Sophie quickly changed the subject to ease her guilty conscience. “I should mention that my apartment building is being resolved of its current…rodent problem.” Sophie admitted, embarrassed. “I will be staying at a motel for a few days. I am hoping that it doesn’t affect my schedule but I have to figure out the bus route from where I’m staying. I am hoping to sort it out this evening.”
“Why don’t you stay here, dear? We have more than enough room in this big house.” Margaret beamed.
“I appreciate the offer but I couldn’t possibly impose,” Sophie demurred. “You have already been too good to me. Dinner was wonderful. I feel confident that I will sort things out. I can be here first thing tomorrow morning. I just wanted to let you know just in case an unforeseen problem does arise.”
“Well, the offer remains open, should you change your mind.” Margaret smiled and patted Sophie affectionately on the shoulder. “We would love to have you stay with us. Ashton is gracing me with his company for the time being, keeping an old woman company.” Ashton was fortunate to have such a wonderful grandmother. She wondered what her life would have been like if she had extended family that consisted of more than just her mother and her. She immediately thought of Mrs. Martin and how much she loved the short amount of time they had together. Sophie returned her smile with genuine feeling.
“Thank you again for the lovely meal, Margaret.”
Charlotte shuffled in the room and began clearing the dinner plates.
“Hold on, dear.” Margaret placed her hand on Sophie’s arm and turned toward Charlotte.
“Could you collect Ashton for me, Charlotte, please?”
“Of course.” Charlotte left the room with a nod and tender smile, her soft humming lingering behind her.
“Ashton will drive you where you need to go tonight. That way you don’t have to catch a bus at this hour,” Margaret informed Sophie.
“That’s not really necessary. Besides, I’m used to taking the bus at all hours. It comes with the territory of not having a vehicle.”
“Nonsense. He will meet you out front.” Margaret waved away Sophie’s excuse. “It’s not safe for a girl like you to be out unescorted so late.”
Sophie decided not to argue the point with her. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Sophie.”
Sophie stepped out onto the front step and breathed in the cool night air. She pulled her phone from her pocket and realized it was later than she had realized. The afternoon had flown by. A smile graced her lips as she noticed a recent message from Jack.
Jack: I can’t think of another option. I am sticking with my original idea of sleeping with him.
Sophie: Argh…remind me never to get you to help me devise any evil schemes. You are a typical man that thinks that all problems can be solved with sex.
Jack: You mean they can’t?
Sophie: Funny…BTW Ashton is the grandson of the woman that I am working for! He is staying with her. Did you know that?
Jack: Actually yes. Sorry about that. I didn’t think it would involve Ashton. I knew you would have probably not taken it had you known. I didn’t want you to miss the opportunity. Sorry I didn’t warn you ahead of time.
Sophie: I guess I will forgive you but you are on probation. Ashton is going to drive me home now. Hopefully he won’t drop me off in the middle of nowhere.
Jack: He would never do such a thing.
Sophie: Don’t be so sure. I practically threw myself at him a few moments ago. He is probably laughing his head off right now. What is wrong with me? I should hate him. Scratch that. I do hate him.
Jack: You’re right, you should hate him…but it sounds like you might not be so against my plan after all.
Sophie: Not going with your plan. Tonight was just a lapse in judgment. Talk to you soon. He is waiting.
Sophie opened the door and climbed stiffly into Ashton’s car. She knew the drive would be painfully awkward after she practically begged him to kiss her under his grandmother’s table. So embarrassing. The realization of her actions were settling heavily and she was dreading being alone with him.
“Just so you know, I only agreed to you driving me because of your grandmother’s insistence.”
“I know.”
The interior of the car smelled so intimately of Ashton, it was as if she were leaning in and smelling his alluring scent against his skin.
Sophie didn’t speak a word to Ashton, turning her gaze toward the night sky. Her stomach was twisted with uneasy emotions. Luckily he did not feel the need to make the unnecessary exchange of words either and she was grateful. When he pulled up in front of Sophie’s building, Sophie finally spoke.
“Thank you for the drive. Your grandmother is an amazing person and I’m looking forward to working for her. I’m sorry for my actions earlier, it won’t happen again. I promise to stay out of your way. In fact it’s probably best to ignore each other for the rest of eternity. Thank you and goodnight,” Sophie rambled off as fast as she could. She made a quick exit and practically ran to the front door of her apartment.
When Sophie reached the door, she rummaged through her seemingly endless purse trying to find her keys. When her fingers finally brushed the cool metal, she let out a sigh of relief. Sophie startled when someone unexpectedly leaned over her shoulder. “Rodent problem, huh?”
Sophie stumbled backwards. “Holy hell! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
Ashton leaned against the frame of her door, crossing his arms with a bored expression. Sophie, on the other hand, struggled to calm her racing heart.
“What are you doing here?” Sophie scowled heavily.
“You spoke so fast I didn’t understand a word you said…except I did catch the part about you wanting to kiss me earlier and how you wished my grandmother didn’t interrupt us because you wanted to have mad-hot-crazy sex with me.” Ashton tilted his head as a smile played on his lips. Reaching up, he grabbed the top of her door frame. The hem of his shirt pulled up, revealing his hard, chiseled stomach. This is ridiculous! His stupid stomach is ridiculous. No one is actually built like that! Why does the universe hate me?
Sophie closed her eyes with a sigh. “Noooo…” she drew out slowly, trying to lid her anger. “I said I would never try to kiss you and I wanted to make sure you knew that. If you thought otherwise, you were mistaken. Have you forgotten that I hate you? People don’t try to kiss people they hate.” Sophie pushed Ashton’s body out of the way and opened her door. When she tried to close it, Ashton pushed his way in.
“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Ashton said, following her inside.