Her phone chirped with an incoming text.Mind bringing your brain? Found a good truck, but the math isn’tadding up.
Smiling weakly, she responded,ETA tenminutes. Taking one last, longing look at the house, she headedback for the dealership.
Everything about Asher was amazing,everything she’d ever wanted. More than she’d dared to hope for.Supportive, generous, fun to visit with. Damn sexy.
But so very new.
***
Asher ran his hand across the pristine dashof his new truck, admiring the fancy touch screen and buttons withall kinds of alien symbols. Like Sophie, it had been worth thewait. The thing was all shiny and new with all the bells andwhistles.
Done with any more bullshit in her life,Sophie hadn’t given the dealer an inch and had gotten him a killerdeal. Calculating the interest rate and payments in her head, shehadn’t given them a chance to catch up to her. Fucking knockout.He’d never grow tired of looking at her. But something about thatsexy brain of hers. Her quiet calculations, how she formed thatcute little crease between her eyebrows when something didn’t addup.
The morning had really messed with her. Withboth of them. They’d worked so hard to protect her, only to ruin itin one brief second. He had to get Pippa to accept this. How couldthey build a life together with such strain on the foundation?
Following Sophie back home again, he didn’tknow what he was going to say when they got home. If she’d talk tohim. She’d hardly said a word all day.
Sophie was already in the house by the timehe pulled into the driveway. With his new job starting soon, hehadn’t wanted to risk the embarrassment of a speeding ticket from afuture coworker, but she’d had hauled ass to get home.
If Pippa would answer her damn phone, maybehe could talk her down a bit. She’d been ignoring his calls andtexts all day. Phone turned off in a big fuck-you gesture.
Paul came out of the house as soon as hearrived. “Nice ride.”
He’d already alienated his sister today, andhis unspoken truce with his dad was fragile enough. As much as hewanted to go after Sophie, it was probably better to give her somespace and spend a little quality time with his dad. “Thanks.Fancier than I was going for, but Sophie talked them down. Took onelook at the deal they’d come up with and tore the poor sales guy anew one.”
Climbing in the driver’s seat as Asher gotout, Paul started playing with the buttons, fiddling with the touchscreen. Hell, Asher couldn’t figure the dang thing out either.“She’s a smart one. Good choice. I was afraid you’d end up withsomeone like Pippa’s old friends back in the day, at the rate youwere going.”
Utterly confused, Asher raised his eyebrowsin question.
Laughing, Paul shook his head at his cluelessson. “I figured of anyone, you’d remember some of the halfwits shebrought home. Hardly a complete brain between the lot. Flighty,giggly bunch they were. Drove me nuts. Although, you didn’t seem tomind.” He gave him a knowing look.
“I guess I hadn’t thought about it.” He hadoften wondered about Pippa’s taste in friends. With all of herattentions devoted to Lincoln in high school, then the book nerdshe turned out to be in college, she really hadn’t had much in theline of decent girlfriends over the years.
“Sophie came in the house a few minutes ago.Tried to hide the red eyes, but Denise figured things out prettyquick. Once I made sure you hadn’t been the one to make her cry, Iwas out of there.” Hopping back out of the truck, Paul had the hoodpopped and was performing his perfunctory paternal inspection.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do if Pippadoesn’t come around.” Running his hands through his hair, stilllonger than he was used to, even with the recent trim for thewedding, Asher tried to focus on the engine rather than the crappyturn his love life had just taken.
“She’ll be fine. Despite her bitching andmoaning, your sister is a romantic at heart. Give her a few days.”Paul fiddled with a few of the nobs and wires before dropping thehood. Asher couldn’t wait to get his hands in there and figure outthe mechanics of it. Technology had changed quite a bit. He’ddefinitely need an updated manual.
“Hey, you tend to know these things. Sophie’slooking for a rental house outside of town. Any of your customersupdating their rentals for new tenants?” Asher shoved his hands inhis pockets, not sure how to phrase it. He knew it was too soon,but he was sort of hoping Sophie would agree to finding a placetogether.
Paul considered for a moment, then nodded ashis face lit up with a bright idea. “Actually, Grandpa’s place justopened up.”
“You still renting that out? I thought you’dsold it by now.” Grandpa’s place was perfect. The view was to diefor. Without a doubt, the house would probably need updates, butPaul would have kept it in adequate repair.
“Sure am. I wanted to keep it in the family,if one of you were interested when the day came. Grandpa built thatfrom the ground up. Needs a lot of work, but that’s allsuperficial. For Sophie, I could give her a good deal.”
“How much you want for the house?” Both stooda few feet apart, legs spread wide and arms crossed. Scary when onelooked so remarkably like one’s father. It was promising that theywouldn’t always be at odds.
Shifting his feet, Paul looked beyond pleasedbut tried to hide it behind his considering scowl. As he hadn’tmentioned anything in all these years, Asher suspected he didn’twant to pressure anyone. Again, not like him, but the house was abit of a sensitive topic. “You thinking of buying it?”
“Hell yeah. I need a few paychecks firstthough. About drained my short-term savings for the down payment onthe truck.” The place was gorgeous. Asher had wanted it for yearsbut was never sure if he would be moving back or staying in thenavy or who knows what.
“How about this. We’ll lease it to Sophie fora few months while you’re getting settled in the police department.Then, we’ll see about you making an offer.” Paul gave him a winkthat almost looked pleased. Maybe even proud.
“Probably a good idea. I…” Asher tried toexplain his thoughts; his brain twisted in confusion as hestruggled to say something emotional to his inflexible father.
Suddenly, he felt full sympathy for when Paulhad attempted to give him the sex talk.When a man and a womanfall in love… babies… and… diseases… just use a damn condom.Little did Paul know–or maybe he had but realized he’d better gethis butt in gear–he’d been about two years late on that topic.
