Page 33 of Asher's Assignment

She flopped onto her back and put a pillow over her eyes.

But what if they’re out of range and staring, like last time?

With a groan, she flung the pillow to the side and sat up, pushing the covers away. She wasn’t sleeping anytime soon, so she might as well do something productive. Leah’s birthday was at the end of the week. When Esther left today, she’d asked Rob if she could bring the girl a small birthday cake. Surprisingly, he’d agreed with little fuss. She could make the cake and freeze it, then it would be ready to frost Thursday evening.

Wandering downstairs, she rounded the corner, debating which flavor cake to make, and didn’t see Asher in the living room until he spoke.

“What are you doing up?”

A shriek ripped from her chest, and she flattened herself against the wall. Heart thumping, she covered it with her hand. “Why are you sitting in the dark?”

“I’m working.”

Of course he was. All normal people worked in the middle of the night and without the lights on. “You should be sleeping. Especially if you’re going to spend all day with grade schoolers tomorrow.”

“Which is exactly why I’m working. I have other projects that need my attention. Ones I can’t work on while I’m in a classroom with kids.”

A wrinkle formed between her eyebrows, and she pushed away from the wall. “Like what?”

“Just stuff. I do a lot of digital security analysis. Plus, I couldn’t sleep, so…” He shrugged. “Why are you up?”

“My brain wouldn’t shut off. I’m going to bake a cake.” Pivoting on the ball of her foot, she headed for the kitchen.

“A cake?” Curiosity fueled a cute frown on his face. “What?”

She heard him get up and walk toward her. “Cake. You know, that stuff you eat for your birthday?”

“Whose birthday?” He stopped beside her.

“Leah’s. She’ll be ten on Friday.” She went into the pantry and loaded her arms with flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda.

“Here, let me take that.”

“I’ve got it.” She spun, deftly gliding around him.

“Nice move.”

She tossed him a smile as she set her things down. “Thanks. I was a competitive dancer and a cheerleader in high school.” A memory surfaced, and her smile turned sly. Edie would kill her, but she needed something to distract her from Asher’s yumminess. “You want to know a secret?”

“What?”

“Edie was a cheerleader too.”

His eyes widened. “No! You’re kidding.”

She shook her head. “Nope. All four years of high school. And I have photographic evidence to prove it. I get this cake in the oven and I’ll show it to you.”

Asher spun, staring at her cupboards. “Where are your cake pans?”

Esther laughed. “Slow down. I have to mix it up first.”

“I can still get the pan out and get it ready for you. And turn the oven on.”

He had a point. “Cabinet beside the stove,” she said. “Get the two round ones.”

While he got the pans out and greased them, Esther set to work measuring ingredients into the mixer she took from the island.

“What do you want the oven set to?”

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