“Done with Dad already?”
I watched on as she flicked her wrist rapidly, the eggs frothing in the bowl as she closed a cupboard door with a nudge of her hip, her eyes never leaving mine. I paused a moment before answering, “Yeah, but it involves you too.”
“Talk.”
It wasn’t just my dad who was direct.
“Well, it has to do with a client of mine who is abusive to his wife.”
She stopped mixing, her eyes heated, her mouth tight. “Whatever you need it’s yours.”
Funny how different my parents’ immediate reactions were. Then again, I was only giving mom part of the story. She didn’t need all of the details, and I knew for a fact, she wouldn’t want them. “She’s staying with me for the next three months. I want to help her, Mom. I want to show her what an ass—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, Ashton Joseph.”
At thirty-two I was still being reprimanded by my mother for using foul language. What the hell? I rolled my eyes, and continued. “Anyway, I was hoping we could have a big dinner here with Aunt Veronica. Maybe they could sit and talk, help Elena see the light?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea. Do you want to do it next Saturday? Give her time to get down here.”
“That’s perfect, Mom. Thank you.”
She smiled and it lit up her whole face. She might be fifty-seven and I might be her son, but I couldn’t deny that my mom was a beautiful woman—even more so when she smiled. “You’re welcome. Now help me by measuring six cups of flour into the mixer.”
“You know it’ll work better if you sift it.”
She pointed the whisk at me. “My kitchen, my rules. Now pour.”
I did as she said, chuckling to myself as I dumped the flour into the mixing bowl. My dad might run one of the largest money laundering rings in the city, but there was no question who was in charge of the household. I’d even seen Dad cower at a pissed off Mom.
For the next two hours, I helped her bake. It was soothing. When I looked at my watch, the face covered in flour, I realized Elena would be back soon. I wanted to be there when Lewis dropped her off. I also needed to get some paperwork done for the restaurants.
I said goodbye to Mom and left for my office. I checked in with each restaurant manager and collected my paperwork before heading home to wait.
Absorbed in the profit numbers for last month, I almost didn’t hear the soft knock on the door. Knowing how engrossed I got when dealing with the financials, I’d left it open, and when I looked up I almost swallowed my tongue.
I’d known from the moment I saw her that Elena was pretty, but the woman who stood before me was a goddess. Her hair fell in silken waves around her face. Her make up was light, which was great because she didn’t need it. She wore a timid smile that told me she was happy and that, in turn, made me happy. Add to that the fact that every glorious curve of her body was on display in a short green dress, and there was no wonder my dick was hard in seconds, needing to be free of the confines of my jeans.
My mouth opened and shut a few times before I finally managed to say, “Holy shit, Elena. You look fantastic.”
CHAPTER 6
Elena
His wide eyes and gaping mouth were a sight I hadn’t seen directed at me in a long time. Dominic used to look at me that way before we were married, before he realized that I needed work and help being a good wife. Ashton’s eyes were filled with honesty, admiration, and if I wasn’t very much mistaken, lust.
I shook the thought from my head. No way any man, especially one who looked like Ashton, could think I was worthy of a second glance; much less the “I want to eat you up expression” he wore. I watched carefully as he stepped around his desk, moving across the room to stand in front of me. Suddenly I felt like Little Red Riding Hood being stalked by the Big Bad Wolf. My gaze dropped to the floor.
“Look at me, Elena.”
My eyes moved to his and I waited to be reprimanded. I shouldn’t have gone to the spa. I should have offered to make dinner.
Damn it, Elena.
But as ashamed as I felt, I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit to thoroughly enjoying my day. I couldn’t remember the last time someone else cut my hair, much less, added highlights. Dominic thought it was an unnecessary expense. Frivolous, he called it. Then to add a massage, manicure, pedicure, and personal shopper on top of it all? I sighed at the memory, knowing it had been one of the best days of my life.
“Why do you always look at the floor?”
My attention snapped back to Ashton and I replied, “I’m afraid you’re going to yell at me.”