My Despicable Ex - Book 2 Read online

  At first, it looked somewhat dull, and I wondered if we were, in fact, in the same place I’d seen in so many pictures, but as soon as the sun peaked, a major transformation took place. As I watched sunlight dance on the sand dunes, something amazing happened: The dull sand turned into glorious and vivid colors that took my breath away. I stared at the backdrop of unparalleled beauty, nature at her finest. It was hard to imagine I was standing in the world’s oldest desert. The sea of sand was so barren, as smooth as silk. Under the bright glow of the sun, the tawny dunes morphed from orange and red to apricot and mauve. I peered across the ocean of sand waves that stretched into infinity. The giant orange orb in the sky only added to the beauty, making the whole thing seem surreal. Staring out at the stretches of sand, I took a minute to reflect as the wind whipped my bun into a ponytail.

  I hiked through the red, windblown sand, agape at the waves of dunes twisting across the basin. My shoes dangled from my hand; I figured there was no use putting them back on since they just filled up with sand with every step anyway. I reached down to scoop some of it up and let it slip through my fingers. There was not one rock or tiny pebble; it was as fine and soft as baby powder. I peered around in awe. There were no trees, plants, or vegetation anywhere in sight. I expected that, but what really threw me for a loop were the occasional small patches of green grass.

  “The Namib is known as the ‘living desert’ because of the diversity of life that exists in this hostile, harsh, and most inhospitable place in the world,” our knowledgeable tour guide said. “Strong animals, tough plants, and innovative insects have adjusted. Moisture comes from a fog that condenses into a thick dew from the Atlantic Ocean. That’s what makes this place so unique. Imagine a hot, scorching desert touching a cool, icy sea.”

  “Amazing…and I still can’t get over how soft this sand is,” I said.

  “It’s been crushed by years of weather and water,” he explained as he led us up the crest of the dune.

  I glanced down at the steep slopes on both sides. The way the sun shone on the glowing orange sand was just spectacular.

  A couple of adrenaline junkies hurtled down the slopes on an object that our tour guide referred to as a sand board. I decided it might be worth my time to come back someday for a dune-boarding or dune-skiing lesson. Others in our group wandered through the sand in an attempt to get to the bottom.

  I whipped out my camera and took as many shots as I could, capturing memories of that stunning landscape. I was living a photographer’s dream because it certainly was a photographer’s paradise. When I saw a real, live ostrich and her chicks climbing down the steep slope, I couldn’t stop snapping. “How adorable was that?” I said.

  “About the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” Jake responded, wearing a big grin.

  I called the tour guide over, and he took a bunch of pictures of the two of us with the sand dunes in the background. I then thanked him and took some more photos of my own. As the sun changed positions in the sky, the shadows shifted, offering me even more different views. I couldn’t believe how strong the colors were, and they seemed to change for every shot, like a model switching her wardrobe. The deep blue of the sky perfectly contrasted with the red-orange sand, inspiring me right to my core.

  My tour guide touched my shoulder. “I was paid extra to get lots of photos of you.”

  “And you did your job efficiently,” I said politely. “Thank you.”

  He smiled. “Please have some fun like the other tourists. Run down the slopes! I’ll take a few pictures at the bottom.”

  Before I could even answer, he took off with my camera, and started to walk down the slope.

  Jake glanced down the giant slope of doom. “Come on, Ashly. Let’s have a little fun like he said,” he coaxed, taking off his shoes.

  I gazed at him, and he smiled. I had to agree that it did sound like fun, the way rolling down a grassy hill was when I was a little girl. I held my shoes tightly and started making my way down the steep, sandy slope. I ran in slow motion as the sand seemed to swallow my feet. It was quite warm but not intolerably hot, and the sand felt so soft as it oozed over the top of my bare feet. I couldn’t stop the grin from forming on my face. Even though I had sand and grit in all the wrong places, I’d never had so much fun climbing down a hill.

  Jake pushed his thick hair away from his eyes and smiled at me. “Wanna race to the bottom?” he challenged with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Hmm. Feeling competitive?”

  “Always.”

  “Okay. You’re on!” Then, without waiting for a response, I ran fast and furious, having an absolute blast all the way.

  It was so exhilarating to spring down to the bottom, kicking up loose, dry sand behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at Jake, who was gaining on me fast. When I stumbled, I had to flail my arms out to stop myself from falling. My body began to wobble, and my foot began to slide. I tried to regain my balance, but I fell backward just as Jake slipped his arms around my waist to steady me. I stared up into his blue eyes, which were glinting with amusement. He smelled so good, and I wanted to breathe in his scent, but my breath halted as my gaze drifted to the curve of his lips. I looked away, hoping he hadn’t noticed the flush of heat rushing to my cheeks.

  “You can take your hands off me now,” I said as politely as possible.

  His eyes twinkled. “It’s okay. Friends are allowed to help each other out when they almost fall in the sand.”

  “Thanks,” I said, continuing to look at his hands that were still wrapped around my waist.

  “I was hoping you wouldn’t hit me, especially since our photographer is still snapping pictures,” Jake said, smiling and waving at the tour guide.

  I laughed, and we started climbing back down.

  “So…who won?” I asked.

  Jake winked. “How about we call it a tie?”

  I smirked.

  It only took us less than five minutes to climb down the mighty mountain of sand, far less time than it had taken us to climb up. The deep red colors of the majestic sand dunes would be embedded in my memory forever.

  Chapter 3

  We checked out of our lodge and were ready for our next destination. It would take two days to get to Paris, and on the way, Jake and I were pretty distant. I knew most of that tension was my fault, but I just decided to throw myself into work as a distraction. During the flight and later, at the hotel, I worked on one of my articles. Three were due, and I was hoping I could meet the deadlines. Of course I started with the most pressing one first. I was eager to send it off to my editor, and once I committed to any project, I always finished it.

  Morning came, and my heart was racing. I felt refreshed and energized for our next stop, in France. After a two-hour delay, our plane sped off, and we were heading to France. Paris was the fashion capital of the world, so to fit in, I wore a short skirt with a fashionable top and scarf, dark tights, and flat boots. One of my model friends had told me that Paris was all about knee-high boots, so I created my own interpretation of the trend. My makeup was natural, and I wore my hair long and straight.

  We’d be staying in a five-star hotel where I could catch up on some much-needed sleep. I looked out the plane window and stared at the white clouds in various shapes and fluffy forms. Coming to Paris made my heart beat fast. It was like a dream coming true. Jake leaned back in his chair. “Your mother spared no expense. She booked us at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Says here it’s on prestigious Avenue Montaigne, a luxury place featuring a Dior Institute spa, five restaurants, and a cocktail bar. Elegant rooms with marble bathrooms, and it’s only a five-minute walk from Avenue Champs Elysées and—”

  “I really don’t wanna talk about how wonderful it is, Jake. It breaks my heart to know we’re not coming here as lovers.”

  Our eyes locked, and we stared deeply at each other.

  “That can be easily changed,” he whispered.

  All I had to do was give him the okay, and we would have the Paris
we’d dreamt about, the one we’d talked about, the one we’d hope to kiss in. But that was never going to happen. I didn’t want a fling; I was sure that would only end in more depression when he left me. Then again, I could have just used the opportunity to enjoy his company, but I refused to be used that way.

  He looked up and met my gaze once again.

  “What we have is so broken that it can never be fixed,” I said. “I’m sorry, but we’ll be nothing more than friends.”

  “Ashly, why must you always put up this brick wall?”

  “Do you mind if we don’t talk for a little while? That was part of the agreement before we went on this trip, wasn’t it? That you wouldn’t even talk to me if I didn’t want you to?” I said, the bitter and rejected side of me doing all the talking.

  “Just trying to politely make conversation.”

  “Don’t,” I snapped, in full-blown rejection mode. I had sworn to myself that I’d be civil, but the anger I still felt was only fueled by the sound of his voice. I began to wonder why I wasn’t over all of it, as if the therapy hadn’t done me any good at all.

  He let out a huff. “Fine. I won’t talk to you this entire trip.”

  “It’s just that I’m so tired. I just want to take a nap.”

  “Right.”

  “Seriously, Jake.”

  “All right, but I’ve got one question. What made you change your mind anyway?” he asked. “You were so dead set against this trip.”

  “I thought you were going to let me sleep.”

  “Humor me for just a quick moment. What made you change your mind?”

  “Your good looks and charm,” I said with exaggerated sarcasm.

  He cocked a brow. “Really?”

  “If you must know, Nadia and I don’t have the rent for our boutique. We’ll be evicted next month if we can’t come up with it. The only reason I’m telling you this is because I want you to know how desperate I am and what extremes I’ll go to to save my business.”

  “So you’re forced to put up with me?”

  “I’m done talking, Jake. We’ve made enough useless small talk already. Let’s just get through this vacation from hell and get it over with, then cash our checks and go our separate ways. I can save my business, and you can have a happy life with your friends and family and keep New York from burning to the ground.”

  Hurt spread across his face. “I really hurt you, didn’t I?”

  I slipped a sleeping mask over my face and ignored him. “Wake me up when we get in Paris,” I said dryly.

  “You know, Paris is The City of Love, supposedly the most romantic city in the world.”

  “Not on this trip—at least not with me,” I snapped.

  “You’re impossible,” he said.

  “And lucky you! You get to spend the next month with me. Maybe I’ll make you as miserable now as you made me then.”

  His silence made it clear that I had ticked him off, but I didn’t care. It was not the fun vacation he seemed to think it was. For me, it was pure torture. I even considered using my own money to get a separate hotel room, but the rules clearly stated that we had to share one. The one thing I’d never do was share my bed with him, money or not. No one could pay me enough to sleep with a man I loathed.

  * * *

  The doorman greeted us with a big smile, welcoming us to the deluxe hotel. The lobby was sophisticated and full of charm. I was swept away by the elegant décor, ornate French antiques, breathtaking flower arrangements, and the entire atmosphere. Everything was beautifully decorated, with crystal chandeliers, beautiful carpets, and intricate tapestries.

  “The brochure didn’t say the place was a palace,” Jake joked.

  He wasn’t kidding, and for a moment, I felt like a princess.

  Jake had never set foot in a hotel like that, and the expression on his face was priceless. When he met my gaze, I couldn’t help but shoot him a tiny smile. We’d spent years talking about coming to Paris when we were teenagers, and now, there we were. He was so excited, like a little boy with a Christmas-morning giddy smile on his face.

  The second I entered our suite, I fell in love with the warm, rich interior and stylish fabrics. Everything was done in classical French style, rich reds and pale yellows, with fancy glass chandeliers and stunning portraits. Beyond amazed, I couldn’t stop staring at the living room, with its beautiful, ornate furniture and heavy silk draperies. Champagne and cake awaited us on a fancy table. I’d never been in such a beautiful place. My parents owned a luxurious penthouse in New York City, but we seldom traveled, so it was just as amazing to me as it was to Jake.

  I opened the glorious French doors that led to the balcony. A breeze softly blew across me as the music from a harpist below drifted up from the Gallerie. The windowboxes boasted dozens of bright red geraniums. Scarlet awnings shaded me from the sun. Off to my right, I could see the Eiffel Tower, and my heart fluttered at the sight of it, right there before my eyes. I was absolutely blown away by its stunning beauty, and it left me speechless.

  Jake joined me outside and poured a glass of champagne for each of us. “How about a toast to finally making it to Paris?”

  I reached for my glass and clinked it against his, and he shot me that beautiful, gleaming smile I loved so much.

  I went inside to unpack a few things.

  Jake ran his finger across the icing of the cake, and held it up to my mouth. “Wanna taste?”

  It was a simple gesture but a nostalgic one, something I always used to do to him when we were teenagers. I couldn’t help it, because I was a sucker for frosting and always had a sweet tooth. “I can cut my own piece, but thank you.”

  “Suit yourself.” He smiled as he sucked the frosting off his finger.

  I reached for my purse. “Listen, I’ll see you in a bit. I’m gonna go get dinner.”

  He flashed me his pearly whites. “We could watch a movie and snuggle, order some room service.”

  “You remember that?” I asked in disbelief, for it was something I’d told him I wanted to do with him in Paris. “We can sightsee all week,” I’d said, “but one day has to be reserved for snuggling.”

  “How could I forget?” he said, his face beaming.

  “Uh…that’s not happening now—not ever, in fact.” I turned to leave, and he followed me. “There are no rules that say you have to eat dinner with me.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’d love to join you.”

  Holding my purse tightly, I kept walking. “Suit yourself.”

  He walked beside me and shot me a side glance. “I don’t wanna sit up there by myself.”

  “So go sit in that fancy Jacuzzi and order yourself a pizza. Watch some steamy movie on HBO. I don’t really care.”

  “Please, Ashly,” he begged.

  I stopped midstride. “Fine. Have dinner with me. I really don’t care one way or the other. I’m just trying to keep this thing amicable.”

  We ate at Alain Ducasse, and I barely talked through dinner. I just concentrated on my delicious meal and the 10,000 pieces of crystal hanging from the ceiling, surrounded by crystal chandeliers. It was the most gorgeous room I’d ever eaten in. After we ate our awkwardly quiet meal, I stopped in the gift shop to check out the latest Paris fashions and picked up a gorgeous, orange, stylish dress for the next day. The woman at the boutique told me orange was the in thing, from bright poppy to tangerine to subdued apricot. I had to remain fashion forward on the trip, especially since I was trying to get a fashion business off the ground.

  Back in our sweet, I tapped away on the computer.

  “What are you doing?” Jake asked.

  “Working on our campaign for our fall lineup. Summer’s going strong, but I have to stay a step ahead.”

  “We’re in Paris…and you’re working,” he sighed.

  “Let me just check out these reports and—”

  “And nothing. Like it or not, Ashly, this is a vacation. Put the laptop away.”

  My phone rang, but Jak
e shook his head.

  “Don’t answer it.”

  I glanced at him. “This thing between you and me is not a vacation. It’s a business proposition.”

  He rolled his eyes as I answered the phone.

  I gripped the phone tightly. “Yes, I’ll need those swatches in the exact colors I told you.”

  “We’ll have to substitute the gold ones,” the woman said.

  “That’s not what I paid for.”

  After countless phone calls, everything was straightened out. I called down to hotel staff for extra blankets and pillows, and when the bellhop delivered them, I smiled and tipped him generously.

  “Why did you have him bring up extra blankets?” Jake asked. “You always throw your blankets off because you get too hot.”

  My gaze narrowed. “They’re not for me.”

  “Oh.”

  I laid them gently on the floor next to my bed.

  “The floor again?” he asked in a shocked tone.

  “Or that small sofa over there, if you want, but your big feet will hang off the end.”

  “I thought we were gonna share the bed. It’s king-sized, and I was a perfect gentlemen in Namibia, right?”

  I tapped my chin in thought. “I just don’t think it’s gonna work.”

  “Why not? I promise to keep my hands to myself, and I’ll be way over on the other side of that huge bed. There’s more than enough room for me.”

  “You sleep naked.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?” He inched closer. “Besides, you used to find that very sexy.”

  I chuckled nervously and pushed him away. “Need I remind you that we’re not lovers?”

  “I can sleep in clothes if I have to, like I did in the desert.”

  “That’s because you were on the roof, but I’m really surprised you didn’t sleep naked anyway.”

  “I knew you’d never set on foot on that mattress if I wasn’t dressed for winter.”

  “If you insist on fighting about this, I’m going to get another room,” I said sternly. I was tired of giving him an inch, only to have him wanting to steal a mile.