Page 28 of Asher's Assignment
“We’d like to get that doorbell camera.” Asher pointed at the display.
“Certainly.” The man took a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the case. He removed a box. “There you go.” He handed it to Asher.
“Thank you.”
“Can I help you with anything else?”
“Actually, do you have any motion-sensitive lights?”
“We do. Battery-powered or hard-wired?”
“Hard-wired.”
Lights? Esther frowned. What was he talking about? “Asher!” she hissed. “Why are we looking at lights?” She followed him as he trailed behind the sales associate.
“I got to thinking. There isn’t much lighting on the outside of your house. Motion-sensitive lights would be a good deterrent.”
“We agreed on the camera.” She couldn’t afford a pricey system. Not to mention installation costs. He’d said “hard-wired” lights. That meant an electrician at the very least.
“I know, but you need better lighting.”
The sales associate stopped in front of a display. “This is what we have. If we don’t have the quantity you need, I can order them in.”
Esther smiled politely. “Thank you. Could you give us a minute?”
“Sure. Just wave at me when you’re ready.”
“Perfect, thanks.” Esther’s voice trailed off as the man wandered away. She turned to Asher, her smile falling off her face. “I can’t afford a bunch of extra security measures. I can do the camera.” She glanced at the lighting display and the prices. “Even buy the lights. But the cost to have an electrician come out and install them is something else.”
“I can do that. We just need to stop at a hardware store so I can buy the supplies. It shouldn’t cost too much. And, you might not like this, but I’m buying it whether you pay me back or not.”
“Asher.” Her voice dropped with a low growl.
“Don’t ‘Asher’ me. This is about your safety. I can’t go back without telling your sister?—”
“Don’t you bring her into this.” She stuck a finger in his face. “I will not have you guilt me into all the things.”
“Essy—”
“No. I’ll get the camera. But the lights…” She glanced at them again. They really weren’t that bad in price. She could easily afford two if he put them in.
“Scout’s honor, a hundred bucks in materials,” he said.
His choice of words pulled a smile from her. “We’ve already covered you weren’t a Boy Scout.”
“But I’m still telling the truth.”
Esther sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “Fine.”
A bright smile split his handsome face. “Let’s go, then, before you change your mind.” He lifted an arm and waved at the sales associate.
Minutes later, they walked out with the camera and two lights—one for the front and back of the house. She had a feeling Asher had wanted one for each corner, but she’d told the sales guy two lights before he could say anything. Asher hadn’t contradicted her.
When they pulled into her driveway after stopping to get the wire and tools he’d need, Esther was done with shopping. And with her heels. She didn’t normally wear heels this high; she was tall without them. But with Asher by her side, his height had given her the confidence to wear them. She knew she should have it anyway, but as a bookish introvert with flaming red hair, she tended to minimize the amount of attention she drew to herself. She had plenty of self-confidence, but that didn’t mean she liked to be the center of attention.
“I probably should have asked before we left the hardware store, but do you have a ladder that’ll reach above your doors?” Asher put the car in park and looked at her.
“I do, actually. And the attic has a pull-down staircase in the upstairs hallway.”
