Always(Time for Love Book 4)(24)

Darren's text intrigued her, though. Why did he want to meet up? What was so important?





CHAPTER NINE


Ash looked out the window in time to see Brenna get out of her car she’d parked across the street from his house. His heart skipped and a smile spread to his face. She was here at last. He’d been wondering for the last hour when the girls’ night out would end.

He opened his front door and leaned on the frame as he watched his girlfriend walk towards him, carrying an overnight bag.

“Waiting for me, are you?” she said teasingly.

“I was wondering when the girls would finally let you go,” he responded.

“Well, I’m here now,” she said, reaching up to give him a kiss on the lips.

“About time,” he murmured, giving her a squeeze before leading her inside. “Did you tell them about us?”

“Yeah.”

He grinned. That was good. It made their relationship official. “What did they say?”

“They were happy for us, of course. They were glad we finally got together.”

“Finally? Did they know anything before tonight?”

Brenna cocked her head, gazing at him in amusement. “All four of them think you’ve had a crush on me for ages.”

His brows shot up. “How did they know?”

“They guessed.”

“Hm. I didn’t think anyone noticed.”

Brenna chuckled. “Well, they did.”

“But you had no idea?” he asked.

“I thought you were only being brotherly,” Brenna said with a sigh, giving him a contrite look.

He took her hand to lead her upstairs. Her answer stung a little bit, but he quickly slammed down his unwarranted reaction. Brenna was with him now. That was the important thing.

“I really should clear out those boxes in the garage so you could park your car in there,” he mused.

Brenna chuckled. “Yes. Those boxes have been there since you moved here. It’s about time.”

“Okay.”

Brenna stopped in the middle of the stairs to face him. “Really? You’ll finally do something about them?” she asked incredulously.

“Yes. I’ll clear them out.”

“Do you know how shocked Amanda will be when she hears that? She’s been hounding you to get rid of those boxes for—how long have you been in this house? Three years?”

“Almost three and a half.”

“And you’re ready to tackle the job now?”

He snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Yeah. So your nice little car could be safe and sound next to mine whenever you come here.”

“Oh, you’re so sweet, honey,” Brenna said, locking her arms behind his neck. “You’ll let me help, right? I’m dying to know what’s in those boxes.”

He laughed. “Well, we’ll find out.”

“We can start tomorrow if you want.”

“No, not this weekend. I have other plans for us,” he said, trapping her against the railing and kissing her face.

“Really? What?”

“No work. Just play,” he responded, unzipping her dress.

“We’re gonna play all weekend?” she asked sultrily, helping him with undressing her.

“Uh-huh,” he said breathlessly as Brenna’s dress fell to the floor.

“I want to have a shower first before we go to bed,” she murmured, tugging his shirt off him. “And I want you to join me.”

“Whatever you want, baby,” he said, before his mind went blank as Brenna undid his fly and reached in.

They made it to the shower. Barely. By the time they got out of it, he’d already come once, and Brenna twice. He was raring to go again when they reached his bed.

He simply couldn’t get enough of her. Just couldn’t get enough.

*****

Ash entered a busy café which was halfway between his clinic and Brenna’s office. Even though Brenna didn’t work at the clinic anymore, they’d agreed to still have lunch together if their schedules permitted it.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t join him today. While he was with a patient, she’d left a text to say that there was something she had to do during lunch. He’d still decided to have a proper break anyway. Brenna had successfully changed his eating habits during work days.

He was lucky enough to get the remaining empty table. He settled himself and read a medical journal while he ate his food. He was almost done when someone stood next to him and called his name.

“Ash?”

He looked up and his eyes widened in surprise.

“Hi!” the man said. “It’s Lance, remember?”

“Of course,” he said, standing up out of politeness and offering a handshake.

“Fancy bumping into you here,” Lance said. “Do you work nearby?”

“Yes,” he responded. “About five minutes’ walk from here.”

“Right. My office is not far from here either.”

Ash nodded. He knew Lance worked in the same building as Brenna.

“I haven’t been here in a while. It’s getting busier and busier every day,” Lance said, looking around the crowded establishment.