Page 15 of Doctor Right

“Of course, she can stay. You’re not interrupting anything. Asher was just—”

“I was just on my way home. If you’d like, I can drive you over. I mean, that way you aren’t heading there alone,” I offered.

Brie looked at Bella and then at me. “That is very nice, but I’ll be okay.”

“You’re sure? Really, it’s no trouble.”

“Yeah, Brie, you probably shouldn’t go alone. Let Asher take you. Here, give me Emma,” Bella said, stepping forward and taking the baby from her.

“Thank you.”

Bella held on to Emma as I turned and glanced at her. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I whispered, then leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“I look forward to it,” Bella whispered, and then quietly closed her door.

Bella

“Have you heard from him yet?”Brielle questioned.

Of all the times for her to knock on my door, it had to be when Asher had finally kissed me. Our first kiss had been interrupted by the only person who had tried so hard to get me on a date with someone. “No, not yet. He told me he had to go out of town.”

I’d told Brielle nothing about what had happened before she opened the door, and I’d tried to play the kiss on the cheek as just a friendly good-bye. She was skeptical and had kept asking me all these questions.

“Well, hopefully, tonight then. You’ll need to let me know.” She giggled.

“I will. Listen, I’ve got to lock up. I’ll call you a little later?”

“Sounds good.”

When I hung up the phone, I went to the front of the store and locked the door. I’d just made it back into the office when my phone vibrated in my back pocket. I pulled it out and looked to see if Brielle was messaging me to tell me something she’d forgotten and was surprised to see Asher’s name on my screen.

He’d told me he was going to be busy the past week and that he had to go out of town for the better part of it. He said he had some business ends to tie up, and he had to meet up with his ex to finish closing out their shared apartment lease.

I’d messaged him twice during that time, but he’d remained quiet. I figured perhaps everything had been too much for him and had decided to just leave him alone.

ASHER: Up for some drinks?

I smiled, looking around at what little I had left to do. It had been a long week, and I hadn’t been able to forget that kiss he’d delivered the night Brie had appeared at my door. In fact, I’d woken up many times this week imagining his lips on mine. He was an amazing kisser.

BELLA: Love to.

I watched as those three little dots jumped around for what felt like forever.

ASHER: 205 Water Road

BELLA: Give me twenty minutes

ASHER: I’ll be waiting.

I smiled and went about doing what needed to be done, and within five minutes, I was out in my car, heading toward Water Road.

I was just about to knock on the door when it opened and Asher stood before me, a welcoming smile on his face. “Hey.”

I smiled and stepped into the front door. As he closed it, he turned and wrapped his arms around me. “Good to see you.”

The scent of his cologne invaded my senses as I wrapped my arms around him. When I went to pull away, he leaned in and kissed my lips.

“Come, let’s grab a drink and head out back,” he said, gently placing his large hand on the small of my back and guiding me to the kitchen.

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