Page 65 of Dangerous Men

I shake my head. Even out of the tux, he’s stunning. In his T-shirt and jeans, sandy blond hair ruffled and unkempt, Ashton somehow looks like he stepped right off the runway. And despite his size and his fighter’s body, he manages to look boyish. Sweet.

It’s the smile, I’m sure. Ash has a smile that shines like a star.

“No, it’s fine. I’d love the company.” I say it automatically to be polite, but am pleasantly surprised to realize it’s true. I’m excited to see him and excited to eat a meal with another person. Especially someone as fun and affable as Ash. “Let me just get the door, and?—”

“Here, let me help,” Ash says, stepping closer and lifting the box out of my hands. The relief in my arms is instantaneous, and I thank him, moving up the door to unlock it and let us in.

I don’t have a lot of visitors other than Jade, of course, but thankfully, I’m a neat person by nature. I wave Ash inside, closing the door behind him and turning on the lights.

He whistles, staring around. “Wow. This is?—”

“It’s small, I know,” I say, talking over him. And, well, it is. The apartment is only a one-bedroom—two, if you count the tiny workspace I use mostly for storage. The living room is niceand spacious, though, with plenty of room for my old comfortable couch. Plus, there’s a claw-foot tub in the bathroom that’s big enough to lie down in, so honestly, it’s the best place I’ve ever lived.

“I was going to say it’s ‘gorgeous,’” Ash laughs, shooting me a wink. “It’s very… you.”

I frown, looking around. It’s very me? What does that mean? And why does he say it like it’s a compliment?

My place is neat, but not exactlydecorated. My personal library has expanded beyond my one giant bookcase and spread to cover every open surface. There wasn’t much to do living with my grandmother, so books became my favorite escape, and I can’t bear to let any of my favorites go—even the ones that are almost falling apart from being read so many times. I don’t have art on my walls, preferring them bare. Which means my only real decorations are the collections of pillows and blankets I have scattered around the place, piled on the couch, and in the armchair in the corner where I like to read.

Cozy is what I would call it. Jade once described my style as librarian chic.

“Have a seat,” I tell him, motioning toward the couch and the coffee table. “You can just move the blankets if they’re in your way. I’ll get us some plates.”

Yeah, I eat on the couch. Sue me. I like to be comfortable.

When I return with a stack of plates and a bottle of wine, Ash has already made himself right at home. I’ve always thought my giant couch could seat a small party, but Ash has managed to take up more space than I thought possible for one person. He sits with his legs spread wide and arms draped over the back of the seats on either side of him.

“Ilovethis couch,” he says. “Top tier comfort levels, right here.”

I laugh, setting the plates in front of him.

“Oh! I forgot the wine glasses,” I realize, straightening and turning toward the kitchen again. “Let me just?—”

“No, please, sit,” Ash says, standing up. “I’ll get some. Where do you keep them?”

I’m so stunned by the offer, I answer without thought, “Uh, above the sink, in the cupboard on the right.”

Ash returns with two wine glasses and some napkins, making quick work of the containers and dishing out a full plate of food.

I’m surprised when he hands it to me.

“Ladies first,” he says with a grin.

It smells delicious. Giving him a small grin in return, I take it from him and dig in.

“So, what’s in the box?” Ash asks, after a few minutes of eating in silence. He nods towards the gift from Alec, sitting next to the couch.

“Oh.” My cheeks heat, and I try to play it off by leaning over to take a drink of wine. “It’s, uh… just a gift. From Alec.”

Ash looks amused. “He sent you a gift?” he asks, smiling. “Sly dog. What did he get you?”

“It’s nothing, really. You know, just… a gift.”

“That’s so intriguingly vague, Sydney. You know I have to open it now,” Ash says.

“No, really, it’s?—”

Too late. Ash sets his now-empty plate down on the table and pulls the box into his lap, tipping the lid off.