Page 16 of Asher

“He’s getting stationed in Germany in May and they both want her to be able to go with him, so they’re rushing.”

“That’s so sweet,” I swooned.

Grayson circled a finger in my direction. “Is this emotional Haley the new thing?”

“Only if it’s shark week.”

His nose wrinkled. “You have no boundaries.”

I looked up from my phone and grinned. “None.”

“So, I can tell him you’ll do it?”

“Of course! Sounds like a blast. I’ll book my ticket.” My phone buzzed with another text from Asher asking where I was. I responded that we were ten minutes out. Shakily, I grabbed my cup to finish my coffee. I don’t know if it was his name or the caffeine that made me so jittery.

And I’m a lying liar who lies.

“Already taken care of. They want to pay for your plane and hotel.”

I sighed dreamily. “I like this guy already. Too bad he’s getting married.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure we can find some poor soul willing to give you attention for the weekend.”

“Oh. Now that sounds like fun.” If only it were the guy I wanted.

* * *

“Aunt Haley!”Phoenix screamed mid-air as she jumped from her swing. My heart froze as she flew, air whooshing from my lungs as her little feet hit the ground. I kneeled and braced myself for impact as she sprinted in my direction, throwing herself into my arms.

“Happy Birthday, beautiful girl,” I whispered into her hair, hugging her tightly. Pulling back, I smoothed her crazy curls away from her face. Everything about Phoenix was a spitting image of Asher, except her gorgeous curls. Those were all Carrie. “You just about gave me a heart attack.” I tickled her sides.

“Why?” She tilted her head.

A shadow fell over us. “Because you’re going to break your legs jumping out of the swing like that,” Asher said. The damn flutters took flight in my stomach. Every time I was around him, any time I heard his voice, they showed up. No matter how much I willed them not to.

No matter how much I willed them to happen for any other guy.

Nix stuck her tongue out as she rolled her eyes, dismissing him. So sassy for a now seven-year-old. “I missed you,” she whispered and my heart ached.

“I missed you too.” I squeezed her hands in mine before someone yelled her name.

She took off running, leaving me alone with her dad. I stood, wiping my hands on my dress as I looked at Asher. He stood with his feet shoulder with apart, hands stationed on his lean hips. A light gray henley pulled across his chest and tight jeans hugged his thighs in just the right way.

He’d pulled his long, dark hair into a bun on back of his head. Never thought I would be into man buns. Who knew?

His lips pulled up to match his warm his brown eyes as his gaze collided with mine.

“Hey, Hales,” he said softly, leaning in to press a kiss to my cheek. I suppressed the urge to shiver as he lingered a touch longer than normal. I wanted to turn my face and kiss him for real, because now I knew what it was really like to be kissed by Asher. All it took was kissing him twice, and I was hooked on the feeling.

The rush.

“It looks like Nix loved her present.” I smiled, motioning awkwardly toward the new swing set.

He gripped the back of his neck, staring across the balloon filled yard. I bet it killed him to fill the yard with this much pink. “Yeah. She hasn’t gotten off it for more than five minutes.”

“Can’t say I blame her. It’s pretty awesome, and the weather is beautiful.” Awkward filler conversation? Check. It was true, though. I really couldn’t believe that it was almost 70 degrees in early March. In Missouri. The weather had been fucking weird.

“How was your shoot?” He asked, changing direction.

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