AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You look gorgeous.” He gives me a once-over.
“It’s just skinny jeans and a tunic. And when I say skinny jeans, I don’t mean—”
“Hey!” Ford barks, pulling me toward him. Low and in my face, he mutters, “You’re fucking beautiful. And I want the name of every man who ever told you otherwise because they will be tasting dirt in a ditch.” His southern accent explodes, giving me a hint of country justice.
“Ford!” Ash cries out. “You’re a lawyer. He’s kidding, Bernadette.”
“No. I’m not. I killed men in Iraq and Afghanistan without breaking a sweat,” he says flatly, proud even.
I gasp. The hands of a murderer holding me feel much different than I ever imagined.
“That must have been so traumatic,” I say to show empathy.
“I did what I had to do.” Ford’s deep voice rattles in my head. “I just told you my deepest, darkest secret. I trust you, sugar.”
Swallowing, I’m overwhelmed.
“I’m proud you avenged the enemy for our country.”
“I’ll do the same for you.” He glances down at my body. “And as far as you’re concerned, skinny, curvy, whatever your size is, it doesn’t matter to me. You’rebeautiful with a golden heart.”
“I feel beautiful in your eyes.” Glancing at Ash, watching us, I add, “Both of you. I want to bottle this up and sell it as an accessory with my clothes.”
“If you make other women look as good as you, men will line up.” Ash laughs.
“You’re gonna be so successful, sugar.” Ford caresses my cheeks with his thick thumbs. “Either way. With those designs or a new collection. I feel it. I just want you withus.”
“I know what you mean. I know I can be successful. Stella is. She gave women like us more choices to feel good in our second skin. And her clothes sell out.”
“I have to ask, baby.” Ash hands out fresh juice. “Why did you come to New York then?”
I exhale, realizing it’s a valid question.
“Her business hit a speed bump.” I stop, realizing she was stuck a year ago, just like I am now.
It must be common when trying to make a dream come true.
Can lightning in a bottle flash twice?
“She lost her funding from a venture capitalist backer. She didn’t have money to pay me anymore. I didn’t want her to go into debt over it. I got a call from someone telling me Prada was hiring, so I flew out here just to keep my options open. I got the job and took it. I didn’t want Stella making decisions that would make her life harder just to keep paying me.”
“You’re so selfless.” Ash comes out from behind the island and drops a kiss on my lips.
“Me?” I wrap my arms around his shoulders and enjoy a tender moment between just us. “You’re a saint.”
“And I’m a sinner.” Ford grabs us both. “I made a reservation at Laurel’s for brunch.”
“Is he seriously this bossy all the time?” I ask Ash.
“Just you wait. He’s only warming up.”
WE LEAVE ASH’S TOWNHOUSEwhich I get to admire in the daylight. The cream-colored cement front with carved molded windows rises three stories. The thick wooden double front door and skinny sidelights are so classic New York.
I love that Ash lives on a tree-lined street, and I soak in the leaves slowly tinting with fall colors.
We walk east, me wedged between Ash and Ford. We don’t hold hands, though. That would look odd, like I’m an overgrown kid. But we brush shoulders, and I grip their sleeves here and there.
At Laurel’s, a swanky restaurant I never even tried to get a table at, we walk right through and get seated in a booth. I’m wearing shades, but I feel eyes on me.
