Take Me Down (Suits in Pursuit) (4 page)

“I was worried you wouldn’t be back in time. We’re boarding next.” Kerrigan stood. “Hello, are you here with me?” Kerrigan waved her hand in Ashley’s face.

“Hmm?”

“Ash, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

“Now boarding passengers seated in zone five,” the flight attendant said.

“That’s us.” Kerrigan tugged Ashley’s arm. “I know you. Something’s up.”

Ashley didn’t plan to tell Kerrigan about the sex god in the gift shop. There was no point. “I’m just a little nervous about flying. I’ll be fine.”

Thirty minutes into the flight, passengers began moving about the cabin, some headed to the restroom while others visited with neighbors. A pale-faced, red-haired boy stood in the aisle with his mother and played with a red and white toy airplane. Kerrigan had fallen asleep.

Ashley swiped the screen of her iPad and stared blankly at the words of a client’s proposal she had planned to read. She could fool Kerrigan, but she couldn’t fool herself. Her mind returned to the man whom she had met in the gift shop.
He was beautiful.
Folding the protective cover over the device, she tucked the tablet into her bag. She closed her eyes, remembering how his deep gray eyes returned admiration and the tingle that ran up her spine. Suddenly she felt a presence hover near.

A slight caress on her forearm jarred her from her musing. The toy plane the red-haired boy played with had rubbed against her arm. Ashley smiled and closed her eyes again, returning to her bawdy thoughts of the mysterious man. Suddenly a thick, deep voice startled her and demanded her attention.

“You again,” the voice said. Ashley’s eyes landed on a broad grin stretched from ear to ear. “The stars must be aligned.”

Ashley’s heart raced. Mr. Sexy-as-hell from the gift shop stood directly over her.

Her eyes raced up his tall, muscular frame. “Hi. Are you going to Key West too?”

“It would appear so. This is a direct flight, and mid-flight drop-offs are heavily discouraged.”

Her stomach clenched. She recognized that sarcastic tone.

Thin lips spread into a devious grin. “I’m Sebastian.” He extended his hand to her.

She reached up to accept his handshake, but this time not so eager to return a smile.

“I’m Ashley.” Their hands locked. Ashley warmed, an exchange of mutual attraction obvious by his dilated pupils. He kept clamped fingers around her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you again, Ashley. Are you going to Key West for business or pleasure or both?” The seductive growl in the hum of his deep voice made her insides quiver.

Clumsily she rammed her elbow into the seat’s sidearm when he released her hand from his clutch. Pain shot up her arm.
Ouch!
She winced. “Pleasure… to meet you. I’m taking a vacation from life. You?”

“Hmm.” He smiled down at her. “That’s interesting. I’d say the same, but I’m going for business mostly, although”—he raised a brow—“I’m hoping to find a little pleasure too.”

Her eyes widened. Before she could think of a smart response, the line in front of him began to move.

“I’ll see you around, Ashley.” She liked the way her name rolled off Sebastian’s tongue. The heavy Southern drawl gave her goose bumps. There was a dangerous swagger in his stride as he stepped off. He glanced over his shoulder, caught her stare, and flashed a wicked grin her way.

Ashley breathed erratically, and her heart pounded hard.
Sebastian
.

“Who was that?” Kerrigan piped up, her voice muffled by a yawn.

“Just some guy. I didn’t realize you were awake.”

“I wasn’t until you started carrying on with Mr. Sexy-and-Southern. Do you know him?”

“Uh, well… yeah, sort of.” Ashley frowned.

Kerrigan frowned back. “Sort of? Either you know him or you don’t. Which is it?”

“I sort of met him in the gift shop at the airport… and before.” Ashley’s words trailed off, muffled. She thought about those black jeans he wore. The way the denim hugged his thick thighs.
Amazing.

Kerrigan shot up in her seat. “Gift shop? And before?” Her tone escalated. “Ash, what aren’t you telling me?”

Ashley sank into her seat and twisted guilty lips into a smirk. “I think we met the night of my meltdown in front of my apartment building.” She had told Kerrigan about her ballistic outburst on a man who had tried to help. “His name is Sebastian. I just realized where we first met. I haven’t seen him since that night.”

“Did you see his shoulders and those arms? Wow! I think this trip is just what you need.” Kerrigan’s excitement tamed Ashley’s grimace and made her blush.

“He is something, isn’t he?” Ashley conceded with a smile that faded dim.

“Are you going to do anything about it?”

“I… I don’t know. I’m not going to chase him, if that’s what you mean.” Ashley shifted in her seat and glanced in Sebastian’s direction, making certain he was out of earshot. “Besides, that one is dangerous.”

“Dangerous? How?” Kerrigan asked.

“He’s not fling material. I know fling material.” Ashley pursed her lips and wagged a finger. “One word… Paul.”

Kerrigan rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well Paul was a jerk, and you knew that going in. If Sebastian isn’t fling material, what is he?”

Ashley twisted around, looking back again. “He’s danger. Did you see the Rolex on his wrist? And those jeans he’s wearing cost more than my entire wardrobe times three,” she said.

“Rolex? Expensive jeans? Sorry, but I fail to see how that makes him dangerous. You’re prejudiced.”

“Kerri, don’t be naïve. Those are clues, not fashion statements. A man like Sebastian probably has an ego and a sense of entitlement bigger than the price of that watch and those jeans combined.”

Kerrigan shrugged her shoulders. “So he’s got an ego. Some people call that confidence.”

Ashley rolled her neck. “Sebastian’s the kind of man addictions are made of. The worst kind of drug. He’ll wine you and dine you, and you can’t get enough. He’ll possess you as one of his expense trinkets. And then, bam! He’ll drop the ax, and he’s done with you.” Ashley shook her head, feeling sympathy for all the women who had fallen victim to Sebastian in the past. “I’m nobody’s trinket, and I can’t be bought.”

Kerrigan narrowed her eyes. “He’s a game player. I thought you specialized in handling his type.”

Ashley smiled a crooked grin, remembering how Sebastian’s pants hung from his waist and the feeling that knotted her belly when she shook his hand. “He’s the kind of man who will take a sista down.” She nodded her head. “I can handle the little league players. Sebastian is major league. Dangerous.”

Kerrigan leaned in and whispered in Ashley’s ear. “Danger can be fun. You taught me that, remember?”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but Danger fell in love and married you.”

“You never know what could happen. Give him your number at least.”

“Or maybe I’ll ask for his number.” Ashley arched an eyebrow.

“What happened at the airport?”

Ashley could feel her eyes flutter as she thought back to the glorious moment. “I was standing at a magazine rack, drooling over this year’s hottest male actors. When I looked around to see if anyone was watching me…”

“And I saw the most beautiful woman. I had to introduce myself and get her name, but Ashley ran off. Luckily for me, she happens to be on my flight heading to Key West.” Sebastian stood over Ashley, grinning, his eyes fixed on her.

“Oh! Hello, Se… Sebastian” she stuttered.

Sebastian settled into the empty seat next to Ashley. He leaned across Ashley, stuck out his hand to Kerrigan. “Hi. I’m Sebastian.”

Kerrigan smiled and gave Sebastian’s hand a firm shake. “Good to meet you. I’m Kerrigan.”

Sebastian drew his arm back and nestled into the seat. “How long will you be in Key West, Ashley?” he asked, an eyebrow raised. “Before you head back to rant and rave on Peachtree Street,” he whispered.

Ashley’s eyes stretched wide. She glanced at Kerrigan, who had put in earphones and shut her eyes, tuning them out. “You remember me?” Ashley asked, her head back and eyes focused on the safety pamphlet tucked into the pocket of the seat in front of her. She wondered if the pamphlet included instruction on how to avoid embarrassing moments such as this.

“How could I forget you, darlin’?” His smug grin and sarcastic tone confronted her.

“I’ll be in the Keys for two weeks,” she whispered back, turning away from his penetrating gaze. “I’m sorry about that night. Usually, I’m not that… that…”

“Insane.” He smiled bolder now.

Ashley nodded her head in agreement. “Yes. Usually, I’m not that insane. Again, I am very sorry. I had a bad day. My dog Copper ran away and…” She stopped. Telling a man whom she had just met about her ex would make her seem crazy and desperate. “…I have signs posted, and my friend’s husband is helping with the search while we’re in the Keys.”

“I’m sorry about your dog. I hope you find him. I’m staying at the Key West Oceanside Resort. Where are you and your friend staying?”

Ashley’s lips tightened, and she frowned. Sebastian breezing past her apology raised a flag in her mind. She shrugged off the feeling.
Play nice.

“We’re staying at Kerrigan’s vacation home.” She bit her bottom lip, trying her best not to let something sarcastic slip past her lips. “How about you? How long will you be in the Keys?”

“Depends.”

“Depends on what?” Head tilted to one side, she frowned.

“Depends on whether or not there’s a reason for me to stay longer than I do normally.”

Good-looking. Smart tongue. Sexy as hell.
Yep. Dangerous.
He had to go… but not yet.

“That’s not an answer,” she said, looking him squarely in the eyes. “Oh, I see. You’re one of those men who can’t give a straight answer.” Pride swelled up inside Ashley. She would outdo him in a duel of sharp-tongued exchanges and send him running.

He scrunched his face, cocked his head sideways. A spark of mischief flashed in his eyes. And without warning, he threw his head back and released a gut-wrenching laugh.

Ashley jerked and tucked stray strands of hair behind her ear.
I can’t believe he’s laughing at me.
Heat burned her cheeks. She pursed her lips and didn’t crack a smile.

“I travel to the Keys quite a bit for work, and I come and go as I please. At least six times a year.” Sebastian shuffled in the seat, positioned himself closer to Ashley until lightly grazing her ear with his lips when he spoke. “I know the Keys very well. Ashley, I would love to take you out one evening, either in the Keys or back in Atlanta.”

The corners of her lips twitched. A coy smile emerged. “I’ll think about it.”

“You do that.” He reached into his pocket and retrieved his wallet. “I’ll give you my card. Do you have a pen?” he asked.

“Sure.” Sebastian’s fingers danced against Ashley’s as she handed him a pen.

His bluish-gray eyes pinned her. “Here’s my cell phone number, and this is the hotel’s main number. Ask for me and they’ll put you through. Or, we could set up a date right now. What are you doing tomorrow evening?” Sebastian’s intense eyes made her flesh tingle.

Ashley gritted her teeth. “I don’t know. We haven’t discussed any plans yet.” She glanced at Kerrigan, who had drifted asleep. “This trip was forced on me.”

“I see. So you’re the desperate, single friend.”

Ashley glared at him. “That’s rude,” she said, her tone seeded with annoyance.

“I didn’t say that to be rude. I make observations. Looks like the odds are in my favor, Ashley.”

“After that comment, I don’t think you have any odds.” She leaned away. “You’re a jerk.” She muttered through clenched teeth.

“No, I think the odds of me taking you out and screwing you are pretty good.”

Well, damn. There it was. No pretense. Simple. Raw. Honest.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” Ashley’s voice raised high enough to shatter glass.

“You heard me, Ashley. I’m going to take you on a date. We’ll enjoy a nice gourmet meal. Share a few laughs. Then I’m going to take you to my room and fuck your brains out.”

Fists balled at her sides, she turned to the right. The wings of the plane sliced through thick puffy clouds reminding her they were thousands of feet in the air. Ashley lifted a few inches off the seat and glanced around at faces of potential witnesses to a midflight homicide.

Exhibiting control over her natural instinct to kill, she lowered into the seat. “Wow! Does that line actually work on other women? I’ve never been spoken to so…”

“Honestly.” He finished her sentence. “Why get upset with me for telling the truth? I saw the way you looked at me in the gift shop. There’s no point in playing games or lying to you. You did say you weren’t a damsel in distress. That’s what traditional dating is about—men rescuing lonely women to make them feel better about wanting to be fucked.”

Ashley’s temper blazed hotter now. Perspiration coated her burning skin, and heat emitted from her pores. Hands squeezed into tightly wadded fists at her sides. “Since you’re breaking the rules of convention, why bother taking me out at all? Why not just invite me up to your room for the five-minute lay?” she asked.

He shook his head from side to side. “Because I don’t think you have the guts. Ashley, you’re a damsel in distress trying to pretend that you’re not. I’m no goddamn knight, but I’ll gladly rescue you if that makes you feel better about wanting ten inches of Sebastian Stone inside you.” He leaned in at her retreat, then whispered more quietly, “You have my number. Call me anytime.” His lips curled into a grimy smile. “I’m really going to enjoy having you.”

“I don’t believe this shit! First Paul and now you!” she blurted out loudly and then looked around the quiet cabin. The woman seated across from them frowned and then whispered to a man sitting next to her. Ashley frowned back and then glared at Sebastian. “Unfortunately for you, Sebastian, I’m fresh out of tolerance for losers and jerks,” she snapped.

“I don’t know who Paul is or what he did to you, but he has nothing to do with me. You know what I want. I haven’t led you on, made false promises, or cheated on you. You’ll call me.” Sebastian stood. “Later, Ashley,” he said with a slow, deliberate drawl and then strolled back to his seat in first class.