“Just saying, you can make these anytime you like.”
I giggled and started on my own breakfast. That meant a lot coming from someone who owned three of his own restaurants.
A few minutes later he set his fork down, the look on his face somewhere between anxious and pensive. It was not a look I liked at any time, but especially not while he was eating my mom’s special waffles. These things were like heaven on a plate so whatever was on his mind could not be good. I waited, but when he remained silent I stopped eating to see what he wanted.
“You don’t have a show tonight, right?”
I shook my head. “No, we have rehearsal for a few hours this afternoon, but that’s it.”
“I’d like you to come to a drop with me.”
“A drop?” I had a feeling I knew what he meant, but I wanted to make sure.
“A payment. I have a client meeting me at the box tonight.”
The box.
It was one of the last places I wanted to go, and Ashton knew that. He had to. There had to be a reason he wanted me to go with him.
“Can I ask why?”
He leaned toward me taking one of my hands in his. “Last night you agreed to stay with me—to be mine. The only way I’ll know if you can accept the life I lead is if you come and see exactly what it is we do.”
My eyes dropped to the floor. “I’ve seen what you do—first hand, remember?”
A finger slid under my chin, forcing my gaze back up. “I know there are a lot of bad memories for you there, but if you hadn’t been there that night, we wouldn’t be together now. It’s different being on the other side. Trust me.”
I warred with myself, unsure of what to do. If I went, could I push away the bad memories long enough to observe objectively, or would it bother me too much?
Either way, sitting there, watching Ashton, I knew he wasn’t doing this just for me. He was doing it for us. This was my opportunity to show him that I trusted him.
“Okay.”
He smiled and all the tension left his body, and I knew I’d made the right call. Whether or not I would be completely cut out for this, I didn’t know. But I at least owed it to Ashton to give it a try.
* * *
A little bit after breakfast, Ashton left for The Bluewater Grill. He had a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it in. While he was at work, I spent the day on the phone with Arthur, trying to see if we could get the paperwork for a contested divorce expedited. I knew Dominic wouldn’t sign, but I guess somewhere in the back of my mind, I hoped he might make it easy on me for once.
Yeah right.
My stomach churned while I showered and got dressed for the day. From the moment I’d come to stay with Ashton, he’d taught me to be independent; to stand up for myself; to recognize that I was worth someone’s love. I had a hard time equating that man with the one who collected debts, threatening people who didn’t pay. I didn’t want seeing him in action to cloud my opinion of him.
When it was time to leave, Brock met me out front. I very nearly blanked him, my mind still lost in this morning’s conversation.
“Hey, Elena,” Brock called out when I reached the car.
His voice startled me out of my thoughts. “Hi, Brock.” Ashton had talked to me the night before about Brock staying with me when he wasn’t able to. After the events of the day before, he was worried what else Dominic might try. If he made bail, that was.
“You all right?” He opened the car door for me.
“Yeah. Just stuck in my head today.”
“Don’t worry, that piece of shit won’t get anywhere near you,” he said through clenched teeth.
I smiled at the harsh tone in his voice. It probably should have scared me, the menace radiating from him, but it didn’t. It filled me with relief. For the first time someone was willing to protect me.
“I know. It’s not him. I know you and Ashton won’t let him near me.” For some unknown reason, I felt like opening up to someone. Brock, who didn’t seem like the feeling type, happened to be the only one with me, besides Lewis, so he was my only option.
“I’m more worried about going with Ashton tonight.”
“To the game?” His brow creased.
“I’ve only ever seen Ashton like . . . that one time, and it was a day I prefer to forget.”
He shrugged. “It’s in the past. I know Mrs. Hawes went with Mr. Hawes one time. He swears it’s the main reason they’ve stayed married so long.”
“He did?”
Although it surprised me to hear, I could see his point.
Brock nodded once.
“Are you telling me that Ashton wants me to go so his business won’t interfere with our relationship?”