Choking on his poorly timed sip of beer,Asher caught his breath and muttered a few expletives under hisbreath. Sophie couldn’t hide the blush at the visual, biting herlip to keep from saying anything. Quickly changing the subject,Asher managed to speak without coughing, “Did your dress fitokay?”
Good subject change. Pippa beamed, ready totalk wedding again. Sophie didn’t know how she did it; she wasweddinged out. “Just barely. I’m having them adjust the bust alittle, add some lace to the–”
“Okay, going to stop you there. I’m thrilledfor you, but descriptions of lace are a bit beyond my pay grade.”Asher looked befuddled as the topic turned to lace. Sophie flashedto Mr. Bennet of Pride and Prejudice and his rather disgustedthoughts on lace conversations. She held back the giggle, thinkinghe wasn’t likely to appreciate the reference. Later, Pippa mightenjoy it.
Asher, uninterested as he was, managed toshow support for his sister. Despite their avoidance of each other,they really seemed to get along well. Teasing and referencing goodtimes from their past, they clearly had a happy history. It hadn’tbeen all tense, and they had a number of mutual friends, male andfemale, over the years. Like Lincoln.
Denise was a hoot. Sophie had been so youngwhen her mom died, so she hadn’t realized moms weren’t justparental units. She’d always adored Denise, but it was good to seeher joking around with her children. “Pippa, stop worrying, yourbutt looked great in the dress.”
“That’s not what I meant. I like my butt. Ijust mean that before she removed that extra strip of lace, italmost made me look like I was wearing a bustle or something.” Ohboy, Pippa was getting downright giggly. And after only one glassof wine.
Quite timely, Jillian brought around theirentrees. Piping hot, Sophie’s bowl of cheesy, spicy goodness madeher mouth water. As requested, it was almost more cheese and tomatoand jalapeno than pasta.
Before she could taste the melty, gooeygoodness, Asher’s fork dove in and scooped up a massive bite with alittle of everything on it. “Wow, that’s amazing. Ouch.” Gulpingthe last of his beer, he tried to cool his mouth.
Snagging a cluster of fries off his plate,Sophie dipped in the special sauce and shoved the bite in hermouth. He flashed her a teasing accusatory glare, but spun hisplate so she had easier access to the fries. Pippa and Denise werelost in their respective entrees, fortunately not noticing the easycamaraderie that was developing across the table.
After devouring the entire bowl, with Asher’shelp, Sophie groaned with a full belly. Leaning back in the booth,Sophie extended her legs, nudging Pippa’s out of the way so therewas room for her. “I’m so full. Maybe I should have ordered thatsalad.”
Asher shook his head. “Nah. That wasfantastic. Mom, you want to make that sometime?” He leaned back inthe booth next to Sophie, the back of his hand grazing hers out ofsight under the table.
The connection was light but shockinglyarousing. She should pull her hand away, but the contact was likean unbreakable conduit joining her practicality and her fantasyworld. It couldn’t possibly be intentional.
With still a feather-light touch, he swepthis index finger across her knuckles in a silent and inviting,Hello.
Offering her credit card to Jillian beforethe bill even arrived, Denise nodded. “Sure thing. But I’ll have toput some of those jalapenos on the side or your dad will have tochase it with a whole bottle of Tums.”
“I can pay for mine, Denise. You don’t haveto–” Sophie hated others covering any expenses for her.Freeloading, even if happily offered, was a painful reminder of heraunt.
Denise winked at her, “I wanted to. It’sbecause you argue that I want to treat now and again.”
After all was paid up, the four meandered outto the parking lot. “Hope you don’t mind, Mom, but I borrowed yourcar. Truck still wouldn’t start today.”
Denise nodded, “That’s just fine. I wasthinking of bringing my box of leftovers to your dad anyway, so whydon’t you hop in with the girls and I’ll take my car. He justtexted me; he’ll be working late tonight. Inventory tomorrow andtheir early counts aren’t adding up.”
Sophie didn’t quite know Asher well enough toread his expression, but he was clearly not impressed. Hisexpression turned grim in uneasy acceptance. He handed his motherher keys and climbed in the backseat of Sophie’s CR-V.
As soon as the engine started and they weremoving, Pippa immediately started back in on wedding talk.Surprisingly, she’d made it through a good part of dinner withouttalking about it. Understandable; it was a big deal and she’d hadtoo much to worry about with exams, graduating on time, jobinterviews. She hadn’t been able to focus on the wedding muchbefore now.
“I can’t wait to see us all in ourformalwear. The bridesmaid dresses with their old-fashioned silkwill complement the old-fashioned lace of mine so well.” Pippababbled a mile a minute, overjoyed by the day’s accomplishments andthe next steps on her calendar.
Rolling her eyes adoringly, Sophie glanced inthe rearview mirror. Asher held a similar expression, fond of hissister but not at all on her same page. Sophie savored in thestolen glance at him, his chiseled features softened with love andamusement. Until his eyes met Sophie’s in the mirror.
Briefly, they shared a silly smile andeyebrow raise over Pippa’s animated descriptions of her vision.Sophie felt a bubble of heat forming low in her belly as his gazelocked with hers. Focusing on the road, Sophie couldn’t help butglance back again a few moments later. Big mistake.
Taking advantage of her concentrationelsewhere, Asher had been watching her. His expression was nolonger jovial. Something darker, penetrating, hungry. Forcingbreath in and out, Sophie had to remind herself how to gethome.
5
T-Minus 12 Days
Asher doubled his normal run this morning. After yetanother night of fucking erotic dreams, he awoke writhing andimagining Sophie doing some dirty, possibly illegal deeds with hisbody. Hopefully some extra distance on his run this morning wouldtame that raging erection that just wouldn’t quit.
Every morning since she’d arrived, he’dpassed Sophie on the trail, then quietly sipped coffee with herwhile watching the sunrise. Again, he passed her this morning asthey ran the trail in their normal opposite directions. A gluttonfor punishment, he ensured he timed it right to pass her on the runevery day. She ran like Wonder Woman, agile and determined.
He was starting to get hooked on theirmorning routine. She didn’t push like his family. Instead, she wascontent to sit quietly with him and enjoy the moment.
Sometimes they’d make casual conversation.Comments on Pippa’s wedding plans. About the weather. How that lasthill on the trail to return to the house was downright murder. Shewas easy to talk to. Never made him feel judged or foolish. Easy tolook at, too.
