Page 20 of Lessons in Desire

“Well, I just don’t see an issue.” Kaden says.

“She’s his TA.” Cameron says it as if it should be obvious.

“I’m just saying that if she’s causing Asher whose never let a girl affect him, ever, to be in this big of a mood, it’s probably worth losing a job over.”

“She is but the job isn’t the issue I’m having.” I shake my head, pushing all thoughts of her from my mind. “Anyway, I’ll think of something. I’m more interested right now in hearing about New York.”

Kaden’s been living in New York for just over a year now. He owns a private investigation company and moved out to the big city for a job.

“Well, you know I can’t tell you about the job but the city? The city is fucking amazing.” As Kaden jumps into all the crazy things he’s seen, all the celebrities he’s encountered, I feel a tugging in my gut.

I frown, unsure what the fuck is happening. It’s like there’s a hook in my stomach, digging in, tugging me to look …

I watch as Evelyn walks in looking radiant in a teasing little black skirt and a blood-red blouse. My cock hardens at the sight of her.

But then that little prick walks in behind her and I’m reminded that she’s on a date with him. A fucking date.

My finger clench around the tumbler of whisky as my brothers talk, oblivious to the rising tide of my jealousy.

A waiter leads them to a small, intimate table lit with a candle and off the side, but still in my direct sight.

“Hey, Asher, are you okay?” Kaden asks.

“Yes.” I snap.

I see Evelyn smile but its forced. I don’t fucking understand why she said yes. I know she feels the same way about me as I do her, but she’s fighting it tooth and nail and instead of listening to her heart, she’s on a date with this idiot.

He leans forward, his fingers brushing her cheek and I am fucking done watching. I have a plan to get her to listen, I just need to be patient.

Chapter Twelve

Evelyn

“I’m really glad you said yes to this.” Jake says, his fingers brushing away my hair and I force a smile to curl over my lips. Jake is trying and it really isn’t his fault that I’m not feeling it. Maybe when I’m over a certain brooding professor, I’ll be able to give him the chance he deserves but I can already tell today is not the day.

But still, at the very least I can have a nice night with a friend.

“Yea, It’s a beautiful restaurant.” I say, playing with the edge of my skirt. The restaurant has one of those warm, cosy-family style interiors with plants decorating the red brick walls, candle-lit oak tables covered by a red-checked cloth and candlelight sending a warm glow over the entire interior.

I look around, taking it all in, when the hairs on my neck rise, my gaze zeroing in on the man who seems to be haunting my every move. Asher is here. He’s here, sitting at a table across the restaurant with two other men – one of them Cameron, the other a younger version of them both.

I freeze, my cheeks heating as he eyes me, his jaw twitching. Oh, he’s pissed. But he can go to hell. He knew I had said yes to this date and the fact we fucked doesn’t change that.

“Evelyn?” Jake is looking at me with expectant eyes and I realise he must have asked me something.

“I’m sorry, what did you say? I was so lost in admiring the interior that I didn’t hear.”

He smiles. “It’s okay. I was just asking if you wanted to get a bottle of wine for the table.”

I shake my head. “I don’t drink, remember?”

“Ah, yea sorry I forgot.”

Asher would have remembered. Part of me whispers unhelpfully, the logical side warring with my need for him.

“You go ahead though. I’ll just get a water.”

He nods and catches the attention of the waiter. Picking up the menu, I try to ignore the heat thrumming through me, my body preening with the knowledge that Asher’s eyes are still on me. I swallow against it all and try to read the menu, but nothing is making sense, the words are drifting, the food uncertain.

---