Rush (Breathless #1)(60)

“Over my dead body,” Ash muttered. “Move over so I can hear.”

Mia scooted back enough that they could put both their ears to the door. Ash held a finger up for Mia to be silent. Duh! She was the one trying to get him to shut up.

“Ah shit, she’s crying,” Ash muttered. “A crying woman is never a good thing. Gabe can’t stand it. He’s toast when a woman cries and that bitch knows it.”

“Don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh?” Mia murmured.

“She f— uh, she screwed him over royally, Mia. I was there. So was Jace. If you ever have any doubt, ask Jace how messed up he was when she went public with her lies. He’s a dumbass if he doesn’t toss her out of his office.”

“Well, that’s what I’m trying to find out if you would be quiet,” she said patiently.

“Right,” Ash said and fell silent as the two strained to hear once more.

“I won’t give up, Gabe. I know you love me and I still love you. I’m willing to wait. I know you have your pride.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Gabe bit out.

“Oh shit, they’re coming this way,” Ash said. He grabbed Mia’s arm, dragged her down the hallway and then thrust her through the open door of his own office. “Sit,” he directed. “Act like we’ve been having a good ole time.”

He hurried around behind his desk and planted his butt in his chair before propping his feet on top of the polished surface. Not three seconds later, Lisa strode past, her face red with tears. She was putting on her sunglasses to hide the evidence as she disappeared.

“Just hang out here,” Ash said softly. “I wouldn’t want you to go back into the lion’s den so soon after that confrontation.”

A noise outside made them both look up again to see Jace start to walk by. He halted when he saw Mia and did a double take. He entered the office, a frown on his face, and Mia silently groaned. This was beyond awkward. She was stuck in Ash’s office with Jace and she had an anal plug up her ass while Gabe was next door fending off advances from his ex-wife.

“What’s going on? Why is Mia in here?”

Ash shook his head. “Am I not allowed to say hello to my best girl?”

“Knock it off, Ash. Don’t be a dick,” Jace growled. “Was that Lisa I saw walking through the lobby?”

“Yep,” Ash replied. “Hence the reason Mia is in here with me. I’m sparing her Gabe’s ire when he’s so fresh off his meet and greet with his ex.”

“What the f**k is she doing here?” Jace demanded.

It was clear that neither Ash nor Jace had any love for Lisa. Their loyalty to Gabe was strong and they’d banded together, closing ranks around Gabe after the divorce.

“Ash and I were eavesdropping outside Gabe’s door,” Mia said.

Jace lifted one eyebrow. “And you want to keep your job? Gabe would have your head and even I wouldn’t be able to save you from that.”

“Do you want to know what we heard or not?” she asked impatiently.

Jace stuck his head out the door, looked down toward Gabe’s office and then pushed back in, closing Ash’s door behind him. “Spill.”

“She wants him back,” Ash drawled. “She put on quite the show too.”

“Ah hell,” Jace muttered. “I hope he told her to f**k off.”

“I’m not sure what he told her,” Mia murmured. “Someone wouldn’t shut up so I could hear.”

“I guarantee you that Gabe didn’t fall for that line of shit,” Ash said, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.

Mia wasn’t so sure. After all, Gabe had been married to her. The breakup of their relationship had formed the basis of every single relationship that had come after, including her own with him. That said a lot about how affected he’d been. He may well be angry—she didn’t dispute that for a minute. But it didn’t mean he didn’t still love her and it didn’t mean he wouldn’t attempt to work things out if it meant having her back on his terms.

“I’ll kick his dumb ass,” Jace muttered.

He glanced at Mia and then reached over to ruffle her hair. “We still on for dinner tomorrow night? What time you want me to pick you up?”

“What? And I’m not invited?” Ash asked in horror.

“Don’t you have someone else to bother?” Jace asked.

Ash’s expression stiffened for a moment and then he muttered, “Family get-together. I’m bailing.”

Mia’s heart softened and even Jace grimaced in sympathy. Ash’s family and Ash were not on speaking terms. Not in any way. Ash didn’t even make a pretense. If his family was involved, he made it a point to be somewhere else. And most of the time it was with Jace or Gabe.

“Oh, let him come,” Mia said, keeping her tone light so Ash didn’t pick up on what she was doing. “It’ll keep you from lecturing me on God knows what. Ash sticks up for me.”

“See, she likes me better,” Ash said smugly.

“Okay, what time do you want us to come pick you up?” Jace said in mock resignation.

“Six is fine. Will that work for you guys? I won’t need long to change and get ready. Are we eating casual or what?”