you say so. He wasn’t my type.” But Smokey is. Ashley sighed. Don’t start thinking about him. She looked down at her phone, hoping there was a text or missed call from him, but there was nothing. Why would he call? I told him I didn’t want anything but a business relationship. And why the hell am I disappointed that he didn’t call? I’m making myself crazy! “Here you go.” She handed her friend the glass of Coke and the damp towel.
“Thanks.” Nicole sat up and took a long drink, set the glass on the table, and laid back down. “This feels good,” she said as she put the towel across her forehead.
“Do you want a blanket?”
“Yes, please.”
Going into the bedroom, she snagged a fleece throw from the overstuffed chair by the window and shuffled back into the family room.
The steady, rhythmic sound of Nicole’s breathing told her had fallen asleep. After draping the blanket over her friend, Ashley walked back to the bedroom to change out of her clothes. As she slipped the fleece lounger over her head, she heard her phone ringing. For a split second, she wondered if it was Smokey, and a thread of excitement weaved around her spine. She padded over to the long dresser and grabbed the phone.
“Hello?” she answered, holding her breath.
“Hi, Ashley.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Hey, Zach. How are you?”
“Fine. I just talked to Smokey, and he said the two of you are finally going to go over the marketing campaign.” A low chuckle sounded through the phone. “I told you he’s on his own schedule.”
“Yeah. I meant to call and thank you for putting in the alarm system.”
“Alarm system? Smokey called me about it, and I told him he was being unreasonable. For Chrissake, you’re living in a small town.”
“Well, someone put it in.”
Zach didn’t respond right away, and the silence grew between them. Ashley felt the urge to talk, to fill the quiet. She sank down on the bed, one hand gripping the edge of the mattress.
She cleared her throat. “I do feel safer with an alarm, even if it sounds crazy to you.”
There was only silence.
“Hello? Zach, are you there?” she asked, thinking he’d disconnected.
“What’s going on with you and Smokey?” The cheerfulness in his voice was gone.
“We have a meeting tomorrow. I thought we already talked about that.” She picked at tiny threads in the quilt, her mouth drier than desert dust.
“I know that, and I know my friend. There’s no way Smokey would install a security system for someone unless …” His voice trailed off.
“You don’t know if he installed it.”
“That’s doesn’t even make sense, Ashley. He called me about it, and if I didn’t pay for it, then it’s pretty obvious he did. You’re not letting him get to you, are you? He’s real smooth with the ladies—he makes them feel unique and special. It’s been his way since I’ve known him.”
She licked her lips several times, then said, “I’m not letting him or anyone get to me. I’m sure he’s just concerned about my safety since I’m working for him on this project. He often follows his assistant home when the weather is bad.” I hope he’s buying this crap.
“Pearl?” He laughed. “She’s been with him since he started the company. But yeah, I guess you’re right. Smokey’s very protective of his staff. I guess it comes from being in the motorcycle club.”
“Why didn’t you tell me he was in a biker club? I just found out recently.”
“I didn’t want to scare you off. Smokey can be intimidating as hell, and the club he’s with is an outlaw one, so they don’t play nice.”
“Have you ever ridden his bike?”
“No way. He never lets anyone near his baby.”
“I guess bikers are that way when it comes to their motorcycles. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow. I’m planning to go to Aspen to meet with Ted Henson next week.”
After several minutes of chatting about business, Ashley disconnected, rose to her feet, and walked out of the room.
Nicole was still out. Ashley padded over to the window. She pulled the drapes aside and looked out at the sinking sun lighting the sky with purple clouds set in a sea of gold and pink. Ashley watched a silhouette of birds flying off in the distance, and suddenly, she missed Smokey with an ache that completely blindsided her. Breathing in deeply, she exhaled slowly. Maybe I’ve been wrong about him. Why would he pay to install an alarm system if he