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Why would Ash be any different? Why would he want me once he knows
the
Ash s breath caught in his throat. Was that a sob& from Kaleb? Once he
knows? Knows what? He tried to quiet the quick-fire questions already
pinballing around his mind and concentrate on the conversation still going on
in the bedroom.
Kaleb, honey, you know that wasn t your fault. You had a wonderful year
with Ethan, the best year of your life. But what happened wasn t your fault.
Eight years is a long time, baby. You have to move on. You have to let
yourself be happy. And I ve seen you smile more since that boy came to town
than I have in the longest time. He s good for you. Hope s good for you.
You re already a family for Christ s sake, any fool can see that.
Gram& I am begging you to let it go before I say something I ll regret. I love
you, I don t think you ll ever know how much, but please let it go. Ash is a
good man. He drives me fuckin crazy, but he is a good man. Too good for
someone like me and that s the end of it.
Sugarbear
Mae s voice trailed off, obviously indicating that the conversation was over.
Ash frowned at the tone of her usually gentle voice. Anger? Despair?
Frustration? All three? He started as he heard the sound of the flush from the
bathroom and composed himself before quickly walking into the bedroom.
Holy cow, Mae, Ash said brightly, how many are we expecting for lunch?
Mae shushed him with a wave of her hand as he pulled the chaise longue
towards the bed and flopped down on it, crossing his long legs beneath him.
Pfft, Richie s got hollow legs, always has had. You re a big boy, if a bit
skinny. He blushed as her gaze roved over him thoughtfully. And surely
you ve seen how much food Kaleb can pack away. Especially my crabmeat
salad. She stroked a hand down her grandson s cheek and Ash watched him
lean into her touch. Whatever tension had been between them during their little
set to, had obviously evaporated.
Ash couldn t help the path his gaze took as Mae caressed Kaleb s face.
Couldn t help the way his eyes were drawn to the strong curve of his jaw; or to
the soft pink of his lips and the way his hair fell in a silken curtain around his
face. Kaleb s ice blue gaze caught his and Ash saw a flash of heat so intense,
his toes curled in his sneakers, then it was gone as Kaleb looked away.
Napkin, honey? Mae said with a soft smile playing around her lips. You ve
got a little drool& She pointed in the vague direction of his mouth.
Ash s cheeks burned as he realized she d been watching them and he took the
cotton napkin from her outstretched fingers. I m sorry, he mumbled, dabbing
at his lips. It s all this wonderful food, Mae. I m drooling already. He
thought it was a pretty good recovery, but judging by the gleam in her eye, she
wasn t fooled, but thankfully she didn t say anything else.
Okay boys, dig in. Ash, my advice is just grab what you can and hold on
tight, before Richie inhales everything, Mae said with an indulgent smile at
Richie.
Ash grinned and began to fill his plate with thick cut ham sandwiches,
crabmeat salad, and actually did drool when Mae opened a Tupperware
container filled with barbecue ribs, along with the special Alabama white
barbecue sauce. Sitting back, he watched the interaction between the others,
enjoying the banter born of many years practice.
You love me, Gram, and you know it, Richie drawled, dipping his chicken
leg in some white sauce and taking a large bite. Who would you dream about
if I wasn t around?
Don t talk with your mouth full, Richard, Mae replied with a clicking of her
tongue. I d dream about George Clooney, just like every other night.
You know you re just waiting to be rid of Cyrus so we can run away
together, Richie snapped back. All you Gibsons love my ass even your
grandson has the hots for me. He tries to cover it up under this, Ash chuckled
at Richie s quotey fingers, best friend title. But I know what s really going
on. He s been drooling over my ass since the tenth grade.
You wish, Kaleb retorted. Although, when I m in the mood for something
saggy, I ll come a calling.
Ash watched as Richie tossed his now bare chicken leg at Kaleb and grinned
when it hit his friend square in the chest before dropping onto his plate. There
ain t nothing saggy about my ass, Gibson. But yours could do with a little
work.
I prefer my asses a little higher from the ground, shortstop, Kaleb said,
tossing the bone back. Ash grinned widely as Kaleb fist pumped the air with
his good hand when the bone hit Richie in the forehead.
What about Matt Brandon? Richie s tone was incredulous. In twelfth
grade? He was so short he made the ants feel tall. As I recall you didn t have
any problem with his ass, and it practically dragged on the ground.
Ash joined in the laughter when Kaleb caught his eye and winked lasciviously
at him and said, True, but so did his dick, so it evened out.
I am so sorry, Ashdon, Mae said, delicately sipping her iced tea. I
apologize for my boys lack of etiquette or knowledge of even how to spell the
word manners. I am sure you are used to a much better class of luncheon
companion in Los Angeles.
Ash shook his head and finished his mouthful of crabmeat before answering,
I really don t mind, because if they re ripping into each other, they re leaving
me alone.
I popped in on Sally and Hope this morning and spent some time with them.
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