Dream Girl

Chapter Sixteen

"Just wanted to meet with you quickly to review progress,” Dave Farrell said the next afternoon, pulling up a chair to the table.

Ash smiled tentatively at Zach as he took a seat across from her. He met her eyes and then looked away.

She quickly looked down at her notes. When she picked up a sheet of paper, it trembled and blurred in front of her. She blinked rapidly.

Dave was telling Zach and Connor how he'd driven down to San Diego to talk to their yeast guy.

"I think you're right about him,” he said. “He's clean. He was pretty up front about what he heard and who he heard it from. So we're working on that, seeing if we can get anywhere. Meanwhile, John's been viewing the video from the cameras at the brewery."

"Nothing,” John said. “Nobody but Zach and Connor has gone into that lab in the last week. We'll keep going. Our phone taps have given us nothing so far either."

"Ashlyn?"

"Well...” She hoped her voice wasn't quivering like her insides were. “I can confirm that someone tried to get into that computer in the lab."

Zach scowled at that, and she smiled sympathetically.

"So something has happened,” she continued. “But whoever it was couldn't get in through your passwords. Which was pretty easy for me to do, so clearly this isn't someone with a lot of computer knowledge."

Zach frowned. “You busted my passwords?"

"Easy peasy. I'll help you set up a more secure system for the future. If they try again, they'll never get in.” Although she'd probably never see him again. She continued. “Your office manager likely has enough computer skills to get into your files, so I'm now thinking it wasn't her. I didn't have any luck with the hard drives I copied, so I guess I'd like to look at a few more, if we could agree on two or three more to prioritize. Although I did want to ask something. Your salesperson, Melissa Jackson—is she a very religious person?"

Connor and Zach glanced at each other and then back at Ashlyn. “Not that I know of,” Zach answered slowly. “Why?"

"Just something I kept seeing in her e-mails.” She shook her head. “It was weird because it came up so often, but I'm sure it doesn't mean anything."

They discussed it and decided on three more computers, which Ashlyn would copy on Sunday again.

"Are you sure there was nothing on Ava Cooper's computer?” Bob asked with a frown. “The asset tracking we did showed some really big credit-card purchases that got paid off with cash about three months ago. It seemed suspicious."

She shook her head. “I can look again. I'll try some different keyword searches."

"Okay, thanks."

She closed her folder and watched Zach and Connor get up and leave. Zach never even looked at her.

"Ashlyn."

She turned to look at her father in a haze of hurt. “What?"

"Can I buy you dinner?"

"Oh.” She shook her head. “I'm having dinner with Mom."

"Ah.” He shuffled some papers. “How is your mother?"

"Fine, I guess.” She tipped her head. “Why?"

He shrugged. “Just asking."

"You seem awfully distracted, Ashy."

Ashlyn shook her head at the name her mother had called her as a child. They sat in her mom's kitchen, the same kitchen where she'd sat doing homework, where she'd whined to her mother about stupid ballet classes, and where her mother had bravely pretended all was well in her marriage when her husband phoned yet again to say he'd be home late.

"I'm ... yeah. Busy.” Ashlyn played with the pink-and-yellow flowered serviette. So feminine. Her mother was a girl right to the core and had despaired of Ashlyn's tomboy tendencies.

"School's going okay?"

"Yeah. Almost done. And I had a really good job interview the other day.” She told her mom about the company she hoped to work for.

"Don't take the first job you get offered,” her mother advised. “Make sure it's what you really want."

"It is what I want."

"Are you sure you don't want to work for your dad?"

Ashlyn glanced at her mom and then back down at the napkin. They'd finished eating and were just sitting at the table talking. “I'm sure."

Linda Farrell sighed. “You're working for him now."

"Yeah.” Ashlyn grinned. “It really pisses him off."

"Ashlyn! Language!"

"What? When Liam and Brett and Tanner swear, you don't say a word."

"Ladies don't use language like that."

Ashlyn didn't know whether to remind her mother she wasn't a lady, or try to convince her that yes, ladies did use words like that. She sighed.

"How is your father?"

Ashlyn's head lifted. “He's ... fine."

"That's good."

"He asked about you. When I told him I was coming here."

"Oh.” Her mother touched a hand to her short, blonde hair. “Really. What did he say?"

Was she in high school again? “He just asked how you were."

Her mother smoothed the tablecloth. “I see. Is he seeing anyone?"

Definitely high school all over again. “I don't think so. You know him ... all work."

"Yes.” She gave Ashlyn a bright smile. “So what else is distracting you?"

A corner of Ashlyn's mouth pulled down. “I can't tell you."

Her mom blinked at her. “Oh.” She frowned. “Are you pregnant?"

Ashlyn choked. “God, no.” Well, she hoped not. They'd been careful, but...

Her mom's eyebrows flew up into her blonde hairline. “You're seeing someone, aren't you?"

Ashlyn hesitated. “Yes.” Her heart ached. “Sort of."

"That's wonderful!” Her mom put her hands together in front of her chest as if in prayer. “Who is he? When can I meet him?"

"Oh, Mom. I don't know.” She tossed the napkin down onto the table and leaned back in her chair. “I think he might have dumped me last night."

"Oh dear."

Ashlyn hitched a shoulder. “No big deal."

"You look upset."

Her throat ached. “Nah."

"Oh, heavens, Ashy. You're in love, aren't you?"

"No! God, no. I've only known him a few weeks. It wasn't anything serious. He's nice, but...” She stopped. She was protesting too much. “I can't fall in love, Mom. Men are scum."

"Ashlyn!"

"Well, it's true. You know that as well as anyone. Look what happened with you and Dad."

Her mom said nothing, her gaze sliding away from Ashlyn's. Ashlyn forced a laugh. “Don't worry, Mom. I'm okay."

"What does he do for a living?"

"He makes beer."

Linda frowned. “Beer? That doesn't sound very ... um..."

"He owns a very successful microbrewery,” Ashlyn told her, amused. “He's so smart and creative. It's amazing, you should see the brewery."

Her mom's skepticism softened into tenderness. She smiled. “I see."

Now Ashlyn frowned. “What? What do you see?"

Linda shook her head. “Nothing. Tell me more about this fellow."

The words spilled out of her. She wanted to talk about Zach. Even if she couldn't tell her mom everything, like how badly she'd screwed up and how Zach was bound to hate her eventually but she'd already made him hate her anyway, it felt good to tell someone how wonderful Zach was. And her mom listened to every word, smiling and nodding.

It was too much to hope that Ashlyn's roommates would be out Friday night. It was almost ten-thirty when Zach got to Ashlyn's place, tired from all the work he'd just done getting ready for the Pooch Picnic, but wired about seeing Ashlyn.

Ashlyn opened the door, and when she saw Zach, her eyes went huge and guarded.

"Hi."

"Hi.” She just stood there. “I didn't think you'd be coming."

He nodded, pursing his lips. “Yeah. I wasn't sure myself."

They looked at each other.

"Like I could stay away,” he finally admitted, running his fingers through his hair. “But you pissed me off, Ash."

"I know. I'm sorry."

With one step she was in his arms, her face pressed to his chest.

"You'll learn to trust me,” he muttered against her silky hair. He felt her nod.

Zach smelled the popcorn as they walked into the living room. Ben and another guy sat there in the dark, watching a movie. A huge bowl of popcorn and a half-empty jug of cola sat on the coffee table. Ashlyn introduced Zach to Doug, and he immediately felt the chill from Ben. Doug seemed okay.

Ben and Doug occupied the couch, and Ashlyn must have been sitting in the only chair. She gestured to it. “Sit,” she invited. He hesitated, so she grinned, pushed him down, and proceeded to sit on his lap, her legs dangling over the arm of the chair, her arm around his neck.

He had no idea what was going on in the movie but didn't care. He was just happy and relieved to have Ash in his arms, and he tried to discreetly nuzzle her hair and neck, smelling her fresh fruity scent that was becoming so familiar to him.

"We don't have any beer,” Ash murmured to him, moving her head languorously against his nuzzling mouth. “Do you want a Coke or anything?"

"Nah. That's okay."

After the movie, Ben and Doug apparently had no clue he and Ashlyn might want to be alone. They stayed glued to the couch, analyzing and dissecting the movie.

"He only did that because of his inferiority complex,” Doug said, reaching for a handful of popcorn.

They started arguing, and Zach listened with amusement, stroking Ashlyn's hip. After he'd yawned a couple of times, Ash said, “You're tired, Zach. You should go."

Reluctantly he agreed. Maybe it was just as well they couldn't do anything more than snuggle. He didn't want her to think the only reason he'd showed up tonight was to get in her pants. Although he did want to get in her pants. Really bad.

"I'll pick you up at noon tomorrow,” he said.

She smiled at him, and her pretty face took his breath away. Then he forced himself to leave before he gave into impulse and dragged her down the hall to her bedroom.

"Am I dressed okay?” Ashlyn asked Zach, looking down at her flowered cotton skirt and tank top. God. She might as well have asked him if her ass looked fat. What was happening to her?

"You look great,” he assured her and kissed her.

"What about later, though?” she fretted. “That place is pretty posh."

"If you want to change, bring some clothes. We have to go back to my place later to take Rocky home anyway."

He followed her back into her bedroom, where she stared into her closet. With a sigh, she pulled out her black dress, the one she'd been wearing the second time she'd met Zach. What a girl she was turning into, she thought ruefully. Remembering every outfit she'd worn each time she saw him. Wishing she had something new and pretty to wear for him.

She pulled her strappy black sandals out and tossed some makeup into her backpack for a touch-up later.

Ben sat in the kitchen reading the newspaper as they went by. He looked up and scowled. “Should I expect you home tonight?"

Ashlyn glanced between him and Zach, the air suddenly thick. “Uh ... probably not,” she said, glancing again at Zach. He nodded and put his arm around her possessively. Yikes. “Bye, Ben."

She hurried out, not wanting to deal with that conflict.

"I'm telling you, he hates my guts,” Zach said, helping her into his SUV. Rocky wagged his tail furiously and grinned from the back seat. Ashlyn gave him a rub on the top of his silky golden head and sighed.

They arrived at the swanky Rocky Harbor Country Club, all carnivaled-up with bright balloons, flags and tents for the Pooch Picnic. At one end of the lush lawn, a small stage was set up for musical entertainment.

"Is Connor coming?” she asked as they strolled to the entrance.

"Later,” Zach said. “If he doesn't, I'm going to go home and drag him here. He has to get out. He's growing mold on him from sitting at home."

She laughed, but it was true. Every time she went to Zach's place, Connor sat there brooding. She withheld a guilty little sigh. On the one hand, she was glad Jessica Montgomery had disappeared for a week, but on the other, she really needed to get this over with and free her conscience. It was killing her.

"You don't need to pay, Zach,” said one of the women sitting at the entrance. “You've done enough."

He grinned, but nonetheless tossed a generous donation into the basket as he led Ashlyn and Rocky into the park.

"The Best Smile contest is at two o'clock,” he reminded her. “After that, the Brewmasters are on stage."

"The Brewmasters?"

He grinned. “Yeah. My buddy's band."

Ashlyn couldn't help but smile as she looked around at all the different dogs, big and small, round and tubby, lean and long-legged. Two dogs on leashes barked and snarled at each other while their owners held on tightly and smiled embarrassed apologies. Other dogs sniffed and checked each other out in their canine way.

Rocky was calm and happy, his tongue lolling out.

"Oh, I forgot something,” Ashlyn said. She let her small backpack drop off her shoulder. On her knees on the grass, she rummaged through it and pulled out a funny-looking bottle. “I got a present for Rocky,” she explained. “It's a dog water bottle. See. It opens and"—she squeezed—"the water runs out, and he can drink from this bowl.” It was so cool, and she'd thought how perfect it was for a day like this.

Zach was looking at her oddly as she held the bowl for Rocky to slurp from. “What?” she asked.