Page 15 of Asher's Assignment
The bright smile he bestowed on her showed off his straight, perfect white teeth. “Hi, Essy. Can I come in?”
Not for the first time, she was struck by just how handsome he was. If Asher were to show up at a modeling agency looking for a job, they’d sign him on sight. Between the perfect smile and the dimples, and the damn beard, the man looked like he’d been carved by one of the sculpting masters.
And what he had hidden under his clothes—at least the top half—was just as perfect as his face.
“Asher, what are you doing here?”
“I’ll gladly explain. Inside. May I come in?” He glanced at the sky and the softly falling rain.
Esther cocked a hip and propped a hand on it. “Edie sent you, didn’t she?”
“No.”
“No?” She raised an eyebrow, not believing him. “Why else would you be here?”
“I came on my own. She knows I’m here, but she didn’t ask. Can we continue this conversation inside?” He swirled a finger, pointing at the rain that had soaked the shoulders of his jacket. “I’ve been out here knocking and ringing your bell for over a minute.”
“Sorry, I was vacuuming.” Esther huffed and backed away from the door. He stepped in, and she pushed it closed. “Why are you here?”
He leaned around her and locked the door, getting much too close. She could smell the mix of rain, detergent from his clothes, and the spicy scent of man coming off of him. Esther clenched her teeth and tried not to sniff his neck. He shouldn’t smell that good. Not after traveling all day. It wasn’t fair.
Straightening, Asher stood there for several moments, raking his dark brown gaze over her. A smile toyed with his lips as his gaze lingered on her hair. “You look cute.”
Her face reddened. What he likely meant was she looked like a child. She’d donned an old college t-shirt that was two sizes too big, a pair of running shorts, and tossed her hair into a horribly messy bun on top of her head. There was a sheen of sweat coating her skin too. She hadn’t exactly been cleaning like a grandma. Esther took the opportunity to turn her weekly house cleaning into a workout.
Giving him another eye roll, she spun away and marched into the living room. The rest of the living room carpet beckoned, but she knew she wouldn’t get it done now. “So, if Edie didn’t send you, why are you here?” She picked up the vacuum cord and pulled it from the plug, then started winding it around the hooks on the machine.
“Your sister is worried about your safety. I’m here to keep her from being so stressed. I also think it’s a good idea for you to at least put up a doorbell camera.”
“I can get one of those on my own, you know.” She crossed her arms and hitched her hip to the side.
“But would you?” He mimicked her pose.
Esther poked her tongue into her cheek and glanced away. He might have a point. But it didn’t change the fact that she didn’t need him here.
“Look, I know you don’t want me here, but even if you kick me out, I’m parking outside your house and camping in my rental. Has Edie told you any of what I found out about the Tylers?”
Esther dropped her arms; surprise straightened her spine. “Edie asked you to look into the Tylers?”
He muttered a soft curse. “She didn’t tell you that?”
“No.” She shouldn’t be surprised, though. Her sister didn’t like being in the dark. If she wanted information, she was going to get it by any means necessary. And with Asher Horn around, she could get a lot of info.
“Okay.” He rubbed his fingers over his forehead, thinking. “Have you had dinner? I haven’t. We could talk while we eat. Because it might take a while.”
“I ordered pizza just before I started vacuuming. It should be here in about ten minutes or so.”
“Perfect. Do you mind if I impose on you? I can always run out and get something, though.” He hooked a thumb toward the door.
“No, it’s fine. So long as you don’t mind peppers, onions, and olives on your pizza.”
“Is there pepperoni? Or sausage? I haven’t eaten much today, so some protein would be nice.”
“It has both.” She liked the supreme pizza.
“Awesome.”
Esther fiddled with the vacuum cord, standing there awkwardly staring at him. If they weren’t going to talk about why he was here, she didn’t know what to say.
