ric’s POV


    I hated the parties my mother threw. They were always filled with self–absorbed asshole rtives who never stopped believing that their opinions were needed in affairs that concerned my own fucking life.


    Delusional? Yes, they were<b>. </b>And I could just as easily tell them to stay the <b>fuck </b>away from me, but I wasn’t in such a bad mood tonight.


    First, after what Meadow did for me, touching my hand as if she sensed that I was losing my cool earlier, it made me feel a sense of relief. Lifted this fucking <b>heavy </b>rock off my chest that I had no idea was even there.


    I hadn’t felt that way in a long time.


    So I figured the least I could do was behave, nod through a couple of conversations while she took care of her business in the bathroom.


    Which, if I had to admit, was a long fucking time to be in the <b>bathroom</b>.


    “Enjoying himself at a party?” My brother’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Never Ric Ashford. Nuh–uh Not my brother. I’m not even sure the word “fun” exis in your stick–up–the–ass dictionary.”


    My gaze narrowed at him and he smirked. “No one would ever believe you own a club.”


    “Where’s your date?” I muttered half–heartedly. “Left your pompous ass to find a more interesting man?”


    Nn huffed out a breath, grabbing two sses of whiskey from a passing tray. He handed me one. “God, I fucking hope so. Too damn clingy, that one. Where’s your own date? Sorry–your wife.”


    I decided to ignore his purposeful blunder. “Freshening up in the bathroom. All this has got to be overwhelming for her.” Raising the ss to my lips, I took a sip, enjoying the burn.


    Nn lifted a brow. “Overwhelming for her or for you?”


    I didn’t answer.


    Any normal person would take my non–answer as an answer, but not my brother. Not the man who loved


    to taunt me for days unending.


    “I mean sure, your wife is probably not used to this kind of crowd. You, however, have only ever brought one girl to family functions like <b>this</b>. And thest time was over ten years ago.”


    Slowly? I lifted my gaze to Nn’s, keeping my expression indifferent. “Your point?”


    “Well, thank you for asking.” Nn drawled, <b>his </b><b>eyes </b>glinting with mischief. “My point is…” He trailed off, looking at something over my shoulder.


    CHAPTER <b>0058 </b>


    I noticed the exact moment he froze. His face paled, his grip tightening around the ss in his hand


    Fuck. Ric…”


    Curious to see what had made him lose his breath, I turned around, brows pulled together fiercely.


    My breath stopped. Every single <b>thing </b>just paused, I didn’t know the ss had slipped from my hand


    <b>until </b>I heard the <b>crash </b>as it broke.


    A waiter nearby hurried to clean it up, but I wasn’t even <b>focused </b>on them.


    Strutting toward me slowly, a shy smile on her face… was her.


    My jaw clenched.


    “Ric,” Nn breathed behind me. I think Mutti invited you here with an ulterior motive in mind.”


    No.


    Fuck, no.


    She couldn’t be here.


    Anyone but her.


    My nostrils red as I whipped around to face my brother. “Right. And you conveniently didn’t know


    about this,” I gritted out.


    His eyes widened. “I swear, Ric, <b>I </b>didn’t know.”


    I wanted to believe Nn. In fact, a part of me already did. But it was hard to trust him when all he’d been doing thest few years was making sure I never forgot.


    Who’s to say he wasn’t in on this?


    And what the fuck did my mother just do?


    I forced myself to take a deep breath before I lost my temper and did something to Nn that I would


    regret.


    “Go,” I said coldly.


    Nn hesitated just for a second, his eyes shing as they shifted to her, and then he nodded. “Alright.”


    A second barely passed before I heard her silky voice behind me. “Wow. The Ashford brothers within three feet of each other and not throwing punches? That is a sight I never thought I would see ”


    Straightening my spine, I turned around to face my ex–girlfriend. I took in the red silk dress she had on, coupled with the bright red lipstick, her dark hair falling straight down her <b>back</b>.


    rissa was never one for subtlety.


    I smirked. “It was easy enough to do once we got over you.”


    She gave me a smirk of her own, grabbing a ss <b>of </b>champagne and muttering a “<b>thank </b>you” to the


    waiter.


    “Ahh, yes.” Sheughed softly. “Ten years–or is it twelve? I lose count sometimes–and this is your idea of getting over me? Getting married to a younger girl? You wound me, <b>Ric</b><b>.</b>”


    My chest tightened. I hadn’t seen this woman in years, and she hadn’t even changed. Not at all. And I hate the fucking rush I felt in my veins from her attitude.


    “Is that how desperate you are for happiness?” she finished.


    The fucking nerve.


    I took a slow step forward, watching her take a sip of her drink. My head tilted slightly as my eyes did a slow sweep of her body. “Let’s see. You showed up uninvited, wearing that dress,ing up to me to talk about my wife choices–and I’m the one who’s desperate?”


    rissa’s smile didn’t falter. If anything, <b>it </b>grew even wider. “You can’t seriously think I’m uninvited. I’m here honoring a very special invite. From your mother.” She took a slow sip of her drink again, watching me over the rim of her ss. “You know how fond she used to be of me.”


    “I remember,” I said coolly, an annoyed <b>sigh </b>leaving my lips. “I also remember exactly why I left you.”


    She let out a chuckle, biting down on her bottom lip as she dragged those brown eyes over my body. I didn’t love her anymore. Far from it. rissa betrayed me and I never forgive betrayal.


    “So cold, Ric. Then again, you know I loved how much you used to make me shiver.”


    My jaw clenched as she stepped forward.


    “God, I’ve missed you so much, Ric<b>,</b>” she whispered. And then she reached for my face, cradling my cheek.


    I had fucking hoped that by some miracle, I wouldn’t be able to feel her anymore. But that wasn’t the case. rissa’s palm felt soft and warm as she stroked my cheek gently with the pad of her thumb, and my eyes nearly fell shut.


    She smiled, like she noticed my expression. “And <b>I </b>can tell you’ve missed <b>me </b>too.”


    That made me snap out of it. I yanked her wrist away from my face, stepping backward <b>as </b>I shot her a re. “You’re seriously mistaken, rissa. All I want right now is for you to go back into whatever hole you came out of and never show your face here again.”


    Her smile faltered this time as something shed in her eyes. And then, she shook her head. “You know, I wasn’t nning on staying before. I was just going to watch you from a distance and go back to my


    3/48


    business. But now..


    She trailed off, and the smile grew again. And this time, it was a full–on grin. “Now, I think I might


    reconsider.”