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My jaw was hanging. “You are kidding.”
“Absolutely not. I spent most of sophomore year trying to get your attention. But you were Ashlyn Grove, always so focused, so driven. By the end of college, I’d given up on getting your attention, but it didn’t stop the pining.”
I laughed. “I had the biggest crush on you, Carter! I can’t believe you didn’t notice.”
He leaned forward on his elbows. “Then it’s a true tragedy. Nevertheless, congrats to the new man in your life. If he’s anything like the media pegs him as, I would say I was worried. But the publicist in me has a lot of doubts about any boyfriend of yours being anything but misrepresented.”
I stayed silent, sipping my wine with tight lips. Ten points to Carter for seeing just a sliver of the man underneath the playboy persona. Maybe I wasn't the only one to see the real Liam after all.
“I’ve seen Liam around at some charity events, even a big fundraiser for Memorial Hospital. He probably doesn't deserve the abuse he gets. I’m glad he’s making you happy.”
The air is tight in my chest. Was I happy with Liam? The answer was startlingly clear. Yes. I was happy. Did I think he was a little crazy? Did I think he made horrible choices over the past few years? Yes. But there was so much more to Liam than any of that. And I loved him, past scars and present battles included.
“He is making you happy, isn’t he?” Carter’s expression darkened for a moment.
“Yes, yes he is.” I took a long sip. “Or rather, I will be as soon as I fix my little image issue.” I puckered my lips, giving him my best pitiful puppy expression.
Carter sighed. “Fine. Tell me about your thing. But you owe me another drink someday…as friends.”
I reached out my hand, shaking his quickly. “You’ve got yourself a deal. I’m trying to rebrand a particular mayor’s son. He has a bit of a reputation following him from a few years back.”
Carter sipped his drink. “What have you done so far?”
Kissed him.
Held his hand.
Fallen for him.
I bit my lip. “He’s going to be offered the role of CEO in the next few weeks, and while it’s not a guaranteed win, I really need the shareholders to feel positively about his newly reformed lifestyle.”
“What’s his reputation?”
“Playboy, partier, rich boy gone wild with CEO in his signature line.”
“Nice. My cure for the common asshole is always the same. Community involvement.”
I wrinkled my nose. “What do you mean?”
“Set up some promotion events at local places, find him a community service interest who can keep up with his reputation. All the shaking hands and kissing babies he can bear…and then do more.”
“Interesting. He’d be required to do a few things for us as CEO, but I hadn’t thought of expanding that so drastically.”
“Bigger is better. At least in marketing.”
I narrowed my eyes at the joke as Carter flagged the waitress for another drink. “You know, dating a nice girl would do a lot of good as well.”
I frowned, glaring across the table at Carter. Of course he knew. I just didn’t know how.
He took one look at me and busted out laughing. “Calm down, Ashlyn. I didn’t mean to get you all worked up over your client.”
“Ew. Don’t say it like that.”
“Like what? I’m just calling it like I see it. You’re dating your client. Now, it’s obviously going to improve his look. What will it do to yours?”
“I’m not sure that’s any of your business.”
“Don’t get upset. I am just answering your question.” Carter glanced around the restaurant. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt if it’s real for you but not for him.”
