“You do?”
“It’s a Soupy development meet-up at the coffee shop. Figured it was a good way to ingratiate myself, and you did seem a bit surprised I wasn’t a bigger supporter.”
He chuckled.
Her heart squeezed. The sound was as warm and inviting as logs popping on a fire.
“I understand. You’ll have even more to share later. I’ll look forward to it. I’m wondering if maybe we should pull an all-nighter. We can watch the lighthouse from my office. Maybe we need a little more surveillance to catch our culprit?”
Feeling his steady gaze, she turned away. She didn’t want to give away too much of her turmoil. She hadn’t come back to rekindle anything. He stoked the embers inside her back into flames. With more alone time, she might do something desperate. Like throw herself in his arms again ala their first kiss. He was giving her a chance. “Yes. Thanks. I’d love that. I’d better get going or I’ll be late to meet Seth.”
She pulled back her shoulders and fumbled with the seatbelt. She had returned to claim her inheritance. Nothing was settled. Would it be? Finally, her icy fingers pressed the button and released her. She hopped out of the car and didn’t look back, leaving a trail of wet shoe prints and taking only her memories.
* * *
Christopher did the gentlemanly thing and let her get out of the car and leave him first.
He hated doing that. But it was inevitable since he was incapable of walking away from her. They had plans to meet up later. He sighed and tapped the steering wheel, tracking her progress inside the hotel.
Would she have turned him down if he asked her on a proper date? He couldn’t remember the last time they dressed up and shared a meal in public. She loved the ritual of dates, carefully selecting her outfit and styling herself. And he loved how every tiny movement was imbued with extra flirtatious behavior. With nothing and no one else to distract their attention away from each other, they had often gone to dinner at seven and stayed until closing. He missed that.
The painful truth he couldn’t escape was that he hadn’t known she wanted to leave until too late. If he had understood every moment was final, he would have done things differently. He would have held her closer, kissed her longer, and told her everything.Except, I wouldn’t.He’d promised her father he’d keep his silence about the business.
At least they avoided discussing the final details of settling the estate. And while he might miss her company, he couldn’t be mad at her destination. Meeting up with Seth, she could encourage him. The pair could create something new, big, and inventive. Each had a talent for seeing the possibilities in any given situation. Ashley’s boundless imagination always shocked and delighted. Christopher would approach the same scenario with a sense of dread and despair. She always found a spark of something exciting and positive. Over the years, she’d given him hope countless times.
Today, he’d almost lost her for good.
He gripped the steering wheel tight, staring through the insect-crusted windshield in the direction she’d gone. The smear of bug guts blocked any movement in the distance. At the moment, he’d swear he had x-ray vision thanks to the adrenaline rushing through his veins. She could have been killed. All because she was looking for a ghost she had invented and convinced herself was real.
Steve Prim believed her, had rescued her, and the while he’d probably stared at her with those adoring eyes. Christopher curled his fingers into fists. Steve had a very punchable face. Naturally, Steve would be the one to save the day and make Christopher the bad guy. He groaned. He really hated the Prims.
Curling his upper lip, Christopher couldn’t be mad at Steve. He endured a lot with his overbearing father. While the local business leaders might balk at Christopher’s methods, he proved his dedication to the region and never resorted to harsh words. Carl Prim communicated to his son through thinly veiled threats and emotional abuse. His ugly words were public.How bad was it in private?It was a miracle Steve wasn’t aggressive. But, also, he’d never be out from under the man’s thumb.
Surely Ashley could see that? Of all the romantic choices in town, Christopher remained the best option. Kind, hard-working, caring, he added the qualities of loyal, steadfast, and true as a husband. He couldn’t tell her more of his dedication without hurting her.
He remained trapped in an impossible situation, only for the Steves and Zachs of the world to swoop in and steal the girl. And then, as if he willed it, his peace was broken. In the cupholder, his phone rang, the namemaybeSteve Prim flashing.
Christopher would admit to a small, petty pleasure in not adding Steve to his cell phone contact list. This call was forwarded from his desk. He was surprised he’d had this much peace. He grabbed the phone and slid his thumb over the lock screen. “Hello?”
“Hey? Is Ashley with you?” Steve said through heavy breaths.
“No.” Christopher frowned. She was on her way to see Seth. He might have entertained the idea that she would bump into Steve or Zach, and years of friendship might develop into something flirtatious. But she wouldn’t lie to his face about where she was heading. “Why? What’s going on?”
“She fell into the lake, and I took her to the hospital to get checked out. And she’s not here. I left and came back, and she’s gone.”
“She’s an adult, Steve. She can check herself out if she’s physically able.”
“I know, I know. It’s just. That wasn’t the… She was supposed to wait.”
For what?Steve rescued her and gave her a ride to get cleared by a doctor. She had no obligation beyond her sincere gratitude.What more was he expecting? That she’d feel so appreciative she’d fall in love with him?Christopher curled his upper lip, preparing to snarl.
“The front desk saw you,” Steve said. “Or someone who looked like you. Oh, my word. Do you think she was kidnapped?”
“What?” Christopher shook his head. “Why would she be kidnapped?”
“Why would she leave?” Steve screeched.
Christopher pulled the phone from his ringing ear and took a deep breath. He pressed the cell to his ear again. “She is fine. She was with me. I picked her up. But she’s not with me at the moment. She had someplace to be. She’s getting coffee with a friend.”
