Page 53 of Holding Her Heart

“That may be true. But it means I don’t get the gossip from her if Aster has discussed you. Which seems kinda unfair.”

Eden grinned. “Dom doesn’t trust you to not tell me. And I don’t blame her. If you knew something I didn’t, you’d be on the phone to me within seconds.”

“This is true.” Blair nodded, swirling the last of her wine in her glass. “Get your drink down you and then we’re going to dance. Dom is amongst that crowd somewhere.”

“Dance?”

“Mmhmm. You’ll just happen to find Aster, and then your arse will ‘naturally’ fall into her lap.”

Eden couldn’t do that. Could she? She knew she wanted to, to feel Aster’s hands on her body as the beat took them away, but would Aster be into that? God, she hated all this uncertainty. She’d never done well with not knowing.

“Stop overthinking it. If you do, it’ll go wrong. And us lot are like cats…we sense fear.”

Eden’s mouth fell open. Would Aster sense her lack of experience? “Okay, I don’t think I can do this. She’s going to laugh in my face, Blair.”

“No, she won’t.”

Eden looked down at her glass, blowing out a deep breath as she brought it up to her lips. If she was going to do this, it had to be tonight. And with Blair close by, nothing could go wrong. Eden had felt it earlier in her bedroom. Aster may not know it, but she’d heard the photographs fall into her lap, she’d heard the sharp intake of breath, and she couldn’t mistake the way Aster was looking at her. That surely meant Blair was right, didn’t it?

“You’re overthinking,” Blair cut into Eden’s thoughts unexpectedly.

“I’m not. I’m remembering how nice my life was before I fucked it all up.” Eden downed her glass of wine, wincing as the mediocre taste reached her throat. “Okay, the wine in here is terrible.”

“Mmhmm.”

Eden’s eyes widened as the burn slid down her throat. She looked over at the dance floor; Aster was throwing her head back as she laughed. Eden couldn’t see who she was dancing with, but she would find out sooner rather than later. “Okay, let’s get a shot or two from the bar, and then I’ll be fine.”

“Sure?” Blair got to her feet, dragging Eden up with her.

Eden gripped her best friend’s hands. “Please tell me I’m not making a mistake.”

“I…can’t do that, love.”

Eden nodded. “No, I know. But if she rejects me—”

“She won’t. Everything is going to be fine.”

Eden held her head higher, forcing herself to feel more confident than she did inside. She could do this. And if it did turn out that she’d missed her chance, Aster would be a sweetheart about it. Eden had no doubt about that. “Let’s dance.”

Blair threw her best friend a wink, guiding her towards the bar. Once they’d knocked back a couple of shots, Blair danced her way towards Dom, and Eden was thrilled to see Aster close by.

The music drowned out every thought that whirred through Eden’s mind, but it was absolutely what she needed in the moment. She couldn’t think too much about how she would approach Aster, and she couldn’t dwell on the possibility of being rejected. Nobody ever got anything they wanted in life by panicking, so Eden wouldn’t allow her fears to take over everything else she felt.

Aster made eye contact with her, her deep brown eyes dragging her nearer. She smiled, holding out a hand, and pulled Eden closer. “Thought you two would never make it over here.”

“Discussing some stuff. Sorry.” Eden gave herself a moment to adjust. While she’d spent many a night in a bar or a club, she’d never enjoyed a night out in a place like this.

Aster was into the music here, her hips moving incredibly well. Eden had never seen this side of Aster, not a care in the world, but she loved it. If she could capture this moment and frame it, she would remember the good times. Because as Eden moved ever so slightly closer, she felt her confidence crumbling. She’d never been in a position like this before.

But then Aster grabbed Eden’s hips, pulling their bodies flush as she swayed to the music. One leg landed between Eden’s, and then Aster’s breath tickled her ear as she leaned in closer. “You’re really tense. Loosen up. It’s just me here.”

Oh, Lord. When Aster said things like that, Eden could drag her home and have her way with her. Her heart raced, her hands clammy as she placed them on Aster’s waist. She felt Aster smile against her ear, and then something incoherent followed.

“Hey…” Eden turned her head slightly, and their cheeks pressed together as she inhaled Aster’s scent. A mixture of perfume and whiskey. It was strangely sexy and arousing. “I’m so into you, Aster.”

Aster pulled her head back slightly, their bodies still flush. And then she stopped moving as she frowned. “Sorry, what?”

“You…” Eden smiled, her voice more certain than it had ever been. “You’re so beautiful, Aster. Gorgeous. And to be perfectly honest, I can’t think straight when I’m around you. I just…I’m so into you.” She switched her gaze from Aster’s eyes to her lips, licking and wetting her own. Eden may have been worried before, but the hundred plus people around them faded out, and only Aster remained. Eden leaned in, her eyes focused on soft plump lips. Another fraction of a second, and she would be kissing Aster Bennett.

---