Sophie: I guess I will forgive you but you are on probation. Ashton is going to drive me home now. Hopefully he won’t drop me off in the middle of nowhere.

Jack: He would never do such a thing.

Sophie: Don’t be so sure. I practically threw myself at him a few moments ago. He is probably laughing his head off right now. What is wrong with me? I should hate him. Scratch that. I do hate him.

Jack: You’re right, you should hate him…but it sounds like you might not be so against my plan after all.

Sophie: Not going with your plan. Tonight was just a lapse in judgment. Talk to you soon. He is waiting.

Sophie opened the door and climbed stiffly into Ashton’s car. She knew the drive would be painfully awkward after she practically begged him to kiss her under his grandmother’s table. So embarrassing. The realization of her actions were settling heavily and she was dreading being alone with him.

“Just so you know, I only agreed to you driving me because of your grandmother’s insistence.”

“I know.”

The interior of the car smelled so intimately of Ashton, it was as if she were leaning in and smelling his alluring scent against his skin.

Sophie didn’t speak a word to Ashton, turning her gaze toward the night sky. Her stomach was twisted with uneasy emotions. Luckily he did not feel the need to make the unnecessary exchange of words either and she was grateful. When he pulled up in front of Sophie’s building, Sophie finally spoke.

“Thank you for the drive. Your grandmother is an amazing person and I’m looking forward to working for her. I’m sorry for my actions earlier, it won’t happen again. I promise to stay out of your way. In fact it’s probably best to ignore each other for the rest of eternity. Thank you and goodnight,” Sophie rambled off as fast as she could. She made a quick exit and practically ran to the front door of her apartment.

When Sophie reached the door, she rummaged through her seemingly endless purse trying to find her keys. When her fingers finally brushed the cool metal, she let out a sigh of relief. Sophie startled when someone unexpectedly leaned over her shoulder. “Rodent problem, huh?”

Sophie stumbled backwards. “Holy hell! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

Ashton leaned against the frame of her door, crossing his arms with a bored expression. Sophie, on the other hand, struggled to calm her racing heart.

“What are you doing here?” Sophie scowled heavily.

“You spoke so fast I didn’t understand a word you said…except I did catch the part about you wanting to kiss me earlier and how you wished my grandmother didn’t interrupt us because you wanted to have mad-hot-crazy sex with me.” Ashton tilted his head as a smile played on his lips. Reaching up, he grabbed the top of her door frame. The hem of his shirt pulled up, revealing his hard, chiseled stomach. This is ridiculous! His stupid stomach is ridiculous. No one is actually built like that! Why does the universe hate me?

Sophie closed her eyes with a sigh. “Noooo…” she drew out slowly, trying to lid her anger. “I said I would never try to kiss you and I wanted to make sure you knew that. If you thought otherwise, you were mistaken. Have you forgotten that I hate you? People don’t try to kiss people they hate.” Sophie pushed Ashton’s body out of the way and opened her door. When she tried to close it, Ashton pushed his way in.

“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Ashton said, following her inside.

“How surprising…and oh my god! You’re coming into my apartment now?” Sophie said in disbelief as she watched him stroll into her small place. “Do you want me to pay you for the ride or something?”

“That depends on what you have in mind for payment.” He raised his eyebrow suggestively. It was strange seeing Ashton in her space. It made her apartment seem so much smaller with his imposing form. He seemed genuinely curious about her things as he took everything in.

“Don’t touch that!” Sophie grabbed a small sculpture out of his hand he had picked up off the shelf.

“Did you make that?” he asked curiously.

“Yes. And it is very breakable,” Sophie scolded.

Ashton walked over to a stack of canvases that lined the wall, flipping through them. “These are actually good.” He ran his fingers over the texture of the paint.

“Geez…don’t sound so surprised.” Sophie rolled her eyes.

“And what is this?” Ashton announced with a satisfied tone.

“What? Oh my god!” Sophie rushed over to the painting that sat on her easel, grabbing a large rag she’d thrown over the painting to hide the image. “Could this night get any worse?” Sophie gasped to herself in disbelief. To her horror, Ashton saw the painting she had done of him—naked.

“Now why would you paint a picture of someone you hate?” he stated condescendingly.

“It’s not you,” Sophie blurted out. “It’s just this guy that I have a thing for.” The words continued to stumble out of her mouth.

“Me,” he confirmed matter-of-factly.

“No, not you…why would I have a thing for you? Never, nope. His name is Sam…Sam from my restaurant.” Sophie could not believe what was coming out of her mouth. She wanted to scream.

“And this Sam looks just like me? With the same tattoo?” Ashton lifted up his shirt to expose the tattoo of the words ‘Life is what you make it’ stretched around the left side of his chest toward his back.

“Ah…yep. Quite the coincidence. Why are you here, anyway?” Sophie tried to take the attention away from the painting in question.

“On orders of my grandmother I am to take you to where you will be staying temporarily while they deal with your rodent problem.”

“Not necessary,” Sophie cut in. “You can leave now.”

“If I go home and leave you without making sure you are where you need to be, my grandmother will not be happy with me.”

“How is that my problem?”

“It is if I tell her you propositioned me in her very sacred dining room that has entertained many precious family memories over the years.”

“You wouldn’t!” Sophie gasped in horror.

“I would.”

“Fine. You are such a jerk. I have to pack. So…you have to wait and don’t touch my stuff.” She was grateful she wouldn’t have to take the bus with all her stuff she needed for the next few days, even if it meant spending more time with Ashton. The war of emotions battled on within her as she tried not to pay attention to Ashton lounging on her sofa.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Sophie complained.

“I knew you always had a fucking thing for me…painting pictures, so you could fantasize about me and shit,” he said smugly as he stretched his long legs out. “Since I’m here do you want me to pose for another?”

“No! I don’t fantasize about you! It’s more like the ‘and sh—’ part.”

Ashton sat up with widened eyes. “What did you say? And sh—?” He laughed a deep throaty sound. “Say shit,” he coaxed.

“What? I can say it. I just choose not to right now. In fact, I swear all the time, especially when I see you,” she proclaimed. Ashton pushed himself off the sofa and stalked toward her. He closed the distance quickly with his long legs. He stopped so close that he stole the breath from her. Reaching out, he touched her bottom lip.

“You lie…especially when you say you don’t want me.” His breath warmed her skin as he leaned in close.

“You don’t affect me and how many times do I have to tell you—I. Don’t. Want. You.” Sophie stepped back from him so she could remember to breathe. “And for your information, I choose not use certain words. It’s a personal choice. I’m ready to go.”