She’d known it, of course, but listening to his end of the conversation was like hearing the final nail being hammered into her fledgling hope they could have something lasting. His breathless excitement—that had killed her. As if he couldn’t believe his luck. For those moments, she’d ceased to exist. She’d lain beside him knowing he’d forgotten all about her, helpless to do anything but listen as he drifted away from her, all the way back to London. She didn’t blame him for that. Oh, part of her wanted to, but she was a big girl and understood what was at stake. His career was more than a paycheck. It was his whole identity. How could she ever ask him to give that up? But how could she give up the friendship they’d developed, especially now it included the best sex she’d ever had? It wasn’t just Ash’s body or skill but the way they related to each other that made her want him so badly. When she was with him, she felt more excited than when she was with anyone else.
