place, he turned the radio on low, ground his teeth, and banished the black-haired vixen from his mind.
9
Ashley was sound asleep when the doorbell rang. Groaning, she buried her face into the pillow to drown out the noise, but the ringing wouldn’t stop. Cracking open an eye, she cringed at the daylight pouring through the half-open blinds. The clock read eight thirty.
“Who the hell is making all this racket so early in the damn morning?” she muttered as she scrambled to sit up.
Covering herself in a bathrobe, she walked to the front door in her bare feet, disengaged the alarm, and opened the door. Staring back at her was Mark Ames, and behind him was a man in overalls carrying a toolbox.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, stepping back.
“I’m here to work,” Mark replied.
“Don’t you believe in calling?”
“Zach set it up. Can’t help it if he didn’t tell you.”
His piercing gaze unnerved her so looking away, she said, “I have plans today.”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
She looked up at him, straightening her spine. “I mean, I won’t be home.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“I should be in the house while you’re here.”
“You don’t trust me?” His voice was slow and steady, but there was a thread of anger slithering through it.
The fine hairs at the nape of her neck rose and she swallowed, her words stuck in her throat. An awkward silence stretched on for several seconds.
Mark began to reach for his back pocket. “I’ll call Zach.”
“No, don’t do that. It’s just … I didn’t know you were coming over today.” She unlatched the screen door. “Come in.”
Mark opened the door wide and Ashley backed away, clutching her bathrobe tight. Without saying a word, he walked past her, the fellow behind him following suit, avoiding her eyes.
“If you could start working in the family room first, that’d be great.”
“How long are you going to be out?” Mark asked.
“I don’t know—maybe a few hours. How long will you be working?”
“We’ll put in eight hours today.”
“I’ll be back before you leave.” Ashley smiled at the man in the overalls and extended her hand. “I’m Ashley.”
He took her hand in his. “Gage.”
“So you work with Mark?”
“He’s here with me, isn’t he?” Mark said as he walked into the kitchen.
Heat spread across her cheeks. Turning away, she started for the bedroom.
“I’ve been working with Mark for the last few months,” Gage said. “You’ve got a nice place.”
Ashley looked over her shoulder. “It’s not mine. The company I work for owns it. I’m only here for a few months.”
“Then where are you going?”
“Back to Denver.” There was something vaguely familiar about him, but she couldn’t place what it was. “Have you ever lived in Denver?”
A slight pause and then he replied, “No. Why?”
“You look familiar.”
“I get that a lot. I guess I have one of those faces.” Gage guffawed.
Figures Mark would have an oddball like him for an assistant. Thanks a lot, Zach. Ashley waved toward the kitchen. “I have cans of pop and bottles of water in the fridge. Feel free to help yourselves.”
Mark grunted.
Gage gave her a wide smile. “Thanks, Ashley. Appreciate it.”
Ashley finally had her bike on the rack mounted to her car. Hard rock played on the radio, and a cool breeze rushed through the open windows as she sped toward the riding trails she’d read about before coming to Pinewood Springs. The area was about thirty miles away, and she hoped there wouldn’t be a lot of cyclists on the trails, craving only the quiet comfort of nature. Ever since she’d arrived in Pinewood Springs, her well-ordered life had been thrown off-kilter, and the reason for that was Smokey. Ashley hissed. Mr. Sexy is proving to be an enormous complication in my life.
The cell phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. Lifting the phone from the cup holder, a wide smile spread across her face.
“Nicole. How’s it going?”
“Pretty good. What’re you up to?”
Ashley turned the volume down on the radio. “I’m headed to Pinewood Canyon. I read there’s an awesome trail that leads up to a waterfall.”
“Sounds like fun. Are you riding solo?”
“Yeah. I miss you and Danielle.”
“We miss you too. We can’t wait until you’re back home. I’ve got a surprise for you—I’m coming to Pinewood Springs tomorrow! I—”
“No way! Are you joking?” A rush of excitement shot through her.
Nicole laughed. “Calm down.”
“I’ve been doing nothing but working since I got here. I can’t believe you’re going to be here. Is Danielle coming too?”