Page 63 of Forbidden Hearts
Time to get out of here before I say something really stupid. “I’m going to sleep. You’ll drive me home tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
I try for a joke. “Well, you abducted me tonight, so I wasn’t sure.”
Asher doesn’t smile. “Phoebe.” His voice has an edge to it. “I’m not going to apologize. I’m just going to say that I have never wanted someone as much as I want you. I have never been completely out of my mind to the point that I couldn’t walk away.”
My heart is beating so hard that I get a little dizzy. “It doesn’t change a thing.”
“No, it doesn’t change the fact that you work for me, my daughter adores you, and you’re my boss’s daughter.”
“Cards are stacked against us. Good night, Asher.”
“Good night, Phoebe.”
I lie in bed for hours, staring at the clock, wondering how I keep managing to get myself in these predicaments. My eyes are closed, almost at the brink of sleep, when I hear the creak of my door. I keep my breathing even and feign sleep.
Asher’s fingers brush the hair back on my face, his thumb grazing my cheekbone. “I shouldn’t be here. Why am I unable to stop myself with you?” His voice is soft, almost dreamlike. “You are going to wreck my world, and I’m going to let you.”
Then his lips press against my forehead, and he leaves, taking all the restraint I had left with him.
* * *
“Hey, Phoebe!” Brynlee grabs my attention as I’m in the cereal aisle at the corner store.
“Hey!” I smile, walking over and giving her a big hug.
“How are you? I heard you got hurt the other night.”
“Hurt?”
She looks down at my ankle. “Maybe I was wrong . . . but I heard you tripped and twisted your ankle.”
“Oh! Yeah, but today, it’s much better. I rested and iced like I was instructed to do.”
By her bossy brother as he drove me home.
That was about all we said to each other the whole time. When I woke in the morning, he was in the kitchen, drinking his coffee, and as soon as I entered, the awkwardness of pretending the previous night never happened was in full effect.
“I’m so glad. I was going to call, but it turns out the rooster I found the other night is a bit randy, and he was trying to enforce his will on my hens. I have sixteen now and Rowan is building me a new coop, but anyway, between that and my court case today . . .” She looks down at her watch, and my head is spinning with her rooster story that makes no sense, but it’s Brynn and she’s always kind, so I let it go. “Which is in twenty minutes, I’m going to be late, but I need sugar.”
“Mine is chocolate.”
“When you’re stressed?”
I nod. “Before any big exams, I eat so much chocolate it almost makes me sick.”
“I need anything chewy. Gummy Bears, Twizzlers, or Sour Patch Kids are my jam.” She tosses them into her basket.
“All of those will rot your teeth.” This man is everywhere. Brynlee turns to see her brother strolling toward her.
“Thank you for the concern, brother of mine.” She grabs two more bags of candy off the shelf. “However, today is not the day for reformation.”
“Can’t say I didn’t try.”
She smiles and then kisses his cheek. “Gotta run. I’m glad your ankle is well, Phoebs, and next time you want to go out drinking, let me know. Melinda and her crew are . . . well, assholes.”
“Consider myself reformed on that.”
