Loving Ashe Read Online Free PDF

did you last get laid –
No!
I mean, when was the last time you lied?  
Lied!
 Lied, not laid!”
    Ashe chuckled, then forced himself to be serious. “Just before I got into that elevator with you.”
    “Was that an answer to the first question or the second?”
    “Second,” Ashe replied, his eyes never leaving her face.
    Riley blushed.  
Goodness gracious, his eyes.  And his voice
.  She focused and cleared her throat, serious again.  “Do you see yourself in ten years’ time still doing the same thing you’re doing now?”
    “Yes, but I’d like to produce more, too. Even direct. After all, what’s hot in Hollywood right now may not be so hot next year, or in five, or ten years.”
    “You never know,” Riley said. “You could still be hot. I mean, look at you! You’re hot right now, so why not in ten years?”
    “If I’m really that hot, then how come you don’t know who I am?”
    “Just because I don’t know who you are doesn’t mean I don’t know real-life hot from not.”
    This time, it was Ashe who paused before his face broke into a wide grin, his blue eyes twinkling.
    “You’re good – even though you did get distracted for a moment – though that was entirely my fault,” Ashe said, taking a sip from his beer. “Debate team in school?”
    “Nope.”
    His eyes narrowed.  “Auctioneer?”
    “Definitely not,” Riley replied, laughing.
    “I give up. What?”
    “I have three smart-aleck nephews and, whenever they’re around, you need to have your game face on all the time. They’re relentless. And you?”
    “I’ve only got one niece, so obviously I can’t compete with three.”
    His phone beeped, the third time since they had sat down though he’d ignored every single call or text message throughout dinner. Riley remembered how it had beeped in the cab as well, but he hadn’t answered it that time either. But this time, Ashe pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket and glanced at the display.
    “Is that your manager, by any chance?” She asked.
    “Yes, it is. And she’s wondering – in full caps, no less – where I am,” Ashe said, and began typing a message on his phone.  “I’m not supposed to leave the hotel.”
    “You’re in big trouble then.”
    He drew a deep breath, and took another sip from his beer. “You could say that. She’s probably a nervous wreck right now. But then, she always is.”
    “Are they sending a car to pick you up?” Riley asked. Ashe made a face but didn’t answer her. “I gather that’s a ‘yes’, then. Well, I need to get going anyway.”
    Despite Riley’s insistence that she pay for dinner, Ashe took care of the bill and together they stepped outside. Riley shivered, a cold wind ruffling her hair. They looked up at the sky, shrouded by heavy clouds.
    “It’s going to rain,” Riley said, rubbing her forearms. “It must remind you of London.”
    He shrugged. “Just because I’m English doesn’t automatically mean I’m from London.”
    “Oh, that’s right,” Riley chuckled. “The posh Englishman who’s not really posh!”
    “Right,” he laughed as his phone beeped again. This time, Ashe excused himself and answered it.
    Riley tried not to eavesdrop but it was difficult to avoid. Ashe had such a deep voice it was easy to hear what he was saying. He was in Chinatown, he was telling someone. Of course, he was fine. Why wouldn’t he be? He’d only been trapped in the elevator for half an hour, no big deal, really. He was in good company at the moment and didn’t need any help. But he told his caller that he was standing outside the restaurant, in case they were racing through Manhattan to rescue him.
    Riley glanced at her phone, too, checking the time. It was half past ten and she needed to get back home. As Ashe turned to face her, she gave him a mock salute. “Well, thanks for joining me for dinner, and for talking me off that ledge of getting back into bed with the ex.”
    “You talked yourself out of it