Ky: Ash, where are you working today?

Within seconds Ashlyn’s name flashed before me.

Ashlyn: Pier 63, on-set job. What’s up?

Ky: I did something.

Ashlyn: I don’t even want to know. Come down, I’ll take a break.

I looked at my watch and realized that I had already missed a scheduled meeting. First time for everything I guess. Josh would have a field day with this. I closed my laptop and stood from the booth. It would only take me ten minutes to get to pier 63, ten minutes until Ashlyn would tell me how much of a dickhead I really was.

The pier was a fanfare of models, photographers, and stylists. Why they had decided to have an outdoor shoot as the temperature dropped rapidly was anyone’s guess. I shoved my hands in my pockets in desperate search of some warmth and headed down the beach toward the photographer whom I knew as Alessandra. The moment she saw me, a wide grin spread across her face, and she announced for everyone to take five. Alessandra and I went way back; she was a regular photographer at the magazine, and we had developed a close friendship. I had actually attended her and her girlfriend’s wedding just this past summer.

“Sweetie you are looking as handsome as ever. Why are you not at work? This isn’t the Ky Crawford I know and love.” She leaned in and kissed both cheeks and stepped away, looking at me suspiciously.

“This new Ky is because of a girl.” Ashlyn stood beside me, pushed her hip into mine, and raised her eyebrow as if to say you know I’m right.

“You have a girl!” Alessandra’s screech brought the attention of everyone within a ten-mile radius of us.

“I do not have a girl Less, Ashlyn is just being premature.”

“Let’s hope you aren’t premature when it comes to Eden.”

My best friend’s ability to say whatever was on her mind never ceased to amaze me. She spoke first and thought second. The smile and twinkle in her eye was a clear indication that she loved this torment a bit too much.

“Ashlyn, seriously, are we really talking about my coming abilities in the middle of a packed beach. You and I both know that I have some killer stories.”

“Jesus Ky, time and place.”

“You brought this on yourself.” I turned back toward Alessandra who looked at Ashlyn and I like we were sickos. “Do you mind if I steal your stylist for a few minutes?”

“Of course sweetie, we will break for coffee. Take your time.”

Ashlyn linked her arm with mine, and we headed away from the crowd and down the sand of the abandoned beach. I knew Ashlyn too well. I knew she was desperate to break the silence but was waiting impatiently for me to make the first move. I would let her stew for a while. Fuck, I could be an asshole when I wanted to be but it was all for my amusement.

“What did you do? Besides kiss her last night.”

Ahh, there she goes.

“I asked her to spend December with me.”

Ashlyn’s face darkened and her eyes narrowed in on me. “So you went against everything I advised?”

“So it seems.”

“Do you know what you are doing?”

“Nope, I have no fucking clue. It just happened. I kissed the shit out of her last night and completely got lost in the moment. I’ve lost every bit of control, and I never lose control Ashlyn. Never.”

“How was she?”

I fell silent, focusing back on the moment she said yes. The small smile that filtered over her lips, the intrigue that set in her eyes, and the change of her body language was something I couldn’t ignore.

“She was fine. She can’t say no Ashlyn and me being the fucking prick I am, used that against her for my own personal gain. What kind of fucked-up person am I? I couldn’t stop. I knew what I was doing, I knew what I was asking, and I knew she would say yes.”

“Just promise me you won’t hurt her.”

“That’s one thing I can certainly promise you.”

••••

The office buzzed with excitement when I finally arrived for the day. Over the past three years this was the first time that I hadn’t been here to open up. Lauren looked at me with questioning eyes as I strolled past her and made my way to my office. I knew it was only a matter of time before my arrival hit Josh’s office.

I opened my laptop and started the task of going through countless emails and looking at the meetings that Lauren had thankfully rescheduled.

A loud knock sounded from my door, and I was soon joined in my office by a smirking Josh. I was ready for his assault of questions. He closed the door behind him and moved towards my desk, taking a seat opposite me.

“Where have you been?”

“Out.”

“With who?”

“Ashlyn.”

“Bull-fucking-shit.”

“Fine, I had breakfast at the diner, saw Eden, and then went to the pier to speak with Ashlyn.” I stretched out behind my desk and waited for his opinions to hit me.

“Cool.”

Cool!

“Seriously? Cool?” I narrowed my eyes at my brother and awaited his assault but it never came. “What have you done with my opinionated asshole of a brother? I am still waiting for the taunt about me kissing her last night?”

Josh leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head and continued watching me closely. To be honest, he was making me uncomfortable. I hadn’t spoken to him since I left his apartment last night and I knew I had a million and one things I wanted to talk to him about, but how could I really start the conversation? I had been hoping he would have.

Finally he spoke. “It doesn’t surprise me that you kissed her. I knew it was only a matter of time, and who am I to say anything about it. The only thing I’ll ask is, was it everything you thought it would be? Was it worth it?”

I didn’t even have to consider my response. “Yep and now I don’t know how I’m not going to want it again. A girl has never gotten to me like her Josh. It’s going to seem sudden to people, people aren’t going to understand my reaction to her, but you and I both know that this has been a long time coming.”

Josh nodded and worry flittered over his face for a brief moment. I knew this could blow up and so did he. He knew my deepest fears, my biggest concerns but never did I ever think I’d be in this position again, and I didn’t know when I’d get the opportunity again.

“I’ve set Eden up in the corner office. You should see her in there. This massive office and it’s just her and her laptop. She looks so small.” Josh chuckled.

“She’s here?” I asked in shock.

“Yep, called about thirty minutes ago asking if there was somewhere she could work for the day.”

Okay well that was interesting. Why the hell hadn’t she called me? Instead she called my brother. “Um, thanks for doing that. I’ll sort through my emails and calendar and then I’ll go and see her. You know, make sure she is okay in there.”

He pushed back from the seat and stood. “Be careful,” he warned then turned and left my office, giving me one last knowing look before he disappeared.

For three hours I was completely distracted by emails and scheduling. I had issues in the LA office, I had a conference call with Simon, and then Roger decided that we should have lunch. Three hours passed and every now and then the thought that Eden was only a couple of offices away would hit me. Finally when I had a moment to breathe, I walked down the hall toward the far corner office. I opened the door slowly and was greeted by Eden tapping away at her laptop, earplugs in, and her softly humming along to whatever she was listening to. I took the moment to watch her, to drink her in. My eyes dropped to her mouth, and my brain went into overdrive. My desperation to kiss her again was raging within me. I wanted to taste her again and I wanted her to completely own our kiss again. Fuck, I wanted to do whatever she would let me do. I shook the thoughts out of my head and watched as she twisted a piece of her hair around her finger and her eyes bounced over whatever was reading on the screen.