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“I’m not usually.” She laughs lightly, squeezing my hands as we stand there staring at each other. “But I just threw whatever I could into the case, and I raced to the airport. I didn’t even get time to let Em or the girls know until I was boarding.”
“I feel like we’ve all been going back and forth a lot lately,” I say. It strikes me again in the chest how we’re going to do this. Because now she’s here, I know I don’t want to let her go again. A few days’ absence was long enough.
She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter, Ash. All that matters is you.”
I tilt her chin up with my hand and reach down to give her a small peck.
They’re the sweetest words I’ve ever heard in my life. “I meant it when I said you were an angel. Thank you for coming, and I’m sorry again for being such a dick.”
She steps up on her tippy toes and goes in for another kiss. “You’re forgiven.”
CHAPTER 24
Maddison
Holding Ash in my arms is what I’ve been missing and holding out for these past few days. It felt like a lifetime. I was pretty shocked to get the call but glad that he wanted me there. I didn’t hesitate, given the circumstances.
He takes me for a bite to eat and holds my hand in the car the entire way to his place, where we drop off my case and belongings and freshen up.
It’s an amazing apartment with every mod-con known to mankind, but also very minimal as well. It suits him. And the view is amazing.
“How do you feel about it all?” I ask him as he makes us a coffee, and I sit at his breakfast nook, taking him in. He’s wearing jeans and a Seattle Hawks training T-shirt.
He looks sexy barefoot, with his hair loose and shaggy.
“It’s been a rough few days,” he admits. “I need to go by my Dad’s office later and pick up some paperwork. Genevieve, his assistant, called me.”
“I guess it’s too soon to know what happens now with everything.”
“Yeah.” He shrugs. “It all gets kinda complicated with lawyers and shit, though I’m sure my Father had things in place.”
“I’m sure there’s a big range of emotions,” she says. “I know it wasn’t easy for you.”
“It’s been difficult at best,” I say. “And it’s hard to know how to grieve a man I never really knew very well.”
“I can’t even imagine.”
“Thank you for being here,” he says. “I mean it, Mads. You’re the first person I even wanted to see.”
“Ash, that’s such a sweet thing to say, and it’s no problem.”
“I mean it,” he says. “I can’t take back that stupid thing I did, but I regret it.
I’m just glad you’re here.”
“Me too. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.”
If anyone had told me I’d be back in Seattle so soon, I would have thought they were completely crazy, but here I am. I just wish it was under better circumstances.
We drive over to his dad’s office downtown. I feel tired, but I slept a little on the plane. When we get inside, it doesn’t take me long to realize he owns the whole building. I wonder how much the guy must own. Ashton told me he has a lot of businesses and has dealings all over the place.
It’s not something he’s ever spoken of with a great deal of interest.
I wonder what happens to all of it now. Since he’s made it clear, he has no intention of running any of his father’s companies.Plus, there’s the emotional upheaval of coming to terms with what’s happened.
It’s quiet in the office when Ashton pulls my hand gently, and we exit out of the elevator.
I meet Genevieve at reception. She’s typing away furiously when we walk up.
