"Not long," her mother replied, with the small conspiratorial lift of an eyebrow that mothers deployed when the honest answer was far more interesting than they were prepared to share out loud. "Long enough."
Ashley narrowed her eyes. Decided, wisely, not to press.
Her mother had the settled, unreadable calm of a mother who had already finished whatever conversation she'd been having with Eros before the headlights arrived, and who was not in any mood to replay the footage for the audience.
Fine. There would be a later about this. A very thorough, very suspicious later.
But tonight Ashley had him back, and she wasn't about to waste the moment chasing whatever scandaloussecrets her mother was clearly hoarding like contraband.
Eros gave her mother a small, graceful half-smile and turned his body a fraction toward her, hands still clasped behind his back like the perfect gentleman he absolutely was not.
