Page 81 of Tempting Promises
How in the hell could he be so right?
I force myself to laugh hard, but not too hard or he’ll figure out my big secret. “Yeah, like that would ever happen. I’m sorry but our time in the woods was enough time in hell.”
He shakes his head with a laugh. “Then who was she? Come on, I need to have something to hold over Brynn’s head.”
“It’s seriously nothing. You know me, I don’t fucking do relationships. We used to have that in common until you found Phoebe.”
Immediately my brother’s eyes go all mushy and shit. Unreal.
“I learned that there are some things worth giving up your ideas about what love could be,” Asher says before looking at Olivia. “And we don’t have to follow in our parents’ footsteps. I’m the father that we never had for my girls. Even though Liv doesn’t live with me, I give her everything our dad never did.”
He’s really a fantastic father, no one can ever say different. When he met Sara, Olivia’s mother, they were literally what all my relationships have been—sex. Nothing more. No feelings got involved, no late-night cuddling. Just hooking up with clear expectations. Then, Asher got the surprise news that Olivia was created.
He never once faltered. He stepped up, has been there for every possible situation that his daughter could ever face. When she was born, and they realized she was deaf, he called everywhere to find ASL classes, and we all went with him. When Olivia needed surgery, he was there, side by side with Sara, being there for both of them.
They co-parent in a way that’s truly amazing and Phoebe fit into their unit like she was there from day one.
“I know you do, and it’s really great that you, Sara, and Phoebe have figured it out. I just have zero desire to ever walk down that path,” I say with a smile. “I’m perfectly content with my only marriage being with this farm.”
He snorts and shakes his head. “Until you knock some girl up.”
“Shut your fucking mouth. Why would you curse me like that? Dickhead.”
I’d be lying if I wasn’t a little anxious by that comment. Yes, Charlotte has that IUD, but...
No.
No, no, no. I’m not going there. However, I am going to buy a box of condoms to double up that protection.
“Why would it matter? You’re not boinking anyone, are you?”
Shit. “No, not right now. Why, do you have any prospects forme? Maybe Phoebe’s bestie from Michigan?” Emmeline was hot as hell and I wouldn’t mind having a long-distance fling. There’d be no risk of feelings there.
“Not a chance in hell. That woman would eat you alive.”
“Probably,” I say, hoping we’re off the topics of accidental pregnancies and marriage. Seriously, this was supposed to be a fun day of fishing with my brother and niece.
Olivia, bless the Lord above, comes running over. We both turn as she’s holding up a huge ass fish.
My eyes go wide and we both walk over, tossing our poles to the side.
“Wow!”I sign.
She beams.
Asher starts signing, but I’m not sure what he says as I’m still staring at the freaking fish.
Olivia puts it down.“You were talking so I got it in all by myself.”
Asher laughs and signs and speaks this time.“You sure did. That’s the biggest fish any of us have caught. I’m so proud of you.”
She claps her hands and rushes over to Asher, wrapping her arms around him before signing.“Thank you, Daddy.”
Olivia is non-verbal and we usually do a much better job at ensuring we check in on her.
“You win,”I tell her.
She grins and nods.“I knew I would.”
