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.

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

Maya nudged me again saying, “God, he’s such a

Chapter 53

good–looking ones. Maya had obviously been

though –

I said, taking another bite

“Just window shopping! Besides, he’s only here for the lighting

so proper,

remember this is

act you.”

would be so boring without some eye candy. Don’t worry, Ms. Hart I know where to draw the line,” Maya said, clearly crushing

Ashton had told me before,

minutes to arrive, and Maya spent every single minute talking

at first sight

ended up dumping her boyfriend for

a feeling Ashton wouldn’t be

was just trying to kill boredom, I knew falling for someone

better to stop

“He’s already got

me. “How do you know? You know him?”

I said yes, that’d mean more explaining.

just make things weird between Ashton and

Ashton had clearly pretended not to know me earlier. That convinced me even more to keep

“Nope,” I said.

“Then-”

cut in,

by Ashton. Usually, she’s got quite an appetite, and she’d even ordered her favorite

looks beat good food.

was like a dog with a bone. “How can you guess that? Is it super obvious?”

let her imagination run wild without one. Just then, I spotted a tiny keychain on his bag.

was this super cute

I nodded toward it. “That’s proof

18:16%

Chapter 51

OLY

asked, confused.

cutesy keychain? Don’t

Way too sweet.

had ordered it

get me lemonade or water,” I reminded

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

but she tugged my shirt. “Maybe

I went quiet.