Ash Read Online Free Page A

Joe stepped to the side and glanced at the woman. A grin spread across his face. “Don’t be so shy. He won’t bite.”
    Joe walked back across the hall and into his office.
    The familiar face in front of me caught me by surprise.
    “You!” she said, glaring at me.
    “Small world, huh?” I folded my arms across my chest, the heavy ink on my forearms on display.
    She rolled her eyes and smirked. “Apparently,” she said in her French accent.
    “You do know how to follow rules, right?” I asked, unable to help myself. “And not to mention judging people before you know anything about them. Because if you have a problem with biting that bitter tongue of yours, this department really isn’t suitable for you.”
    She chuckled and moved closer to me. “I didn’t work my tail off for some inked-up jock—isn’t that what you people call yourselves?—to tell me what a suitable place of work is. As if I’d listen to you.”
    “Well, the thing is, I’m your superior, so technically you have to play ball,” I replied, irked by her response.
    “Hmm, we shall see. Anyway, as much as I am enjoying this,” she pointed her finger at me, “I’d much rather be with those on my level.”
    “Be my guest.” I stepped aside and watched her walk out of the office into the dining area, much to the amusement of a few of the guys.
    I didn’t give a shit whether she was new or not. She had a serious attitude problem. After our initial meeting at the zoo, she wasn’t the kind of person I wanted to be associated with. Yet, here she was, in my station, working under the same roof as me, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.

    By the time my shift was over, I jumped in my car without saying goodbye to the guys and headed straight home. I loved my job. Between it and Jake, it gave me a reason to get up each day and live my life. There were days when I could have done without some of the bullshit. Today had been one of those days.
    I pulled up outside my apartment and sat in silence for a few minutes before heading in. I just needed a few minutes grace. It was something of a habit these days, and I liked the two minutes to myself before putting on my dad hat. Several minutes later, I unlocked the front door and heard Jake thundering up the hallway.
    “Daddy’s home!” he shouted. “Daddy’s home!” He ran toward me and jumped into my arms.
    I barely had time to set my bag down.
    “Hey, kiddo,” I said, and kissed his cheek. “How’ve you been today?”
    “Good,” he replied.
    I walked to the kitchen where my mother stood by the sink.
    “And how’s Grandma been, huh?” I said, winking at her.
    Jake looked at me. His mouth curved into a smile and it made me laugh.
    “Erm, how’ve you been, Grandma?”
    My mother giggled, set down the drying cloth, and walked over to where I stood. “I’ve been good,” she replied, and playfully pinched Jake on the nose. “Give your daddy two minutes. Off you go.” She coaxed Jake out of my arms.
    He ran into the living room as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
    I kissed my mother’s cheek and took off my jacket.
    “You look tired,” she remarked.
    “Yeah.” I ran a hand across the back of my neck. “It’s been a long day.”
    “Are you sleeping any better?” She examined me, trying to read my face.
    My mother could never quite get it right. I suppose I didn’t give too much of myself away. It made her feel like she couldn’t help me, but being a man on the verge of hitting thirty-years-old, I couldn’t depend on her to constantly pick me up or mend my wounded soul. It wasn’t fair on either of us, so I left the burdens of my pain hidden.
    “I get enough to get by,” I replied, and sat down at the breakfast bar.
    “Hmm, is Jake still sleeping in beside you?” She raised a brow.
    “He wakens every night.”
    My mother sighed. “Ashley, I’ve told you that you’ve got to break that habit of his. He’s getting too old.”
    “Mom, I know, but