Page 104 of Outside The Wire

“But you’re not wrong, either.”

“I’m not?”

“Holly, it’s not wrong for you to want answers. You’ve been with this man for months. Things are pretty serious between the two of you. If you’re going to have a life together, he’s either all in or he’s not.”

“And what if he’s not?”

“I don’t know. I guess that’s something you have to decide if you can live with.”

I wasn’t sure I was ready to make a decision like that. I was still riding the pain of the attack and my emotions were running high. Deciding if I could deal with Asher’s issues on top of my own was just a little too much at the moment.

“Tell me what to do,” I whispered.

“I can’t do that. The thing is, I’m not you, and I’m not in a relationship with Asher. Nothing I say can help you. This is all on you and your cheery self. So, ask yourself what you can live with. Can you continue in the bubble you had with Asher, completely happy with him, but never knowing anything more about who he used to be? Or do you need to know every last detail about him, even if it might cost you everything? If you need to know, then you have to be honest with him and tell him this is where you draw the line. Just be prepared that he might walk away.”

I knew she was right. I just didn’t want to make that decision right now. I stared up at the ceiling, taking comfort in having her on the other end of the line. I knew she couldn’t stay on with me all day, but at least I wasn’t alone.

“I’m at the shop. I’ll call you at lunch, okay?”

“Thank you for taking care of everything for me.”

“Anything for you.”

“And call me if you need help.”

“Yeah, like I’d do that,” she snorted. “I’ll see you next week.”

“Next—” I started to protest.

“Asher’s orders.”

For a man who walked out on me last night, he seemed to still be awfully concerned with every aspect of my life, and maybe that should have clued me in about where we stood.

“We’ll see about that,” I muttered, hanging up as she said goodbye.

Knowing that the shop was taken care of, I pulled the covers back over my body and laid in bed a little longer, letting my mind drift until my eyes followed suit. The warmth of the bed slowlylulled me back to sleep, and it wasn’t until hours later that I woke up.

My medicine was on the nightstand with a bottle of water and a banana, along with a note.

A security company is coming by today at one. I’ll be here to take care of it. You won’t have to do a thing. Just wanted to let you know so you weren’t scared when big, hulking men started creeping around the outside of your house.

—Asher

I sighed,pressing the note to my chest. “He’s making it really fucking hard to think about any of this.”

25

ASHER

I tossedmy jacket on the hook at work and pulled on my coveralls just as Wyatt came around the corner, staring at me like I’d lost my mind.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

“Late? What the hell are you doing here? Your girlfriend was attacked yesterday. Take the fucking day off.”

I shook my head, zipping up the coveralls. “Not necessary.”

He snorted, grinning at me like I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had. “Are you fucking serious? Go home. I’m sure you’d rather be there, anyway. We can handle things here.”

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