Page 42 of Holding Her Heart

Eden’s skin had to be hot to the touch; there was no way only her core temperature was rising. Every word Aster spoke had her on pins, wanting to hear more. She didn’t even have a response to the Fi comment. It was the least of her concerns.

And then the door flew open suddenly, Blair clearing her throat as she smiled. “Come on in. Sorry about the delay. Issue with the oven.”

Eden narrowed her eyes, disappointed when Aster unlinked their arms. But then Aster placed a hand on the small of Eden’s back, gentle and warm, and led her inside. That felt incredible. “It’s fine. We’ve been talking shit out here for ten minutes.”

“Oh, how terrible,” Blair laughed. Eden could swear her best friend was breathless.

Eden’s eyes flitted around Blair’s home. “Dom not around?”

“She’s…finishing getting ready.” Blair looked away, her cheeks red. She’d always been a terrible liar.

“Liar,” Eden whispered, spotting something on the stairs. “You may want to grab your lingerie from the bannister.”

Blair’s eyes widened as she suddenly backed up, almost tripping over her own feet. “Be right back. Make yourselves at home. But behave.”

Eden’s mouth fell open as she glanced between Blair and Aster. Did her best friend have no shame whatsoever? “Sorry about her.”

“Perfectly fine. They’re both good fun. Should I make us a drink since Blair has other things to take care of? Would that be okay?”

“Yes, please.” Eden swallowed as she watched Aster move around the kitchen, her black ankle-grazer jeans and pristine white Vans complementing her casual look. But it wasn’t her look that Eden was admiring. It was just Aster. All of her.

“Okay, red or white?” Aster spun around, her blonde hair falling into place.

Aware that she’d been caught staring, Eden moved towards the stools around the island and took a seat. Perhaps talking to Blair about all of this hadn’t been the wisest decision in the world. When she kept it to herself, it didn’t feel so intense. She’d fully expected Blair to tell her she was out of her mind, but the response had been positive, and it only encouraged Eden to want more. Throw in the intimate dinner, and Eden didn’t know how to feel about anything. Yes, Blair had run it by her first, but Eden felt dreadful for duping Aster. I want her to myself. Was that such a terrible thing?

“Eden?”

“R-red. Sorry.” She waved a hand. “World of my own again.”

Aster poured a glass of wine for Eden, rounding the counter and handing it over. She stepped a little closer, dipping her head towards Eden’s ear. Aster’s warm breath had Eden’s body on heightened alert. “Why are we the only two people here?”

Because I don’t want anyone else to have their hands, eyes, or attention on you. “I-I don’t know.” Eden still couldn’t bring herself to tell Aster that it was a plan of Blair’s. It all felt wrong when she thought of it like that. “Maybe the others are arriving later.”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

* * *

Dinner was exceptional, but Aster didn’t expect anything less from Blair. From the most incredible goat cheese and pear salad to start, the best lamb to ever enter her mouth for the main, and a salted caramel bombe for dessert, Aster felt as though she was ending her evening at a Michelin star restaurant. Blair had gone above and beyond to make sure Eden and Aster had everything they could need.

“That was…amazing.” Aster relaxed back into an outside chair, the patio heaters warming her face. “Thank you, Blair.”

“Any time,” Blair said, her hand resting on Dom’s thigh as she tipped her wine glass towards Aster. “I miss doing this, so I’m glad you could both make it.”

“The team didn’t want to come tonight?” Aster wasn’t complaining. It was nice to have some adult conversation. And with less people around, being with Eden felt much more intimate.

“Oh, I didn’t invite them.” Blair said, matter-of-factly. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but they don’t strike me as the kind who enjoy dinner parties.”

Okay, Blair made a good point. “No, they don’t.”

“And I love them, each and every one, but tonight I wanted something small and quiet. I’m sure I’ll never hear the end of it once they get wind of it, but I’m not concerned.”

“Hey, this is your place. You invite who you like. It’s not as though you don’t open your home to them enough as it is.”

“Aster is right,” Eden cut in, sitting beside Aster. As the breeze carried Eden’s perfume towards her, Aster found herself inhaling deeply but inconspicuously.

She chanced a look in Eden’s direction, immediately regretting it when her eyes landed on Eden’s thighs. She had to stop looking at her boss that way. It was unprofessional, and she was fairly certain Eden wouldn’t appreciate it. What the hell is wrong with you? She’d done so well until today.

Aster had never been the kind of woman to drool over anyone. She respected women’s bodies and what they chose to wear, but Eden had a way of captivating her without Aster knowing how.

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