Ash Rising (DEAd Series) (2 page)

Ash nodded before following Lisa into the kitchen. The room was full of people, but no sign of her. Daniel stood with his girlfriend Maggie by the back door, and he caught part of their conversation as he approached.

“…and the son of a bitch tucks himself back into his jeans, leans forward to give her a kiss on the forehead, and walks out to shake the Commissioner’s hand
.
Her father’s
hand,” Daniel emphasized, just in case Maggie missed the significance.

“Telling stories?” He didn’t miss Daniel’s suspicious once-over as he gave Maggie a hug.

“Holy crap, Ash. How do you know Commissioner Roberts?” Maggie asked, returning the embrace under Daniel’s watchful eye. “What’d he want?”

“He and my dad have known each other forever. Went to college and law school together. Dad went on to practice, and Roberts went on to…commission, I guess. He told me I have a meeting with Pete Davenport next week.” He’d been dying to tell his friends the news.

Daniel whistled while Maggie glanced back and forth between them. “Who’s Pete Davenport?”

“Head of one of the top undercover units in the RCMP.
You’re going to be working for Davenport?” Daniel grinned and shook his head. “Asher Beaulieu in charge of busting cons instead of starting them. Who’d have thought we’d see the day?”

“Don’t have the job yet.” But he would. An assignment with Davenport’s unit had been his goal since he chose his college courses, years before his training at the Depot. “By the way, have you seen Lisa?”

“Went that way.” Daniel gestured at the back door with his chin.

“Thanks.”

He paused on the back porch, surveying the groups of people still hanging around, but didn’t see Lisa anywhere. He fixed a cocky, carefree grin on his face and started down the painted wood steps to begin his search.

Usually
, he didn’t mind the slaps on the back from the men, the lingering touches from the women. Chatting, flirting, and bullshitting was what he did, but he wanted to find Lisa as soon as possible and get her out of there. Expertly working his way through the clusters of party guests, he paused, hands on hips, at the edge of the crowd. Lisa was tough, but she would seek privacy to lick her wounds and deal with her ex-fiancé shoving his bimbo in her face. Where would she go to be alone?

Ah, of course. The gazebo.
Please let this be the last time I end up there tonight.
No point in being quiet. He wanted to give Lisa some warning if she was inside. The door opened with a soft creak, and he searched the shadows for any sign she had taken refuge.

A
dark-haired feminine figure curled up in the thick cushions of the wicker armchair. Her face gleamed pale in the moonlight before she ducked her head and wiped her eyes.

“What are you doing here?”
Lisa asked, her voice belligerent. He didn’t reply, only closed the screen door behind him and stood quietly, waiting to see if she’d accept his presence or demand he leave. After a short silence, her body uncurled, and she sighed. Her nose wrinkled as she looked up at him. “I think somebody’s been having sex in here.”

Well, shit.
He didn’t make any response, either physically or verbally, but she narrowed her eyes and snorted.

“What am I saying? It was probably you, wasn’t it?” She scrubbed her face. “Jesus, Ash.”

He had no good response, so he squatted down next to her and balanced easily on the balls of his feet. “Hey, do you want to get out of here?”

She sniffled and nodded with a jerk. His
hand extended and held steady until she placed her fingers in his. Ash rose and tugged her to her feet, then brought her against his chest for a comforting hug.

“Okay?”

“It just sucks, you know?” She glanced up at him and grimaced. “It just…sucks.”

“I know, sweetheart. Let’s get you home.” Ash tucked her against his side
and walked out of the gazebo. He led her the long way around the house, through the backyard to the side entrance of the garage. He double-checked the driveway, but guests had parked along the long gravel drive leading to the house, so the way was clear for his car.

After settling Lisa inside the Mustang,
Ash pulled out of the driveway and onto the dark, tree-lined road. He stepped on the gas, and the car leapt forward. For many minutes, the only sound was the rumble and roar of the engine as he shifted and steered around winding turns.

“Why do guys do it?” Lisa’s
uneven voice broke the silence. “I mean, why do you do it, Ash?”

He cast a glance at her out of the corner of his eye. “Do what?”

“Sleep with all those women.” Her hands fisted in her lap, and a tear glinted in the moonlight as it slid down her cheek. “Why can’t you just be with one girl? Why can’t that be enough?”

Ash
squirmed in his seat. “Can’t answer for Greg, but me? I guess because I haven’t met a girl I want to be with exclusively. But until I do, I don’t make any commitments, not like Greg made to you. Doesn’t hurt anyone when I fuck around.”

She turned to him, her face stark with pain. “If you think that
, then you really are a fool.”

Ash
focused on the road, but her words ricocheted inside his head. He’d never been involved with anyone who expected more than a good time and good sex. Always up front, he made the situation clear before he started any sort of liaison with a woman. His dad taught him sexual responsibility went beyond birth control, but maybe he’d been a fool to think he’d followed his father’s wisdom.

Lisa sighed, her shoulders slumping
.

“I’m sorry,” he
finally said, apologizing for more than what she’d been through that night.

Her laugh
rang cold and hollow. “No, no. I’m the one who’s sorry. You’re nothing like the Gregs of this world. You’re a good man, Asher Beaulieu, even if you do try to hide it.”

Lisa
placed her hand on his leg for a brief pat. He covered her fingers with his before she pulled away.

“I don’t know why I’m always attracted to the assholes. I guess if I could figure
that out, I could write a self-help book and make millions.”

“Not all guys are assholes. S
ome good ones are out there.” Like Andy and his long-repressed feelings.

“Hah,” she scoffed. “I’d pay you to find me one.”

Maybe he should present Andy to her naked or wrapped in leather. Ugh, gross. Great mental image. Besides, he’d never betray his friend’s deepest secret like that. Andy would have to muddle along like he’d been doing for the past eighteen years.

He
drove in silence until they reached the flat she rented in town. Ash found a parking spot down the block and pulled the Mustang into the space before turning off the engine. Draping his hands over the steering wheel, he turned to examine Lisa’s tearstained profile.

“I bet you didn’t imagine you’d end tonight like this.” She gave a watery chuckle
and wiped at her eyes. “With a girl that isn’t panting to get all over your dick.”

“My dick’s
just fine, thanks.” He slanted her an amused glance, but the misery on her face gentled his tone. “I don’t mind. I’d rather be here, taking care of my friend.”

Her head snapped up
, and she stared for a second. “Well, I’m sure there are other places you’d rather be, but…Thanks, Ash. Thanks for being here with me tonight.”

He tugged on the end
s of her hair. “No problem. Let’s get you upstairs, okay?”

“You don’t have to stay. I appreciate you
bringing me home, but you don’t have to walk me to the door. I’m not some delicate piece of fluff that can’t hold it together over something stupid like seeing my ex-fiancé with his bimbo. Just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

A
lready out of the car, he came around to open her door and help her out onto the sidewalk. “You know my mama would have my ass if I didn’t see you safe to your door.”

“Yeah.” The first hint of a smile curved her mouth. “You’re right about that.”

She hooked his elbow with hers in a companionable gesture, regaining her usual attitude until she opened the door of her apartment. Lisa took a couple steps into the foyer and choked back a sob

“Hey,” he murmured, rubbing her back. Like that would help, but what else could he do? “Hey.”

“Maybe I am a piece of fluff.” She wiped her face on her sleeve. “But I don’t want to go into that damn bedroom. I can still see them in our bed. How can Greg still make me feel like shit in my own apartment?”

Ash acted on instinct and opened his arms. Lisa collapsed against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Another sob shook her, and then she cried in earnest.

“Come on. You don’t have to face anything alone.” He bent to lift and carry
her into the bedroom despite her height and muscle. She clung to him when he set her on the bed, so he settled next to her and stroked a hand over her hair.

“Shh
. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You are, though. You’re leaving. Going away.”

“I’ve got to go where the Force assigns me, you know that. But I’ll be back.”

“And I’ll be stuck here, working at the hospital.”

“Andy with the QPP, Daniel at Guelph finishing his electronics degree for the Force—they’ll still be close. And you love that job. You worked hard to get your nursing degree.”

“I know, but it’s been the three of us since we were six years old, and Daniel since we were twelve. It’s going to be so weird without you around all the time. I’ll miss you so much.” She snorted, sniffed, and snotted. A
shaky laugh burst from her as she wiped ineffectually at the damp spot on his chest.

“I’m going to go wash my face.” Sitting
up, she rubbed her swollen eyes. “Do you want a new shirt?”

“Nah. I’m fine.”

Lisa stared at him as she backed toward the small, attached bath. “Damn, Ash. You look better than sin lying stretched out on that bed.”

An odd comment, but he shrugged the words off and turned back the covers on her side. When she returned to the bedroom, she was barelegged but enveloped in a worn, oversized T-shirt.

He patted the sheets on the exposed side of the bed. “Come on. Lie down and try to get some rest.”

Lisa crawled next to him, and
Ash flipped the comforter so she was under the soft quilt and he lay on top. After long seconds, she squirmed around in his arms to face him.

“Thank you,” she
whispered to the middle of his chest. “You didn’t have to take me home, and you certainly didn’t have to stay with me, but thanks.”

“Of course,” he murmured.

“Ash?”

“Yes?”

“Would you… Would you kiss me?”

He stiffened, sucking in a breath, and then pulled away to examine her face. “What?
Why
?
”

“Because I want you
to kiss me. You kiss everyone. I need to be wanted tonight, and I’m dying to find out if what they say is true—if you’re as good a kisser as they say. I’ve known you practically my whole life. I want to know.”

“Lisa…”
He didn’t how to respond, but he was pretty sure
hell, no
wasn’t appropriate.

“Of course not,” she muttered, burying her face in his chest.

“Lisa, it’s just—
we can’t. I don’t…” His usual flair abandoned him. Lisa was one of his best friends. He’d grown up with her—her, Andy, and Daniel. He loved her in the same way he loved the other two, and he sure as hell didn’t want to kiss either of them. Last thing he wanted to do was give her another rejection, not when her self-confidence had taken such a blow, but…
Hell, no.

“Damn it, you even smell good
. How can you still smell good after all the smoke, sweat, and alcohol at the party? And the sex. There is always sex with you, isn’t there? Are you even human?”

“Shh,” he soothed. What the hell?
No way he’d address the subject of sex, not while she was in that mood and he was in bed with her, separated by layers of blankets or not. He carefully pressed his lips to her forehead, not wanting to give her the wrong idea. Awkwardness made him twitchy, when there had always been ease and camaraderie between them. “Get some rest.”

She
lay still and tense in his arms before finally falling into a restless sleep. Ash waited a while longer before he slipped his arms from underneath her and eased out of bed in a move he’d mastered well. He’d made sure she was home, safe, and resting comfortably. The best thing for both of them would be to leave while she still slept.

Why hadn’t he let Andy bring her home?
Andy had wanted to kiss Lisa for years. Ash didn’t want to hurt her, but he had absolutely no romantic or sexual feelings for her whatsoever. Any other night, if she hadn’t been blindsided by Greg and that girl, she’d feel the exact same way. He’d wanted to help a close friend, comfort her and make her feel cared for, loved even, but not like that. The night had gone from familiar and fun to awkward, alternate-reality strange in just a couple hours.