Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss (Pregnancy & Passion #3)(36)

“He’s going to be announcing some changes at Copeland soon and this is his way of easing into that. Your father is looking at taking a less active role in the managing of things. He’s ready to retire and focus on his family.”

She looked despondent.

“Ash, this isn’t a big deal. Most of the people who’ll attend are people we already know. We’ll pick a nice venue, have it catered, hire a band. It’ll be great.”

She held up her hand. “I’ll handle it. No problem. I don’t want you to worry about it. I just need to know exactly when. I’m sure you and Daddy will be busy with…whatever it is you’re busy with. Mama always handled parties for Daddy. No reason I can’t do it for you.”

The dismay in her voice troubled him. He thought it rather sounded like she would be planning a funeral, but he wasn’t about to shut her down when she was making such an effort. That she was so willing to try when it was obvious he’d crushed her endeared her to him all the more.

“I’m sure whatever you come up with, I and the others will love,” he said.

She took a long drink of her wine, nearly draining the glass.

“Want to watch a movie?” he suggested.

She nodded as she put her wineglass back on the coffee table. “Sure. Whatever you want to put on is fine.”

He picked up the remote but he didn’t return to his own chair. He eased onto the couch next to her and put his arm along the top of the sofa behind her head.

For a long moment she sat there stiffly, almost as if she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. He cursed the awkwardness between them. Before she wouldn’t have hesitated to burrow underneath him and snuggle in tight. She’d drape herself over him when they watched movies. She would have kissed him, hugged him and generally mauled him with affection through the entire show.

Now she sat beside him like a statue, tension and fatigue radiating from her like a beacon.

“Come here,” he murmured, pulling her underneath his arm. “That’s better,” he said when she finally relaxed against him and laid her cheek on his chest.

They were silent as the movie played and he was fine with that. There wasn’t a lot he could say. There were only so many times he could apologize or tell her he hadn’t meant to hurt her.

It wasn’t the movie that captured his attention, though. He sat there enjoying her scent. Her hair always smelled like honeysuckle. Even in winter in the city. She had an airy, floral scent that clung to her. It suited her.

And he loved the feel of her next to him. He hadn’t realized how much until he’d spent the last several days with a wall between them.

He touched her hair, idly sifting through the strands with his fingers, savoring the sensation of silk over his skin. By the time the credits rolled, he couldn’t have even said what the movie was about. He hadn’t cared.

“Ash, are you sure you don’t want me to go out for some dinner?” He waited a moment. “Ash?”

He glanced down to see that she’d fallen sound asleep against his chest. Her lashes rested delicately on her cheeks and her lips were tight, almost as if she were deep in thought even at rest.

Gently he kissed her forehead and rested his chin there for a long moment. Somehow, someway, he would make it up to her. He was reaching the high point in his life and career where everything he’d worked so hard and so long for was his. And damn it, he wanted her to be on top of the world with him.

Fifteen

“This is hopeless,” Ashley said as her shoulders sagged.

Pippa wrapped her arm around Ashley and squeezed tight. “You’re not hopeless. You’ll get it down. You’re being way too hard on yourself.”

“After three weeks, you’d think I’d be able to perform the simplest tasks in the kitchen,” Ashley said forlornly. “Let’s face it. I’m a culinary disaster.”

“Are you all right, hon? You seem really down lately and not just about this cooking stuff. Is everything okay with you?”

Ashley smiled brightly and straightened her stance. “Oh, yeah, fine. Marriage is exhausting work. Who knew? Just trying to get my routine down. I’ve been spending my mornings at the shelter so I can be at home when Devon gets in from work. I keep hoping one of my meals will actually turn out but I keep having to call in backup.”

Pippa laughed. “You’re so silly. I don’t even know why you’re bothering learning to cook. Devon doesn’t care if you can cook. The man’s obviously crazy about you and you couldn’t cook before you got married. I’m sure he’s not expecting some miracle to occur.”

Ashley bit her lip to keep from crying. The truth was, she was exhausted. Planning that damn cocktail party had turned out to be a giant pain in her ass. She was tempted to call her mother and beg for help but pride kept her from making that call.

The old Ashley would have laughed, thrown her hands up and admitted she was hopeless. The new Ashley was going to suck it up, be calm and get the job done.

“Are you coming to my party?” Ashley asked, suddenly worried she’d be surrounded by a sea of unfamiliar faces.

“Of course I am. I promised you I’d come. I know you’re nervous, but really, this is your thing, Ash. You shine at social events. Everyone loves you and you’re so sweet.”

“Why don’t you meet me at Tabitha’s place the afternoon before. We’ll get our hair done together. I’m aiming for a more sophisticated look for the party. You know, mature and married as opposed to young and flighty.”