Page 37 of Fake-Off with Fate (Love in Maple Falls #1)
JAMIE
I could not believe my eyes when I saw that Ashlyn came back for the bachelor auction. Particularly when she called my name after I dropped out. I wasn’t planning to stiff the town, either. I was just going to donate to them directly.
I didn’t get a chance to talk to Ashlyn when the auction ended because she hightailed it out of there like her dress was on fire. Her gorgeous, red, slinky dress that made me want to put my coat on her so no one else could enjoy the view.
I’m currently on my way to Shirley May’s, where she requested we meet for our date. As I walk into the restaurant, I realize that no one else is here, which is weird because Shirley May’s is a staple in this town and always busy.
But then I see Ashlyn. She’s sitting at the same booth where we had dinner together the night she came in her dad’s place. Even though she’s not wearing the red dress, she’s easily the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I approach slowly, all the while keeping my gaze glued to hers. When I stop next to her, she says, “Jamie. Thank you for coming.”
“You did buy me,” I remind her.
“I did.” She gestures for me to sit down .
Sliding into the booth across from her, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
“Aren’t we on a date?” She looks confused.
“What are you doing back in Maple Falls? I thought you didn’t plan on returning.”
“I didn’t, but I changed my mind.”
“Why?” I want to know.
She lowers her eyes until she’s looking at the table. “I forgot something,”
“Your clothes?” I ask.
She shakes her head.
“Your toothbrush?”
Her eyes suddenly meet mine. “I forgot that I was starting to believe in fate.”
I quirk an eyebrow in response, so she continues, “I got to thinking that a lot of events had to occur for you and me to find ourselves in Maple Falls at the same time.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to respond. Instead, she says, “Allegra isn’t the woman for you, Jamie.”
While I know this, I still feel the need to ask, “Why do you say that?”
“Because I am. I think I’m the woman for you.”
Well, what do you know? I did not see this coming, but I want to hear it from her. “Is that so?”
“I know you were with her at the lodge, and you didn’t let yourself be auctioned off because you’re back with her, but it’s the wrong decision, Jamie. She’s hurt you before, and she’ll do it again.”
I sit silently for a moment before announcing, “Allegra and I are not back together.”
Ashlyn looks disbelieving. “What do you mean you’re not back together? I saw you at the auction with her.”
I take a sip from the water glass in front of me before telling her, “We weren’t together.”
“She was sitting right next to you,” Ashlyn says accusingly .
“That’s because she’s been in town since the day after you left. She’s been stalking me in order to get me to change my mind about going back to New York with her. She was waiting for me when I showed up at the auction and she followed me in.”
Ashlyn doesn’t seem to know what to believe, so I tell her, “My heart hasn’t been on the market since the night I met you.”
Her upper lip quivers with emotion. “That wasn’t a date.”
“Maybe not, but I knew deep down my life would never be the same.”
“Because of me?” She blinks her green eyes, setting loose a single tear.
“Because of you, Ashlyn. I never wanted you to leave Maple Falls, and when you did, I wanted to go with you. There hasn’t been a minute where you haven’t been on my mind.”
Reaching her hands across the table, she gently touches my forearms. “Are you serious? You want to date me? Even after you told me you weren’t interested in dating anyone?”
“I want to date you, Ashlyn. I want to date you very much.”
Shirley May pops her head out from around the back corner. I hear the loud popping sound before I see the bottle of champagne in her hands. “I told you she was coming home!” Then she hurries toward us and pours our drinks.
I turn to Ashlyn and ask, “ Are you coming home?”
“For now,” she says. “If things work out for us though, maybe you’ll consider moving to LA with me at some point.”
I clink my glass against hers, and tell her, “I’m pretty sure I’d move to the moon with you, Ashlyn.”
And just like that, fate has changed my life, and I couldn’t be more grateful.