A soft, breathless sigh escaped her lips.Continuing his exploration of her body under her clothes with hishands, his mouth explored hers, plundering in hasty urgency.Increasingly desperate for her, he scooped her up and set her onthe counter. He pulled her against him, and she wrapped her legsaround him, holding him securely.
Realizing the kitchen was a stupid place tostart this, he tried to pull away. Sophie gripped the waistband ofhis jeans and pulled him close again. “Let’s go upstairs,” shewhispered breathlessly.
Before they could release each other, hesuddenly became very aware they were not alone. Pippa stood in thedoorway, her eyes wide with horror. Biting her lip to keep fromscreaming out, she fled, slamming the door shut behind her.
“Shit.” Asher raced full speed for the door.Sophie tried to follow. Holding up his hand, he pleaded, “Give me aminute.” Shit. Shit. Shit. She’d never forgive them, finding outlike this.
Tearing out the front door, Asher ran andcaught Pippa before she could climb back in the car. He leanedagainst the passenger door to block her from running away. Lincolnwas just getting out of the driver’s door and knew immediately whatwas up.
“Please, Pip. Let me explain.” Asher’s chestthrobbed with a deep, gnawing ache, hating that he’d hurt hissister. Knowing she’d understand and maybe even be happy if shecould just hear him out. Folding his arms across his chestprotectively, he braced himself for her disapproval.
“Explain what? That you needed a littlesomething last night and slept with my best friend? Again?” She wasfurious, pacing and kicking dirt. He’d never seen her quite thisangry before.
From across the car, Lincoln tried to speak,but she shot shut-up arrows out her eyes at him.
Asher clenched his jaw in rapid fire, panicrising. “Yes.”
As anticipated, she had not expected anadmission of guilt. Simple wording. She’d expected defensivenessand long explanations. Spinning on her heel, she stepped a fewpaces closer and stood stiffly with her hands gripped at her sides.At least she was listening for a moment.
“Yes, I slept with her last night. And I planto again. Every night for the rest of my life, if she’ll have me.”He paused, allowing for the inevitable retort. Out of the corner ofhis eye, he saw Sophie coming out and waiting at the front doorlooking worried. He didn’t dare break eye contact with Pippa.
“How could you do that to me? You’re notdriving away another one of my friends because you’re so damnimpulsive you can’t think about how it affects me.”
She stomped her foot and stalked a few feetcloser to Sophie, but didn’t get too close. “And you? You knew howI felt. You. Knew.”
Tears flooding her eyes, she stalked back tothe car before Sophie could respond and shoved Asher out of herway. Broken hearted for his sister, he didn’t try to block her thistime.
“Lincoln, let’s go. I’ll buy a new hair dryeron the way. Mine was old anyway.” Sliding into the car, she refusedto hear anymore.
Before getting back in the car, Lincolnlooked to Asher. “Sorry, man. She’ll come around. Give hertime.”
Asher stood in place, watching as they pulledaway. Dammit. Absolutely not how he wanted this to go. When Pippagot into a rage, she couldn’t see or hear anything. Missed thewholerest of my lifecomment.
Walking to his side, Sophie was teary-eyed.“Let’s go to the station.” She clearly didn’t want to dwell anymore than he did. Subject change approved.
Nodding, Asher ran back in and grabbed hiswallet and phone. Behind him, Sophie grabbed her purse, and shot aquick text to Grady that they would meet him at the police station.Neither said a word the whole way into town.
***
It didn’t take long. Jonah took theirstatements and reassured her he’d do what he could to help sortthings out with Yvette. Grady had met them there and helped withall the necessary paperwork, promised to follow up oneverything.
At this point, Sophie didn’t give a flyingfuck what happened to Yvette. She could threaten all she wanted,spread all the rumors she could come up with and even try framingSophie for something. Sophie was done with her. And, she had goodlegal support.
“Do you still need a ride to the dealership?”She wasn’t in the mood to look for a rental but needed something tofocus on.
Nodding grimly, Asher responded, “If youdon’t mind.”
Sophie dropped him at the dealership andstarted driving. She’d compiled a list of places to check out.Maybe it was her mood, but none of the houses appealed in the leastso far.
Until the last on her list. She pulled up toa stunning three bedroom outside of town. Overlooking the valley,the spot was perfect. Sadly, the place was way outside of her pricerange, so she’d only been looking to torture herself.
The place could use a little love, butnothing major. Although it was a one-story craftsman-style, itlooked surprisingly light and airy. Lots of windows. Could use anew paint job, the trim in particular. In front, the curb appealwas lacking, but nothing some decent landscaping couldn’t fix. Shewouldn’t mind learning a little home repair if she could have thishouse, especially with its expansive view of the valley.
A bit sooner than she’d planned, but maybeworth making an offer to buy it? Flashing to Asher, she consideredasking what he thought. If he was ready.
Moving in together… sounded fantastic. Shewas outrageously, head over heels in love with him. That wasn’tchanging. But this was officially his longest relationship.
Freya was moving back into town soon andneeded a roommate. She was an artist, maybe she’d agree to cheaprent in exchange for help fixing up the place.
