“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You haven’t touched your food. Ashton swore this was your favorite.”

“He’s right, it is my favorite. I’m just having a hard time pushing something else out of my mind and it’s stealing my appetite.” I wasn’t sure sitting there having a conversation about his brother was a great idea. How much would he tell Ashton?

“Come on, you can tell me. You won’t be able to stop thinking about it until you do.”

For a few minutes I sat there in silence, battling with my conscience while Miller looked on. What would be the harm in talking to him? On the one hand, he might tell Ashton everything I said. On the other, he’d known Ashton since the day he was born.

Deciding I needed to get it off my chest, I put it out there.

“Today at lunch, Ashton asked me to wait up for him because there was something he wanted to talk to me about and I’m afraid he wants to make sure I’ll be out of his life in two weeks, when the three months is up. I’m just not sure if I’m ready for that.”

Miller’s glass was halfway to his lips but he quickly set it down as he burst into laughter, the sound making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

I knew talking to him was a mistake.

Gathering up my plate and glass, I pushed away from the table to move to the dining room where I could sit and eat in peace, when Miller reached out a hand to stop me.

“Please don’t leave. I’m sorry for laughing.” He wiped at his eyes. “It’s just the idea of Ashton wanting you to leave is absolutely ridiculous.”

I placed my stuff back down on the table, but stayed on my feet. “Why would you say that?”

He shrugged. “I’ve never seen Ashton react to a woman the way he does to you. Take the night we all had dinner at my parents’ house. He threatened me more than once for looking at you the wrong way. He even punched me.”

“He punched you?” I asked, my eyes wide. “Why would he do that?”

“He thought I was going to make a play for you after you talked to Aunt Veronica. Which was just stupid. He was already falling for you then.”

My mouth dropped open. “What are you talking about? I’ve only known Ashton for a little over two months. And only because my husband can’t stop gambling.”

Miller smirked. “A husband who I hear will be out of the picture very soon.”

“How do you know that? I only told Ashton the other day. I haven’t even met with the lawyer yet.”

“Ashton told me the morning after you told him. He’s normally so calm and collected. He doesn’t let his emotions rule him . . . except with you.”

“But . . . but he . . . he doesn’t—”

His hand came up to cover mine. “Don’t stress. My brother cares more about you than he’s admitted so far. I’m sure he won’t be able to keep it in much longer.”

Miller’s words had me breathing a little easier. Could Ashton really care as much about me as I did about him? Only time would tell.

Lost in my thoughts I began to eat my dinner. Miller did the same.

“How’s the show coming along?” he asked between bites.

“Good. I really like working with Alan.”

He rolled his eyes. “The two of them have been friends for forever. Dumbasses got themselves into a lot of trouble growing up.”

I couldn’t help my curiosity. “Oh really?”

“Mmm hmm. The stories I could tell you.”

“Please do.”

Miller and I finished dinner. It took longer than normal since I had to stop multiple times to laugh at Miller’s stories of Ashton as a child. It was easy, yet hard to hear about him being so carefree. I’d seen glimpses of both parts of his personality, but I was starting to think I was one of only a few who did.

“Since you’re stuck here until Ashton gets home, should we watch a movie?” I asked, loading the remaining dishes into the dishwasher. Yes, Ashton had a housekeeper, but some habits just wouldn’t die.

“Sounds good to me.” Miller winked.

I followed him down the hall and watched as he selected a movie, moving around the room with an ease that suggested he had been here many a time and was more than comfortable in his surroundings. I tried to focus on the screen, but my eyes strayed to the doorway every so often.

By the time the movie finished, Ashton still wasn’t home. Miller put another one on and I curled up under a blanket on the couch, all the anxiety of the last few hours catching up with me. My lids got heavy but I fought to keep them open. I had to know what Ashton wanted.

At the moment, nothing seemed more important.

Not even sleep.

CHAPTER 24

Ashton

Frustrated.

No other word could accurately describe how I felt on the drive home. There were so many things I had to tell Elena. The three months were almost up and I’d yet to ask her to stay. My plan had been to beat her home, make dinner, then tell her how I felt.

Then shit went downhill.

It started when the alcohol order for The Bluewater Grill didn’t come in and I spent the whole damn night trying to balance two bars of liquor between three restaurants. Then it only got worse when Pierre called me away. I had no idea that it was to deal with a debtor.

* * *

“Mr. Hawes, there is a gentleman asking for you? Says he owes you money.”

“What the fuck?” slipped from my lips before I had a chance to rein it in.

Pierre raised his hands, helpless. “I don’t know, sir. I’m sorry, I tried to dissuade him from staying. He wasn’t listening. Refused to stop making a scene at his table until I got you.”

“Thank you, Pierre,” I said, my hands shoved in my pockets to hide that they were balled into fists. “Point me to him and I’ll take care of it.”

Take care of it was right. I could pretty much guarantee that he would be leaving in worse shape than he arrived.

Pierre pointed to the table in the corner, where the man sat, arms crossed over his chest, a smirk playing about his lips.

Fuck.

I was going to kill someone. Using all my self-control, I walked over to him. Bastard was sitting alone. When I was sure I was close enough to be out of earshot. I bent down and said softly, “You will follow me to my office right now.” His eyes widened at my tone. “And if you even attempt to do anything but that, I will find you later and I guarantee I will be even less pleasant than I am right now.

He swallowed hard and nodded.

Spinning on my heel, I walked toward the kitchen door and down the back hallway to my office.

Stepping through the door, I turned and waited for him to follow me. The minute he was over the threshold, I shut the door and turned on him.

Grabbing his wrist, I wrenched it behind his back and stepped up into his body. If he moved, he would shatter his own wrist. A cry of pain slipped past his lips.

“You motherfucker. You crossed a line coming here today. I’m not sure what makes you think it’s okay for you to come here to handle our business, but I can guarantee you were fucking wrong.” I kept my voice low and controlled so as not to alert my staff.

“But, I—”

“I don’t want to hear another goddamn word from your mouth. You went too fucking far.” With an extra push down, I heard the bones of his wrist crack at the same time his knees buckled.

Blood seeped from between his lips, from biting either the inside of his cheek or his tongue. Either way, at that moment, I didn’t give a shit.

“I see you’re wise enough not to call any more attention to yourself. Let’s see if you can continue to use your brain.”

He nodded once, sharply.

“You’re going to walk out of here like nothing is wrong. Later you’re going to get your wrist checked out, and tell them you caught yourself with it when you tripped. Finally you’re going to meet me at the designated meeting place the next home game. That’s where we’ll discuss your loan and the increased interest rate. Do I make myself clear?