Jonah slugged right back. “Dude, we were only betting on the spread of your landslide.”
Ashley patted her brother-in-law’s cheek. “You’re forgiven then.”
Matthew toyed with Ashley’s ponytail streaming down her back from the gold clasp. “So tell me then, guys, who bet for the largest win?”
Sebastian—the most reserved of the group—offered up one of his rare smiles as he pocketed the cash. “We’ll carry that secret to our grave.”
Ashley basked in the moment as the general and Ginger beamed with parental pride. It didn’t even bother her that the small hand-picked media group in the back recorded each embrace and high five and hug. She had nothing to hide and total confidence in the love she and Matthew had found.
As the media’s attention swapped from Ginger to the general for a comment, Ashley turned to Matthew. “When will we be heading to campaign headquarters to give your acceptance speech?”
“Soon enough.” He skimmed his lips over her temple, the warm scent of his aftershave teasing her senses. “First, I want to have a minute alone with you before we leave.”
She flattened her hand to his chest, the cotton of his button-down shirt offering a tormenting barrier to the muscles beneath.
“I think everyone would understand us stealing a moment to freshen up.”
Matthew took her hand and led her through the throng with amazing speed. As they made their way toward the hall, her sisters each gave her another quick hug before exchanging secretive looks. Ashley started to quiz them, then Matthew distracted her with another kiss and before she knew it they were inside the bedroom she’d used when first staying in this home.
He kicked the door closed behind them, gathering her to his chest and sealing his mouth to hers for the kind of tongue-tangling, soul-searching kisses they wouldn’t have dared exchange in front of any camera.
Matthew eased away only to rest his forehead on hers. “I want to thank you for making all of this possible.”
“You would have won with or without me.” She cupped his handsome face in her hands.
“Since I’ve had enough of debates for a while, I’m not going to argue your point.” He turned his head to press a lingering kiss in each of her palms. “But I want you to understand how much more this moment means because you’re in my life, how much more connected I feel to what I’ll be doing because of the insights you’ve given me.”
His compliment touched her as deeply as any intimate caress they’d exchanged. “That’s a lovely thing to say. Thank you.”
“I want to give you something in return.”
“You already have.” This whole experience had helped her mine for depths inside herself she’d never known she possessed. “I have you, our family, our future.”
“But I want you to have a home.”
“Home will be where we’re together.”
“While I agree with you on that one, I also know how much you’re giving up by splitting our lives between D.C. and here.”
He reached to the end table and picked up a folder she hadn’t even noticed when they’d entered.
Probably because whenever he touched her she didn’t notice much of anything else.
Matthew passed her an official-looking document.
Ashley frowned, studying the crisp paper in her hand, her mind scrambling to make sense of the words she saw but couldn’t bring herself to comprehend, to believe. “This is the deed to Beachcombers, to Aunt Libby’s mansion.”
“Yes it is,” he answered with a smug smile.
“But it already sold.” An event she had accepted even though a piece of her heart still ached over that farewell. Except now that she stared at the name on the deed…No wonder her foster sisters had exchanged that knowing look a few moments ago.
“It sold to you. Sebastian took care of the purchasing process so as to mask my name from any of the transactions, and then I transferred the title to you.” He thumbed a tear from her cheek she hadn’t even known she’d shed. “We’ll obviously spend a large portion of time in D.C., but we have to keep an official residence in South Carolina. So I thought we could make Aunt Libby’s house in Charleston our official South Carolina residence.”
She clasped the deed to her heart. “Are you sure? What about your family home here?”
“Absolutely sure.” His green eyes glinted with unmistakable certainty. “Charleston is plenty close enough to Hilton Head for family visits. And you’ll be near your sisters. The carriage house here will be too small once we start having kids.”
Children. Hers and Matthew’s. “I like the sound of that very much. Thank you. Those two simple words don’t seem like enough, but there aren’t words for how much this means to me.”
Already she could envision all the ways she would want to shape the place into a home for them. Basic repairs had been completed and she wanted to stay true to the original décor of the traditional Southern mansion. But also with central AC, a state-of-the-art kitchen and adjoining rooms for her sisters to visit with their families.
Noise floated from the floor below, reminding her their alone time would be short tonight. A doorbell rang, no doubt more staff stopping by to congratulate the new senator. Fireworks popped in the distance, dogs barked in response. A light strobed right through the shades on the window as another news van pulled up outside.
Yet Matthew never once looked away from her face, his whole attention totally focused on her. “I’m glad you’re happy about this. I want us to have our own place. The family compound idea worked well for a bachelor blowing in and out of town, but you and I deserve some privacy to explore the vast benefits of married life.” His eyes took on an altogether different gleam, decidedly wicked.