I go to speak, to tell her to mind her own business, when Ashton stops me in my tracks before I can do so. And like the savior that he is, knowing just how uncomfortable I am, he changes the subject completely. “So what have you girls got planned for today?”
I breathe a sigh of relief when Riley seemingly forgets about her previous question and excitedly begins to tell us all the bachelorette plans for this afternoon, which consists of having medi-pedis, dinner, and cocktails.
“So, no strippers?” Ashton says with a glint of hope in his eyes. I roll my eyes, stifling a giggle.
“No. That’s tomorrow night.”
“Please tell me you’re kidding?” Mia blurts out, horrified. And by the look of the alpha-male glare coming from Ashton, he isn’t too thrilled with the idea either.
“Yes, I’m kidding!” Riley sputters with laughter. “We’re celebrating low-key, just like you asked. No strippers, no pole dancing … just a boring old bachelorette party.”
“But I’m having strippers, right?” Tyler asks Ashton with a mischievous grin on his face.
Mia smacks his chest causing a grunt to expel from his mouth, along with a chuckle. “Like hell you are!” she exclaims.
“Yeah, bud …” Ashton begins with a wicked smile. “With what I have planned for tomorrow night, the only person who will be stripping is you.”
Everyone around the table bursts out with laughter, leaving Tyler staring daggers at his brother. “Do your worst, asshat. Do your worst. But don’t forget, whatever you dish at me, you’ll get twice as much when it’s your wedding.”
Ashton crookedly smiles at Tyler. “Is that a threat, dickweed?”
“You bet your ass it is.”
“Those are big words for a little boy,” Ashton goads, obviously wanting to get a reaction from his brother.
“Fuck you, asshole,” Tyler says with an arrogant grin. His grin is suddenly wiped from his face when Alana smacks him across the head.
“You may be getting married in two days, but if you swear like that in front of my grandson again, I will not hesitate to wash your mouth out with soap!” Tyler pales at his mom’s words, and I can hear Ashton chuckling beside me.
“Why do I get the feeling that isn’t an empty threat?” I ask Ashton, subtly smiling.
“Because it isn’t. And I know because I’ve suffered the soap treatment myself—both Tyler and me—and let me tell you, it’s disgusting.” His face twists in a grimace, causing me to giggle.
“What about Christopher? Did he ever get the soap treatment?”
“Hell no. He was the genius of the family. He knew better than to piss Mom off.”
“You and Tyler must have deserved it if she went to those lengths,” I point out.
“We sure did.” He shakes his head and looks over to his brother. “I can’t believe he still hasn’t learned his lesson. Dumb ass.” He laughs before taking a drink of his lemonade.
BEFORE THE BACHELORETTE PARTY commences, I have Alana show me where Ashton and I are staying so I can freshen up and change into something less uncomfortable. Ashton suggested he come up with me, and with the wicked gleam I saw in his eyes, I knew without a doubt he wanted to show me his cooling down techniques we discussed earlier. Knowing we didn’t have the time for an afternoon rendezvous with ice, I left him with a flirtatious, “later,” before following Alana upstairs. I also said this with a newly grown confidence since Riley had vacated her seat beside Ashton and was talking to Tyler and Mia on the other side of the table.
Once I change into a long, flowy, summery high-low dress, a pair of cute sandals, and spritzed myself with a little body spray, I head on back downstairs. As I walk back onto the veranda, I stop still in my steps. The confidence I was feeling only ten minutes ago is now almost non-existent. Instead it’s been replaced with a burning jealousy when I see Riley directly in front of Ashton on the table, with her luscious long legs resting on the arm of his chair.
Ashton’s eyes immediately find mine, and seeing how they darken with a sudden lust, I’d say he likes what he sees. Still not comfortable with Riley’s bare legs resting so closely to my fiancé, with a shuddered breath I head over to him. “Excuse me,” I say, staring Riley dead in the eyes, wanting her to move her legs so I can sit down since she’s blocking my path.
“Sorry,” she says, happily removing her legs but still remaining seated on the table. I go to sit down, but Ashton suddenly drags me down on his lap, his handsome face smiling at me.
“You look beautiful, baby.” Caressing his hands along my bare thighs, he leans in and presses a fierce kiss on my lips, one that leaves me breathless.
“I just changed outfits.” I shrug as my fingers trace his face before brushing through the tendrils of his silky hair.
“And you look sexy as hell. So sexy that I just want to keep you to myself. I say fuck the bachelorette party.”
I smile, brushing my lips along the tilt of his mouth.
“You guys are so frigging cute!” The sound of Riley’s voice causes me to flinch. I had forgotten for a moment she was behind us. I pull away from Ashton and reluctantly turn to her, a little flushed that she overheard what was supposed to be an intimate conversation between Ashton and me.
“Sorry, Ashton, but she’s coming with us for some girly bachelorette fun.”
Ashton smirks, his fingers tightening against the naked skin of my legs. “Girly fun? How girly are we talking here? Because if it’s the girl-on-girl fantasy I currently have playing in my mind, then I’m definitely not letting her go.”
“Ashton!” I gasp, playfully slapping his chest.
“What? You scared of a little competition, Ashton? Scared I might take your girl away?” she asks with a flirtatious glint in her eyes. I laugh when I see the alpha-male glare heading Riley’s way.
“Hell no,” he says seriously before the corner of his mouth turns up in a smile.
Humored, Riley stands to her feet, her eyes solely on Ashton’s. “Well you of all people know I don’t bat for the other team, so lucky for you your girl is safe.” She walks off and I’m left reeling over the reminder that she was his high school sweetheart. And with that known fact comes the jealousy.
“Stop it.” I shiver as the words brush lightly over my ear.
“Stop what?” I ask confused.
“Whatever insecure thought you have roaming around in that head of yours.”
I’m left stunned; surprised he can read me so well. I gently smile, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Sorry,” I sigh. “I just … I wasn’t expecting your ex to be here … and I don’t like the way she’s all over you,” I say honestly.
“What are you talking about?” he snorts, clueless.
“Her legs. They were inches from you, on the arm of this chair …”
His eyes squint with bewilderment. “Her legs?”
“Yeah, her Barbie-smooth legs. They were so close to you that they were almost on your lap.”
He bellows out with amusement. “Baby, are you jealous?”
I scowl at him, not appreciating the way he’s laughing at me. “Ashton, it’s not funny.”
His laughter fades away and he penetrates my eyes with his stare. “You have no reason to be jealous. Riley and me happened a long time ago.”
I begin to trace my fingers along his t-shirt, my vulnerability oozing from my pores. “Why have you never mentioned her before?”
“Because I didn’t think I needed to. She isn’t someone I have thought about, not since high school anyway. She means nothing to me.” He pauses for a brief moment, his stare intensifying. “The way I feel for you is something I have never felt before, ever. Not with her, not with anyone. I may have experienced a few firsts with her, but they’re nothing compared to my first love.”
I lean my head against his and the way his breath wisps against my lips makes me shudder. “I guess I’ve let my insecurities get the better of me today.”