He is Hot. He is Wicked and He is My Kidnapper.

Over Coffee (28)

Chapter 28

"We need to talk.”

Ash chocked on the coffee he was having and turned to see an angry Grace behind him. Eyes watering, he struggled to stop the lame coughs. Her face showed that sse wasn't impressed. Of course she wouldn’t be. He had been avoiding her the whole day, running in the other direction when she appeared. Because he still hadn’t made up a good explanation for last night.

Having regained his breath, he smiled charmingly and said, “Sorry, but I have a class now Ms. Clark.”

“Don’t lie,” she replied waspishly. “I checked your schedule and you are free for the next two hours Mr. Asher.”

Damn.

His face fell and he gave his sexy pout. “But I can't really tell you,” he said pleadingly, making his eyes widen innocently. But, as usual she wasn’t falling for it. She gave a groan and cried, “I have to know what I helped for last night!” Her voice came a bit too loud and the cafeteria lady gave a scandalized look towards them. Grace gave a horrified gasp and hissed, "Look what you went and did now!"

Ash stifled a chuckle and said blandly, “There is nothing for me to tell you. So stop worrying you pretty head and get back to your normal tasks.”

Her hazel eyes flashed in anger behind her glasses and she said primly, “But I want to know. Otherwise I could simply tell Mrs. Goodwill about what you did.”

He flinched. She would do that? He looked at her closely and sighed. Yes, she was capable of that. If that meant that she got what she wanted.

Damn. What a meddlesome woman. A hot meddlesome woman.

Today she was wearing on of her damned suits, her skirt brushing her knees, her blouse loose around her. But that didn't help him because his mind was happily imagining what was underneath.

“And remember, you owe me on this,” she added. His lips twisted in annoyance. He was annoyed at her for asking and at him for being weak enough to need her assistance.

“Okay,” he said raising his hands up in defense. “But this is classified information and I’m a little stuck right now, so I will need your help anyway. After you hear this, there is no going back. Are you ready?”

When she nodded, he stood up. “Come, let’s go to somewhere private.” He let her order a coffee and the two of them strolled to the open doors to the garden. He knew just the place to talk without been spotted by human eyes or camera.

They walked down the slope and he stopped. He sat down on the grass and motioned Grace to sit on a boulder.

And he started. He told her about the mission, about what they were searching for, about the possible crimes committed, everything that was related without mentioning any names or places. She listened fascinated, asking questions here and there, letting him know that she understood the gravity of the situation.

“Well, that’s what happening now,” he said, ending his talk. He looked up to see her staring of into the distance, coffee gone cold in her hands. He took in the way her red curls had escaped from her bun, caressing her face, her pale skin warming in the sun.

“I…” she said, turning to him. He quickly averted his gaze. “I—I want to help,” she said in a rush.

He blinked.

“Err…help?”

“I want to help you find these poor children, to catch the criminals doing this abominable thing—” she started, her right hand waving around agitated.

“Wait. You want to take active participation in this?”

“Yes of course!”

“No way!” he said forcefully, his mind even refusing to consider it. It grappled about the dangers she could face, the risks, the heart ache he would suffer—No way would he let her.

“Why?”

“Because—it’s dangerous!” he said, standing up, “Don’t you understand? They have been operating this very carefully and if they get a whiff of this, then we are finished!”

“So?”

He gave a frustrated growl. He leant towards her, towering over her figure. “I won’t let you. It’s not safe, you might get hurt!” he said wildly, resisting the urge to shake her.

She looked at him thoughtfully for awhile. Ash gritted his teeth and glared back. After a moment, she replied demurely, “Fine. I’ll just help you in getting information, nothing more.”

He gave a sigh of relief and his body sagged forward.

“Thank you,” he said, glancing up at her. And realized that he was closer to her than expected.

He stared at her widening eyes, the greens and browns more prominent at sunlight. He found himself removing her glasses gently.

“Did you know that your eyes are beautiful?” he asked in a surprisingly husky voice. She blinked and slightly shook her head.

“No one has told me that.”

He smiled. “Well, I’m telling you that they are. And you can count my opinion ‘cause I have seen lots of eyes.”

“Female ones?”

“Yeah. And much closer than we are now.”

Those words must have jolted her to reality because she suddenly leaned away. She was blushing as she took her glasses from him and he found it delightful. Grace gulped down her coffee in one shot and grimaced at its coldness.

He looked on, amused, as she hurried to her feet. “I have to go now. I have to report back to Mrs. Goodwill. Thanks for the coffee.”

Ash grinned, “My pleasure.” She paused and looked up at him. Her eyes were wide and her hair was ruffled from the wind, the red glinting in the sunlight. It mesmerized him. “Don’t worry; the secret is safe with me.”

And then she practically ran to the building.

Love me people!!! I was on a roll so I wrote a bit of Ash too ;) Surprise huh?  I guess i satisfied the AshpOV people too. Aren't they the cutest? I love Grace's character. And she was not planned in the story at all. It was unexpected, like a 'Eureka' moment :D Well, I'm off, my work is done. Cheers! Peace out! And thats Grace to the right. 

~Daisy