More Than A Favor

Chapter 53

Ashton?

04) Meny

Wasn’t he just a cab driver? How come he was also that amazing lighting tech I’d been blown away by?

Right then, I felt like I was in some weird dream.

“Mr. Drake, meet Ms. Hart,” Mr. Gray did the introductions.

He stuck out his hand. “Hey, Ms. Hart.”

He acted like we’d never met before.

I sat there, frozen. From where I was sitting, I could see his perfect jawline and that sexy Adam’s apple that, honestly, had crossed my mind a few times.

Maya gave me a little nudge with her elbow, snapping me back to reality. I reached out to shake his. hand

Our hands barely touched. He quickly said, “Don’t let me interrupt your lunch, Ms. Hart. I’ll check out the lighting setup.”

“No way. I’m coming with you guys,” I said. I was about to leave, but Ashton stayed put.

He turned to Mr. Gray and asked, “Have you eaten yet, Mr. Gray? I’m starving. Any good places around here?”

Mr. Gray smiled. “Yeah, I’ve eaten,” he said before looking my way, “We can order delivery here, right?”

Getting what he meant, I told Maya, “Maya, grab some food for Mr. Drake.”

“On it!” Maya pulled up her delivery app and asked, “What’ll it be, Mr. Drake? Want pasta? A sandwich? We’ve got all kinds of options.”

He pointed at my half–finished container. “I’ll have what she’s having.”

I was eating this super spicy aglio olio pasta that I’d specifically asked Maya to get.

Since Ashton was from down South, I wasn’t sure if he could handle this level of heat. I was pretty shocked he wanted to try it.

“Cool! That’s one of our go–to dishes here. Who knew you had the same taste!” Maya said while placing his order.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and looked at Ashton and Mr. Gray. “Should we ”

“Let’s fi

finish lunch first. Can’t work on an empty stomach,”

Ashton said as he dropped his backpack and pulled out some water. He tilted his head back for a drink.

Watching his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed, I found myself swallowing too.

take about 20 minutes. He looked at me while holding his half–empty water bottle and said, “Go ahead and finish

with Mr. Gray. Maya nudged me again saying, “God,

Chapter 53

for the good–looking ones. Maya had obviously been dazzled by

blame her though –

you have a boyfriend?” I said, taking another bite of

only here

hearing that. She always seemed so proper, so these flirty comments caught

“But remember this is

act you.”

worry, Ms. Hart I know where to draw the line,” Maya said, clearly crushing on him

Ashton had told me before, I

and Maya spent every single minute talking about

Maya proved love at first

couldn’t help feeling guilty if Maya ended up dumping her

I had a feeling Ashton

kill boredom, I knew falling

hurt, better to stop

said, “He’s already got someone

looked at me. “How do you

I said yes, that’d mean

between Ashton

not to know me earlier. That convinced me even more to keep quiet about

“Nope,” I said.

“Then-”

cut

Usually, she’s got quite

good looks beat

like a dog with a bone. “How can you guess that?

but I knew she’d let her imagination run wild without one. Just then, I spotted a tiny keychain

this super cute white bunny keychain.

toward it.

18:16%

Chapter 51

OLY

Maya asked,

keychain? Don’t you think that’s weird?” I asked,

Way too sweet.

had ordered it for me.

lemonade or water,” I reminded her.

the keychain, muttering, “So you’re saying his girlfriend put it there to mark her territory.”

she got the hint, I patted her shoulder and stood up, but she tugged my shirt.

I went quiet.