Page 21 of Vegas Love (Love 1)
"Ashlyn, I don't just Vegas love you."
Tears immediately fill her beautiful eyes and she lays her head on my shoulder. "I don't just Vegas love you either."
I hold her tightly for a few minutes, wishing I could hold her like this forever. I want her to know how wonderful she is. I want her to know I'm going to protect her and be there for her no matter what life throws at her. But after all she's been through, I don't know if she would believe me.
So I just keep hugging her.
When she finally pulls back, I say, "Tell me about the other cars. What made you choose them?"
She stays wrapped in my arms and points. "The silver Bentley is my latest purchase and is from your brother's influence. I fell in lust with his and when I got a big residual check, I splurged. The Mercedes convertible, I bought when I signed my first million dollar contract."
"Look at the lines on this car. It's long, lean, and luxurious, but the back end--it's a damn good view. This car has a hot ass just like you."
She giggles and then says, "You're silly. And the Jeep I bought when I moved to the beach. It's my second favorite. I had visions of driving around with the top down all the time, which I never do because of the paparazzi. So which one do you want to drive to your parents' house?"
"The Jeep, for sure."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and we're taking the top off. Fuck the paparazzi. Besides, we're not going to be doing anything exciting. And you look beautiful so, as far as I'm concerned, they can take all the pictures they want."
She grins and gives me a kiss. "You take the top off and I'll go get my bag."
As she starts to pull away, I hold tight. "Not so fast, Hotass. I'm taking the doors off too."
"Really? That sounds dangerous. Like, I'll feel like I'm going to fall out."
"I won't let you fall."
"You'll be driving."
"I'd still catch you." I kiss her nose. "When we're at my parents' house, I'd like for you to talk to my dad about your business. I know Cade has given you advice and I have my own opinion, but Dad's been in the industry for a long time and has seen it all. I think you would benefit from his expertise."
"What does your dad do?"
"He's retired now, but he was the Chief Legal Officer at one of the big studios. He worked long hours and was always on call--but he managed to come to almost all of our games. And we all ate dinner together on Sundays, no matter what."
"You're lucky you have such a great family. So, you said that you have your own opinion. What's your opinion?"
"What really matters, Hotass, is your opinion. I'll support whatever you choose, but the key is that you start choosing what you think is right. Not what your manager thinks, not what your agent thinks. What you think. Kind of like how I chose which car to drive."
She scrunches up her perfect little nose. "How does that even compare?"
"Because you thought I'd go for the Bentley or the Mercedes, didn't you?"
"Honestly, yes. Why did you pick the Jeep?"
"I went with my gut feeling. Chose the one that felt like the most fun. And I'm glad I did. Because I need to teach you to live a little."
"Your brother says I've been living too much lately."
"Have you, though?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'll show you in the car."
"Hmmm."
I let go of her and give her ass a little spank. "Get your bag and let's go."
While she does that, I quickly put the canvas top down then start taking off the doors. I find mesh doors rolled up in the back and put them on, completely changing how the Jeep looks.
When she comes out of the house, she's changed her look too. She's still wearing the flirty little dress, but now has her hair in an adorable messy braid and is wearing heart-shaped sunglasses.
She's so cute, it makes my heart hurt. I am in so freaking deep with this girl.
We drive down the coast toward my parents' house with the radio blaring. She's happily singing and my hand is happily resting on her thigh.
On a whim, I pull into a fast food restaurant drive-thru lane.
"What are you doing?"
"Thought we could get a burger."
"Aren't we going to your parents' to eat?"
"Yes, but we won't actually eat until later."
She beams at me, like I just made her day. Or, maybe, her year.
While we're waiting to pick up our order, some girls see her and go, "Ohmigawd! It's Ashlyn Roberts!"
She waves at them and the girls rush over. "Ohmigawd! We don't want to interrupt, but can we take a picture with you?"
"Sure," she says, smiling. When they lean together, I can't help but photo bomb them, sticking my tongue out and holding my fingers above their heads.
"Do we look good?" Ashlyn asks them. They hold out the phone and show her the photo. She bursts out laughing and punches me. "That's the best thing ever."
"Um, who is he?" one of the girls asks quietly.
"This is Cash," she says, grinning. "If all goes well, you'll be seeing a lot of us together. Have a nice day!"
We get our food and then I drive to the beach, park on the side of the road, and suggest an impromptu picnic.
She grabs the bag of food and my hand. "Let's sit up on these rocks!"
We carefully climb over the railing and perch on the rocks. "God, it's beautiful up here," she says.
I look straight into her pretty green eyes, which are sparkling in the sun. "It sure is."
She blushes and looks down at her cheeseburger. "Are you talking about the view?"
I catch her neck in my hand and pull her toward my lips. "I'm talking about you. The way your eyes sparkle in the sunlight. The smile on your face. You're beautiful."
"I once played a vampire who sparkled in the sunlight," she laughs.
"You should bite me and then we could live together forever. For all eternity."
"That's a super freaking long time."
I grab her hand. "I wish you were wearing the ring. I wish I could take you home and tell my parents I married the most amazing girl."
"Do you want to tell them?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
"More than anything, but I want you to be sure. Because I don't want to get fired if you aren't sure."
"Will your brother really fire you?"
"Yes, he will. He and Palmer Montlake used to date. She was his client first, they fell in love and, because of some disagreement about her career, they broke up. So he's probably more sensitive about it than someone else would be."
She shoves another bite of cheeseburger in her mouth and I feed her a fry. "That's sad."
"He's never gotten over her, in my opinion."
She leans over and kisses me. "I don't think I'm ever going to get over you."
"I don't want you to."
"But I agree with you. Even though I want to sing from the rooftops that we got married, it's probably best that people don't know until we're sure."
"As the brother of your agent, I'd say that's smart."
"And as my husband?
" she asks, causing my heart to swell.
I catch a piece of hair that blows out of her braid and tuck it behind her ear, leaning close to her. "As your husband," I whisper, "I hate it."
In a Fairytale
Ashlyn
We pull into a gated entrance, wind up into the hills, and stop in front of a gorgeous stucco villa in Laguna Beach.
"Wow. This is where you grew up?"
"Yeah, it looks sort of ostentatious from the front when I look at it now. I didn't think much of it growing up, because all our friends lived in similar homes. Then I went to college and moved into a shitty dorm. That was a huge reality check. I seriously thought my mother was going to cry when she saw it," he says as he helps me out of the Jeep.
The front door swings open and a girl comes bounding out to greet us, followed by a golden retriever and chocolate labrador. The dogs wag their tails and jump up to greet us then sniff my butt while the girl gives Cash a hug.
"This is my sister, Chloe," Cash says, introducing me.
"Hi!" she says, throwing her arm around my neck and leading me into the house. "Mom is making homemade fudge and it's imperative that we go taste test it. Get the dogs, will you, Cash?"
We leave Cash in the dust and step into a massive three-story rotunda with beige walls, a beamed ceiling, an iron chandelier, and an iron staircase. It reminds me of an old, Italian villa that would overlook a vineyard, but instead leads to a large great room with sweeping views of the ocean. The floors are either terra cotta tiles or thick wooden planks. The fireplaces are made from carved stone. The furnishings are in subdued colors and soft fabrics.
"This is beautiful," I say, slightly shocked not just at its beauty but the way the house makes me feel. The way it tugs at my heart. When I turn around and see Cash following us, my heart overflows with feelings. Feelings I thought I had locked away the day my mom sold my dad's car. Feelings of a future. Of my own happily ever after.
When I'm with Cash, I feel like I'm caught in a fairytale. I can imagine this house full of grandchildren someday. A huge Christmas tree in the corner with piles of presents from Santa.
