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“Handy.” I shift my weight, a damn rock lodged deep in my throat. She stares at me for a long minute, and I swallow hard over the lump.
Walk away, Jack. It’s for the best. Say you’re sorry and go. She doesn’t need you.
“Listen— I’m really sorry for what happened back there. I don’t know what you heard exactly, but I realize none of it sounded great. And for that, I’m sorry. My partner, Brock, is kind of an ass…”
Ashton locks her gaze on mine and I try not to squirm, instead raking a hand through my hair. “And I can be an ass as well. I own that.”
She bites at her bottom lip, listening to my feeble apology but saying nothing. So I forge ahead.
“For what it’s worth, I told him to fuck off. What I do —and how I feel— is none of his damn business.”
“Well, that’s good. I’m glad you don’t let your business partner influence your romantic decisions.” Her tone’s sarcastic and even though I definitely deserve her anger, it still stings.
“I don’t. And if the work situation wasn’t urgent, I wouldn’t have made the call right then. Ashton, I don’t pursue many relationships. For various reasons, but one of the main factors is my career. My job is my life and I’ve always been okay with that. Until now.”
I step closer, close enough to hear her breath hitch, soft spots of pink blooming on her cheeks. Reaching out, I grip her hips and pull her to me, our faces only inches apart now.
“I should walk away from you, I know that. I’m not good enough for you and both of us could wind up getting hurt. Plus you have kids to worry about, so if all this is too much, say the word and I’ll go.”
Fear grips me, clawing at my chest, the air between us crackling with tension. But deep down, I have to take the risk. I can’t live with the maybes, the what ifs.
Ashton’s worth it, I feel it deep in my soul.
“Jack—”
I hold my breath, every muscle in my body tense. I’m more nervous in this moment than during a negotiation with billions of dollars on the line.
“I’m in.”
“What? Really?” Relief floods through me as Ashton’s face breaks into a smile, her hands wrapping around my neck.
“Yes, really. But under one condition…”
“Name it.”
“I’m keeping the pizza.”
“You drive a hard bargain,” I tease, my hand sliding from her waist to her ass. “But it’s a deal.”
Dropping my lips to hers, I kiss Ashton, long and slow and deep. Not caring about the icy cold or my stressful career or the logistics of the future.
In this moment, the only thing that matters is the amazing, kind, genuine woman in my arms and the connection we share.
The sound of an engine, followed by slamming car doors, shocks us out of the moment.
“Ashton Jones?” A baritone voice interrupts and sends us hurtling back to reality.
Ashton breaks away, peering around my shoulder. A pick-up truck is parked in the driveway.
“Yes?”
Two men approach the house, both wearing dark green ski suits.
“We’re with the Spruce Ridge Snow Patrol, performing a routine wellness check. Your family contacted the Ranger station when you didn’t answer your cell last night. Normally, we give calls like this more time, but on account of the blizzard, we wanted to take extra precautions and play it safe.” The first ranger eyes me up and down, assessing the situation.
“Oh. Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t have my cell because I locked myself out of the rental. Jack let me stay the night, thankfully, or I might have frozen to death—” She shoots me a grateful look, squeezing my hand. “Then this morning I got back into the cabin, but my cell died before I could call home. I’m so sorry to have caused any trouble. I hope you didn’t have too much difficulty coming up here.”
“No trouble at all, ma’am.” Ranger One shoves both hands in his pockets. “Happy you’re safe. The power should be up and running again sometime today, but in the meantime we’ll update your family and let them know you’re fine.”
