Attraction (Love & War, Part I) by Katrina Liss Page B

not listening to any more of your insults, Adrian.” He
pressed the button to close the privacy window.
    Adrian pressed his button to open it again. “Don't be so
tetchy, Ash. I'm just pointing out a few home truths, that's all.
Someone's gotta tell 'ya and I guess that's me. No one else has the
balls. The years are ticking on, and you need to settle down with
someone. Get yourself a real girlfriend and some loving in your
life. It's what it's all about. I'm sure you don't want to die a
sad and lonely old man, do you?”
    “ Excuse me? That's rich. You're older than I am and I don't
see you settling down with anyone either. Your years are ticking
away just as fast as mine.”
    “ I was married for over six years.”
    “ I know and look how that turned out. Hardly a great example
for me to follow, are you? Point proven.”
    “ What the fuck, Ash? That was so below the belt. Maybe we weren't together for
ever but I loved that woman. I still do. And she had the affair,
not me. If she asked me, I'd take her back, in a heartbeat. You
know full well she's the only reason I don't want to get involved
with anyone more seriously. I'm hoping she'll change her mind about
the dick-head she's now with.”
    Ashton felt
guilty about mentioning it. It wasn't at all pleasant of him. He
knew Adrian had had a really tough time over his ex wife. She'd
wrecked him emotionally and shattered his trust.
    “ I know Ade, I'm sorry, that was unfair of me. I apologise.
Look, this is a pointless discussion. We don't have the same goals
or viewpoint on lifestyle. You live life your way and I'll live
life mine. I really don't want, or need, a serious relationship,
with any woman. I'm content with my life as it is.”
    As the words
left his lips he knew full well that he was lying to himself.
Despite his wealth, privilege and expensive possessions, he wasn't
content at all. His feelings of unfulfilment, the lack of real
meaning in what he did and his search for that crucial missing
piece in the puzzle of life, had been niggling at him for a long
time. Ever since his 30th birthday, he'd felt it. It had been
creeping up on him, slowly but surely.
    He really
didn't know what would make him content or happy, but he was pretty
damn sure it wasn't a wife and children.
    “ You could at least give it a try, and dip your toe in the
relationship water,” Adrian continued. “I've often wondered why you
and CJ don't get it together? You seem to have a real good thing
going with her, she comes from your background and she's damn hot.
Your type exactly.”
    Now he really
was annoying him. He did not care to explain his past history with
CJ to Adrian, or to anyone. It wasn't something he enjoyed
remembering. It was very old news and best left very old.
    “ CJ and I are just good friends, that's all,” he said, curtly,
trying not to snap.
    “ It don't look like just good friends to me. She's very into you. I
sense far more is going on there. And from what I can see, you like
her a lot more than all the others who drift through your life. You
always go back to her, why not put some effort into it?”
    “ Appearances can be very deceptive, believe me. Now look,
Adrian, will you please keep your nose out of my very private
business and I'll keep mine out of yours.”
    “ Yeah, how about you do that. Leave Nicole for me. You know
she's not your type, but she's definitely mine.”
    “ Is that what all this personal mud-slinging is about? You
want Nicole that
much , do you? Funnily enough, I did
notice there were several similarities between your ex wife and
her. Petite, brunette, slim. Is she your Caroline substitute, I
wonder? You can't have the real thing anymore, so you need another
one... is this really all about YOU Adrian?”
    From the wild
and frankly furious look in Adrian's eyes as they glared at him in
the mirror, Ash thought he may have exploded a nuclear warhead in
his heart.
    “ Fucking hell! No! And she doesn't look fuck all like
Caroline! I'm not