Page 137 of Smokey's Distraction
“I still can’t believe it. And I was so wrong about Mark.”
Smokey laughed. “You went from thinking he was an axe murder to having me put him on the construction crew to build our house.”
She giggled. “I know. I’m grateful to him. But, I have to admit, I still think he’s an oddball.”
He laughed then cupped her chin in his palm and kissed her deep and slow. “I love you.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
Smokey was the last man she ever thought she’d be in a relationship with, but he swept her off her feet when she least expected it, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
For a second only their heavy breathing filled the air, and they were frozen in the moment, suspended in reality, existing only in each other’s gazes. Then Ashley traced her finger over his brows, down his nose, over his cheeks, and across his lips until he caught it in his mouth and sucked it lightly.
“You’re my heart and my life,” she murmured.
“And you’ve stolen my heart and blew my world apart in the best fuckin’ way. I need to ask you something. Are you one hundred percent okay about walking away from the partnership?”
Without any hesitation, she replied, “Absolutely. I know Zach’s angry at me, and probably kicking himself that he didn’t send Tyler to do the marketing campaign for your company, but I’m happy with my decision.”
“But your whole focus was on making partner. It’s what you’ve been working for all these years.”
Ashley raked her fingers through his hair. “You’remy focus. Before I met you, I thought being a partner of the firm was everything I wanted, but I was wrong.”
“I just wanna be sure you won’t regret it.”
“I won’t. I’ve been toying with the idea of starting my own marketing company. There are a lot of companies in the county that could use my expertise.”
A wide smile spread across his face. “That’s a damn good idea. You need to do it. I’ll help. You can keep your office at the company and work from there. I’ll have Pearl and the rest of the staff help you out. This is perfect, darlin’.”
The excitement in his voice and the sparkle in his eyes were all the proof she needed to
confirm that she’d made the right decision in turning down the partnership.
“You’re my forever,” he whispered.
A small smile danced across her lips. “I like the sound of that.”
He kissed her again then pulled back. “I want you to wear my patch—be my old lady.”
Tears sprang into her eyes as she looked into his love-filled ones. “I’m so damn happy right now. I’d love to be your old lady even though I’m not really sure what that means.”
Smokey let out a loud guffaw. “You’re so fuckin’ cute.” He wrapped his arm around her and tenderly squeezed her shoulder. “Being my old lady is a serious thing. It means you belong to me and I belong to you.”
“Is it like an engagement?”
“More than that—we’re fused together. We’re each other’s forever, and there’s nothing we can’t love each other through. When times get tough, and they will, we’ll stick together because our love and commitment are stronger than anything.”
“Sounds wonderful. You are my soulmate.”
“And you complete me like nothing ever has in my life,” he said.
Crushing his mouth on hers, he kissed her deep and rough and hard. Her body hummed with happiness, love, and desire.
After a long while, she broke away from him, and rested her head in the crook of his shoulder. A comfortable silence fell over them as she looked at the town’s lights twinkling in the darkness.
Then a low growl came from her stomach and he laughed.
Looking up at him, she grinned. “I better get dinner started.”
