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Ashton frowned. “A hardware store? Why?”
“Because I love building things,” she explained, unable to hide her excitement. “I attend free workshops at Home Depot several times a month to improve my skills, and last week my instructor said my birdhouse was the best one in the class.”
“You strike me as the type who likes to bake, not swing a hammer.”
“Growing up, I was a tomboy. I rode dirt bikes, played video games and never left home without my beloved Firebirds baseball cap.”
“And now?”
“I still enjoy playing sports, but I’ve definitely embraced my feminine side.” She joked, “Being a woman is great! I can change my look whenever the mood strikes and my shoe collection would make Jimmy Choo jealous!”
“You’re a talented young woman who’s destined to do great things in the nonprofit sector, and at Home Depot.” Ashton smiled. “Your boyfriend must be very proud of you.”
For the second time in minutes, her mind ran to her ex-boyfriend, Federico Tevez. A year ago they’d been making plans for the future, but now their relationship was over, nothing but a distant memory. Their breakup had been painful, but for the best. He’d moved to Washington, DC, as planned—without her—and every time someone mentioned the nation’s capital, Haley wondered what could have been. On paper, they were a perfect match. He was a trained chef with big dreams and traditional values, but—
Stop dwelling on the past, Haley told herself, breaking free of her thoughts. He wasn’t the right man for you. You have to accept that and move on. He’s not coming back.
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said quietly. “I’m single.”
“So am I. It’s amazing how much we have in common.”
His husky voice was dreamy, and when their eyes met, her mind went blank. It felt good being with a suave, charming man who smelled divine and showered her with compliments, and Haley wanted to spend the rest of the night hanging out with him.
“Can I ask you something?”
Curious, Haley nodded her head. “Sure, Ashton, what is it?”
“Why are you single?”
“Why are you?” she quipped.
A mischievous expression covered his face. “I asked first.”
“I haven’t met the right person yet. You?”
“Yesterday, I would have said the same thing, but I’ve recently had a change of heart. I’m interested in a beautiful, charity CEO, but I don’t want to scare her off by revealing my true feelings.” Ashton winked. “I’m pacing myself. It’s only our first date.”
Their eyes lined up.
“I had fun tonight,” he said, “and I’d love to see you again.”
Haley moistened her lips with her tongue. “To discuss The Aunt Penny Foundation?”
“No,” he said calmly. “To wine you and dine you.”
Ashton brushed his fingers against hers, and a moan rose in her throat.
Needing a moment to gather her thoughts, Haley sipped her water.
“Have you ever been to the Rooftop Bar?” he asked her. “It’s the most popular restaurant-lounge in the city, and everything on the menu is exquisite.”
You’re exquisite, she thought, staring at his lips, wishing they were pressed hard against hers. “No, not yet. I’ve heard about it, but I haven’t had an opportunity to check it out.”
“I’ll pick you up on Friday night at seven o’clock,” he said with a broad grin, his tone matter-of-fact. “Wear comfortable shoes. We’re going to be doing a lot of dancing.”
“Ashton, I’m sorry, but I have other plans tomorrow night.”
The smile slid off his face. “Do you have a date?”
“Yeah, a date at the Miami Soup Kitchen. Fun times!” Haley laughed. “I volunteer twice a week, and if I’m not there to make my seafood gumbo the regulars will complain.”
“Need some help?”
“But you don’t cook.”
“Yeah,” Ashton conceded. “But I can chop vegetables with the best of them.”
“Then we’d love to have you.”
“Great. I look forward to seeing you again on Friday night.”
“Wear comfortable shoes,” she teased, gesturing under the table at his designer sandals. “Those aren’t going to cut it. You’re going to be on your feet all night, so runners are your best bet.”
“Got it,” Ashton said. “How did you get involved with the soup kitchen?”
Heat warmed her skin. Normally, Haley wasn’t afraid to share her story, but she didn’t want Ashton to judge her, and had second thoughts about opening up to him about her childhood. “Despite my parents both working two jobs, there was never enough food at home, so we’d eat at local soup kitchens a few times a week,” she explained. “I started volunteering when I was in high school, and now I’m there so much it’s like my second home.”
A sympathetic expression covered his face, and Haley wished she’d kept her big mouth shut. Wished she’d lied. She didn’t want Ashton’s pity; she’d made it, built a life she was proud of. Thanks to Aunt Penny, she was an inner-city success story, and she’d never, ever forget where she came from.
“Please give my regards to Ms. Edith,” she said, resting her utensils on her empty plate. “Dinner was amazing, especially her peach cobbler.”
Ashton stood, came around the table and helped Haley out of her chair. “I’m glad you liked it. Next time you come over I’ll see to it that she makes another one.”
Next time? Her mouth watered, and her heart danced inside her chest.
“This was nice, Ashton. Thank you for a lovely evening—”
“You can’t leave. I haven’t given you a tour of the estate yet. It’s not to be missed.”
“Okay, one short tour, but then I have to go. It’s way past my bedtime.”
“If you’re tired you can stay here. I have eight bedrooms and a huge guest cottage.”
“I bet you say that to all the charity CEOs you have over for dinner.”
Winking, he slid an arm around her waist. “No, beautiful, just you.”
Chapter 3 (#u61d55639-542f-564d-afaa-31b74d319c1d)
Ashton wondered what Haley was thinking, wished he could read her mind and dissect her thoughts. Desire simmered below the surface, filling the air with its intoxicating fragrance. Stunning, with impeccable manners and a wicked sense of humor, Haley was hard to resist. All Ashton could think about was kissing her, ravishing her mouth with his. He found her delightful, genuine and sweet, and he didn’t want her to leave. To prolong their time together, Ashton walked slowly along the winding pathway, stopping to point out the exotic fish in the man-made lake, the guest cottage and the outdoor basketball court.
“Next time you come over bring your workout gear. We’ll play a game of one-on-one.”
“Just say when.” Haley grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll take it easy on you.”
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was in diapers. You don’t stand a chance.”
“Ha, ha, ha,” she quipped, her tone full of sarcasm. “You’re hilarious! We’ll see who gets the last laugh when I cream you on your own court!”
Ashton cracked up. Haley looked pleased with herself, as if she’d hit a three-point shot from half-court, and the jovial expression on her face made her eyes twinkle.
“I don’t care how good you think your game is, Haley. You’re going down.”
“Your mama!”
Tossing his head back, Ashton erupted in laughter. He’d dated women from all walks of life, who always said and did the right thing, but he found her personality refreshing. Haley told it like it was, and their verbal sparring was a turn-on, putting him in a playful mood.
“This is a huge house for one person.” Haley stared up at him, shielding her eyes from the setting sun with her hands. Hands he wished were on his body, stroking his—
“Do you live with your parents?”
“Hell no!” Ashton said, shivering at the thought. “They live next door.”
As they strolled around the property, every other word out of Haley’s mouth was “Wow,” “Incredible,” or “Awesome.” She listened as he talked about the mansion and asked him numerous questions. How many years did it take to build the estate? Did he have live-in staff? Did he entertain regularly? It amused him to see her reaction to his house, to hear her shriek when something shocked her—like the size of his home gym—and Ashton wondered if Haley was vocal in the bedroom, too.
“This room is bigger than my entire condo,” she said, glancing around the space, her eyes wide with wonder. “I’d kill to have a home gym like this.”
The air-conditioned room was filled with state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Autographed posters of famous athletes hung on the vibrant blue walls, and the walk-in fridge at the rear of the room was stocked with healthy snacks and cold drinks. It was Ashton’s favorite room in the house, and whenever he had a bad day or argued with his dad, he’d head straight to the gym and exercise until he was in a better frame of mind.
“I feel like I’m in a museum. I’m going to need a map to find my way out of here!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll escort you to your car when you’re ready to go.”
Frowning, Haley pointed at the red floor mat in front of the window. “You do yoga?”
“Of course.” Ashton grinned. “I’m more than just a pretty face, you know.”
“No offense, but I don’t know any guys who do yoga. How did you start?”
His former fiancée had begged him to attend her drop-in class and he hadn’t wanted to disappoint her. But he didn’t share that information with Haley. Not yet. It was too soon. Talking about Mia’s death would upset him, and Ashton didn’t want to ruin his date by getting emotional.
“I took a class my sophomore year of college,” he said instead, “and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
“No way! I never would have guessed it. You strike me as the type who likes to do extreme sports, not the downward dog. Do your friends give you a hard time for doing yoga?”
“Yeah, but once I told them Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, David Beckham and LeBron James swear by it, they quit teasing me. Yoga helps me focus and improves my mental toughness, and I wouldn’t be the man I am without it.”
“I’ve never tried it, but it looks hard, and I don’t want to hurt myself.”
“You won’t,” he assured her, hoping to put her fears at ease. “If you’d like, I can schedule a private session with my trainer next week so you can see the physical and mental benefits for yourself. You know what they say, a couple who does yoga together stays together.”
Shaking her head, Haley waved her hands in front of her face. “I better not. My best friend and I tried a Pilates class last month, and I was so sore the next day I couldn’t move.”
“And you think you can beat me in basketball? Keep dreaming.”
“Just watch me,” she quipped, all smiles. “I have skills you can’t even imagine.”
Were they still talking about basketball? Ashton wondered, wetting his lips with his tongue. Her soft, sultry tone tickled his eardrums, and her mischievous grin stole his breath. What the hell? Ashton thought, plucking at his shirt to cool down his suddenly overheated body. I’m supposed to be in control, not her!
Ashton couldn’t stop staring at her. Haley looked prim and proper in her cardigan, like a preschool teacher on picture day, but she had an edge, a side to her he wanted to get to know better. And he would. Tonight. After they toured his estate.
Exiting the room, his hand placed firmly on her lower back, Ashton led her down the hallway to the den. They discussed the décor, the African-themed paintings and the souvenirs he’d purchased during his overseas travels, which were prominently displayed on the glass shelves.
“Do you travel a lot for work?”
Ashton nodded. “Yes. As a matter of fact, I returned from Frankfurt this morning.”
“I’m so jealous. I wish I could travel more, but the foundation keeps me very busy.”
“I know how you feel. As COO, it’s my job to build and promote Rollins Aeronautics, and this month alone, I’ll be in Seattle, Orlando and Venezuela.”
A concerned expression touched her delicate features. “Aren’t you worried about your safety? Yesterday I read about the food shortages and increased crime in Maracaibo, and even locals are scared to venture out at night.”
“All the more reason I should attend the conference,” he said in a confident tone of voice. “The Venezuelan economy could use a boost, and in spite of the media reports it remains one of my favorite countries in the world. It has spectacular landscapes, some of the kindest, friendliest people you’ll ever meet and the best food you’ve ever tasted.”
“And it doesn’t hurt that Venezuelan women are stunning,” she pointed out.
“I never noticed.”
“Right. Next you’re going to tell me you’ve never been to a strip club!”
“I haven’t. It’s not my speed. I’d rather do yoga or play chess.”
Haley studied the framed pictures along the walls. “Is there anywhere you haven’t been yet that you’re dying to travel to?”
“Ibiza.” A grin overwhelmed Ashton’s mouth. “We’ll go there for our honeymoon.”
Nodding, she returned his smile. “Deal. Give me the wedding of my dreams, and I’ll travel the world with you!”
I love the sound of that, he thought, gazing down at her pretty face.
Continuing the tour, they walked through the main house and into the great room. They talked about growing up in Miami, their university days and their respective jobs. Haley was passionate about The Aunt Penny Foundation and giving back to her community, and Ashton enjoyed learning more about her hobbies and interests. Talking and cracking jokes, they moved from one topic to the next without missing a beat.
“What’s your most prized possession?” Haley asked, admiring the glass sculptures on the end tables.
“That’s easy. My car collection.”
Ashton heard his cell phone ring inside his back pocket, knew from the ringtone it was his mother and decided to let the call go to voice mail. If he answered and mentioned he was on a date, she’d race over, and Ashton wasn’t ready to introduce Haley to Joan. Not after one date. For now, he wanted to keep their relationship under wraps.
