Page 108 of Outside The Wire

“It’s fine,” she mumbled, burying her face in my chest. She sighed heavily. “Take me to bed, Asher. I need you.”

“No funny business. You’re injured.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“That’s what you think,” I chuckled, scooping her up into my arms. I cradled her body to mine, grateful that I had this time, even if it only lasted for a few more months. She was mine for however long she chose to ignore my past, and I would cherish every minute of it.

I tucked her in bed and laid behind her, wrapping my body gently around hers. “I love you, baby.”

She interlocked her fingers with mine and squeezed. “I love you, too. More than you could ever know.”

I buried my face in her hair and inhaled deeply. I knew exactly how much she loved me. I could feel it with every touch and every kiss. That’s why I was clinging to her so tightly. I never wanted to let her go, and I was terrified for the day that I might have to.

26

HOLLY

“Are you ready?”I called out, putting the finishing touches on my makeup. Of course, he was ready. He was a man. He’d been sitting on the couch for the last half hour, flipping through the channels as he waited for me to finish getting ready. I was the one holding up the night.

“Almost, baby!” he called out, trying to make me feel better. “Just getting my shoes on!”

I chuckled to myself and put my mascara away, then fluffed my hair one last time. Now that my face had returned to normal, I could go out in public without people looking at me with sympathetic gazes and eyeing Asher like he was a wife beater.

I grabbed my shrug off the bed and walked down the hall, smiling when I saw Asher fidgeting with something in his pocket. He looked so handsome no matter what he was wearing. Tonight, that was jeans and a white T-shirt with a black leather jacket. If it was possible, he was more handsome than the first time I met him.

“Ready?”

He nodded and headed for the door, but stopped and turned to me, cocking his head at me. “You’re missing something.”

I looked down at myself. Jeans, shoes, shirt, shrug, purse. “Nope, I’ve got everything.”

He pulled something out of his pocket and held it up in front of me, then opened his hand and let it dangle in front of me. A thin silver chain with an infinity symbol and pearls on either side swung from side to side as he grinned at me.

“Told you there was something missing.”

“Is that for me?” I gasped.

“Well, I was going to wear it, but it was the wrong size.”

I smacked his arm and held out my hand for him to put it on me. It was absolutely stunning, but what really struck me was when he turned my hand over and pressed a kiss to the inside of my wrist. God, he melted my heart.

“Thank you. It’s so beautiful.”

“Just like you.”

“Do yourself a favor and don’t talk like that in front of Noelle. I don’t think she can handle any more Hallmark moments right now.”

“Wyatt either,” he chuckled.

“I think we’re both insane for agreeing to a double date with them.”

“He said it’s been going good between them.”

I rolled my eyes as I walked past him out the door. “Good for Noelle could mean anything from she hasn’t shivved him to she kissed him.”

As he locked up, I pulled on my shrug and wrapped it tight, fighting off the night chill. He pulled me into his body as we headed to his truck. “Are you sure that’s warm enough? It might get cooler.”

“We’ll be inside most of the night. I don’t want to carry around a jacket the whole time.”

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