Dune Road Read Online Free PDF Page B

married to have sex, and I agree with you. I also understand how hard you work, and I’m proud of you.” Her mother reached across the table to pat Ashleigh’s hand. “I don’t tell you often enough, but I am very proud of you.”
    “Thanks, Mom.” It meant a lot to that her mother recognized how hard Ashleigh worked. Her mother’s opinion was appreciated and truly mattered.
    “Mom, what if I end up like Melissa?” Her mother inhaled deeply and held her breath, then slowly exhaled. Ashleigh was immediately sorry she’d brought up her sister.
    “Babe, you are nothing like Melissa. The two of you are about as different as two people could be. Melissa liked to have fun. It didn’t make her bad, Ashleigh. She dated a lot of men, but didn’t sleep with most of them.”
    “How do you know that? How can you be so sure?”
    “Come on, Ashleigh. We’ve talked about this before. Melissa and I were very close, as you and I are. She talked to me about everything. Just because I didn’t agree with her partying, doesn’t mean I didn’t love her. Everyone has to follow their own path, honey, and sometimes that means making your own mistakes. Otherwise, how do you learn?”
    “I have to go to bed, Mom.” Ashleigh put her plate in the sink and stopped as she passed her mother’s chair. Reaching around her mom’s shoulders, Ashleigh hugged her. “Thanks. I love you.”
    “I love you too, baby. Don’t worry, everything will work out. Things usually do.”
    ****
    Bob was yelling at him again, causing Cole more grief.
    “I’m almost thirty years old, Bob, give it a rest. I’m not a child and you can’t tell me what to do.” Of course, now he did sound like a child.
    “I absolutely can tell you what to do. I’m being paid a tremendous amount of money to keep you from getting your stupid ass killed, and the only way I can do my job is if you listen to me.” Bob shot his hand through his hair.
    Guilt bit at Cole. “I’m sorry if I’m being difficult, I don’t mean to be.” He shook his head, confused by how badly he wanted to be with Ashleigh, how much he was willing to risk for her. “Ashleigh is different. I’ve never met anyone like her before. It’s refreshing and I don’t want to risk losing my chance with her.”
    The admission sounded foolish and, if he were talking to anyone but Bob, he wouldn’t have voiced it out loud.
    Bob shook his head. “We’ll work it out. Good luck, man. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
    “That’s just the thing. I wasn’t looking for anything…or anyone. I came here to remove myself from a dangerous situation, not to meet someone and fall head over heels in love the instant I saw her.”
    What was he talking about? Love? He only met Ashleigh yesterday—hadn’t even spent much time with her. How could he be talking about love?
    Bob didn’t respond, he just closed the door quietly behind him as he left. Cole sank down onto the deep cushions on the couch. He was too tired to go upstairs, choosing instead to grab the afghan from the back of the couch and crash right where he was.
    His eyes shut the minute his head hit the pillow. Thoughts of Ashleigh drifted through his mind. Was he ready for a serious relationship? He was beginning to think he was. Of course, he would have to get the company’s mess straightened out before he could pursue a relationship. It wouldn’t be fair to Ashleigh to have her stuck in the middle of the dangerous situation he was facing at the moment.
    The ringing phone startled him awake. He reached over his head to grab his cell from the end table. “Yeah?”
    “Yeah? Is that any way to answer the phone? What’s the matter with you, boy?”
    Cole laughed. The gruff reprimand was not without humor.
    “Hey, Dad.”
    “Do you know what time it is? It sounds like you were sleeping?”
    “I was up most of the night.”
    “So I heard.” His father’s voice turned serious, all signs of the playfulness of only moments before