Page 141 of Deceit

“Do you play?” Asher asks in surprise.

I nod. I haven’t, obviously, since I left London. Honestly, even before that. I was pretty good in school, though.

“What, didn’t you read that in your file about me?” I tease lightly.

He shakes his head, typing out his notes.

“That file didn’t tell me shit when it came to you. Not the things that matter, at least.”

“I’m an open book,” I shrug, as we step into the formal living room.

“Are you?” he asks dubiously.

“Not particularly, but I’d be willing to answer some questions if you have any.”

He thinks on it for a second before he shakes his head. “Can I save them for another time?”

“Sure,” I laugh, as we step into the dining room. It is about the size of the one at my father’s, and it’s even painted the same soft cream. My nose wrinkles at the color, an action that isn’t lost on Asher.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I shake my head quickly.

“C’mon, Princess. Out with it.”

I shrug as I move through the space.

“I just don’t love the color.”

Asher nods. “What color would you want?”

“Maybe a nice soft grey? Still neutral but a little …different, I guess.”

He doesn’t ask different from what, nor does he try to argue. Instead, he continues furiously taking notes before giving me a smile and a nod. We continue this through the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms until we are upstairs in the bedrooms.

Asher pauses outside a set of double doors.

“This could be your room, if you want. Obviously you’ll need the larger room, what with your…company,” he says, his pace slowing on the word company.

“Are we going to have separate rooms?” I ask as I step inside, impressed by the sheer size of the room. The en suite attached looks just as massive, and I see two walk in closets. It’s a master bedroom dream.

“Well, I assumed. Not sure how much they’d love the idea of us sharing a bed every night,” Asher laughs sarcastically.

“You’d be surprised, they seem to not mind sharing. In fact Liam downright loves it,” I tease with a wink.

Instead of laughter, I’m met with silence. My gaze comes up to see Asher’s eyes have darkened, quite literally smoldering straight through me as my words hang in the air between us. Clearing my throat, I step out of the bedroom, finding another one and another and another.

“Oh my gosh, how many bedrooms does this place have?”

“Seven bedrooms, five and a half baths,” he says, as he follows close behind.

“Wow, seven? What are we going to do with all of them.”

“My father’s hope is that we’d fill them with children,” he chuckles, but when I turn to him with alarmed eyes he puts his hands up placatingly.

“I’m kidding. I mean, I’m not, but I didn’t mean we were going to start having kids right now or anything. I just meant down the road, maybe, if things go okay…I’ll need an heir eventually and—”

“Asher, it’s fine. I get what you mean. Calm down.”

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