Page 43 of Where the Stars Heal

“It’s not going to be a secret, Con, but until I get a moment to talk to Hunt, it is. So keep your mouth shut,” I say, closing the door in his face.

I feel Halle’s forehead press against my back as Connor speaks through the door, “Say please, Asher baby.”

I groan. “Fuck off, Connor.”

His laugh echoes down the hallway as he walks away. Turning, I find Halle’s slipped away from me, rummaging through her things. She won’t look at me, her shoulders are tense, and her hands tremble as she clutches a shirt. I can tell she’s trying to run behind the walls she keeps up. Shit, it’s not even lunchtime and she’s already gone through so much. Whatever this thing is between us, it’s only adding to her emotional turmoil.

“What are you doing today?” I ask, stepping closer to her.

She tilts her head curiously at me. “Why?”

I hesitate, hoping she won’t take this the wrong way, that her mind won’t run away and turn my words into something they aren’t. I want to ease the worries that are tangled up in her head, to help her love it here in Sunlit Cove even more.

“Come to Whiskey Cove with me,” I say, “and help merestock for the week. I’ll show you around properly and teach you how to carry the glasses. Anything to make your first shift back more enjoyable than your last.”

Her lips twitch, but her fingers begin to tap on the side of her leg. Something I’ve noticed she does when she gets lost in her head.

“Stop overthinking and get your sexy little ass in the shower. Some idiot threw you into a waterfall today.” I flash her a grin. “I’ll wait for you.”

I open her door and hear a little huff come from her just as a balled-up shirt hits me in the back.

“You’re the idiot!” she yells after me, but I’m already walking away with my stomach twisted in knots. Both excited and nervous about keeping her all to myself today.

20

I’M FUCKING PANTING

HALLE

“You’re evil, you know that?” Asher’s voice breaks the silence behind me as we step out of the bar’s office and head down the hallway.

I glance back at him, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. A swarm of butterflies have decided to make themselves at home in the pit of my stomach because every time I look at him, they take flight, spinning in circles and causing me to feel unsteady on my feet. Part of my brain loves this foreign feeling, but the other part is scared to enjoy it.

“I’m the picture of innocence.”

He smirks at me, reaching out for my elbow and stopping me in my tracks.

“Nah,” he whispers, pressing me gently against the wall. “I think somewhere in here…” he taps my forehead, his fingers trailing down the side of my face, sending a shiver of electricity in its path, “there’s a side of you that’s dying to come out and play.” His hand stops above my chest and lingers as he watches the rising and falling of my breaths.

“These bike shorts you’re wearing,” he says, voiceturning raspy as his gaze slides down, “they hug your ass so damn good, sweetheart. I’m going to have a hard time teaching you anything behind that bar, especially after the taste I’ve already had today. Evil, sweetheart. Pure evil.”

Holy shit. I can feel my cheeks heating, my neck growing warmer. A low whimper falls from my lips before I can stop it, and his body responds by closing the tiny space between us. His hand travels down the curve of my back, gripping the side of my hip with a possessive squeeze. Asher’s earthy scent invades all my senses, and my skin feels like it’s on fire. The tension between us pulses. He’s dangerously close, but I don’t want him to pull away. My body is aching to finish what he started earlier in my room, especially with that heated look in his eyes. The way his pulse throbs just below his jaw tells me he wants to do the same.

I arch into him, wanting to feel his weight on me. His hands hold my hips tightly, waiting for me to take control. My nerves hit an all-time high, but he’s right, there is something inside of me that wants to come out and play. He makes me feel safe, and that feeling, the safety I find in him, fuels my courage to take that leap, but the sharp ping of our phones shatters the moment. The tension in the air snaps, throwing us back into reality. We both sigh, exchanging a heated look as we reach for our phones.

WHISKEY CREW

Connor: HALLE’S STAYING AND WE’RE CELEBRATING!!!!!!!

Madison: What the hell do you mean? Speak normal Con.

Connor: Big bro and Lil Sis finally had the talk. SHE’S STAYING I want to celebrate, you know beers good food good people…

Connor: We are the good people by the way

Madison: Hunter?? Halle??

Hunter: Not that I think mine and Hals private life warrants this much attention but yeh we hashed everything out. I’ll let Halle fill you in.

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