“How surprising…and oh my god! You’re coming into my apartment now?” Sophie said in disbelief as she watched him stroll into her small place. “Do you want me to pay you for the ride or something?”
“That depends on what you have in mind for payment.” He raised his eyebrow suggestively. It was strange seeing Ashton in her space. It made her apartment seem so much smaller with his imposing form. He seemed genuinely curious about her things as he took everything in.
“Don’t touch that!” Sophie grabbed a small sculpture out of his hand he had picked up off the shelf.
“Did you make that?” he asked curiously.
“Yes. And it is very breakable,” Sophie scolded.
Ashton walked over to a stack of canvases that lined the wall, flipping through them. “These are actually good.” He ran his fingers over the texture of the paint.
“Geez…don’t sound so surprised.” Sophie rolled her eyes.
“And what is this?” Ashton announced with a satisfied tone.
“What? Oh my god!” Sophie rushed over to the painting that sat on her easel, grabbing a large rag she’d thrown over the painting to hide the image. “Could this night get any worse?” Sophie gasped to herself in disbelief. To her horror, Ashton saw the painting she had done of him—naked.
“Now why would you paint a picture of someone you hate?” he stated condescendingly.
“It’s not you,” Sophie blurted out. “It’s just this guy that I have a thing for.” The words continued to stumble out of her mouth.
“Me,” he confirmed matter-of-factly.
“No, not you…why would I have a thing for you? Never, nope. His name is Sam…Sam from my restaurant.” Sophie could not believe what was coming out of her mouth. She wanted to scream.
“And this Sam looks just like me? With the same tattoo?” Ashton lifted up his shirt to expose the tattoo of the words ‘Life is what you make it’ stretched around the left side of his chest toward his back.
“Ah…yep. Quite the coincidence. Why are you here, anyway?” Sophie tried to take the attention away from the painting in question.
“On orders of my grandmother I am to take you to where you will be staying temporarily while they deal with your rodent problem.”
“Not necessary,” Sophie cut in. “You can leave now.”
“If I go home and leave you without making sure you are where you need to be, my grandmother will not be happy with me.”
“How is that my problem?”
“It is if I tell her you propositioned me in her very sacred dining room that has entertained many precious family memories over the years.”
“You wouldn’t!” Sophie gasped in horror.
“I would.”
“Fine. You are such a jerk. I have to pack. So…you have to wait and don’t touch my stuff.” She was grateful she wouldn’t have to take the bus with all her stuff she needed for the next few days, even if it meant spending more time with Ashton. The war of emotions battled on within her as she tried not to pay attention to Ashton lounging on her sofa.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Sophie complained.
“I knew you always had a fucking thing for me…painting pictures, so you could fantasize about me and shit,” he said smugly as he stretched his long legs out. “Since I’m here do you want me to pose for another?”
“No! I don’t fantasize about you! It’s more like the ‘and sh—’ part.”
Ashton sat up with widened eyes. “What did you say? And sh—?” He laughed a deep throaty sound. “Say shit,” he coaxed.
“What? I can say it. I just choose not to right now. In fact, I swear all the time, especially when I see you,” she proclaimed. Ashton pushed himself off the sofa and stalked toward her. He closed the distance quickly with his long legs. He stopped so close that he stole the breath from her. Reaching out, he touched her bottom lip.
“You lie…especially when you say you don’t want me.” His breath warmed her skin as he leaned in close.
“You don’t affect me and how many times do I have to tell you—I. Don’t. Want. You.” Sophie stepped back from him so she could remember to breathe. “And for your information, I choose not use certain words. It’s a personal choice. I’m ready to go.”
***
“Where to?” he asked as he rubbed his hand over the steering wheel.
Sophie pulled the crumpled piece of paper out of her purse. “Econo Rooms Motel,” she read, and then followed with the address printed at the bottom of the coupon. She looked up at him and noticed he was watching her with raised eyebrows. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.” Sophie watched Ashton shake his head in disbelief before he pulled away from the curb.
The longer they drove, the more nervous she got about how far away this place was. She wanted to seem completely confident despite her inner turmoil.
When they pulled up to an old dilapidated motel, Sophie held the coupon up to the light. The picture must have been taken years ago. The building now looked in dire need of repairs.
“Stellar place.” Ashton’s words dripped with sarcasm.
Sophie didn’t respond. She pushed open the door and walked toward the main office. A bell chimed overhead when the door opened. A man sitting behind the desk slid his feet off the counter, sending papers fluttering to the floor. His unwashed hair was brushed back off his face in a tangle of waves that met his shoulders. A mustache sat heavily upon his lip and a dark shadow covered the rest of his chin. He wiped crumbs from his shirt, watching Sophie approach the desk.
“Need a room, beautiful?” His words seemed innocent enough, but he gave off a creepy vibe that made her insides twist with anxiety.
“Yes, please,” Sophie responded with a small voice. She glimpsed the small television he had been captivated with when she walked in. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw a porn playing. What the hell!
Ashton pushed through the door behind her, causing the bell to sound again. The man behind the counter eyed Ashton before he addressed Sophie.
“Just you? Or both?”
“Just me.” A slow unsettling smile spread across his face. “I have a coupon for my stay.” Sophie handed it over to the man. When he took it from her, she pulled her hand away quickly to avoid the unnecessary contact.
“Sorry, sweetheart. This coupon expired ages ago,” he informed her before slapping it down on the counter.
“Mr. Cleary, my landlord, gave it to me. He said he knew the owner.” Sophie shuffled her feet uncomfortably. She hated the fact that Ashton was standing behind her. She wanted to run screaming from this place.
“My old man died five years ago,” he said casually.
“Okay. Your standard room, please,” Sophie said quickly. She just wanted the exchange to be over. She would deal with Mr. Cleary later.
She could tell Ashton didn’t like this guy either by the way he practically growled under his breath.
“It’s one size fits all in these parts, sweetheart.” He smiled, dropping a grimy key in her hand.
“Thank you.” Sophie quickly left the office with Ashton close on her heels.
“You are seriously going to stay in this shit hole?” Ashton asked as if questioning her sanity. She ignored him as she walked up to his trunk, waiting to retrieve her things.
“Yes. It’s not so bad. It has charm.” She tried to defend her decision but her defense was pitiful. She hated this place so much but refused to waste her money on unnecessary luxury. This creepy, rundown motel fit her budget.
“Charm? Fuck that!”
Chapter Nine
Sophie pushed the door open, revealing the dark room. She flicked on the lights when she found the switch. “Not so bad.” She tried to encourage herself by staying positive. Ashton came in behind her and set her things on the bed.
“Yeah, it’s kind of nice for a piece of shit.” As if on cue, screaming erupted from the next room as a couple engaged in a heated argument. Ashton just raised his eyebrows in an I told you so way.
“It’s just a couple of days. There’s even a bus stop just a block away.” Sophie tried to keep her attitude positive.