Page 56 of Asher

“That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Haley.” His voice was low in warning.

I laughed, slipping the shirt back on. “I like this new-found power I have over you.”

“You’ve always had this power over me. You just didn’t know it,” he said. He backed up to rest his butt against his dresser as he crossed his arms.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped with Nix.” I twisted my fingers together.

“You didn’t. I just didn’t know that you knew Carrie.” His forehead scrunched like he was trying to remember a time that I was around them.

“I didn’t.” I shook my head. “Not really. I knew her in passing and I wasn’t lying. She was sweet. Just like Nix.”

His shoulders relaxed the slightest bit. “Thank you for that. I don’t think most girls would have reacted the way you did when she brought her mom up.”

He’s right. Some probably wouldn’t have. Some might have gotten jealous, but I would never try to replace Carrie. Asher and Nix had been through enough and even though Phoenix didn’t know her mother, she needed to be a part of their lives. If we ever got to the place where Asher and I wanted to do the marriage thing for real, we would figure out how I fit in. “I told you. I love her. I’m never going to hurt her.”

“And I’m never going to hurt you.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ASHER

“Why are you so nervous?”I asked Haley as we loaded into my truck. Phoenix was already at Mason’s house because she wanted to hang out with Knox while Hales and I finished boxing up her house earlier. Haley had been living with us for a week and it’d been perfect.

She was perfect.

She fit with us. We were in sync and I couldn’t get enough of her. Hell, before we left the house, I pushed her against the counter and had my hand down her jeans making her come. We may be a little late to the party, but we haven’t gotten a lot of alone time with Nix being home on spring break. We’d been careful not to show too much PDA in front of Nix. This dynamic was new to all of us, and we didn’t want to overwhelm her.

Plus, the homemade dinners Haley made every night were pretty damn awesome.

“I’m not nervous,” she mumbled, looking out the window. Her fingers picked at the hole in her jeans. She looked sexy as hell in her torn up jeans and tight white v-neck shirt. I shifted in my seat but didn’t miss the smirk that pulled at Haley’s lips. She knew exactly what she did to me. How attracted I was to her. I’d always loved her personality, but to be completely honest, I was a little scared we wouldn’t connect sexually.

Turns out I had nothing to worry about.

While we had yet to actually have sex, the chemistry between us flew off the fucking charts. It physically pained me to keep my hands off her. In fact, my stomach burned a little knowing I would need to tone it down in front of my family. We were still testing the waters between us, so no one knew we were together.

Let alone married.

I hated it.

I don’t even think Haley had spilled the news to Ry or Stephanie. I slipped to Mason earlier this week that we were seeing where it goes, so I’m sure they knew. Mason wouldn’t be able to hide that from Ry to save his life.

Should be interesting.

“You’ve been to my family dinners before.”

She sighed. “Yeah. As Rylie’s guest.”

“You’re still Rylie’s guest. It’s at Rylie’s house.”

Her head rolled toward me against the headrest. “That’s not the point.”

“What’s the point?” I reached over and drew circles on her exposed thigh. Did I mention I fucking love these jeans?

“The point is now I have a dirty secret that I am keeping from my best friend and she’s going to see right through me.”

“I’m a dirty secret, huh?” I squeezed her thigh.

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