Page 18 of The Last Time

The way he went from cool and casual to completely expressionless and rigid doesn’t seem right. I’m dying to figure him out, figure out what happened to the man I once knew.

At the end of the night, Layla and I promised to get together for lunch this week. She’s going to come over and check out the house.

Maybe I should ask her about it. I’m sure she’ll have some insight for me, if she’s willing to share.

For now, I need to set it aside because there’s no way in hell I’m bringing it up to him directly.

Chapter Six

Asher

“Pleasebewearingclothestoday. Please be wearing clothes today,” I whisper to myself after I knock on her door.

I hold my breath as the door swings open.

Shit. She’s wearing clothes today. Wait, no, that’s good. That’s what I wanted, right?

Her long brown hair is up in a ponytail, making her look effortlessly beautiful. She’s in a white sundress with a lemon print. She still looks beautiful.

A small, hesitant smile forms on her face.

“Good morning. Come on in,” she says as she holds the door open for me.

I walk in, and as I pass her, I get a hint of her perfume. It’s floral yet sophisticated. I feel my jeans grow tighter as the scent takes effect on me.

Easy there, boy. This one is not for you.

It appears that my body still doesn’t understand that we aren’t touching this one. If I got one taste, it would never be enough.

“Mornin’,” I reply. “You’re not dressed to work on the deck. I’ll take that as an official acceptance of my offer to help.”

She closes the door and follows me inside.

“Well, I have to work this week. But I wouldn’t exactly call what you said an offer. It felt more like a demand.”

If only I could show her what a demanding Asher looked like. I’d tell her to get on her knees and…

No! Don’t go there. Not unless you want a semi while talking to her.

At the rate my body responds to her, an image like that would conjure up a full-on erection.

She’s looking at me with such a sweet and innocent smile, even though I don’t deserve it.

I can’t help but let myself give in with my own smile. “You didn’t seem like the type of person that likes to give up control. I figured I needed to be a bit more forceful than a simple offer.”

She put her hand up in an attempt to stifle her laugh. I want to rip her hand down and tell her to never cover such a beautiful sound. “I’ve heard that before. I suppose you would’ve been standing there for a while if you didn’t just come right out and say it like that. I need more of that in my life.”

“More men telling you what to do?” I question, not sure where she’s going with this or maybe my mind just can’t get out of the gutter with this one.

“No! Geez. More people forcing help because they know I have trouble accepting it.”

I rub the back of my neck. “Oh, that. Well, maybe you should work on just being more accepting of help.”

She bites her lip and eyes me up and down. “Thanks, Mr. Obvious. Do you want me to suggest what you should work on?”

I throw my hands up in defeat. “I’ll pass on that. Thanks.”

I notice a nice farm-sized table set up in the kitchen.

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