Ash laughed. "We've met a few times under haphazard circumstances, but I've never been able to nail her down for a name."
Brig looked at me like I'd just sprouted wings. "Catelyn, please tell me you weren't rude to this man?" She appeared chagrined. "You'll have to excuse my friend. She's never afraid to speak her mind."
I scowled at them both. "No I'm not, and I don't need anyone to make apologies for me either."
Mrs. Beaumont, looking stunning as always in red chiffon, saved us from further verbal sparring when she walked up to us smiling. "Ashton, I see you've met our house guest for the holiday. Catelyn, this is Ashton Davenport the Third. Ashton, this is Catelyn Travis, a friend of the family."
He took my hand in his and raised it to his lips, brushing a kiss across my skin. "It's a pleasure to meet you properly, Catelyn. Or can I call you Cat?"
Chapter Eleven
Pissing Contests
MY HEART STALLED and my head spun. Everyone stared at me expectantly, Ash most of all. I pulled my hand out of his, the feel of his lips still burning my skin. "No. Catelyn, please."
Mrs. Beaumont's laugh rang like bells. "Catelyn has never gone by a nickname, not since we've known her."
Bridgette raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at me, likely confused by my deer in the headlights behavior.
Ash broke the tension with his own laugh, deep and sexy. "Catelyn it is. I met a Cat recently who reminds me of you somehow, though I'm sure the two of you couldn't be more dissimilar. No offense meant."
Ha! No doubt. I'm the angel and devil all wrapped up in one. I recovered myself. Surely, he couldn't suspect me of being his phone sex operator. So I plastered a smile to my face. "None taken. It's been a challenging night. I'm just a bit overwhelmed at the moment and not entirely myself." I realized if Ash was at this party, he was likely a huge contributor to the charity, and I didn't want to spoil things for the Beaumonts after they'd been so kind.
His brow furrowed in concern. "Nothing too awful I hope?"
Mrs. Beaumont put a hand on my arm. "Poor dear came home to her apartment broken into. But we'll sort it all out, won't we dear?"
I nodded. "Yes. Thank you for your help." But you don't have to go around telling people.
Ash's face darkened. "Were you hurt? Are you alright?"
The intensity of his gaze frightened me, but no one else seemed to notice. Mrs. Beaumont excused herself to greet more guests, taking Bridgette with her because "there's someone here who wants to meet you, dear," leaving me stuck with Ash and an overwhelming urge to cry, which pissed me off.
We stood by the staircase, the hall around us buzzing with the comings and goings of guests dressed in their finest. Servers in jackets with long coattails carried polished silver trays filled with hors d'oeuvres and bubbling glasses of champagne. My stomach rumbled loud enough for Ash to hear, and I realized I hadn't eaten all day.
"I wasn't hurt," I said, after far too long a pause. "My cat was, though." I shuddered, remembering the way Crackhead hung from the wall, his blood splattered everywhere.
Ash clenched his jaw as if he wanted to say something, but instead held out his arm. "Would you care to join me?"
With no ready excuse to take my leave, I took his arm, his substantial muscles bulging under the expensive tux jacket. He covered my hand with his, burning away my chill with his body heat and making me feel safe for a moment.
"I'm surprised you wanted to come to a party tonight, given how your day has gone," he said, leaning down so I could hear him.
"We didn't know about the party until we got here." I gestured to my dress. "Bridgette dressed me like a doll and dragged me down."
Ash laughed again, though I failed to see what was so funny. "You're a refreshing woman, Catelyn Travis. So how do you and Bridgette know each other?"
Knowing a conversation about higher education would bring on a repeat argument, one he'd already had with Cat, I pulled away, nearly stumbling on my—Bridgette's—dress and shoes. "I should go find Bridgette, see if she needs rescuing from her mother."
His eyes flickered to Bridgette, surrounded by handsome men laughing. "I don't think your friend needs any rescuing. She looks like she's enjoying herself. You might want to try that."
I flashed a scowl at him. "I'm not really in the mood for enjoyment, after today, if you'll excuse me."
I stormed away, a fool for overreacting, but needing to escape the heady intoxicating scent of his cologne, the feel of him close to me. Getting involved with him would be dangerous on so many levels, and I had enough danger in my life. I didn't need more.
The patio was empty, likely due to the freezing cold evening, but I didn't care. I relished the quiet, inhaling the clean, cool air. By day, the view overlooked mountains and hills and trees, now all covered in snow. By night, the sky filled with stars that didn't have to compete with streetlights and cars and city distractions, but commanded all attention.