Page 28 of Pro Gamer's Aim

I tilt my head back, meeting his piercing gaze. "What are we doing here, Asher? What kind of relationship is this?"

He's quiet for a long moment, brow furrowing. My heart sinks. Shit. Did I ruin everything by pushing for answers he's not ready to give?

Panic rising, I stumble over my words. "I mean, I don't want to assume anything. I just... I like you. A lot. But if you're not looking for more than sex, I get it. We could do friends with benefits. Or if you'd rather I didn't text you all the time or show up here, that's fine too, I—"

"Hey. Stop." Asher's hands cup my face, thumbs stroking my cheekbones. His eyes are soft. Serious. "You're not a hook-up or a booty call, Sam. I'm crazy about you."

Relief crashes through me, followed by a giddy flutter in my chest. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." He ducks his head, lips grazing mine. A barely-there caress. "I want to do this right. Take you on real dates. Be the guy who holds your hand and buys you flowers and all that cheesy shit. Stay together. My goal is forever, Sam. I don't do casual."

I can't help but smile against his mouth. I don't do casual, either. "I like cheesy shit."

"Yeah?" His lips curve. "Even with an old man like me?"

"I told you, you don't look a day over twenty-nine."

"Okay. How about dinner tonight? I'll pick you up at seven, bring you those flowers."

"It's a date." Joy fizzes through my veins. I push up on my toes, arms twining around his neck as I capture his mouth. He kisses me back thoroughly, hands splayed across my lower back.

"Mmm. Hold that thought, bunny." Asher nips my bottom lip, then reaches past me to shut off the water. "We have handymen to deal with first, remember?"

"Ugh. Don't remind me." I really don't want to deal with any of that, but let him lead me out of the shower. He wraps me in a fluffy towel, pressing a smacking kiss to my forehead.

"Go get dressed. I'll meet you downstairs in ten."

Another quick peck and he strides out, completely unconcerned with his nudity. I admire the flex of his truly spectacular ass until he disappears into the bedroom.

Giddiness bubbles up again as I towel off and pull my sundress over my head. I have to bite my lip to contain the face-splitting grin threatening to break free.

Asher Sinclair wants to date me. Bring me flowers. Be my boyfriend. Date with forever in mind.

I can get used to this.

Chapter twelve

Chapter 12

Asher

The smell of burning charcoal wafts through the air as I watch Sam and Milo romp across the newly tidied yard. Her musical laughter rings out, mingling with excited yips.

"Good boy, Milo! Bring it back!"

The little mutt bounds after the tennis ball, ears flapping. I shake my head, lips twitching. Damn dog's starting to grow on me.

My phone buzzes. Miriam. I swipe to answer.

"Asher, fantastic news. HypeGaming signed the contract."

I grunt. "About time. Their feet-dragging was getting old." Now that the contract is done, my company is set. This was the last thing we needed to move forward. From pro gamer to game development.

Mobile games. But still, there's a huge market there, and HypeGaming can do what I need them to do. They're the professionals I need to make my dream come true.

"There's more. They want to bring an influencer on board. Someone high profile to really sell it."

I frown. "An influencer? Seriously? We don't need—"

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