Page 63 of Smokey's Distraction
There was only silence.
“Hello? Zach, are you there?” she asked, thinking he’d disconnected.
“What’s going on with you and Smokey?” The cheerfulness in his voice was gone.
“We have a meeting tomorrow. I thought we already talked about that.” She picked at tiny threads in the quilt, her mouth drier than desert dust.
“I know that, and I know my friend. There’s no way Smokey would install a security system for someone unless …” His voice trailed off.
“You don’t know if he installed it.”
“That’s doesn’t even make sense, Ashley. He called me about it, and ifIdidn’t pay for it, then it’s pretty obvious he did. You’re not letting him get to you, are you? He’s real smooth with the ladies—he makes them feel unique and special. It’s been his way since I’ve known him.”
She licked her lips several times, then said, “I’m not letting him oranyoneget to me. I’m sure he’s just concerned about my safety since I’m working for him on this project. He often follows his assistant home when the weather is bad.”I hope he’s buying this crap.
“Pearl?” He laughed. “She’s been with him since he started the company. But yeah, I guess you’re right. Smokey’s very protective of his staff. I guess it comes from being in the motorcycle club.”
“Why didn’t you tell me he was in a biker club? I just found out recently.”
“I didn’t want to scare you off. Smokey can be intimidating as hell, and the club he’s with is an outlaw one, so they don’t play nice.”
“Have you ever ridden his bike?”
“No way. He never lets anyone near his baby.”
“I guess bikers are that way when it comes to their motorcycles. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow. I’m planning to go to Aspen to meet with Ted Henson next week.”
After several minutes of chatting about business, Ashley disconnected, rose to her feet, and walked out of the room.
Nicole was still out. Ashley padded over to the window. She pulled the drapes aside and looked out at the sinking sun lighting the sky with purple clouds set in a sea of gold and pink. Ashley watched a silhouette of birds flying off in the distance, and suddenly, she missed Smokey with an ache that completely blindsided her. Breathing in deeply, she exhaled slowly.Maybe I’ve been wrong about him. Why would he pay to install an alarm system if he just wants to have sex?Snippets of their conversation the day before flitted through her mind. Smokey had opened up about his past, and she doubted he did that very often.He trusted me, and I ran away, scared, because he was right—I think every damn man will turn out to be like my dad.Closing her eyes, she rubbed her forehead with her fingertips. “Talk about being screwed up,” she whispered.
“What?” a drowsy Nicole asked.
Looking over at the couch, she watched as her friend struggled to sit up.
“Just thinking out loud. How’re you feeling?”
“Like shit.”
She snickered. “I bet. Do you want a bottled water or Ginger Ale? When I was a kid, that was my mom’s go-to whenever my siblings or I had a queasy stomach. It actually helps—a lot.”
Resting her head against the back of the sofa, she whined, “Why the hell didn’t you cut me off?”
“Like that would’ve worked.”
She gave Ashley an off-center smile. “You’re right. I’ll try the Ginger Ale.”
Standing, she started for the kitchen. “I’ll bring a bottle of water too.”
“I wish I could stay another day. I don’t feel like doing wedding crap tomorrow.”
“I don’t blame you on that.” Returning, she handed Nicole the can of Ginger Ale and put the bottled water on the coffee table. “Would Mariah freak out if you postponed by a day?”
“Absolutely. She’s a drama queen, remember?” Nicole popped open the tab and took a sip. “Anyway, I have to be back to work on Thursday.”
Ashley walked back to the window and started to close the drapes when something across the street caught her eye. It was a man, standing at the edge of the parkway, looking at the house. Shoving a hand into his coat pocket, he pulled something out. Squinting, she pressed her face closer to the glass, but she couldn’t make out what he was holding. Then, the man’s focus shifted, and he was staring right at her. Jumping away from the window, she pulled the curtains closed.
“What’s wrong?”
