Page 144 of Scars Run Deep

I shifted my weight, then focused on the next problem, “We can’t have you drunk for what’s coming. Shit.”

“Drunk?”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Three won’t do it. Tipsy then. Still compromised.”

“That bar is crowded. I’ll just employ my sleight of hand.”

I couldn’t help smiling. “You’re fucking good.”

“I’m glad you’re finally realizing that.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “And well done back there. You performed perfectly. I almost bought it too.”

“You sure you’re not already drunk? Complimenting me and all that?”

He gave my arm a squeeze. “Just being honest, sweetheart.”

Our eyes locked.

I didn’t know what to say.

“Killian! My goodness!”

I started at the sound of her familiar voice.

The thing with Carson had knocked my focus off-kilter. My mom had been headed toward us.

And then she was right there, peering around the pillar at the two of us.

She smiled with amusement. “Everything okay here, boys?”

Asher nodded and straightened, fixing his tie. “Absolutely.”

I smiled back at her. “It’s all good, Mom.”

She beamed at me, then told Asher sweetly, “It’s really nice seeing you again.”

“The feeling is mutual, Valerie,” he said, holding out his hand to her.

She took it and I watched him shake very gently, going out of his way not to startle her. With what she’d endured, it didn’t take much now.

“I have my marching orders from my father, but I hope we’ll run into one another again before the event is finished,” Asher told her.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

He smiled, then turned away and headed to the bar, and I saw him pulling out his phone and calling Jonah as he went.

Shit. Where the fuck was he?

“I’m so happy to see you, son,” my mom said, drawing my attention right back to her.

I held out my hands between us. “Can I hug you, Mom?”

Emotion swam in her eyes.

It wasn’t just the reunion being so long coming, that we actually had a moment to ourselves because my father wasn’t here. It was because I had to ask. Because of what that meant.

“Please,” she answered, getting choked up.

I was wrapping my arms around her in the next second, wanting to take that away, to take it all away for her.

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