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Authors: Olivia Stephens
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despite herself. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to play you. But there are rules that we have to follow. It’s just business.” The explanation sounds lame, even to her own ears.
“So, your company makes you lie for them. Doesn’t sound like a great way to do business.” Ashton folds his arms over his broad chest and looks down at Sofie, assessing her reaction.
“It’s just the way it is.” Sofie shrugs, not wanting to betray her employer; but likewise, not wanting to let them off the hook completely either.
Ashton looks at her, like he’s waiting for her to say something else—perhaps something a little more satisfying. She can’t help it; but, whenever he looks at her, she feels like he’s seeing right into the depths of her soul. There’s something about his blue eyes, an intensity that she has never experienced before. It touches her in ways she couldn’t have expected.
Sofie squirms under his gaze, wondering what he’s seeing as he looks at her and hoping that it’s something more than just a girl who appears to have enrolled in a wet t-shirt competition. She says the first thing that comes to mind, “So you seem to have a habit of showing up wherever I am. If I didn’t know better, I would think that you were following me.” She crosses her arms over her chest, mimicking Ashton’s body language, and she’s glad to see that there’s a shadow of mild embarrassment that passes over his face, but it disappears almost instantly and is replaced with the sexiest smile she’s ever seen.
“Well, running girl, this is my town, that’s my canyon, and this is my store. So technically it’s you that seems to be following me.” There’s a challenge in his look, but also amusement. He clearly enjoys having her off-balance.
“Well, birdwatcher, as far as I can tell there’s no one’s name on that canyon, and this town isn’t yours, not unless you have a different interpretation of ownership to me.” Sofie looks directly up at him, not shying away from his gaze. She’s had enough of being his punching bag, and she’s never been one to let someone walk all over her. She’s been looking after herself for a while now, and she’s experienced at standing up for herself, especially now that there’s no one else to do it for her.
“Trust me. That canyon is ours, and there is no way that is going to change anytime soon. My name might not be on it, but it’s not on this store either.” Ashton nods, as a customer suddenly walks through the door, breaking the tension between them.
The middle-aged woman looks between Ashton and Sofie, clearly curious as to what has them in such heated conversation but too polite to ask. “Hi Ash, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t, Edie,” Ash turns his megawatt smile on to the woman. “What can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to tell you how much Arthur loved the chair. He’s been talking about it non-stop for the past week.” She laughs, but there are tears in her eyes.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, Edie.” Ashton lays a gentle hand on her shoulder, and Sofie is touched at how sensitive he is with this woman who is obviously in pain.
“And I wanted to ask if you’d take this.” Edie hands over an envelope, her hands shaking a little from emotion as she does.
“Edie, we’ve talked about this already.” Ashton gently takes the envelope and tucks it back into her bag. “There’s no need.”
Edie nods like this is a conversation that they’ve had before. “You’re a good man, Ashton.” She squeezes his hand and seems to pull herself together. “And who is this beautiful girl? You don’t have the look of someone from around here.” Edie winks at Sofie knowingly and the warmth in the older woman’s face makes Sofie smile instantly.
“I don’t know about the ‘beautiful’ but guilty as charged on the second count. I’m just visiting in Beaumont. I’m Sofie.” She sticks her hand out to shake, and Edie takes it
“So, your company makes you lie for them. Doesn’t sound like a great way to do business.” Ashton folds his arms over his broad chest and looks down at Sofie, assessing her reaction.
“It’s just the way it is.” Sofie shrugs, not wanting to betray her employer; but likewise, not wanting to let them off the hook completely either.
Ashton looks at her, like he’s waiting for her to say something else—perhaps something a little more satisfying. She can’t help it; but, whenever he looks at her, she feels like he’s seeing right into the depths of her soul. There’s something about his blue eyes, an intensity that she has never experienced before. It touches her in ways she couldn’t have expected.
Sofie squirms under his gaze, wondering what he’s seeing as he looks at her and hoping that it’s something more than just a girl who appears to have enrolled in a wet t-shirt competition. She says the first thing that comes to mind, “So you seem to have a habit of showing up wherever I am. If I didn’t know better, I would think that you were following me.” She crosses her arms over her chest, mimicking Ashton’s body language, and she’s glad to see that there’s a shadow of mild embarrassment that passes over his face, but it disappears almost instantly and is replaced with the sexiest smile she’s ever seen.
“Well, running girl, this is my town, that’s my canyon, and this is my store. So technically it’s you that seems to be following me.” There’s a challenge in his look, but also amusement. He clearly enjoys having her off-balance.
“Well, birdwatcher, as far as I can tell there’s no one’s name on that canyon, and this town isn’t yours, not unless you have a different interpretation of ownership to me.” Sofie looks directly up at him, not shying away from his gaze. She’s had enough of being his punching bag, and she’s never been one to let someone walk all over her. She’s been looking after herself for a while now, and she’s experienced at standing up for herself, especially now that there’s no one else to do it for her.
“Trust me. That canyon is ours, and there is no way that is going to change anytime soon. My name might not be on it, but it’s not on this store either.” Ashton nods, as a customer suddenly walks through the door, breaking the tension between them.
The middle-aged woman looks between Ashton and Sofie, clearly curious as to what has them in such heated conversation but too polite to ask. “Hi Ash, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t, Edie,” Ash turns his megawatt smile on to the woman. “What can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to tell you how much Arthur loved the chair. He’s been talking about it non-stop for the past week.” She laughs, but there are tears in her eyes.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, Edie.” Ashton lays a gentle hand on her shoulder, and Sofie is touched at how sensitive he is with this woman who is obviously in pain.
“And I wanted to ask if you’d take this.” Edie hands over an envelope, her hands shaking a little from emotion as she does.
“Edie, we’ve talked about this already.” Ashton gently takes the envelope and tucks it back into her bag. “There’s no need.”
Edie nods like this is a conversation that they’ve had before. “You’re a good man, Ashton.” She squeezes his hand and seems to pull herself together. “And who is this beautiful girl? You don’t have the look of someone from around here.” Edie winks at Sofie knowingly and the warmth in the older woman’s face makes Sofie smile instantly.
“I don’t know about the ‘beautiful’ but guilty as charged on the second count. I’m just visiting in Beaumont. I’m Sofie.” She sticks her hand out to shake, and Edie takes it
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