Their Second Chance

Chapter 11: Happy feelings

Autumn Pov:

    I wake up and see Ashton sleeping beside me. Yesterday afternoon and last night was incredible. As I think about what happened I admire his features.

    He looks the same as five years ago, but he’s face is more sharp in his own aspect. His shoulders are more wide. And his arms have more muscle. I can see the veins like they want to pop. I see the tattoos but don’t pay attention to them.

    Anyone that sees him will think that he works at a gym not a hospital. He seems to work out on his spare time to be this manly to describe him. My hand has a mind of his own as it moves to his hair. I move it from his eyes. It seems that it’s been a while since he’s last haircut. He also has a light shadow on his chin and jaw.

    He has been staying here, so he hasn’t have the chance to shave his beard. “Good morning beautiful.”

    “Good morning handsome.” I peck his lips and he turns it into a heated kiss. “Ashton we haven’t brush our lips.” He groans and closes his eyes throwing his head on the pillow. “We have kissed millions of time like this before.” I shake my head and get up. I remember I’m naked.

    I take the hoodie from the floor and put it on. “NO!” I look back and see him with a pout.

    I hear a knock on my door. “Ms. Maverick?” My eyes go saucers hearing Julius’ voice. “Coming.” I look back and whisper at him. “Hide.” He gives me a what the f**k look.

    “No. We are adults.” I hiss at him, but he ignores me. I now groan at him. I don’t want my staff to see me like this.     “Ms. Maverick are you alright?”

    “Yes Julius.” He shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest. I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”

    I run to the door and open it, not completely. “Yes?” He looks at my appearance. He has seen me like this before, but at least more properly dress. “I see you have company sorry to interrupt. Is Miss Anna in her room?”

    “No. She slept at Sarah’s.” He gives me a short nod. “Very well then. Nick made breakfast. Will your guest be accompanying you?” I was about to respond him when Ashton yelled from the bed. “Yes I will.” I groan against the door. “Miss, it’s alright we all have needs.” He says that and leaves. If I didn’t know him I would have already fire him.

    He has never been this bold before. Something most have happened to him over the weekend. I close the door and go back to Ashton.

    “You sure you can stay for breakfast?” He nods and pats his side, where I was a little while ago. I walk to my bathroom and start getting ready. I hear him groan into the bed.

    Silly. What I told him last night is the truth. I’m not quite ready to get in a relationship with him. And having s*x with him is the best, but it’s not going to be either a regular thing. We should take it slow. But s*x with him is like being in another world. He makes me feel like I can fly.

    I get in the shower, and I feel his hands roaming my body. “We are not having shower sex.” He kisses my shoulder. I let him and continue showering. He reluctantly does the same. We get out and dry each other. I walk to my closet and see that he went through them. I know when someone touches my stuff. “Why do you have clothes in my size?” He asks.

    It came out playfully and questionable. He smugly looks at me. “I really don’t know. Sometimes I will buy something for me and end up buying men’s clothes. When I saw the size one day I realize I was doing it out of habit.”

    “Really?” I nod. “I stopped like seven months ago.” He frowns. “Why?” What is he thinking? “Despite me being rich Ashton. I have bills and a little girl to take care of. Those won over buying clothes that no one uses. I couldn’t get rid of them either.” I shrug.

    “Oh.” He lets out, surprise. “Oh?” I said making him chuckle at me. I put on a black pair of bra and panties, not the ones that I tried yesterday. Then tight jeans and a green dark blouse with gold buttons in the middle. I take my white and gold sneakers and put them on. “Mmm. If you dress like that every day I don’t think I’ll go back to work. I’m staying by your side. Your rich you can take care of me.”

    “Be your sugar mama?” He frowns and shakes his head. “Never said those words again.” I chuckle.

    I put on make up and let my hair down. He stands behind me in dark jeans on and a black tight shirt on. “I think the shirts are a little tight for me.” He ruffles his hair in frustration. “You don’t like to show off your muscles? For the women to see and admire?”

    “No baby girl. Not like this. And I only want one woman to see me.” He kisses my cheek and I move away from him. “Whatever.”

    We walk down the stairs and enter the kitchen. Julius, Claire, and Nick turn to us. “Good morning miss. Sir.” Nick is the first one to speak. I see him making waffles and boiled eggs. I already see my iced coffee done and a hot cup of coffee besides it. We sit on the stools.

    The air is not tense, but awkward. Julius have seen me with other guys, but they haven’t stay to eat. And Nick and Claire haven’t seem me with someone. So it’s a little awkward.

    I take my coffee and sip from it. I moan lowly at the taste. Ashton puts his hand on top of my thigh, “Don’t do that.” He whispers making me blush from embarrassment.

    Claire and Julius decided to leave the kitchen. “Claire. I’m a little ashamed to asking you this. Can you go to my room and get the cart in there? Thank you.” I tell her remembering that we left the plates from last night up there. Nick finishes cooking and serves us his wonderful breakfast.

    “You’re going to love it.” Ashton takes a bite and lets out a loud moan. I chuckle at him.

    “How will he like his coffee?” Nick asks me. “Milk and two spoons of sugar. Thanks.” I take a bite from my own breakfast. “You remember?” He looks at me with a big smile on his face. “Yes, silly. It’s not hard to forget what someone likes.”

    “It’s been five years.” I shrug. “So?” Nick puts the coffee mug in front of Ashton. “Thanks man. This is delicious. You have a spectacular gift.” Nick thanks him and leaves us alone too. “Where you find him?” That is a long story. “In a food truck. I offer him a better pay and he accepted. He has a wife and kids.”

    “You have a wonderful mind, beautiful.” He kisses my cheek and I blush. All this attention is making me blush more than I’ve done in a while. “I also know you did it for him and his family. You are too kind.” He mumbles. We continue eating. Nick is an excellent chef, but no one wanted to hire him in restaurants for his criminal record.

    He did a B&E a couple of years back. It’s a tough economy and he needed to feed his family. I don’t conde his behavior but understand it. No one in this planet is perfect.

    We all make mistakes; we just have to learn from them. I investigated him and other than that in his record I knew he was a nice guy.

    I also meet his family and they are nice. His wife is humble and kind. She thank me for a whole week for giving him this job with a high pay.

    I’m only paying him what he deserves, the same as if he was in a restaurant three-star Michelin restaurant. He is that great of a chef. It’s just that they see first his CV and then say no. And he isn’t going to cook for me, but for events for the gallery and my books. That was part of the deal and he accepted it.

    I look around and don’t see Sammy. Where is he? I completely forgot about him. I’m a bad owner. I’m a bad mother. I’m a bad person. I start to stress a little. “What’s wrong?” I look at his concerned face.

    “Sammy. I forgot to give him food last night and walk him. I’m a horrible person.” He sighs. “He’s with Anna.”

    I breath out through my nose. “Thank god.” His hands makes circles on my back. “You’re not a horrible person. You just forgot. Sorry for not telling you that he was with Anna.” I check my phone and see like a hundred texts from Sarah. I open them and some of them are from Anna. I’m a horrible mom.

    Right before she went to school Sarah sent me and Marcus a photo of her smiling. Marcus asked in the group chat why was Anna with Sarah and Kenneth. Sarah answered him that I was f*****g Ashton.

    Then Marcus started asking questions. I see that he texted me too a little over half an hour ago. To much drama. I’ll talk to him later.

    I hear the front door open and Sammy barking. A minute later he comes barking in the kitchen and starts running in circles around my stool. I pet him once he stop running around. He snuggles into me, and I pick him up. He’s heavy. He licks my face and I try to stop him.

    “You miss me buddy?” He goes limp on my hands. No. Whenever he is like this he weighs more.

    I put him on the floor, and he runs to the backyard. Traitor. He only likes me for my pets. Nah. I know he’s just excited to be back home.

    Sarah is in front of the fridge with the door open. Is she going to eat my food? “What are you doing?” She shrugs and takes out a jar of chocolate. She takes a spoon from the cabinet and dips it in the jar. “Isn’t it to early for that? Or to much sugar for the baby?”

    Ashton asks her. He shouldn’t have done that. Sarah gives him a stern look. “f**k off.” Oh, she’s in a mood. She sits on my left with the spoon full of chocolate in front of her face. “You two f**k last night?”

    My eyes go wide and feel my cheeks getting a little hot. Ashton choughs with his coffee. What is up with her? She’s usually blunt, but not like this. We definitely knew she was going to ask us, at least more settle.

    I see that the spoon is empty and she’s licking what’s left of the chocolate. “You okay?” She shakes her head.

    “I hate vomiting. I hate my body.” I get up and take a glass from the counter, pouring some water from the fridge. I hand it to her, and she drinks it in one gulp. “I want this pregnancy to be over.” She whines resting her head on the counter.

    “Good luck with that. You still have six months to go.” She groans or was it a whine or a mumble? I don’t know anymore. From how much she’s done all of them in the last eight minutes. “Nothing fits. I’m only like three months pregnant. Am I eating too much?”

    “Yes.” “No.” Ashton and I say at the same time. Why did he said yes? She’s going to kill him.

    I turn and glare at him. I guess she’s tired because she didn’t even dueled on his answer. She lifts her head. “I’m going to sleep here. Take care of the restaurant. Bye.” She stands up and walks out of the kitchen. She really looks tired.

    “Maybe she’s caring twins.” I don’t think so.

    “Nah. I guess between the restaurant, wedding and pregnancy she is overwhelmed.” Ashton moves my hair and kisses my neck. “Mm. I guess. I’ll talk to Kenneth about it.” I lean in to his kisses. He’s doing it slow and soft. I turn my head and kiss him on the lips.

    The kiss is slow and passionate. I break it up after feeling that my lungs need air. “Go to work. You’re going to be late.” He kisses me three more times and pulls away. “Can I come over tonight?” I look up at his face. He’s still taller than me.

    I think about it. “Mmm.” He kisses me again; this one is short. “What time?”

    “I get off at eight. I just want to see you and Anna.” I pull his head down to mine. I can’t get enough of his lips. “Okay. She may be asleep by that hour.” He shrugs. “Then I’ll tell you a bed time story.” I lift an eyebrow and he laughs. “Or we can do more of this…” He kisses my neck and cheeks after.

    “No.” I push him away and get of the stool. He gives me one more peck on the lips. “I’ll call you if I can’t come over.”

    “Yes, dad.” He groans in my ear. “Don’t say that, please.” I giggle and walk to the door. He smacks my ass. I’m giving him my best stern look and he just laughs at it. I open the door and he leaves. “You guys definitely had sex.” I look up and see Sarah against the stairs railing. “Did you do it all night?”

    I roll my eyes at her. She comes down with a frown on her face. “What’s wrong?”

    “Someone at the restaurant made a shitty mistake.” Nope. She needs to rest. “I’ll take care of it. You sleep. You look tired and pale.” She keeps walking to the door. “Let me. Please.” I look her in the eyes.

    “Do it for you and the baby. He or She need their mamma healthy.” She puffs out and goes to the elevator.

    I follow her having to get my purse. She goes to my room but stops and shakes her head. She then goes in the other direction of the other rooms. “Not going to sleep on your bed ever again.” I let out a laugh as she screams this at me.

    I see her go in and the door closes. I hurry and get my white with a gold chain strap purse. I find Julius. “Sarah is sleeping in one of the guest rooms upstairs. Don’t bother her. If she sleeps to much check on her, please.” He nods and I left.

    I’m driving to the restaurant to take care of everything. s**t. I was going to buy a book for Anna today. Now with my busy schedule I’m not going to have the time. My phone rings and I see it’s Ashton calling me. Weird.

    My phone is already on a stand. I hit the facetime button instead. “Hi. What’s wrong?” I ask him watching that he is frowning. “I don’t know how or who told on me.” I look at him confused and look back at the road. “What are you talking about?”

    He tugs at his hair, frustrated. “The hospital board find out that I treated you on Saturday.” Okayy.

    “So?” I see that he is sitting in his car. Isn’t he supposed to be at work? “I’m not supposed to since I know you. I was supposed to asked another of my colleagues to do it.”

    Oh. “But you didn’t operate on me.” I chuckle. “They don’t care. They sent me home without pay.” I feel bad. Even thought it wasn’t my fault and I don’t see the problem in the situation. “And they change my shift to the night.”

    That’s bad and exaggerated over this little stupid stuff. “I can called the chief of surgeon of the hospital. My family donates money so I can put in a few words for you.”

    He shakes his head. “No. Please. I don’t wanted anyone in the hospital to know this.” That I’m rich? Or that he has something with me? “I don’t want them to think that I’m getting out of this, even if it’s a stupid thing, because of who you are.” Is he saying what I think he’s saying?

    “So you’re saying you don’t like that I’m rich?” He groans. “No, babe. That I need someone to get me out of this stuff. I will never be ashamed of your money. That’s hard-earned money, yours. It’s not jealousy or a competition. I want them to see you as the woman that I love, nothing else.”

    I bit my lip. He’s right. I’m such a dummy. He said he loves me. “Fine. What are you going to do?”

    “I don’t know. Maybe go to the gym or run five miles.” This is perfect. “Can you do me a favor then?” I look at him and bit my lip, knowing he likes that. I’m taking advantage of him, sue me. “Huh. What do you want?” I give him a big smile.

    I park the car in front of the restaurant. “I was going to buy a book for Anna, but Sarah was tired, and I told her to sleep that I’ll take care of the restaurant. The bookstore will be empty. Please.” I put my hands together and give him puppy eyes. “You own me one.” I nod at him.

    “Send me the title of the book.” I look for the photo of the book and send it to him. “I send you a photo of it.”

    I see him looking at it. “A dragon book? She likes that?” I take my phone and purse getting out of the car. “She loves dragons.” I check my hair and put my sunglasses on top of my head. “I’ll call you later. Bye.” I say a quick bye and end the call.

    Is it bad that I asked him to do that? No, forget it. I know he will do it either way for Anna. He really seems to like her. And I already know that Anna is smitten with him. Maybe just maybe this can be more. I enter the restaurant letting all my worries out the door.