Page 29 of Holding Her Heart

“Sometimes the heart wants what it wants. Maybe it’s more of a gratitude thing because she saw something in you and took a chance.”

Could it be that? It felt like more, but perhaps Grace was right. “Could be.”

“I’m sure it’ll all wear off before you know it. And Pride…that’s a place you could let your hair down.”

That wasn’t Aster’s style. Sometimes she wished it were, but the idea of sleeping with someone she’d never see again didn’t appeal to her. She wasn’t sure it ever would. “I don’t know.”

“Nobody on the team you like the look of?” Grace wiggled her eyebrows.

“Nope.”

“No, I don’t blame you. I mean, there’s always Fi.”

Aster wrinkled her nose, horrified her best friend could insinuate Aster pursuing something with Fi. “Fi has slept with all of Liverpool. I don’t think she’s my type.”

“What is your type?” Grace rested her head in her hand, her elbow propped up on the back of the couch. She sat with her legs crossed, their bowl of popcorn cradled.

“Eden. She is completely my type.”

“Successful, power suit, dominating personality.”

“No,” Aster said, smiling weakly. “Interesting, missing something in her life, genuine.”

“Okay, maybe this is more than gratitude.” Grace sighed. “But I don’t know how you tackle that. Because whatever you feel, it doesn’t change the fact that Eden isn’t likely to be interested. And if she was, would she stick around? Or would it be the good old ‘experiment’ we all hate? I’d be very careful.”

“I don’t think she’s that kind of woman.”

“But you don’t know her, Aster. It’s been two months since she had her PA call you, and I know you’ve become friends, but I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Aster was well aware of everything Grace was saying. But she couldn’t change the fact that she was into Eden. Unless she left her job, and probably the city, she couldn’t change any of this. Eden wasn’t a woman you simply stopped looking at and that was the end of it. She had too much to say behind those piercing eyes of hers. “How do I be her friend when I feel the way I do?”

“I…don’t know. Being her friend outside of work could turn into you torturing yourself.”

“You’re right. This is completely ridiculous. Eden Kline…and me?” Aster barked a laugh. “I realise how stupid it sounds.”

“I know you have feelings for her, I can see it in the way you speak about her, but I need you to be careful, Aster. I don’t want to see you getting hurt by anyone, least of all someone who probably only wants a night of no strings sex if it ever happened.”

“Thank you,” Aster whispered, her emotions threatening to tip over. “For being here for me. For not laughing in my face but working through it with me instead.”

“You know I’m always here for you.” Grace lifted the popcorn from her lap, setting it down on the table. “Come here. Give me a hug.”

They embraced, and Aster relaxed against her best friend. This was exactly what she needed. A stern, but supportive voice. Someone who would discuss it with her rather than talk at her. “Thank you. Seriously.” Aster pulled back. “But I need you to know something else…”

“What?” Grace wore a look of fear.

“I’m sharing a room with her when we go away.”

“You are joking!”

Aster winced. “No. I wish I was. But she asked me months ago when she found out I was a regular at the games. I told her I wasn’t going because I didn’t want to third wheel with you and Mia. But she said we could hang out and enjoy ourselves.”

“Uh-huh. I bet she’s planning to enjoy herself. Why is she even coming? It’s not like it’s her sort of scene.”

Aster shrugged. “Blair invited her.”

“And are you actually going to share a room with her? You can always book your own. Maybe that would be for the best.”

“I was planning to, but I don’t know.” Aster was torn. She’d love to spend her holiday in a five-star boutique hotel, it beat the other accommodation on offer, but could she manage the entire holiday with Eden in the next bed to her? “What do you think?”

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