Page 2 of Suddenly Single

“Yes. I grew up driving these things around Telluride.” Asher grinned and started the engine. Being around him was surreal at times. Like, when we arrived, I expected us to stay at a hotel. A fancy hotel, of course. Instead, we were staying at the family compound, an enormous log mansion with fireplaces you could literally stand inside of. Moments later, we were heading up a mountain.

The sound of swooshing snow and the engines made conversation impossible, so I tightened my hat and kept my face down to keep it from getting wet. Suddenly, we came to a stop.

“We’re here.” Asher said. “C’mon, get out and look at the view.”

I did as he asked, though when I stood up, I almost fell flat on my ass. My legs were shaking, and I smiled nervously toward Asher and the strange woman. She strolled through the snow until she was a few yards away. Asher gently pushed me forward until we were next to a giant boulder.

“Isn’t it amazing.” Asher put his arm around me, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. “I asked you here for a reason.” He murmured, and if I wasn’t mistaken, his voice was trembling.

“What is it?”

“Now that we’re away from our crazy families, I want to ask you a very serious question.” Asher dropped to his knees in the snow. My heart hammered in my chest. He grabbed my gloved hand and stared up at me. “If we were back in Richmond, everyone would make a big fuss over this, and I just want it to be you and me.”

“Yes.” I whispered. “Go on, ask me.”

“Carter Camden, I love you with all my heart and soul. Will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?” Asher asked, and at the same time, a bunch of snow blew on us. He waved his free hand in front of his face while I stared into his cobalt eyes. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. I wanted to say yes, scream it actually, but it was like I had a sudden onset of laryngitis. “Please, answer me, Carter.”

I nodded and croaked out, “Yes, of course, I’ll marry you.”

Asher leapt to his feet, let go of my hand, and cupped his hands around his mouth. “He said yes!” Asher screamed into the valley lying at our feet. I heard a clapping sound, and remembered the strange woman who’d come with us. She was strolling through the snow toward us when Asher pulled me into his chest and kissed me.

“Gentlemen, are you prepared to do it now? Or do you need….”

“Now.” Asher exclaimed, and the biggest smile I’d ever smiled stretched across my cheeks. “You have the license and stuff?” He asked her, and she nodded.

“You planned this all along?” I asked, amazed at the romantic gesture. Asher nodded.

“My name is Linda Crawford and I’m a non-denominational officiant, licensed by the state of Colorado to perform weddings.” I heard her say, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of Asher. The man I loved more than anything or anyone else in the world was marrying me, a man who’d grown up poor on Richmond’s Southside. He could have had anyone he wanted, but he’d chosen me.

“I love you, Asher, more than you’ll ever know.”

Chapter 1

Asher

“Getting married on that mountain three years ago was the most romantic moment of my life, Asher.” Carter reached across the antique wooden table and laid his hand on mine. “But I want a real wedding. You know, with us wearing elegant suits, and perhaps your cousin Margaret, who’s adorable by the way, she could be our flower girl. Let's have it at the country club.”

Carter mentioned a proper wedding last night and wasn't letting it go. After regaining entry to our bedroom this morning, I was trying to stay in his good graces. I sipped my coffee while figuring a way to talk my husband out of it. Carter had the exasperating habit of latching on to an idea the way a dog won’t let go of a bone. Because of his impetuousness, we’d already been on safari in Africa, taken trips to China and France, plus his wardrobe had outgrown our closet. He’d now taken over one of the guest bedrooms, and Carter filled it with racks upon racks of clothes. Some of them still had price tags hanging from them. Totally frivolous. And the thing that got me the most was I couldn’t say anything. He paid for it with his own money thanks to his booming interior-design business. Plus, it put a beautiful smile on his face.

“It would be the event of the season.” Carter sighed, then started typing on his phone. “I want everyone we love to see us take our vows. Can’t you understand how important that is for me? For us? For our families?”

“But…”

“When I was at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York last week, I saw the chicest Dior suits that would look perfect on both of us. Though you might want to cut back on the carbs, Asher. You’ve porked out a little bit.” Carter slid his phone back in his pocket and stared at me expectantly. “Well?”

I loved this man. I really, really, did. But he was making me absolutely insane. “I just don’t feel the need to get married all over again. The reason I wanted us to get married in Colorado was to avoid a big, expensive ceremony. Lord knows if our mothers and their friends get wind of us getting remarried, they’d…”

“Why do you think I want a new ceremony? Because Mom and Marjorie both bitch to me regularly about how they wished they’d been there for our wedding.” Carter closed his eyes and shook his head dramatically.

It was true. Marjorie, also known as my mother, complained to me incessantly about not being there. And all Carter’s mother ever did was bitch about everything under the sun. I didn't know how the ogre had raised such a light-hearted son like Carter.

“You know, sweetheart, locking me out of our bedroom last night isn’t exactly the way to sell me on this wedding.” I said, though what I left unsaid was how refreshing it was to sleep alone for a change. He’d asked me point blank about a new ceremony, and when I said nothing, he accused me of not loving him and threw me out. As Mom liked to say, Carter was handsome, talented, loving, and an over-the-top drama queen. She loved him to the moon and back, to my chagrin.

“Why would I want to sleep next to a man who doesn’t want to marry me?”

“But we’re already married!” I jumped to my feet, fists balled up at my sides. “For God’s sake, Carter. I love you, and damn it, will you just come out of this bedroom and have breakfast with me and the rest of the family?”

“Fine.”

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