Steph?
"Man, I’ve got to be honest here. You've stunned the hell out of me. Stephanie is Darby's family, which makes her mine as well. You screw this one over, it's gonna be a big hit."
Even in the distance between us, I can feel the change in him. "Fuck, Miller, I'm not screwing her over. I'm crazy about her. Game over, I've met my match."
That hits me hard, saying the same words myself recently.
"You told her that?"
"She knows."
"You met her family yet?"
"This weekend."
"Moving right along."
"Says the bachelor who moved his woman in at breakneck speed. Gotta say, smart move with the electrician."
"Thank Dad for that."
"Stephanie may be a ballbuster, but she's nervous about Darby accepting this. I may need your help."
"You're one of the best men I know. If you say your single days are over, I believe you. But be warned, you hurt her, I'm not sure I can keep you alive. Darby may be sweet, and giddy with this pregnancy, but she's protective."
"Noted. Now that my story time is over, your turn. Stephanie's version is filled with lots of girly details. I want to know how the hell you let a woman like Ashlyn Rhodes walk away from you and the world's biggest coincidence she's now in your bed?"
It's my turn to roar in laughter. "Talk about being knocked on my ass…"
•—•—•—•—•
"You fuck up?" Dad asks, his eyes trained on Ashlyn across the house.
"Depends on what you mean by fuck up."
"It isn't the drop in temps that is chilling this place; it's her cold shoulder."
"She didn't take the news well when I explained where her additional surplus came from."
"Ahhhh." He rocks back.
"Ashlyn doesn't take generosity well. She's a bit…"
"Stubborn?"
"Yeah." I chuckle.
"Instead of sitting you boys down to discuss the facts of life and safe sex, I should have told you two to watch for these stubborn women."
"Not sure it would have worked."
"Probably not, but I could have grown old knowing I tried."
"You feeling like an old man?" I rib him.
"Shut up, lightweight." He shoves me and I lose my footing, tripping on the leg of the card table and landing on my ass.
Ashlyn's head swings my way, and for a split second, there's a touch of concern before she narrows her eyes and goes back to the drawing in her hand.
"Looks like I need to handle this."
I don't try to stop him, watching as he goes to her, wraps his arm around her shoulders, and leads her out onto the back porch.
I haul myself off the ground and go back to her bedroom to look over the new closet build-out. It wasn't a surprise that once Ashlyn heard she had the extra money, this was her first choice. It took two days to tear out the old walls and reframe the interior, but it is going to be worth it.
Shortly after our meeting at the office on Monday, I received a call from Dozer. He was understandably curious, digging around for answers after talking to Ashlyn. I told him about the extra discounts, explaining she wasn't aware yet. Hearing this, his usually gruff attitude thawed a bit and he grunted his approval. I took the chance on inviting the Rhodes family to Charleston for Thanksgiving.
He declined immediately, saying the same as Ashlyn; Janie didn't budge on this holiday tradition. He begrudgingly invited me to their house. I was ready for the resistance and had my ammunition ready. Dozer had a soft spot for my sister-in-law. It could be that she was pregnant or that she kept him loaded up on chocolate. Whatever it was, I used this to my advantage, explaining she wasn't able to travel and this would be the first Thanksgiving we had with her in over thirteen years because of the circumstances.
He cracked, agreeing to talk to Janie.
I was waiting for the official confirmation, but Mom told me she had a lengthy conversation with Janie last night and she was certain it would work out.
With all this, plus the news of Todd and Stephanie's union flying around, I purposely waited to tell her about the additional funds until we got here today. This was a mistake on my part because as soon as her green eyes started blazing, I was hard as steel. There was nothing I could do about it with a house filled with people.
She knew this, so she pulled out the extra sass all day. That is until Dad arrived and she went into glacial mode.
"I did what I could. Good luck." Dad tears me out of my thoughts, poking his head around the corner. "Gotta get home."
"See you tomorrow."
I find Ashlyn in the large living space staring at her fireplace.
"You still holding a grudge?"
She shrugs.
"Dad didn't look blistered from your heat."
"That's because I like Warren."
"You like me, too, hopefully a fuck of a lot more than Dad."
"He gets where I'm coming from."
"Why don't you explain to me where you're coming from?"
She twists her neck to face me, and the scorching glare is back. Shit if my dick doesn't twitch at the laser beams aimed my way. I cross my arms, forcing my feet to stay planted.
"You know I spent years in the dark of things happening in my life."
My gut twists and my anger builds low. "Don't you fucking compare me to the assholes you worked with."
"I'm saying you kept something from me."
"Warning now, Princess, be very careful how you take this conversation."
"Be careful? Or what? Don't you see how keeping this from me would upset me? I received special treatment because I'm sleeping with the boss. How's this going to look?"
"Look to who? I already explained I had nothing to do with this decision. That doesn't mean I wouldn’t do my part, but Dad and Pierce did me a favor by taking care of it for me. You really want to bring out the bitch because people were kind to you?"
"I will not live a life where people keep things from me again. If you can't handle
