Free Steele Trap (Heart of Steele) by Crystal Blue Page B

save of their finances and Ashley finally understood
that he was a businessman in his own right. When she tried to call him to thank
him, he once again rebuffed her. His coldness hurt her deeply, but she intended
to keep trying until he would see her. Oddly, his steadfastness made her
appreciate his character all the more. She desired his body, but she  began to respect
the man for who he was. And, if she wasn’t mistaken, she loved him, too.
    Working every day was
hard, harder than college had been even. For the first time in her life, she
couldn’t do exactly as she pleased, but had to think about her shift at work.
What she would wear even had to be carefully considered. No more dressing from
her extensive wardrobe on a whim; Neiman expected her to dress in a certain
way, and by the second week she was bored with it. When she got her first paycheck,
it made her sick to think of all the hours she had toiled for such a small
amount. This didn’t seem like such an adventure anymore.
     
    Becky used her parents'
connections to get a job as a legal clerk at the public defender's office, and
would be starting law school in the fall. Ashley threw a party in her honor,
inviting Jake first; but he declined the invitation. Reluctantly, she sent an
invitation to Dirk's address, but he remained silent after his mysterious errand
away, and once she thought about it, she was relieved not to hear back from
him. She went to the party without a date and enjoyed herself anyway. But, she
needed to do something about Jake.
    Several weeks after the
board meeting, Ashley dialed his cell phone.
    "Jake
Daniels."
    "Hi, Jake, it's
Ashley."
    "I don't have
time, Ashley. I asked you not to call me."
    "Jake, wait. You
still have to take me to that concert. Can't we be friends?"
    "I'll give the
tickets back. You can take Dirk, or your friend Becky."
    "Rebecca Sue. I'm
the only one who can call her Becky."
    "Whatever."
    "Jake, I don't
want the tickets back, I want to see you. I've changed, I promise."
    "Sorry, Ashley,
once I get burned, I tend to stay away from the fire."
    "Please,
Jake!"
    "No. I need to go.
Lose my number, will you?"
    "Jake, don't give
the tickets back. Take anyone you like. I'm sorry for everything. We could have
had something, you know?"
    "Yeah, right.
Goodbye, Ashley."
     
    As the weeks went by,
Ashley became oblivious to the famous Colorado sunshine. In her mind, every day
was gray and gloomy. She went to work and put in the hours, but even her new
co-workers could tell that something was wrong. Ashley had been a peacock among
barnyard chickens, but now her plumage was wilting. A line of darker hair
emerged from her center part as she neglected to get her hair done, and she
took less care with her makeup. Her designer clothes hung on her, the result of
losing ten pounds or more. The expected commissions were slow in coming, as
Ashley could not summon the enthusiasm that would have helped her sell.
    Wally and Jess asked
her what was wrong, but her lackluster answer was always 'nothing'. They
planned outings, which she avoided, making the excuse that she needed to work,
or was tired.
    Even Becky couldn’t
cheer her up, despite coming over every time she was off work. Becky had never
been angry with Ashley, no more than momentarily annoyed in all the years they
had been friends. But if she had to listen to Celine Dion’s version of Alone one more time, she vowed to smother Ash with a pillow. At the rate things were
going, Ashley might save her the trouble and slit her wrists. Becky shivered.
That didn’t bear thought.
    At last, to Becky’s
great relief, Jess made an appointment and dragged Ashley to her own doctor.
This state of affairs couldn't continue, or Wally, too, would become morose.
After a thorough exam, the doctor spoke to Ashley alone.
    "Have you been
depressed, Miss Steele?"
    "I guess so."
    "I guess so, too.
There is nothing physically wrong with you. I'm going to suggest to your
parents that you see a