More Than A Favor

< More Than A Favor

Chapter 98

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Ashton had come looking for me quite a few times before, but this time, he was standing right at my door.

“What do you want now?” I asked, trying to mask my confusion and lingering unease.

“I agree,” he said simply.

I frowned. “Agree to what?”

“To date you and be your temporary boyfriend,” Ashton clarified.

I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his change of heart. “Why did you change your mind?”

“If I didn’t, you’d keep putting yourself in dangerous situations, like going on blind dates with men who follow you home,” he said, his tone a mix of exasperation and sternness.

His blunt answer amused me. In the dim light of the hallway, his reluctant yet resigned expression brought a smile to my lips.

“You’d be doing something against your will,” I teased. “Won’t that make you unhappy?”

Ashton must have caught on to my playful tone because he took a step closer. Instinctively, I backed away, but the railing behind me left me nowhere to go.

He reached out an arm, placing it on the railing and effectively pinning me between him and the cold metal. My breath hitched.

“Ashton…” I murmured, my voice trailing off.

“How could you be so foolish to go on blind dates like that?” he scolded softly, his voice warm and close to my ear.

A shiver ran down my spine. His words chastised me, but his tone was laced with something tender, almost affectionate.

I didn’t move or speak, the moment stretching between us.

The silence wasn’t awkward–it was charged, alive with an energy I couldn’t quite put into words. Standing so close to him, I could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong.

After a while, Ashton withdrew his arm and stepped back. “You’re not allowed to come home this late by yourself again.”

“Okay,” I replied quietly, unable to argue.

A moment later, I remembered my manners. “Thank you,” I added, my voice soft.

I was thanking him for saving me earlier, for agreeing to help me deal with the Mercer family, and for being there when I needed someone the most.

me. I gestured toward the

made it all the

froze. He had a point. What if the man returned?

staying the night,” Ashton announced, extending

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< Chapter 98

confused by his

keys,” he

want to stay at

me to sleep at your door?”

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he added, “It’s not like we haven’t shared a

in the same room before, and

keys, and we

sleep

the couch and frowned. It was over ten years old, small, and barely long enough for s

room in the apartment–my parents‘ room–but

should sleep in my room,” I offered. “I’ll take

rummaged for a pair of my dad’s old

Taking the slippers, he walked to my room while I grabbed my pajamas

I was about to enter my parents‘ room,

to look at him. He was standing in the doorway of my room, his

absurd. We had calmly shared a hotel room before, but here, in this familiar two–bedroom

of silence, Ashton spoke. “I think it’s more appropriate for me to sleep on

at him, speechless.

your real boyfriend should sleep in your room,” he continued. “I… I’ll stick to the couch.”

feeling like I

I knew what he was doing–he was trying to push

saying about quiet men being the most cunning

yourself,” I said, brushing him off before retreating to my parents‘ room.

but couldn’t sleep. The fear from earlier still lingered, and my mind replayed the

hadn’t shown up, my meager defenses might not have

have been disastrous.

were the odds he decided to come see me tonight? The timing seemed

thoughts drifted to Ashton. I wondered if he was really sleeping on

echoed from the living room. He was still awake, likely moving

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