Page 40 of Holding Her Heart

“I’d offer you some fine food tonight, but I got the strangest text message from Dom a few minutes ago.” The lift reached the ground floor, the doors opening. “I’ve been invited to dinner tonight. I should decline because I have stuff to do at home, but that’s kinda rude, isn’t it?”

“Oh, you’re going tonight? Me too.” They walked side by side as they left the building, taking a right towards the dock. “I was thinking of getting there around 7. Blair doesn’t like it when we arrive too early; it puts her all out of sorts.”

“Maybe we could share a cab? No use paying double…”

“That works for me.”

“Who else is invited? I’m assuming the team will be there. I don’t know why Dom would invite me but not her friends.”

“You’re not her friend?”

Aster shook her head, moving slightly closer to Eden. When she did, she caught her sweet perfume. “No, I am. But the team is her base, not me.”

“Right. I see. Well, I’ve no idea who is going. I was told to be there this evening.”

“Then I suppose we should do as we’re told and be there.”

“Mmhmm.” Eden smirked, her soft features slightly sunkissed from the early hot weather they’d had.

Aster slowed her pace, clearing her throat. “So, I noticed you haven’t been at the office since last week. I was going to text you to see if you were okay, but I didn’t know if you wanted to hear from me. I’m sure the rest of the staff checked up on you…”

“I’m fine. Wasn’t feeling well.” Eden smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Something was wrong.

“Right, well, it’s lovely to see you back.” Aster almost told Eden that she’d missed her, but that wasn’t appropriate. “Lunch wasn’t the same without you.”

Again, another slight smile from Eden but nothing like Aster was used to.

“You left the club kinda suddenly last week. I thought you’d fallen out with Blair.”

“She…didn’t like the idea of me dancing with Fi.” A slight blush settled on Eden’s cheeks. “But they have history, so I understand. We’ve cleared things up.”

“Yeah,” Aster said, running a hand through her hair. She didn’t like the idea of it either. “I was surprised to see you dancing with her. But it’s not like you were going to go home with her.” Aster laughed nervously, shaking her head. If she didn’t make light of it, she was likely to vomit all over Eden’s expensive heels. “You know what I mean.”

Eden stopped, an eyebrow quirked. “You’re rambling.”

“Sorry. It’s just that Fi is very unpredictable. I’m sure Blair was only protecting you. I mean, if she’d done what she usually does…kissed you…”

God, that thought weighed heavy in the pit of Aster’s stomach. In a world where Eden was dancing with Fi…Aster couldn’t think about it. She’d done so for days, and at more than one point, it had brought her to tears. Because Aster wanted to be that person. Her hands on Eden’s hips, her lips brushing her ear. Seeing Fi with Eden had impacted Aster more than she thought it would. Honestly, she was devastated as it unfolded before her eyes. And as Eden was pulled from the bar, it was at that point that Aster decided to call it a night with Esme. She couldn’t lead her on for the sake of trying to forget Eden. Because even though she knew she should move on, it was becoming increasingly clear that she couldn’t.

“What would you have done?” Eden pinned Aster with her stare, one hand on her hip.

Okay, Aster hadn’t expected that question. Eden was behaving strangely today. Think! Think! “I’d have told you to run a mile. Once Fi sets her sights on someone, she usually gets what she wants.”

“Well, Fi isn’t my type.” Something in Eden’s eyes changed. They darkened slightly, sending Aster’s head into a spin. If Aster focused hard enough, she would say that Eden was mentally undressing her. Sweet. Fucking. Jesus.

“R-right.”

And then Eden cleared her throat, gripping her handbag tighter. “Okay, so lunch. And then we’ll arrange this evening?”

“Y-yes. Sounds like a good day to me.”

* * *

The cab came to a stop outside Blair’s gated home. Aster rushed from the car, urgently tugging Eden’s door open and holding it while she stepped out. Once she was safely on the pavement, Aster turned to the driver and paid the fare. She turned back around to find Eden watching her, smiling. “What?”

“You have lovely manners.” Eden couldn’t recall the last time someone had held the door for her. Men…didn’t do that kind of thing anymore. At least, not the ones who gravitated towards Eden.

“Sorry, it’s probably annoying, but I was raised to have respect for people. And women deserve respect more than anyone else, so…”

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