Loving A Romano (11 page)

“We were in the gardens. I hadn't seen them since the additions,” Ashley replied smoothly as she moved to take a seat at one of the umbrella covered tables.

She crossed her legs, ensuring Wade was watching as she allowed the short hem of her skirt to ride up her leg.

“The gardens huh?” Heather asked skeptically turning to gaze at Wade who had taken a seat beside Ashley at the table.

“Yeah the gardens. What did you think we were doing Heather? Fooling around upstairs or something?”

Ashley had to fight to hold back the smile threatening to burst free. She kicked Wade’s leg under the table instead. Heather’s face relaxed and she laughed.

“You and Ashley fooling around. Yeah?
Nei vostri sogni
, I’ll go tell Mom you guys are outside,” she said before walking back into the house still laughing.

“In your dreams,” Wade said mocking his sister.

Ashley placed her hand on his leg under the table, moving it up his thigh until she lightly brushed against the hardness of his erection.

“Don’t worry,” she said winking at him. “My dreams too.”

Chapter Twelve

Ashley leaned back in her chair next to the pool and enjoyed the Austin afternoon. A day that had begun with the makings of a real scorcher had turned cloudy. Heavy rain sodden clouds had threatened the better part of their meeting but they’d moved off and left a gentle breeze blowing in their wake. Her sunglasses lay atop her nose and her eyes were closed. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she realized her situation with Wade had been weighing more on her mind than she’d wanted to admit even to herself. As she sat there she felt more relaxed than she had in ages.

“Ashley, honey I have to run out to the market. Will you be here when I get back?” Maura asked from the doorway of the open French doors.

A smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she took in the woman who’d been like a mother to her over the years since her own mother’s death. Doubts tried to force their way back in. They nagged at her conscious causing her smile to falter. This woman had taken her into her home with open arms from the very first day she’d come home with Heather.

“Ashley honey are you okay?”

Tucking her emotions away she fixed her face as best she could.

“I’m fine. Just a bit on the tired side is all. I recently wrapped up a big project and you know I’m doing the Blaze event and things aren’t exactly going well.”

That certainly wasn’t a lie. She’d spoken to Torrie McAllister, owner of the Austin Blaze and good friend of her and Heather both. She understood Torrie wanting to ensure everything was done perfectly but nothing would be ready if they didn’t begin to make final decisions on something.

“Honey you’re too young to be working this hard. Maybe Joey and I should have had you recommend another planner for Wade’s party. We knew you were busy but I had no idea you were under this kind of strain. I know the Blaze event is a big one for you and Torrie both.” There was a deep frown between Maura’s arched eyebrows. As she walked closer Ashley could see the deep concern in her gaze, as eyes so much like Wade's stared down at her.

Warmth flooded her chest and again she found herself fighting with her conscious. “I wouldn't dream of it. With you and Heather helping out, this party is practically planning itself.”

Maura’s soft laughter drifted on the gentle breeze blowing across the back yard. “I don’t think Wade would have accepted another planner anyway.”

She and Wade had made a pact when he was six. He’d get Jake to stop putting bugs in Heather’s hair and she would help plan his birthday party because in his words “Mom doesn’t have a clue”. When she’d approached a much stressed out and very much pregnant Maura, seven months pregnant if she recalled correctly, with the idea of helping she’d looked so relieved. Things had gone so well Joey had insisted on paying her
. At the ripe old age of fifteen she had earned her very first commission. Going forward she’d either planned or assisted in the planning of all the big events in the Romano house. She discovered she had a knack for doing parties and really enjoyed it. She’d never really thought about it until now but had it not been for Wade’s continuous tantrums and fits over his mother’s attempts at planning his party she may never have stumbled upon her career.

“I’ve wanted to discuss something with you for a while now but I’ve never been quite sure of how to bring it up.” Maura
laid her purse on the table and took a seat.

Dread caused a heavy knot to form in her stomach.

“I think of you as a daughter. Joey and I both do.”

Her heart beat heavy against her chest. She tried to tell herself not to over react.

“We both know our Wade adores you. And well I just wanted to let you know that…”

The sound of her heart pounding drowned out any other words Maura said. She saw her lips moving but she couldn't for the life of her decipher what she was saying.

“Ashley dear,” Maura called.

Ashley closed her eyes briefly and gave her head a small shake to clear her thoughts before opening them again.

“I’m sorry what did you say Maura?”

She placed a warm hand on top of Ashley’s and gave a light squeeze.

“I said Joey and I wanted to just thank you for always being there for Wade.”

“Look it’s my two favorite women in the whole wide world.” Wade’s voice came from behind her. He placed a glass of lemonade on the table in front of her before taking a seat. She was glad to see him for more than just the obvious. He had saved her from having to respond to Maura. Plus she had wondered where he had gone after their meeting had ended and had hoped to see him again before she left.

“I thought you might be thirsty,” he said with a crooked grin on his handsome face.

“Thank you,” she said reaching for her glass to keep from reaching out to touch him.

“My pleasure.”

His voice caressed her skin. Goose bumps popped out along her naked arms.

“I thought you had left,” Maura commented.

“Nope I decided to hang around here for a while instead.”

“That’s good. We like having you home every now and then,” Maura said smiling at her son before turning her attention to Ashley once more. “Ashley, Joey is planning on cooking on the grill tonight. Why don’t you join us?”

“What’s on the menu?” She forced her gaze to remain on Maura despite the heat she felt on the side of her face.

“Steak, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and probably a tossed salad,” Maura answered. “Well that’s what we’ll be having as soon as I pick them up from the market.”

“I’d love to.”

“Great. I’ll be back soon. If Joey happens to make it home before I do let him know to get the grill started.”

Ashley watched her leave.

“Home alone,” Wade said from beside her.

Her heart pounded in her ears.

“So it would seem,” she said not looking at him.

She felt him move closer to her but still she stared at her glass. Her breathing became more labored the closer he got. His fingers moved over hers where they lay on the table top. She turned her head to glance at him from behind the protection of her sunglasses. His eyes sparkled clearly with his desire for her.

“Wade,” she began but didn’t get to finish.

“Dad Ashley’s truck is outside. Do you think she’s still here,” a young voice yelled from within the house.

Both their heads turned at the young voice. Ashley rose from her spot in front of him. Wade's seven year-old brother, Jon, was coming through the front door followed closely behind by his father and three other siblings
.

“Dammit,” he said stepping away from her.

“I couldn't have said it better myself,” she mumbled under her breath, straightening her clothes and bring some order to her hair.

“This isn’t over,” he said through tight lips.

Ashley reached for her sunglasses from the table and stared deep into his eyes. “I certainly hope not.” She placed them upon her nose.

There was no time for further conversation because his younger siblings came running through the patio doors headed straight for them. He blew a raspberry at his brothers and sisters just before running and diving into the deep end of the pool.

Chapter Thirteen

“No, no, no,” Ashley said between clenched teeth.

Monday morning had arrived and she sat at her desk going over yet more details for the Blaze event when her intercom buzzed. Ashley considered ignoring it. Further delays and complications had met her as she’d walked into her office. Her frustration grew as nothing was getting accomplished. Underneath it all she had to admit the real reason for her bad mood had nothing to do with work but because there had been no word from Wade since he’d left her house yesterday afternoon. No text, no emails, not even a phone call.

“Yes Bobbie?” 

“Hey sorry to bother you but Heather’s on line two for you.”

Ashley hadn't spoken to Heather since Saturday and she wasn’t too sure she wanted to talk to her now.

“Okay I got it,” she said. “Hey Heather what’s going on?” She picked up the receiver.

“Nothing much. I’m just doing my Monday morning check in. I can only hope yours is going better than mine.”

Her friend’s frustration came through the phone lines loud and clear. It matched her own mood perfectly

“Yeah well hate to break it to ya but mine has not been the greatest by any means. What’s got you down this morning? For me it’s the Blaze event and probably will be until the day after it’s over.”

Laughter filtered across the lines.

“Yeah this is a pretty big thing for you and I wouldn't be in your shoes for anything. Mine is the normal. Monday morning meeting with old cronies who are expected to come up with new and bright ideas and how can’t leave out the three hours of sleep I’m working on.”

Man could she relate? Though Wade had left kind of early yesterday they’d gone pretty strong Saturday night into Sunday morning with only brief naps in between. He had told her he had to make up for wasted time. He meant it and now nothing
. Just silence.

“I’m with you there too. I didn’t get much sleep myself this weekend.” Memories of Wade buried between her legs flashed across her mind.

“Does that mean there was a guy involved?”

Heather was too close to the truth for Ashley’s peace of mind, but she didn’t say anything. She’d found there were times when no comment was truly the best comment. “So did you and Yvette go to that club in Dallas after our meeting?”

There was a pause on the line before Heather laughed. “Well that was a very unsubtle change of subject. I’ll let you have that one, for now. No, we didn’t go. I realized I just wasn’t up to it and after talking to Yvette. She was cool with going another day.”

“What happened to cause the change?”

The pause on the other end told her there was definitely something going on with her friend.

“Heather if there’s something you need to talk about Blaze event or not just say the word and I’ll leave the office right now and be in yours in less than ten.”

Through the years they’d seen each other through everything no matter how small or large and there was definitely something going on here. She tried to tamp down on the feeling of guilt over possibly having missed something when they had been together on Saturday. Her mind had been so wrapped up in Wade. “Well...”

The long pause didn’t do anything for Ashley’s conscious.

“My mom called this weekend.”

That threw her off for a minute. What was so strange about Maura calling? Then the light bulb went off.

“Diane called? Oh God. How did that go?” They had been friends for two years before she’d discovered Heather was not Maura’s biological daughter but Joey’s by another woman.

“Not well. As part of her latest rehabilitation program her counselors recommend bringing in important people in her life who she wants to reconnect with. Guess who’s at the top of her list?” The dispassionate tone of Heather’s voice used could not hide the turmoil Ashley knew she had to be feeling.

“I know this is a really stupid question but I have to ask. Are you okay?”

Heather sighed. “As okay as I can be.”

“Are you going to meet with her?”

Another pause.

“I don’t think I want to Ashley and after Saturday I know I’m not ready. I can’t revisit all the crap I’ve worked years to put behind me just because she needs to cleanse her fucking soul.”

“Wait something happened Saturday? I saw you and you seemed fine. Was this something after our meeting? Is that why you and Yvette didn’t go to Dallas?”

“Diane called me Saturday morning before our meeting and I had a panic attack.”

She gasped in surprise. She thought back to Saturday. Guilt had tears welling up at the back of her eyes. There were so many things she wanted to know but she didn’t know whether to ask more questions or to let it go. It had never come easily for Heather to talk about her feelings and she could feel the tension coming through the phone. Indecision made her hesitate further.