Page 88 of Ruthless Heir

It’s odd he would say that when he had a choice between me and this other woman who I don’t think was there tonight.

Asher was with me the whole time and all the women he introduced me to as friends seemed to just befriends. I’ve known him long enough to know when he likes someone.

“We should probably get some sleep,” he suggests.

“Yeah,” I answer, although I don’t want to say goodbye yet.

“See you in the morning.”

“See you.”

He dips his head and turns to go to his room. I watch him and I don’t know what comes over me but it’s like there’s this urge to hold on to tonight.

It pushes me to call to him. “Asher, wait.”

He stops midstride and turns back to face me.

“Do you want to hang out for a while?” The words tumble out of my mouth faster than I can think. I might be shooting myself in the foot but at least I tried. “I’m not tired.”

Asher seems surprised by my question. As if I caught him off guard. Then the surprise on his face morphs into caution and it looks like he’s going to turn me down.

I prepare for that sinking feeling of disappointment I hate but then his eyes darken with some unidentifiable emotion, and his gaze flicks down to my dress then roams over my body in an unmistakable sexual way.

“Sure. Let’s go to my office.” He nods.

I’m so stunned he agreed that I stare back at him with my eyes wide, checking to make sure I heard him right. “Really? You’re saying yes?”

“Sure. I have some of that wine we had at dinner.” A smooth grin slides across his lips.

“That wine was amazing.” And wow… he actually agreed to hang out. It’s great but now the butterflies in my stomach have goosebumps.

We go in the opposite direction and take the stairs to his office. I’ve only ever seen the door when Olga took me on the tour.

His office is in its own wing of the house with a separate entrance.

When he opens the door and I see inside I’m completely surprised by how big it is. It’s like a separate apartment. The only thing missing is a bed.

He’s got everything set up like his office at Le Blanche Global but on the left there’s a sofa area with a bar. Next to that is a glass wall with a sliding door to a private terrace. The glass walls offer a great view of the beach. Against the dark the beach and the trees in the surrounding area look like a fantasy painting.

Asher goes over to the bar fridge and removes the bottle of wine. It has a French name I can’t begin to pronounce but it’s fruity and absolutely delicious.

“I picked this Monbazillac up on my last trip to France,” he says, grabbing two glasses.

“When was that?”

“A few months ago. I went with a friend of mine but it was a business trip. They needed me to evaluate an investment.”

“Sounds like fun.”

He smirks. “Harper,youreally think that evaluating an investment sounds like fun?”

I bite the inside of my lip, holding back a smile. “Not really. I was just being polite.”

“Clearly. Let’s sit over here.”

I follow him to the large leather sofa where we sit alongside each other.

He sets the wine and glasses on the coffee table then he takes off his jacket and tie.

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