Secret Miami Nights. Pamela Yaye
“Ha, ha, ha,” she quipped, her tone full of sarcasm. “You’re hilarious! We’ll see who gets the last laugh when I cream you on your own court!”
Ashton cracked up. Haley looked pleased with herself, as if she’d hit a three-point shot from half-court, and the jovial expression on her face made her eyes twinkle.
“I don’t care how good you think your game is, Haley. You’re going down.”
“Your mama!”
Tossing his head back, Ashton erupted in laughter. He’d dated women from all walks of life, who always said and did the right thing, but he found her personality refreshing. Haley told it like it was, and their verbal sparring was a turn-on, putting him in a playful mood.
“This is a huge house for one person.” Haley stared up at him, shielding her eyes from the setting sun with her hands. Hands he wished were on his body, stroking his—
“Do you live with your parents?”
“Hell no!” Ashton said, shivering at the thought. “They live next door.”
As they strolled around the property, every other word out of Haley’s mouth was “Wow,” “Incredible,” or “Awesome.” She listened as he talked about the mansion and asked him numerous questions. How many years did it take to build the estate? Did he have live-in staff? Did he entertain regularly? It amused him to see her reaction to his house, to hear her shriek when something shocked her—like the size of his home gym—and Ashton wondered if Haley was vocal in the bedroom, too.
“This room is bigger than my entire condo,” she said, glancing around the space, her eyes wide with wonder. “I’d kill to have a home gym like this.”
The air-conditioned room was filled with state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Autographed posters of famous athletes hung on the vibrant blue walls, and the walk-in fridge at the rear of the room was stocked with healthy snacks and cold drinks. It was Ashton’s favorite room in the house, and whenever he had a bad day or argued with his dad, he’d head straight to the gym and exercise until he was in a better frame of mind.
“I feel like I’m in a museum. I’m going to need a map to find my way out of here!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll escort you to your car when you’re ready to go.”
Frowning, Haley pointed at the red floor mat in front of the window. “You do yoga?”
“Of course.” Ashton grinned. “I’m more than just a pretty face, you know.”
“No offense, but I don’t know any guys who do yoga. How did you start?”
His former fiancée had begged him to attend her drop-in class and he hadn’t wanted to disappoint her. But he didn’t share that information with Haley. Not yet. It was too soon. Talking about Mia’s death would upset him, and Ashton didn’t want to ruin his date by getting emotional.
“I took a class my sophomore year of college,” he said instead, “and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
“No way! I never would have guessed it. You strike me as the type who likes to do extreme sports, not the downward dog. Do your friends give you a hard time for doing yoga?”
“Yeah, but once I told them Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, David Beckham and LeBron James swear by it, they quit teasing me. Yoga helps me focus and improves my mental toughness, and I wouldn’t be the man I am without it.”
“I’ve never tried it, but it looks hard, and I don’t want to hurt myself.”
“You won’t,” he assured her, hoping to put her fears at ease. “If you’d like, I can schedule a private session with my trainer next week so you can see the physical and mental benefits for yourself. You know what they say, a couple who does yoga together stays together.”
Shaking her head, Haley waved her hands in front of her face. “I better not. My best friend and I tried a Pilates class last month, and I was so sore the next day I couldn’t move.”
“And you think you can beat me in basketball? Keep dreaming.”
“Just watch me,” she quipped, all smiles. “I have skills you can’t even imagine.”
Were they still talking about basketball? Ashton wondered, wetting his lips with his tongue. Her soft, sultry tone tickled his eardrums, and her mischievous grin stole his breath. What the hell? Ashton thought, plucking at his shirt to cool down his suddenly overheated body. I’m supposed to be in control, not her!
Ashton couldn’t stop staring at her. Haley looked prim and proper in her cardigan, like a preschool teacher on picture day, but she had an edge, a side to her he wanted to get to know better. And he would. Tonight. After they toured his estate.
Exiting the room, his hand placed firmly on her lower back, Ashton led her down the hallway to the den. They discussed the décor, the African-themed paintings and the souvenirs he’d purchased during his overseas travels, which were prominently displayed on the glass shelves.
“Do you travel a lot for work?”
Ashton nodded. “Yes. As a matter of fact, I returned from Frankfurt this morning.”
“I’m so jealous. I wish I could travel more, but the foundation keeps me very busy.”
“I know how you feel. As COO, it’s my job to build and promote Rollins Aeronautics, and this month alone, I’ll be in Seattle, Orlando and Venezuela.”
A concerned expression touched her delicate features. “Aren’t you worried about your safety? Yesterday I read about the food shortages and increased crime in Maracaibo, and even locals are scared to venture out at night.”
“All the more reason I should attend the conference,” he said in a confident tone of voice. “The Venezuelan economy could use a boost, and in spite of the media reports it remains one of my favorite countries in the world. It has spectacular landscapes, some of the kindest, friendliest people you’ll ever meet and the best food you’ve ever tasted.”
“And it doesn’t hurt that Venezuelan women are stunning,” she pointed out.
“I never noticed.”
“Right. Next you’re going to tell me you’ve never been to a strip club!”
“I haven’t. It’s not my speed. I’d rather do yoga or play chess.”
Haley studied the framed pictures along the walls. “Is there anywhere you haven’t been yet that you’re dying to travel to?”
“Ibiza.” A grin overwhelmed Ashton’s mouth. “We’ll go there for our honeymoon.”
Nodding, she returned his smile. “Deal. Give me the wedding of my dreams, and I’ll travel the world with you!”
I love the sound of that, he thought, gazing down at her pretty face.
Continuing the tour, they walked through the main house and into the great room. They talked about growing up in Miami, their university days and their respective jobs. Haley was passionate about The Aunt Penny Foundation and giving back to her community, and Ashton enjoyed learning more about her hobbies and interests. Talking and cracking jokes, they moved from one topic to the next without missing a beat.
“What’s your most prized possession?” Haley asked, admiring the glass sculptures on the end tables.
“That’s easy. My car collection.”
Ashton heard his cell phone ring inside his back pocket, knew from the ringtone it was his mother and decided to let the call go to voice mail. If he answered and mentioned he was on a date, she’d race over, and Ashton wasn’t ready to introduce Haley to Joan. Not after one date. For now, he wanted to keep their relationship under wraps.
“Do you collect antique cars and motorcycles?”