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Quinn didn’t seem to want to take no for an answer and leant over and placed his hand on Ashley’s thigh. “I—”
Ashley knocked his hand away. “Bugger off.”
Ashley turned to see Ben had arrived. He was fucking stunning, as ever, in a navy three-piece suit and lavender shirt open at the collar. Ashley needed to get rid of this arse or he was going to ruin his fun.
Quinn let out a low whistle as he clocked Ben as well. “My word. Perhaps I’ll try my luck with him instead.”
Ashley had got used to Ben turning heads, and Ben had grown adept at getting rid of people with ease.
“He’s probably out of your league.”
Quinn slid off his chair. “I’m a big proponent of if you don’t ask you don’t get.”
As Ben reached the bar Quinn sidled up to him and Ben sent him away with a wry smile. Then he looked straight at Ashley across the bar and grinned. Ashley swallowed and raised his bottle in salute.
Moments later a glass of champagne was placed in front of Ashley and Ben took the seat next to him. “I hope I’m not being too presumptuous.”
“I suppose that depends on what you’re presuming.”
“That you wouldn’t mind my company.”
Ashley toyed with the stem of his glass. “Let me think, a beautiful man wanting to buy me champagne… it’s a tough one.”
“My name’s Ben.” He held up his glass.
“Ashley.” They clinked glasses. “To what do I have to toast that brought you to this place tonight? I really should offer up some silent thanks.”
“I have friends nearby, and I fancied a drink before I headed home.”
“Where’s home?”
Ben licked his lips and took a sip of his drink. “A little place in Hertfordshire. You?”
“I’m an Essex boy, although I like to think I’ve had some of the rough edges knocked off.”
It was strange talking to Ben as if they didn’t know each other, yet thrilling. They hadn’t met like this, he’d been working for Ben and they’d eventually succumbed to their mutual attraction. Ben did have a long history of fly-by bar encounters, he wasn’t sure if he was ready to see that side of him but then again...
“From where I’m sitting your edges look perfectly fine to me. But maybe I need a closer look.”
Ben called the waiter over and said he’d reserved a table. Ashley followed Ben to a nook tucked away in a corner with a circular sofa. “Is this your regular spot?”
“Oh no, I think I’ve only been here a couple of times and that was years ago. But a friend told me the best tables to ask for were at the back, and I’ve always liked the best things in life, so I thought why not.”
A simple sentence but it meant more than it said. This hadn’t been one of Ben’s old hunting grounds, he’d been here but it wasn’t somewhere he’d been his old playboy self. Ashley was touched that he’d chosen somewhere with that foresight. Ben’s past didn’t bother him, but he didn’t need reminding of it either.
“I ended up here by accident. Never been before, so perhaps we should celebrate the lucky coincidence.”
“I’m celebrating that such an attractive man as you was willing to have a drink with me.” He picked up his glass and clinked it against Ashley’s.
Ashley stared over the top of his glass and bit his lip, something he knew Ben adored. “How do think you might want to celebrate?”
Ben shifted closer and placed his hand on Ashley’s thigh. “There are countless possibilities. The night is ours to explore.”
Ashley sipped his champagne. “Why do I get the sense you may have something in mind?”
Ben moved so his lips were at Ashley’s ear. He smelt so good, Ashley loved Chanel Bleu, which seemed to be so perfect for Ben.
“If I’m being honest, I’d love to get my hands all over you. Peel you out of your suit, have you lying out across a bed. Begging to me to fuck you.”
