Chapter 26

Twenty-Six

By the time we're back inside the Vegas city limits, our conversation has shifted to the mundane details of getting to the airport in the morning. "I'll keep the McLaren garaged here," Ash decides. "We'll take a taxi to the airport, then take the Stark International Gulfstream to Austin."

"It's here?"

"I asked Grayson to fly her here in the morning. Damien's always said the fleet's at my disposal. Figure I've got to take my dad at his word."

"Have you used it before?"

He shakes his head, and I hide a smile, glad to see this evidence that their relationship really is growing stronger.

"We'll board about ten, we'll land at Bergstrom and be in downtown Austin before two."

"Is that where you live? One of the condos downtown?" I've been to Austin a couple of times for the South by Southwest festival, and it's one of my favorite towns. Plus, I've fallen in love with Tex-Mex food, so even despite the circumstances, I'm glad to be seeing the city again. And I'm very curious to see where Ashton Stone lives. Considering he's a young tech-oriented guy, I figure one of the high-rise condos in that city fits him perfectly, if not stereotypically.

He surprises me by shaking his head. "I've got a house on Hudson Bend. On Lake Travis," he adds in response to my questioning look. "That's where I live."

"That sounds amazing."

"It is. But it's also in the middle of a major remodel, so, yes. We'll be staying downtown. At my condo," he adds with a grin.

"But you don't live there?"

"I use it for guests," he says. "And I crash there when I stay too late at the office."

"Which is downtown," I guess, and he nods.

"Home or office or just a hang-out, I'm looking forward to seeing it all." I lace my voice with a tease, but it's true. I want to know everything there is to know about Ash, and that includes how and where he lives.

"We probably won't have time to see the house on this trip," he tells me. "But we'll come back once the remodel is finished."

He says the words casually, but their impact on me is anything but. "Oh," I say, hoping I sound just as cool and collected. "That sounds like a great plan."

He catches my eye, then takes my hand. Slowly, he lifts it to his lips, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he kisses my fingers and releases my hand. And even though we're not on the plane yet, in that moment, I feel like I'm flying.

"Hopefully Noah will have some information for us by the time we land," he says, the words bringing me back down to earth.

"Noah Carter?" My head is spinning. "What information? Noah?—"

"Is not in law enforcement—not officially, anyway. And he won't say a word to Damien."

I don't know Noah well, but he's a friend of Damien's, and I know enough to know that he's consulted with law enforcement on a number of major crimes. "Ash, I can't risk?—"

He reaches across the console and takes my hand. "He isn't paid by or actively consulting with any law enforcement agency. But he is a whiz with tech. And he knows I need fast help with a blackmail attempt. He doesn't know who or what. He has no other information. But I wanted him prepared for when you agreed to let me bring him in."

"He's not in yet?"

"Right now, he's only meeting us for drinks as my friend."

"And you're so sure I'm going to agree to let him help that you're only mentioning this now?" I hear my voice rising in fear. It doesn't sound like Ash has broken any of the blackmailer's rules, but I'm still worried. What if Noah doesn't understand and pulls in a cop? Or has someone on the team who's also on the Stark Security payroll, and investigative company founded by Damien after the kidnapping.

Except I know Noah wouldn't do either of those things. And that's when I realize what's scaring me. It's not who Noah is, it's what he'll be doing.

What if he sees the images of me?

I shiver, then hug myself, shaking my head slowly. "You should have asked me first."

He reaches over and puts his hand on mine. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you or make it worse. I thought having Noah set up before we got there was a good idea. We're leaving LA, but we're flying into a safety net."

"I just—those videos." I swallow as I blink back tears. "I don't want anyone to see."

"Oh, baby," he says, his shoulders drooping. "I'm so sorry. Of course, that worries you."

"I don't want anyone?—"

"And no one will," he says firmly. "I can't think of a single reason why Noah or anyone else we call in to help will have to."

"You think we'll have more than Noah on the team?"

"I think we want to trace the money. And since that's outside my pay grade, we're going to rely on the most trustworthy and loyal help we can round up. Okay? "His voice is as gentle as the fingertip that strokes my cheek. "I'm sorry," he adds. "I thought I was giving you one less thing to think about. I wasn't trying to make it worse. I would never do that to you. I lo?—"

He clears his throat. "I lost my head. But we're on the same page now."

I barely hear those last words. All I hear is what he didn't say: love.

Was that what he'd truly intended to say? Or am I only hearing something I want to hear?

Want to hear …

The thought echoes in my head, surreal and scary. And far too fast.

Or is it? I was attracted to Ash the first moment I saw him, back when he burst into the Stark home full of misplaced anger and a lust for revenge.

I've followed his career and I've listened in awe whenever anyone brings up his skill and intelligence. I've felt my heart squeeze when he sits on the floor to play with his younger siblings, and I happily accepted anytime he offered to join me in the playroom when I was drowning in kids.

Other than those first, horrible days when everyone's expectations and understandings were all screwed up, Ashton Stone has proven to be one hell of a guy.

He's even more so now, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, helping me helps his little sister, but he didn't know that when he first signed on.

I needed three million, and he pledged to get it for me.

At a price .

The little voice in my head is more accusation than warning. Because no matter what Ashton's motives were for demanding the deal we struck, at the end of the day, it proved two things beyond a shadow of a doubt: That he wants me, at least for now. And, so help me, that I want him, too.

"Bree?" The worry in his tone pulls me from my thoughts.

"Sorry. What?"

"Are we okay?"

I'm not sure if he means about the possible slip of his tongue until he continues with, "Noah isn't going to see those videos, and neither is anyone else who may end up helping us. I should have checked with you first, and I'm sorry I didn't. I thought I was lifting the burden, not making it heavier.

"I get that," I tell him. "Truly. I just—I freaked a little bit."

"I'm not going to blame you for that."

We drive in silence for a while, then at a stoplight, he turns to me. "Do you trust me?"

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Do you trust me," he repeats, his voice serious enough to make my heart squeeze a little.

"Yes," I say. "Don't you know that?"

The light changes, but he meets my eyes before moving forward. "I'd like to get Noah started if it's okay with you."

This time my whole chest goes tight, and the feeling isn't warm and enticing as it was only moments ago. Instead, it's hard and a little terrifying.

I force myself to say, "Yes. If you think it's okay, then of course, it's okay."

He takes his eyes off the road long enough to meet and hold mine. If he can see my fear, he doesn't acknowledge it. He simply lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses my palm.

And right then, although nothing has really changed at all, everything changes. Because I know that I really do trust him. Wholly and completely. With my life. And—though I'm not sure he knows it or even wants it—also with my heart.

He tugs his hand from mine to shift gears again, and I wait for the feeling to dissipate. It doesn't. Somehow, someway, Ash has truly gotten under my skin. Or maybe he'd always been there, and this is the first time I've allowed myself to realize it.

I don't know.

All I'm certain of is that something has shifted inside me. I trust him, yes. But what I feel is a hell of a lot stronger than that.

"You said you kept the URL the first QR code sent you to, right?"

I turn in my seat. "Yeah. Why?"

"Do you have it with you?"

"It's in my notes app on my phone." I pull up the app while we're talking. "Why?"

He tells me to take his phone and open his email app. When I do, I see an email already composed to NCarter. The subject is "party details" and in the body, there's a web address.

"That's where the QR code we got at the hotel sent us," he says. "Now take yours, text it to my phone, then copy it into the email and hit send."

"Party details?"

"We're not breaking a rule by sending that info to Noah," he says, "but why take chances?"

I gape at him. "You think whoever is doing this to me is monitoring our emails?"

"Actually, I don't. But again, why?—"

"Take chances," I finish. And I have to silently agree.

As soon as the email is sent, he reaches for my hand, and our fingers twine again. I know he'll have to let go the next time he needs to shift, but for the moment, I relish the connection. I'm about to ask him if he thinks that Noah will really be able to get any solid info from those URLs, when my phone rings.

"Aria," I say, glancing down at the phone in my lap as Ash pulls his hand away and puts it on the wheel, almost as if we're pre-teens caught kissing in the bleachers. The thought makes me smile, and I hear the brightness and humor in my voice as I answer my phone.

My smile fades with Aria's first words. "Are you okay?"

"As much as I can be under the circumstances."

Beside me, Ash mouths what?

I shake my head, my attention on Aria. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Oh. Um. Nothing," she says. "I mean, no more than we already know about. I just had one of my feelings."

Woo , I mouth to Ash, who bites back a grin. "What kind of feeling?" I ask Aria. "Something about me? About Ash?"

"No, no. Just, well, I mean, you're good, right? You're going to get the money in time to meet that bullshit deadline?"

"Absolutely."

"And he's…"

"What?"

"I don't know."

"You're being insanely cryptic, Ar."

"I know. Sorry. I just… I just want to know you're okay. That your, um, arrangement is working out. I mean, I'm assuming you agreed to the, um, terms?"

I grimace as I glance sideways to Ash. "It's working out great."

"Good. That's great. And you'll get the money in time?"

"Of course. I mean, Anne's his sister, remember?" Ash glances my way. I shrug.

"She clears her throat, and I can't help but feel like there's something she's not telling me.

"Come on, Aria. What's going on?"

"Nothing. Honest."

"You're weirding me out."

"O.M.G.," she says. "It's no big. I mean, I just saw some of the pictures. You two in Vegas."

"I told you that we're heading to Austin. And trust me when I say the photos weren't our idea."

"Where are you, anyway?"

"In the car. On some highway."

"Driving?"

"Ash is driving. Are you sure nothing's going on? You're freaking me out."

"No, no, no," she says. "I don't mean to, really. Sorry. I'm glad everything's on track. Really. I just called because I have gossip."

I wait for her to go on, and when she doesn't, I prod. "Well? Lay it on me? We're still a ways from the hotel."

Beside me, Ash mouths, what ?

I shrug, then tap the mute button. "I think she's worried we're doing exactly the kind of thing we've been doing."

"Me taking unfair sexual advantage of your situation?"

I grin, loving that we're so much on the same page we can joke about it. "Pretty much."

"Keep her on pins and needles," he says, and I flash a thumbs-up as I unmute my phone. "Sorry, Ar," I say. "We hit a dead zone. I missed all of that."

"You remember that guy Kari was hot for?"

"The surfer dude? Marty something?"

"Martin Street," she says, and yes."

"What about him?" Considering the bullshit I'm currently living with, this probably shouldn't be something that grabs my attention. But right now, the chance to spend a few minutes feeling like a normal girl talking to her bestie about normal girl things sounds about as perfect as it gets.

"Looks like they broke up."

Okay, that is not my idea of worthy gossip. Maybe on a day when I'm not being blackmailed, but today? Not so much. And, honestly, after that bullshit interview Kari sprang on me, her dating life doesn't rate high on my Interesting Gossip list, anyway.

Still, I give Aria an A for effort and try to sound interested when I say, "Well, there's lots of surfers for her to pick from. I'm sure she'll find someone else in time."

"Yeah, well, guess who he's seeing now…."

"Um, you?"

"Oh, please. Like I want Kari's cast-offs." I'm about to guess again, but Aria can't hold it in and blurts out, "Maggie Fucking Bridge."

"No. Way." I am seriously gobsmacked.

"Way," Aria says.

"And they're dating dating?"

"Yeah. At least I think so. I saw them all cozy in one of the inside booths."

"Cozy? Like making out?"

"Whispering. Sitting on the same side of the table, practically all over each other, and whispering."

"Whoa." I'm usually not that into gossip, but I just can't picture Maggie with anyone, much less a sexy surfer dude. I mean, honestly. Who would want her?

"I know, right?" Aria says when I tell her as much.

"Is Kari totally wigging?"

"That's what makes it even more bizarre," Aria tells me. "Kari seems totally cool with it."

"Weird."

"Totally," she says. "She's probably only okay on the surface. I bet she's seething inside."

I second that, and we share a few more minutes of chitchat before I tell her that we've reached the hotel, and I end the call just as the bellman opens my door.

I grin as Ash takes my elbow and escorts me into the ornate lobby. "And that's why I have a roommate," I tell him. "Because Aria can't survive without someone to talk to."

"She reminds me of a guy I shared a dorm with my freshman year of college," he begins, and by the time we're halfway across the lobby I've let loose a very undignified snort of laughter. Which causes him to laugh, which starts me up all over again.

We're so engaged with amusing ourselves that it isn't until we're in the elevator and the doors are closing that I notice that, once again, folks are looking our direction, several pointing. Only this time, it seems to be everyone who's looking. And more than half of them are holding their phones up and aiming them in our direction. Apropos considering Aria called because she saw a photo just like the ones they're taking.

As the elevator doors slide shut, I sigh, thinking about how we've just run the kind of celebrity gauntlet that I imagine has become second nature to Ash.

And which— in my now-considered opinion— is way up there on the nuisance scale.