Wheeling out from under the truck, he smiledsadly when he saw her. “Hey.” Rising to stand in front of her,Asher brushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes but didn’tlinger.
“Grady’s pissed, but he won’t say anything.”She stood inches away, afraid to touch him or she’d fall apart.
“What did he say?” Asher raised his hand totouch her again, but pulled away before he made the contact theyboth craved.
“Nothing that would surprise you. Commentsabout bedpost notches, sloppy seconds.” Before she knew it, herfingernails were right in her mouth. Dammit, not again. Aftergetting that one last bit that she just couldn’t resist, she shovedher hands in her pockets.
Clenching his jaw so tight she was afraid hemay break a tooth, he seethed. “I’ve said it before, but maybe wereally should hold off for a bit. Everyone’s tense, ready to pounceon anyone for just about anything.”
A stray tear rolled down her cheek. Stupidemotions. Sniffling before any other emotion tried to trickle downher face, Sophie nodded.
She liked angry better. Unleashing a taste ofthe resentment she’d been holding back, she stomped her foot. “No.I like you. Even ifthisfizzles,” she gestured between thetwo of them, “I’m not going anywhere. This is my life, and I get todecide who I date. I’ve given up enough on behalf of others. Nomatter how much I love your sister, this is my life and mydecision.”
She paused, briefly, but clearly was on aroll. “I’m a grownup. I’m not going to stop being Pippa’s friend ifI get mad at you. Decent people don’t judge others based on thebehavior of others.”
Still standing back, hands shoved deeply inhis pockets, Asher looked torn. “I haven’t given up enough forothers. Certainly not my family. For that, I should give youup–”
Heart already breaking, she turned to leave.Not wanting to hear the rest.
Running to catch her, Asher didn’t touch herbut stopped in front to slow her progress. “Wait, I wasn’tfinished, dammit. You’re so certain of rejection… I’m not giving uponthis,” like she had, he gestured between the two of them.“As much as I’ve always come off as a selfish bastard, I’ve alsospent my entire life floundering, not finding anything thatmattered enough to stand up for.”
Shaking his head, he searched the clutteredgarage for the right words. Satisfied with his next words, hisgazed bored into her. “I want you. I’m going to fight for you.Whatever it takes.”
Asher, someone she was attracted to beyondreason, a man she enjoyed even just coexisting with, was pledgingto fight for her. There wasn’t anyone she trusted to truly fightfor her in a really, really long time, and he had a hell of areputation working against him. Despite all that, she believedhim.
Brushing away her tear with his thumb, histone became less strained, his tense muscles easing. “You’regorgeous, thoughtful, intelligent. Stubborn, fierce. Sexy as fuck.”He grinned at her, gulping down the final lump of uncertainty. “Itwas clear Pippa and Lincoln had wanted you and Grady to hit it off.He wanted it, too. Looked at you longer than I like. Checked outyour tits enough I wanted to sock him.”
With a small, teary chuckle, she teased, “Mytits?”
“Hey, when an opponent is staring at yourgirl’s magnificent breasts, it’s easy to get a little crass. He wasmaking some pretty obvious moves in your direction. You justweren’t paying attention.” Asher pulled her against him and wrappedhis arms around her. His cheek rested on the top of her head.
“I was too busy noticing someone else’smoves,” she chuckled as she burrowed in.
“I do have some good moves.” His chestexpanded as he inhaled deeply. “As usual, I fucked up everyone’splans. I’m having trouble regretting it this time.”
Her face nuzzled against him, she nodded.“We’ll figure it out.” Feeling so remarkably at home in his arms,she knew it was true.
13
Invigorated after a refreshing swim on a hot day,Sophie walked up the stairs and grabbed her towel. Warmed from thesun, the heat from the towel radiated into her bones. Her stomachwas starting to growl, reminding her again that she had missedlunch.
Well past four in the afternoon, it wasnearly dinnertime. Maybe she could spend a quiet birthday dinner inher room with some reheated lasagna and a massive glass of wine. Ifall went well, she could have her way tonight without any arguingabout how birthdays should be spent.
After enough lonely birthdays, she certainlydidn’t mind another quiet evening alone. Preferred it, actually.Especially with this being one of the biggest birthdays of herlife, financially anyway. Lingering to let the sun dry off some ofthe drips, she didn’t rush back to change.
She should have. A thick cloud of dust camebarreling down the driveway. Everyone she knew was either alreadyhere or at work for at least another hour, maybe two for Paul.Emerging from the dust cloud, she could see a white convertibleCamaro coming down the drive.
Sliding on her flipflops, she wrapped thetowel around herself and tried to sneak in the back door of thehouse to avoid talking to a stranger in her swimsuit. Pippa andDenise were both inside and could answer the doorbell. Lookingacross the way, she could see Asher poking his head out of thegarage to see who would be driving up so recklessly.
Before Sophie could reach the house, the carcame to a screeching halt, kicking up another puff of dust.Stepping out was a busty, platinum bleached blond in a leopardprint dress and heels. Shit. No sense putting it off, Sophiestepped into view.
“Happy birthday.” Suddenly calm and gracious,Yvette walked across the entrance to the pool area. She held out asmall, wrapped package.
“What are you doing here?” Niceties were longgone. They had disappeared years ago.
Right around the time Yvette sold off the fewheirlooms she had from her parents. Her mother’s wedding ring, herfather’s military medals, the quilt her grandmother had made forher shortly before she passed away. Sophie had stuck out the lasttwo weeks of high school and was gone.
At eighteen and three months, she lived outof a motel for the duration of the summer before starting at UCLA.During those months, and her first year or two at college, she’dgone a little nuts after six years of feeling miserable. Tried afew bad habits she quickly learned were not her style.
