to
her feet and stepped away from the counter. “I want you to leave.
Now.”
Ron got up, but instead of heading for the
door, he started around the counter. “What are you hiding? What did
he offer you?” His gaze ran up and down her body, then his lips
curled into a sneer. “Or should I be asking what you offered him to
get Carlyle House?”
Her jaw dropped at the implication. Black
spots appeared in her vision as anger replaced the shock. Her hand
lifted, flew to his face and connected with his cheek. The sound
echoed around the loft.
“And to imagine I was willing to help you
with your investigation. To put myself out and face my worst….”
Ashley pointed at the door. “Get the hell out of my house,
Noble.”
CHAPTER 4
Ron tried not to flinch as the sting spread
from his cheek down his neck. He had seen the slap coming, but he
hadn’t tried to stop it. He deserved it. Truth be known, he had no
idea what came over him to accuse her of something so debasing.
“Ashley—”
“How dare you.” She was breathing hard, her
ample chest heaving. “How dare you imply I would cheapen myself by
offering my body to any man in exchange for a favor?” She stomped
past him.
He grabbed her arm. “I apologize. What I said
was uncalled for and rude. I’m sorry.”
“Quit manhandling me,” she snapped and
attempted to wrench her arm free.
He let her go and raised his arms in
surrender.
“Now get out.”
Ron released a sharp breath. This wasn’t what
he’d planned. He needed her help, and being thrown out wasn’t a way
to get it. From her flashing eyes, an apology wouldn’t suffice. He
racked his brain for a quick solution. “I can get you Carlyle
House, Ashley.”
A scathing laugh escaped her. “I don’t want
it anymore.”
His gut tightened. “Why?”
“I changed my mind.”
She must have heard his mother and despite
her earlier assertions, had no intention of asking for his help. In
fact, her rigid body warned him to back off. He frowned. Or maybe
this was an act to manipulate him, to make him feel sorry for her.
Growing up around his mother and her actress friends had taught him
to question women’s emotions. He knew it was wrong and often fought
his response, but now…. Should he trust Ashley?
“We’ve nothing else to discuss,” she
said.
And he had nothing to negotiate with. He
shouldn’t have mentioned his investigation last week or jumped to
conclusions when he saw her with Vaughn. Ron ignored her words and
studied her angry expression. He saw through her bravado and anger
to the pain he’d caused.
A sudden urge to take Ashley in his arms and
offer her comfort came from nowhere. He wasn’t going there. He
shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans instead. “I
shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions and accused you of doing
something unethical.”
She stared defiantly at him, her hazel eyes
overly bright. He pulled his hands from his pockets and scrubbed
his face, then studied her through narrowed eyes. Lord, the woman
was maddening. Why couldn’t she accept anything gracefully?
“What did he want?” he asked.
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“I know.” The Doyles were ruthless bastards,
and he had to know what they were up to. He swallowed his pride and
added, “Please. I need to know.”
Ashley sighed, her shoulders sagging. “I was
concerned after I heard your mother’s words and realized she was
still hurting from what happened ten years ago. I pulled over and
was thinking of going back to your place to tell you I’d help with
the investigation when Vaughn’s limo stopped. I didn’t know who he
was. He told me his name was Vaughn Ricks, not Doyle. He thought I
was having car trouble. I had no idea that I was outside the Doyle
residence.”
“I didn’t know he purchased a home around
there until the security guard told me. My mother was concerned.
The Doyles are not the nicest of people.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know anything
her feet and stepped away from the counter. “I want you to leave.
Now.”
Ron got up, but instead of heading for the
door, he started around the counter. “What are you hiding? What did
he offer you?” His gaze ran up and down her body, then his lips
curled into a sneer. “Or should I be asking what you offered him to
get Carlyle House?”
Her jaw dropped at the implication. Black
spots appeared in her vision as anger replaced the shock. Her hand
lifted, flew to his face and connected with his cheek. The sound
echoed around the loft.
“And to imagine I was willing to help you
with your investigation. To put myself out and face my worst….”
Ashley pointed at the door. “Get the hell out of my house,
Noble.”
CHAPTER 4
Ron tried not to flinch as the sting spread
from his cheek down his neck. He had seen the slap coming, but he
hadn’t tried to stop it. He deserved it. Truth be known, he had no
idea what came over him to accuse her of something so debasing.
“Ashley—”
“How dare you.” She was breathing hard, her
ample chest heaving. “How dare you imply I would cheapen myself by
offering my body to any man in exchange for a favor?” She stomped
past him.
He grabbed her arm. “I apologize. What I said
was uncalled for and rude. I’m sorry.”
“Quit manhandling me,” she snapped and
attempted to wrench her arm free.
He let her go and raised his arms in
surrender.
“Now get out.”
Ron released a sharp breath. This wasn’t what
he’d planned. He needed her help, and being thrown out wasn’t a way
to get it. From her flashing eyes, an apology wouldn’t suffice. He
racked his brain for a quick solution. “I can get you Carlyle
House, Ashley.”
A scathing laugh escaped her. “I don’t want
it anymore.”
His gut tightened. “Why?”
“I changed my mind.”
She must have heard his mother and despite
her earlier assertions, had no intention of asking for his help. In
fact, her rigid body warned him to back off. He frowned. Or maybe
this was an act to manipulate him, to make him feel sorry for her.
Growing up around his mother and her actress friends had taught him
to question women’s emotions. He knew it was wrong and often fought
his response, but now…. Should he trust Ashley?
“We’ve nothing else to discuss,” she
said.
And he had nothing to negotiate with. He
shouldn’t have mentioned his investigation last week or jumped to
conclusions when he saw her with Vaughn. Ron ignored her words and
studied her angry expression. He saw through her bravado and anger
to the pain he’d caused.
A sudden urge to take Ashley in his arms and
offer her comfort came from nowhere. He wasn’t going there. He
shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans instead. “I
shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions and accused you of doing
something unethical.”
She stared defiantly at him, her hazel eyes
overly bright. He pulled his hands from his pockets and scrubbed
his face, then studied her through narrowed eyes. Lord, the woman
was maddening. Why couldn’t she accept anything gracefully?
“What did he want?” he asked.
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“I know.” The Doyles were ruthless bastards,
and he had to know what they were up to. He swallowed his pride and
added, “Please. I need to know.”
Ashley sighed, her shoulders sagging. “I was
concerned after I heard your mother’s words and realized she was
still hurting from what happened ten years ago. I pulled over and
was thinking of going back to your place to tell you I’d help with
the investigation when Vaughn’s limo stopped. I didn’t know who he
was. He told me his name was Vaughn Ricks, not Doyle. He thought I
was having car trouble. I had no idea that I was outside the Doyle
residence.”
“I didn’t know he purchased a home around
there until the security guard told me. My mother was concerned.
The Doyles are not the nicest of people.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know anything
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