“Luck and unwavering persistence, Juliette.”
The same words he said to me in the friends and family room after the game.
“You really think you’re that lucky?”
“You’re sitting in my car right now, aren’t you? So thatmakes me the luckiest fucking guy on the planet. So, what’s your favorite soda?”
“Diet Pepsi,” I mumble.
“See now, I’m a Coke man myself, when I’m not drinking Dr. Pepper. But since it’s you, I’ll allow it. Consider it done. Check the rest of the bags.”
I do and discover a veritable cornucopia of my favorite snack foods, including my top three, salt and vinegar potato chips, Peanut Butter Oreos, and caramel corn. Lifting the lid on the cooler, I spot lime seltzer in my favorite brand, a couple bottles of water, and assorted other drinks.
“Hallie really did give you the full list, huh?”
Instead of responding, Asher gently guides the car over to the shoulder, and stops right there on the side of I-70. Putting the car in park, he takes off his sunglasses, tosses them on the dash, and turns to me. Expression serious, he picks up one of my hands and holds it in both of his, locking eyes with me.
“Hallie gave me the list because I asked her to, and she loves you. I wanted you to be comfortable with me, and I wanted you to have everything you might want or need without you having to ask. I know you think you don’t know me very well, but all you need to know right now is that I take care of my people. And Juliette, I think you are going to be my most important person.”
He draws my hand to his lips and brushes a kiss over my knuckles, sky blue eyes holding mine. My stomach erupts in butterflies and my heart takes off at a gallop. Startled, I yank my hand away from him, my right hand coming down to scratch at my wrist. Asher just reaches over and lays one of his enormous quarterback hands over both of mine, halting my anxious scratching.
His eyes bore into mine, and for a minute, and I get lost in the deep pools of blue. I have the crazy thought that I coulddrown in him, give myself over to his comfort and steadiness and never worry about another thing as long as I live. My brain rejects that thought as quickly as it comes. I give myself over to no one.
“You’re safe with me, Juliette,” he says, his voice low and sure.
Then he puts the car in drive, slides his sunglasses back on, and pulls back onto the highway, leaving me sitting in the passenger seat gaping at him, sure that I have never felt quite so unsafe in all my life.
Chapter Fifteen
Julie
“Juliette, wake up sweetheart; we’re here.”
Asher’s voice filters through my subconscious and I jerk awake, shooting up in my seat, heart pounding out of my chest and my breathing sharp and fast.
“Hey, it’s okay. It’s just me.” Asher reaches out and cups the side of my face with one hand, his thumb sweeping over my cheekbone, eyes filled with concern as he takes me in. “Take a few deep breaths, okay?”
With his eyes on mine and his warm hand on my face, my breathing evens out and my heart slows.
“That must have been some dream.”
I look at him, confused. “What do you mean?”
“The way you woke up just now. I figured you were having a bad dream.”
I scoff. “Definitely not a dream. I wake up like that every morning.”
He stares at me. “Every morning? You wake up every morning like you’re escaping a bear?”
I shrug. “Yeah, so?” I don’t see what the big deal is. I’ve woken up that way for as long as I can remember. It helps me get out of bed and get shit done.
“Okay, well, we’re going to work on that.”
I roll my eyes. “Hot Shot, I’ve been waking up like that for years. One week in the car with you and a week hanging out at your childhood home isn’t going to change it.”
His eyes narrow in response, and he holds out his hand to me. “Bet?”
Damn my competitive streak. “What are we betting? And where are we anyway?”
