Hayley climbed into his car and leaned in to peck his cheek, having missed him immensely the whole day.
“Did you miss me?” he asked, with a heart-stopping grin lighting up his features.
“Yes, and you?” He nodded and started the ignition, without elaborating further.
“I’m sure you didn’t,” she glared at his inadequate response.
“What if I prove to you I did?” He grinned at the warm flush that stained her cheeks when she finally realized what he implied. Yes, he hadn’t been able to forget the way she took him in her mouth. It was the best experience he had so far and now he wanted a repeat. He realized how shallow all his encounters had been so far. With no feelings involved, they were just shallow, monotonous se*. What he started with Hayley was so different. It was so real and he was already addicted.
It was no use trying to tell her what he felt. He had never been so good with words. It was better if he showed her how he felt, how much he had missed her. He would definitely try to make her stay with him. This was his only chance to have her close to him.
Hayley couldn’t understand the man beside her. She knew he hated mall-hopping, just like his best friend Alexander did. It was aunt Jodie who bought most of their clothes for them. Then how did he offer to take her shopping? He drove into the parking area of an upscale shopping mall, housing every brand under their roof.
“I thought you hated shopping.”
“I still do. But I can survive it with you,” he shrugged while Hayley rolled her eyes.
“Who’s asking you to survive it? I want you to enjoy our time here,” she argued, grabbing hold of his arm and leading him to the shop of her choice.
“I always do in your company.” They went into the shop and checked out some formals for the office but Ashton didn’t let her buy anything she liked.
“No more pantsuits! Aren’t you tired of wearing them? I’ll choose this time.” He searched the entire shop and settled for smart pencil skirts, tops, and formal dresses. She had to bow down to his taste, but she frowned on seeing them.
“I don’t want an all-black wardrobe. Why did you choose all black stuff?” she groaned, sorting through the collection for a color variant.
“What’s so wrong with it? Black is my favorite?” Hayley rolled her eyes and they continued bickering as they shopped. Every time, Ashton planted a kiss on her mouth to stop her. She pulled him along from shop to shop, buying a few clothes for him as well. Of course, they were all of her choice! While he paid for some, she refused to accept his money when buying his stuff.
“I’m hungry. Are you done?” he asked at last and Hayley nodded, quite satisfied with her purchase. He led her to a cozy restaurant on the top floor, far away from the madding crowd.
“This is my favorite part of the outing!” he said, pulling out a chair for her to sit on.
“Not mine. I’m still waiting for you to ask me out. This is no outing!” Ashton chuckled, attempting to look busy with the menu card. Of course, he would ask her out, but he had to plan it well.
“I will,” he chuckled, concentrating on the food instead. “Why don’t you move in with me? We can have date nights at home every day!” Hayley snacked his arm, not liking the idea at all.
“No, I want to go out with you.” He grabbed her and kissed her cheek to quieten her.
“Ashton, this is a family restaurant. What are you doing?” she glared at him, looking around to check. Thankfully, it was empty since it was still early evening.
“See? There’s no one! Let’s order.” They ordered and as they waited for their food, Hayley’s eyes fell upon a woman who sat watching them from the cafe opposite to them. The glass walls around them hid nothing from view. Sensing Hayley’s glance on her, she looked away immediately and concentrated on her food instead.
Their food arrived, and they enjoyed their meal, discussing their day. “I skipped my morning jog for the last two days,” he complained, tucking into his steak.
“So have I. If you wake me up tomorrow, we can go.”
“That depends on when we go to sleep.” Hayley blushed, knowing what he meant by that. Would he make love to her tonight? A tremor of excitement went up her body at the thought. “Are you thinking the same thing as I am?”
Hayley came to her senses and blushed. “I’m not thinking of anything. What’s on your mind?”
Ashton grinned and leaned in to whisper the dirty list of things he had in his mind. “Well, we can start with kissing. Then we can shed our clothes.” Hayley looked around in a state of panic at seeing the restaurant fill up.
“Stop. I don’t want to hear it now,” she said, placing her hand on his mouth to control him. Ashton laughed at her antics, grabbing hold of her hand and kissing it.
“So when do you want to hear it? Or do you want me to enact it?” Hayley shook her head, blushing furiously.
“Don’t you want us to resume where we left off this morning?” he continued relentlessly, making her blush even more. Couldn’t he just drop it? Everyone was giving them curious looks.
“I’m full. Can we leave already? Remind me to never go to a family restaurant with you.”
“What did I do?” he asked innocently, paying for their food. “We will definitely go when we start a family.”
He grabbed her hand and led her out, enjoying the jaw-dropped look on her face.
“What exactly does that mean, Ashton?” she whispered, coming to her senses.
“You heard me Hayley.”
Hayley frowned in confusion. It was so difficult to understand the guy. Didn’t he tell her last night that she didn’t have any future with him? He didn’t believe in relationships, yet he was eager to date her. He didn’t think they could have a future together, yet here he was planning to start a family with her!
As she went into the elevator, her glance fell upon the same woman who had been watching them earlier. She was still there, watching them with her face flushed with anger. What was wrong with her? Before Hayley could ask Ashton, the door closed and they went down to the parking area.
Hayley soon forgot her and loaded all their purchases into the back seat. Strapping herself beside Ashton they were ready to go home.
“I think I’ve bought you enough to last a month.” Hayley gave him a look of disbelief. Did he really expect her to live with him for a month?
“Why would I live with you for a month? Am I your girlfriend? Anyway, what am I to you?” she asked curiously. He had asked her to be his. He started dating her. In fact, he even announced that he wanted to start a family with her but he never asked her to his girlfriend!
Ashton scratched his head and flashed her a shit-eating grin. He knew he had goofed up. He was a novice, where these things were concerned.
“You’re my everything. What did I miss?” Hayley groaned at the impossible guy. With his high IQ, he could conquer the world but couldn’t figure out a simple relationship.
“You missed asking me to be your girlfriend. Do you want me to be your girlfriend?” she asked the clueless man.
“Of course I do. If you agree to be my girlfriend, you need to move in with me,” he conditioned, and Hayley rolled her eyes.
“We’ve paid this month’s rent, Ashton. Can I move in next month?”
“You will? Thank you. So will you be my girlfriend, Hayley?” he asked with his fingers on the ignition. Hayley groaned at his unromantic move.
“Seriously? That’s your proposal? You could have asked me over dinner or with a rose bouquet in your hand. What will I do with this guy? Okay, fine. I’ll be your girlfriend.” Ashton laughed, but he was now eager to reach home and hold his girlfriend in his arms. He had never expected he would have one, least of all Hayley Barclay. Now that she had agreed, his entire body was on fire. He couldn’t wait to claim her as his.
Hayley watched the different emotions flit across his features. He looked so excited, as if he had never expected her to agree. “Did you want someone else as your girlfriend?”
Ashton gave her a brief look of disbelief.
“Never. I only wanted you.”
At last, he drove out of the parking area. They were so lost in their own world, they hardly noticed the woman Hayley had seen earlier sitting in the car behind theirs. She heard every word they spoke and seethed with fury. How could they still be together after she had tried everything in her power to stop them?