The ball was in her court now.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Emma
I took a deep breath as I placed my bags on the bed in Asher’s guest bedroom.My heart rate wouldn’t slow down.Not since he suggested I spend the night at his place.
I wiped my hand on my pants.I was nervous, and it wasn’t from the car battery problem.All I could think about was spending the night in Asher’s bed.We’d shared several kisses, each one more intense.And then there was tonight.
Sleeping together was a natural next step.
I shook my head.I’d never felt such an intense attraction to a man before.I rarely slept with anyone I dated, but with Asher… Should we consider dinners at the pub with others as dates in addition to the two private dinners we had together?And we had lunch together almost every day.I walked out of the bedroom and down the short hall and found Asher in the kitchen.
“Would you like something to drink?”he asked.
I wasn’t much of a drinker, but I needed some liquid courage.“Do you have beer?”
“Any respectable man does.I have several different ones.”He listed off the brands to me, and I picked one.“Go sit down.The pizza, salads, cheese bread, and plates are already on the coffee table.I’ll bring the beer.”
Always the gentleman.
I sat down on the sofa, and within a few minutes, Asher brought my beer in a pilsner glass and handed it to me.I noticed he had a glass of water.“You’re not having one?”
“No.”
I sat my beer on the coaster on the table and looked at him.“Maybe I shouldn’t have one either.”
“Emma.”He said my name softly.“You’re fine.My choice is to not have one tonight.”
I nodded, took a sip of the drink, then put it back on the table.We ate in silence while the TV played at low volume in the background.Once we were finished, I helped Asher clean up.We said very little, only necessary things.Pass whatever.More bread?Another drink?You wash, and I’ll load and dry since I know where everything is.The undercurrent was mostly companionable with only the slightest hint of awkward.There was an elephant in the room, for sure, and when we sat back down, my nerves kicked up.
I couldn’t stand it another minute.“I don’t know how to start talking about tonight.”I was aware he wanted to talk before we made the decision to sleep together.That we didn’t talk about it over dinner was no surprise.
Asher turned toward me.“Start however you want.I won’t pressure you, Emma.I meant what I said; you can sleep in the guest room, if you want.We can spend the night in my bed.But only if you’re absolutely comfortable with it and it’s whatyouwant.Consent and you being comfortable with the decision are everything.”
The tension left my body as I sank against the back of the sofa.“I told you that people liked to get close to me because of my parents.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Before anything more happens between us—” I stopped, not knowing what to say.
“Nothing will happen that you don’t want.”
The outside seam on Asher’s slacks and the pattern of the couch upholstery suddenly became worthy of close examination.Better that than having to look directly at him.
“I hate to bring it up, but do you have any questions about my family from last Saturday night?I know it was a lot to take in.I don’t want them to come between us.”There, I got it out.
“Nope.They have no place in our lives.”
He spoke with such finality, it took a minute to sink in.Something inside me broke free.Looking Asher in the eye was easier now.“There is something else I need to tell you.”
He placed his hand on my arm and gave it a squeeze.“I’m not going anywhere.”
His open acceptance put me even more at ease.Words came easier.
“I’ve always been good at solving problems.Working with computer programs made sense to me.”My stomach clenched.“In high school, I was on a team, and because of my work, we won a special state event.”My breathing hiccupped.To this day, the memory brought up a lot of unresolved feelings.“The guys took credit for what I’d done, and everyone believed them, even my family.My father told me that’s what I deserved for being so anti-social.”
I caught his whispered curse as he scooted closer.
