Page 61 of Decoding Emma
“I’ve got this, Emma.Relax.I got this.”
“Magnolia, if you don’t remove your hand from my lap this instant, you will not like my reaction.”His tone was hard, and now definitely cold enough to freeze water, even though his expression and body language radiated calm.
Magnolia stiffened, her lips curved in a pout.“I was just trying to show you I’m more fun than my sister.”
“That’s it.We’re done here.”Asher didn’t raise his voice as he stood, pulling me up with him, but the edge in his tone cut like a razor.Magnolia’s hand hovered in the air.He didn’t release my hand when he turned to address my father.His expression remained dead calm, but there was something almost scary about his gaze.“Mr.Palmer, Fantasies, Inc.is an ethical business.We do not steal intellectual property ofanykind.Period.”
Then he focused on Magnolia.“What you did when you touched me in that manner without my specific consent is classified as fourth degree assault.I’m not going to press charges at this time because Emma is a friend, and I have enormous respect for her.But if youeverpull a stunt like that again, make no mistake, Iwillensure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”Magnolia was so pale, if she hadn’t been sitting down, I was sure she would’ve fainted.
Asher wasn’t finished.He speared Mother and Seraphina.“Everything Emma said about you people was accurate.In fact, she was generous in her descriptions.None of you deserve that generosity.Your familial issues are yours to deal with, but when I’m withEmma”—he looked directly at Mother when he emphasized my preferred name—“you will treat her with courtesy and respect.End of discussion.”
There was a moment of paralysis.None of them moved until Dad sputtered and spoke.
“Emelina, you’re going to let him talk to all of us like that?”he blustered.
What Asher had said and done left me with the feeling I could conquer anything—even my family.Maybe I didn’t have to live under the shadow of my parents’ control and their notoriety.Maybe I could—finally—stand up for myself.
“I am.You see, Asher seesme.The me you all ignore or belittle because I refuse to fit into your mold.He respects me, too, unlike you.He’s a wonderful man who has made me realize I don’t need your toxicity in my life.”For the first time in my life, I saw, without the constraint of emotion, who these people really are.I had lived every day hoping they would love me for who I am, and today I realized that wasn’t going to happen.
I felt Asher squeeze my hand.He had unlocked something in me that had always been there but was dormant.No longer.
I was finally free.
“Goodbye.”I didn’t let go of his hand, but I also knew if I looked at him, I would dissolve into a trembling mess at his feet.We made our way from the yard, through the house, and down the steps.
Asher gave the valet the ticket, and within a few minutes, his car arrived.He held my door open and helped me in.I watched him from the side mirror until he was behind the car and turned toward the driver’s side to see him open the door, get in, fasten his seatbelt, and put the car in gear.He turned to me before he depressed the gas pedal, his expression tender, his smile warm.
“You’ve crossed your Rubicon, Emma.It only gets better from here.”He turned, pressed the gas and, tires throwing gravel, drove away.
The silence in the car was thick.I think he knew I needed the silence to process everything that had happened.It wasn’t until we were at the stoplight that Asher turned to me.He tilted his head like he was trying to solve a problem in his head.
“How did you grow up to be so normal with family like that?”He untied his bowtie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.
“Ignored them?”
Asher let out a breath and gestured for me to come closer.“Seatbelt,” I said.
“It will stretch.This light takes forever.Come over here.”
I wiggled out of the chest restraint and let it contract behind me then leaned as close as I could across the console.He cupped my face and brushed a soft kiss across my lips and a firmer one on my forehead.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”He rubbed my shoulder.His touch sent rivers of awareness through me.“I…” He took a breath and blew it out.The light turned green, and we started forward.“I can’t believe your family.Your sister openly flirting with me and touching me.Does she do that a lot?”
“Every boyfriend I ever brought home or introduced her to.You’re the first one who didn’t take her up on it.Most of the guys I met didn’t seem to care which sister got them into the family.”
“Fuck.That’s messed up.”
“It is.”
Once we were merged and up to speed, he caressed my shoulder.I laid my head on his hand and caressed his hand between my cheek and shoulder.I lifted my head, took hold of his hand, and dropped a quick kiss on his palm before lacing my fingers with his and resting our clasped hands on the console.
“Asher…”
He glanced at me and smiled.I’ve got to know...My curiosity was going to drive me nuts.
“What would you have done if Magnolia hadn’t removed her hand?”
