“I knew you were falling for her.” He smirked.
I stopped in my tracks. “Can you be serious for a moment?”
“Yes, and my serious answer is you need to tell her how you feel. She’s not going to trust it until she hears it from your lips.”
“I’ll tell her tomorrow.”
Miller rolled his eyes. “Good, because the both of you are driving me crazy with your lovesick ways.”
I glared at him. “Didn’t you say you had plans?”
“Yes, yes I did.” He drained his glass and turned toward the hall, looking back to say, “Seriously, big brother, tell her. She’s the first woman to make you smile in a long time.”
I felt that in my chest, because he was right. It was true that I’d had more than a few bed-partners, but none could compare to Elena. None had staying power. Until she’d come into my life I’d wondered if I would ever settle down; I’m sure my family had questioned the same. But being with her made me want different things. I wanted to give her the life she deserved.
“Thanks for staying with her tonight.”
“Anytime.” He nodded and left.
I sat back down, alone with my thoughts for the first time all day. No matter how crazy life got, I knew I needed to tell her what I wanted.
The sooner the better.
But the time was never right.
The next day came and went with no chance to speak. Then rehearsals got longer. Things at the restaurants just got busier and busier, requiring more and more of my time. Add in self-defense classes and there was no time for anything. We’d barely spent any time together; much less had a chance to talk.
Before I knew it, two weeks had passed. Time was almost up. And Elena still didn’t know I wanted her to stay; and not just until she got her feet on the ground.
Forever.
Miller gave me shit every time I saw him, but he conveniently forgot that not once in my whole life had I wanted a woman to move into my place and become a part of my life. It wouldn’t be something I jumped into lightly. There had to be a right time to tell her, and I was determined to find it.
“Ashton,” her soft voice called from down the hall.
“In here.”
A few seconds later, her head popped around the corner, her glossy dark hair falling to the side. “I’m getting ready to head over to the theater. Are you sure you want to come?”
Elena might want to play it off like she wasn’t nervous as hell about her opening night, but after so many weeks together, I could see it. The small fidgety things she did: wringing her hands, trying to make it look like she was cracking her knuckles, or continually tucking the same strand of hair behind her ear. They were like a bright flashing neon sign to me, even as she did everything in her power to hide them.
I moved from my desk and took her hand, pulling her into the room with me and cupping her face in my hands, I traced my thumb across her cheek. The words I love you almost slipped from my lips but I realized that if on the small chance she didn’t want to hear them, I’d ruin whatever calm she’d built up for the performance. Whatever my feelings, they could wait until afterward.
“I told you, I can’t wait to see you perform. Are you sure you want me there?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “It’ll be nice to have support in the audience, besides Gretchen.”
What she didn’t know was that I’d arranged for her parents to fly out and see the show, as well as my own. Mr. and Mrs. Brighton had been staying in a hotel for the last two days, doing everything they could to hide their presence from their daughter until later tonight at the party I’d arranged at La Tratoria.
“Then I’ll be there.”
Bending down, I brushed my lips over hers. If I couldn’t tell her that I loved her, I’d at least show her before she left. A shudder ran through my body at the touch of her fingers as they brushed over my abs and up my chest, eventually finding their way into my hair. The moment her tongue slipped into my mouth to tangle with mine, I lost all control of what had started out as a gentle kiss. Breathless and disappointed it had to end, I broke the kiss. She narrowed her eyes at me.
“If we keep going we’ll end up in the bedroom, and then you’ll never make it to the theater.”
I reached down and adjusted myself, making it clear just how serious I was. She blushed and started to back out of the room. “I’ll see you at the theater, then I’m all yours.” With a wink, she turned and walked back down the hall.
I heard the front door open and close. Lewis should be waiting for her out front. Not once had she questioned why whenever she went somewhere she was always accompanied by someone, but I was just grateful that she was. I needed her to be safe, and if that meant being a tad on the cautious side, then that’s what I’d do.
Moving back to my desk, I dropped down into the chair. The whole situation was frustrating the hell out of me. Used to being in control, I found it hard to have so little control when it came to Elena.
My phone vibrated on my desk. Swiping my finger across the screen I answered. “Why hello, my dear, I haven’t seen you in so long.”
Her laugh was melodic. “I figured this was the safer way to talk since you can’t keep your hands to yourself.”
“I can’t keep my hands to myself,” I scoffed. “I seem to remember you being the one to push things further that time.”
“What can I say? You’re irresistible.” I heard a smack. “Oh God, did I just say that out loud?”
I pictured Elena, smacking herself in the head, her face the color of a stoplight. “That’s okay. I find you pretty irresistible myself.”
She sighed but the sound was joyful instead of annoyed. I did everything in my power to focus on what she was saying instead of the image of her naked beneath me, screaming my name as orgasm overtook her.
“I . . .” her voice sounded husky. After clearing her throat she continued. “I wanted to tell you that I heard from one of the lawyers. They attempted to deliver the papers yesterday, but Dominic didn’t answer the door. They’ll try again on Monday, starting with his work.”
Those were words I wanted to hear. “Good. The sooner the better.”
“I couldn’t agree more. I figured you could use another positive thought while you work your way through that mountain of paperwork on your desk.”
The mountain was higher than it needed to be, mostly contracts for a new liquor distributor. “You can say that again. Why didn’t you tell me before you left?”
She laughed. “Umm . . . did you forget your threat to take me upstairs and make me late?”
“Good point. But just think of the fun we’d have had.”
“We will later.”
“I’ll keep that in mind to help me through the boring paperwork.”
“You do that.”
“I’ll see you tonight. Break a leg.” I’d gotten an hour-long lecture from Alan as to why I had to say break a leg instead of good luck. It happened to be a history lesson I could have done without, but if it helped Elena then so be it.
“Thank you. I’ll see you after the show. ’Bye.”
“’Bye.”
I disconnected the call and dialed the number of the hotel where Elena’s parents were staying.
“Hello,” a soft voice answered.
“Mrs. Brighton?”
“Yes. Is that you Ashton?”
“It is. I wanted to let you know the car will be there around six to pick you and Mr. Brighton up.”
“Thank you and, please, call me Elizabeth. I can’t wait to see her.”
I smiled, thinking back to one of our conversations about her parents. “I know she’ll be thrilled to see you.”
“I hope so,” she said wistfully. “It’s been more than five years since we’ve had even a glimpse of our daughter.”
“Then I’m glad I could make that happen.”
“Thank you, Ashton. I look forward to meeting you tonight.”
When the call ended I tried to focus on the paperwork. After the debacle a few weeks ago, I didn’t want a repeat. Taking a sip of the coffee I’d brought with me, I began sifting through contract after contract.