Page 23 of Work and Play
Shit, I didn’t realize she saw that. Thinking quickly, I reply, “Yeah. Fine. Just thinking about something I need to do tomorrow.”
She makes a soft sound of understanding, and silence falls again, and we stay that way for the rest of the drive.
I park in front of the Airbnb and Ashley immediately climbs out. I follow her up to the front door and into the dim hallway. She pauses outside her door. “I had fun tonight.”
Who knows if she can see me smile, but I do. “So did I.” I think I make out her nod, then she turns to open her door. Out of nowhere, my hand snaps out and wraps around her arm. “Wait.”
My heart is pounding. I have no clue what’s happening; it’s as if my conscious mind is detached from my body, and I’m watching what I’m doing from the outside. She slowly turns to face me, my hand still wrapped around her delicate wrist. I swear I can feel her pulse fluttering under my fingers. But then again, maybe that’s mine.
“Ashley, I…”
My words are cut off by the feel of her soft lips pressed against mine. Her free hand comes up to cup the back of my neck and with a groan, I drop her wrist and pull her into my body. I take the kiss deeper, feeling her mouth move with me. Her tongue darts out and tantalizes me, tormenting me with what I know I can’t have. I want to take my time, I want to explore her, find what makes her shiver and what makes her moan, but I can’t. If all I get is this one kiss, I’m going to make it count. My hands move up to her shoulders and then to hold her face, angling it so I can nip her lower lip, that damn lip that has been teasing me for weeks. This kiss is unlike any other I’ve ever had in my life, and I’ve kissed plenty of women. There’s a different sort of fire between us, something that has just been smoldering embers until now. But now it’s burning hotter than a comet shooting across the sky.
A soft moan and the feel of her hand trailing down the front of my shirt jerks me back to reality. This is Ashley. I’m kissing Ashley Elliott, the one woman I’ve sworn to myself I can’t have. I pull away, wrenching my lips from her skin.
“Shit.”
I take a step back, my hand coming up to touch my lips, feeling the ghost of her lingering there. Her chest is heaving and her eyes are hooded. She looks needy and sexy, and entirely too fuckable. That kiss must have scrambled what few brain cells I have left because for the life of me I’m having a hard time thinking of one good reason not to kiss her again.
Pierre.
The winery.
Don’t mix business with pleasure.
Okay, so some part of my brain must still be functioning. “We can’t do this.”
“Why not?” she asks, and the breathless tone of her voice has a thread of challenge to it that is so damn sexy.
“Because we work together.”
“So? I’m not asking you to marry me, Finn.” Now her hands are on her hips, and that challenge is morphing into something else. Anger, and rejection. Damnit.
“Ashley, we just can’t. I’m sorry. I should have never touched you.” I take another step back until there’s enough space between us that I can feel my control slowly slipping back into place.
Ashley lets out a noise of frustration. “Yeah, you know what, you shouldn’t have. Good night, Finn.”
The slamming of her door shouldn’t sting as much as it does.
Two hours later I’m lying in bed, wide awake, staring at the ceiling, contemplating just how badly I’ve fucked things up. One thing is for certain, if Ashley didn’t think I was an asshole before tonight, she does now.
Well, I’ve already dug my own grave, might as well lie in it. If she hates me, it might make it easier to avoid her.
Letting out a muffled groan of frustration, I force myself to shut my eyes.
Tomorrow is gonna suck.
Chapter twelve
Ashley
I could be mistaken, but it takes two consenting and actively participating adults for a kiss to be that explosive. And there’s no doubt that Finn was eager with his participation. So why the hell did he have to pull such a fast one-eighty that my head was still spinning an hour later?
“We can’t. We work together. Blah, blah, bullshit,” I mutter under my breath as I get dressed the next morning. Clearly, I’m still not over the brush-off he gave me last night after what was undoubtedly the hottest kiss of my life. Knowing that I’m going to see him in less than an hour doesn’t help. He disappeared early this morning; I guess he was able to sleep well enough to get up at his usual time of dead o’clock. I, on the other hand, tossed and turned all night long, debated pulling out my vibrator and finishing what he started, but decided not to take the risk of him hearing the noise. So basically, I’m grumpy, tired, and horny, and the last thing I want to do is go to work and see him. But today is the day the flooring gets installed, so I need to be there. Plus, Pierre apparently had a question about the furniture that recently arrived.
When I arrive at the winery an hour later, I’m no less grumpy despite the coffee and scone I picked up from Mila on the way. Summer was there, and full of apologies for missing axe throwing. I guess I came across frustrated because both of them asked if anything was wrong, and when I barked at them, saying that I was just fine, Mila ignored my mood and insisted I come over tonight for a glass of wine. Not one to turn down drinks with friends, I agreed. Even though I know I’ll probably have to explain a few things.
“Ashley, good morning!” Pierre’s voice carries across the parking lot. I give him a wave in return as I unload my car. “Finn, can you help Ashley?”
