Page 9 of Asher's Assignment

“You just seem more anxious than usual. I mean, I know you love your sister, but I’ve never seen you like this.”

She sighed and looked heavenward. “Jordan’s going to kill me for telling everyone, but apparently, I can’t hide it.” She turned her bright blue eyes on him. “I’m a little hormonal at the moment.” Shoulders squaring, she sucked in a breath through her nose. “I’m pregnant.”

Asher’s eyes widened. “Holy crap.” He looked away for a second, trying to wrap his head around that. Edie was the last person he expected to say that. Especially so soon after getting married. But then again, it didn’t completely surprise him. She’d done a lot of growing up in the last few months. Gone was the woman who’d run from her feelings. Now she embraced them. And change. She opened her arms to that too. “That’s—that’s great.”

“You don’t sound like it’s great.”

“No, it is. You just took me by surprise.” A genuine smile formed on his face, crinkling his eyes. “I’m happy for you.”

She returned his smile. “Thank you. We’re excited. Nervous. Very nervous. But excited. It’s a whole new world now.”

That was no lie. So much had changed for their little group in the last year. Ford was married now. So were Audra and Sam. Dean’s wedding was in just a couple of months. Max was the only other single one. Though Asher wouldn’t call him unattached. The moment Margot and her twin tornadoes arrived, Max had given his heart away. Now that Margot’s divorce was final, and she was living in Costa Rica full time, he expected Max to make a move soon. It was a lot, and Asher would be lying if he said he wasn’t reeling a little from it all. He was happy for his friends, but it was also a tad lonely now.

“You’ll do great, Edie.” He laid a hand on her shoulder briefly.

She gave him a tremulous smile. “I know we’ll do our best.” She puffed out her cheeks as she blew out a breath, then pushed away from the desk. “I’ll let you do your thing. Thank you for checking into this. It helps put my mind at ease to know you’re on it.”

“You’re welcome. If there’s anything else I can do, let me know.” He started to rise to show her out, but she waved him down.

“Stay. I know how to find the door.”

He sank back into his seat.

“See you later.” With a smile, she left.

Asher spun around to stare at his screens, pushing his personal thoughts and feelings aside so he could focus on Esther’s problem. His eyes raked over the information he and Edie had uncovered in their brief search, and his brain catalogued it, filing it into neat sections. Something about the couple had his radar up and working. He didn’t know what it was, but he was missing something.

Four

Hot damn. Esther laid a hand on her chest and stared at the television screen with wide eyes. “Oh, my.”

“Right?” Edie said from the laptop screen. “That was hot.”

Esther agreed. They were watching The Lost Husband and were at the scene where James grabbed Libby at the farmer’s market and kissed her in front of the bitchy patrons.

“I need to come up for a visit and bring Jordan with me. We can go to the coffeeshop where all the snooty girls from high school hang out and he can do that. Mmm-mmm, yes, please.” She fanned her face.

Esther chuckled. “That’s your hormones talking.”

“Considering all I’ve wanted to do for the last couple of days is sleep and puke, I’ll take it. Sex has been the furthest thing from my mind.”

“At least you have the option.” Esther grimaced. “Sorry. I’m being all melancholy again.”

“You’re fine. I can still send Asher up.” Edie sent her a naughty grin.

“No.” Esther rolled her eyes. “Stop pimping out your friends.”

Edie chuckled. “I’m not. I actually think the man needs a vacation. He spends too much time in his lair, staring at computer screens. Oregon might be good for him.”

Humming, Esther stared at the TV screen. “So would Texas. Or California. Or?—”

“Okay, I get it.”

A soft chuckle escaped Esther’s lips. “Do you, really?”

“Oh, hush and watch the movie.”

Laughing now, Esther glanced at her sister, who smiled back. She couldn’t wait for them to do this in person when Esther flew down for Thanksgiving. They still had fun on their long-distance movie nights, but it was so much better when they were together.

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