting to where I could see behind that now. And what I saw frightened me. I saw sheer will and determination to keep everyone at arm’s length. As if he thought that if he trusted someone enough to get close, then something terrible might happen.

Again.

It would take a lot of time for me to get where I wanted to be with the man. But I was willing to put it in. There was so much about Ashton that was good and right that it would be well worth my time to get him to see that love wasn’t something to be afraid of.

I sat at my desk on a Friday afternoon, looking out the little window in my small office. I had a desk, a laptop computer, and a chair to sit in. No other furniture was necessary for me to do my job.

Not one to have too many things around to clutter up my space, I liked the clean look of my office. The cleaning staff would be in later to dust and vacuum, so I closed my computer and put it in the top drawer of my desk before locking it up. When I was done with the social media part of my job, I didn’t need the computer again until Monday morning.

I had no plans for the weekend—nothing unusual there. My other roommate, Sandy, was a party animal who was always inviting me out. I’d go with her every now and then but usually ended up regretting it. She called me a stick in the mud on all those occasions. Not that I cared.

Sandy didn’t believe in making commitments. That meant she had no problem seeing whomever she wanted, whenever she wanted. I didn’t judge her for her choices, but that life wasn’t for me.

Turning around in my chair, I found Julia leaning on my doorframe. “What’s up?”

She looked me up and down. “You look bored, Nina.”

“I’m fine.” I didn’t like anyone feeling sorry for me. If I told Julia that I was thinking about the lame weekend I had before me, then she would make it her mission to find something for me to do.

“Oh, really?” She rolled her eyes. “Well, I’ve got a question to ask you. Do you have time in your busy schedule to answer it for me?”

With a laugh, I answered, “Sure, I can make time for your question. Shoot.”

“What are your plans for this weekend?” She looked at her nails, then polished them on her shirt.

I thought that was an odd question coming from her. She and Artimus always made plans for their weekends. So why would she be asking me about mine? “Not much. Why?”

Her dark brown eyes lit up. “Good. So, you’re free?”

“Maybe.” I wasn’t about to let her think I would do anything she wanted, mostly because I had no idea if I would like it or not. “What do you have going on?”

“A little fun for my friends and me.” She winked at me. “How about you come out to our home in the Hamptons for the weekend? We can get the limo to drive us there, and it’ll be so much fun. Please say yes, Nina.”

I wasn’t about to commit just yet. “Who are we?” I arched one brow as I saw her smile get even bigger.

“We, us, the normal group we hang in. Artimus, of course. Duke and Lila, too. You know, our little pack.” She put her hand on her hip. “So, are you in? We’re leaving work early, and I’ve already got you covered.”

“You do?” I was astonished that she would do something like that without consulting me first. “While I’m glad to have the night off as well as the weekend, I’m going to have to say no. I don’t want to be the fifth wheel in your double date.”

Her dark eyebrows wiggled as she smiled at me with a grin I’d never seen on her before. “Oh, we’re not a foursome. You won’t be the fifth wheel.”

I looked at her with even more suspicion. “I don’t get it.”

“I can see that.” She giggled and clapped. “This is so much fun. I had no idea how fun it would be.”

“Julia!” I got out of my chair to walk over to her. “You’re not making any sense. Can you get to the point already?”

“Ashton is coming, too.” She threw her hands up in the air as if she’d done a magic trick. “There it is, Nina. Ashton is coming with us.”

“Why?” I asked her, and then added as a thought came to me, “Does he know you invited me too?”

She nodded. “Yes, he does. You see, Artimus invited him without telling me anything about it. I had no idea he even wanted to have people over this weekend. He sprang this on me just a little while ago.”

I had this terrible idea that she was trying to play matchmaker and that Ashton had no idea what she was up to. “No way, Julia. I will not put myself in that kind of position. How embarrassing would it be if Ashton didn’t know I was coming and didn’t even want me there?”

“Pretty damn embarrassing, I bet,” Julia nodded in agreement. “Thank goodness you don’t have to worry about that.”

“And why wouldn’t I need to worry about that?” I looked at her hand as she rested it on my shoulder. Then, I used her other hand to pull my face so that I could look her right in the eyes. “Ashton told Artimus that he would only go if I invited you too.”

It took a few seconds for that to register in my brain.

“Huh?” came my dumb reply.

“He wants you there, Nina.” Julia gave my shoulder a squeeze. “If you don’t go, he won’t go. Those were his exact words to my husband. So, are you in, or are you out? I need to let Artimus know what to tell his friend.”

Ashton wants me to spend the weekend with him.

“Why didn’t he ask me this himself?” I asked her.

She rolled her eyes. “Duh. Because he’s Ashton Lange. A man who doesn’t date. Or hasn’t dated for a long time, anyway. If he had platonic intentions, he probably would’ve talked to you himself, don’t you think?” She lifted her eyebrow at me as if in the challenge before continuing on in a rush, “Don’t answer that, though. Don’t overthink things—and don’t ask so many questions. Just give me the answer I know you want to give me. Say yes so we can get this party going.”

“So we’d all head out to your home in a limo together?” I asked.

She nodded. “And on Sunday evening, it will bring you guys back home. Friday and Saturday night you’ll stay with us, doing all kinds of fun things. It’ll be a blast.” She ran her arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “And you and Ashton will finally get a chance to see where things can go.”

“He really said he wouldn’t go unless I went?” I had to ask, just to be sure.

“He did.” She ran her finger over my shoulder as she pulled her hand away from me. “So, what do I tell Artimus, Nina?”

“Tell him that I would love to join you guys for the weekend, and I appreciate the invitation.”

She furrowed her brow. “Is there a ‘but’ coming?”

Shaking my head, I laughed. “No. There’s not a but coming. I would love to come and appreciate the invitation, silly. Now tell me what kind of clothes I should bring. I want to look my best all weekend long if Ashton is going to be there.”

My chance had come, and I wasn’t going to let it go to waste.

Chapter Four

Ashton

With my bags packed and ready to go, all I had to do was sit and wait for Artimus and the others to arrive in the limousine. I sipped on a rum and Coke to help dull the nervous edge I couldn’t shake.

I really had no idea where the words had come from when Artimus asked me if I wanted to spend the weekend with him and his wife, as well as Duke and Lila. I’d said I would, but only if Nina came along too.

He’d agreed immediately, a wide smile on his face as he’d punched me in the arm, calling me an old dog for some reason.

I believed the fact that Nina and I had been friends for so long was the reason I had so many reservations about what I’d gotten myself into. I didn’t want to lose her as a friend if I couldn’t have a romantic relationship with her. I didn’t think I could do it with anyone, and I didn’t want her to think it wasn’t anything against her.

If I could figure it out again, Nina would most definitely be the woman I’d choose to dive into those dark and treacherous waters with. Waters, I knew I wasn’t ready to jump into.

So that’s why I kept mulling over why I’d given Artimus that ultimatum in the first place. If I couldn’t get into anything romantic with Nina, then what the hell was I doing making sure she was going to be with me all weekend?

Nothing I did was making much sense to me. And it all started with Nina bringing me that first cup of coffee. Somehow, that first conversation opened a gate that had been closed for many years, locked up tight, and never to be re-opened. But she’d managed to open it without me even realizing what she was doing. I doubted she even realized the effect she’d had on me these last couple of weeks.

When my cell buzzed with a text from Artimus telling me they were pulling up to my building, I picked up my suitcase and headed out the door. My heart was racing because I knew I was about to embark on a journey I wasn’t ready for in the least.

When I got to the car, the driver opened the door, and I saw everyone inside except for Nina. “She changed her mind?”

Julia and Lila laughed while Duke and Artimus grinned at me. “We’re picking her up last, lover-boy. No need to worry,” Artimus teased.

The driver put my bag in the trunk as I slipped into the large car, scowling at my so-called friends. “I would rather you not call me that, Artimus.”

I felt like a kid in junior high whose friends were setting him up or something. Only I was the one who’d asked for Nina to be invited—they hadn’t had anything to do with it. My head was all over the place, and apparently, it showed.

Julia opened the minibar fridge and tossed me a cold beer. “Here, have one of these, Ashton. It’ll help calm those nerves.”

I opened the bottle and asked, “Does it really show that much?”

Lila nodded. “Yep. You shouldn’t be nervous. Nina really likes you.”

I knew she did. I wasn’t nervous about that. I was just nervous about everything else.

The beer helped a bit, and when we stopped at Nina’s apartment building, I was feeling a little more confident. Julia pulled out her phone. “I’ll just text her real quick.”

“No, let me go get her.” I pushed the door open. “Um, does anyone know what the apartment number is?”

“Six seventy-five,” Lila told me.

I headed out of the car and went up to the sixth floor. My palms were sweaty, my stomach tight, and my head felt like there was a balloon in there instead of a brain, but I was doing it.

I got to the door and rang the bell then wiped my hands on my jeans and shook my head to clear it. When a man about my age opened the door, I just about freaked out. “Hey!”

He stood tall, looking me up and down. “And you are?”

I stuck my hand out. “Ashton Lange. And you are?”

“Kyle.” He shook my hand. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m here for Nina.” I gulped as he let my hand go. His dark eyes pierced me as he eyed me. She had never said a word about any man who might be staying with her. “Do you live here?”

“Yep,” came his response.

“With Nina?” I asked.

“Yep.” He stepped back. “She’s in the bathroom. You can wait here if you want to.” He walked away, shouting, “Nina, someone’s here for you.”

The man was big and bulky. His dark hair was cut short. I didn’t really see him as Nina’s type. But I guessed he had to be if they were living together.

All of my newfound confidence and determination about trying to take things further with Nina crashed into the pit of my stomach. I’d thought we’d be on the same page about this little weekend getaway, but obviously, we weren’t if she was with someone else.

Maybe they had an open relationship. Or maybe she just wanted to stay friends. Whatever it was, I was feeling mighty jealous.

A door opened, and Nina came out of the bathroom, running her hands over her dress. Lilac lace covered a purple silk short sundress, and she had no shoes on. “Ashton, you didn’t have to come up to get me.”