“Very good,” Jon replied before heading over to the bar.
Once again, Ash had followed Allie’s lead. It was kind of surreal. With his looks and confidence, she had expected him to be the kind of man who doesn’t really listen. And once she found out he had money, she was almost certain of it.
She knew that being part of a big family meant voices talking over each other all the time, and not always getting your own way. But being the youngest meant she was usually the last to be asked for advice, so it was refreshing to have someone looking to her for a change.
“I hope you don’t mind me copying your order,” Ash said, probably misinterpreting her silence. “Hot apple cider sounds amazing on a cold night.”
“Not at all,” she said. “I was actually thinking that it was nice you wanted the inside scoop.”
“Well, maybe you can help me out again then,” Ash said. “I need to find a local doctor for Maya’s checkups.”
“Oh, my brother West has a practice on the other side of the park,” she told him. “He was at Sunday dinner, but you met so many people that night.”
“He’s got the little girl, Elizabeth, right?” Ash asked. “And the wife with a little sister, both with cool names?”
“Dulcie and Delphine,” Allie said. “Yes, exactly. Goodness, you have agreat memory.”
“I don’t know about that,” Ash said. “But how amazing is it that your brother is a doctor?”
“It definitely comes in handy,” Allie told him. “I’ll text you his number so you can set something up.”
“Thank you,” Ash said. “So, is everyone in town your brother?”
“There are a lot of them,” Allie said, laughing. “So many Lawrences.”
“A lot ofyou, you mean,” Ash said with a smile.
“I think when you mentionthe Lawrence kidsaround here, most people are thinking of my brothers first, and thenmaybetheir baby sister,” Allie heard herself admit. “I think it’s probably easy for people to forget that I’m a grown Lawrence too.”
“What’s that like?” Ash asked, leaning in, his dark eyes so serious.
“Well, it was amazing growing up,” Allie said right away. “My brothers played with me and protected me and probably spoiled me.”
“I don’t think you’re even a little bit spoiled,” Ash said.
“Thank you,” she told him, though she wasn’t so sure. “Anyway, now it can be kind of a challenge. My brothers still treat me like that little girl in pigtails sometimes. And I think a lot of people in town still see me asLittle Allie Lawrencetoo. It’s not so bad—there are much worse reputations to have, and I’m so grateful for my family. But once in a while… I don’t know. I’d like to just be me, not me in comparison to them.”
It was odd to actually voice this thought she’d had more and more often lately. She half-expected him to think she was being selfish or whiny. After all, she wastelling the truth when she said she had basically won the lottery when it came to family. It was silly to complain.
But Ash just nodded thoughtfully, and she felt a pang of gratitude that he wasn’t trying to fix her problem or tell her she was wrong.
“If it makes you feel any better,” he said after a moment. “I think of all of them as Allie Lawrence’s brothers.”
“See, this is why I’m lucky that you met me first,” Allie said, laughing.
“I’m lucky too,” Ash said, his voice husky.
Allie’s breath caught in her throat as their eyes met again, and she saw that same look of longing on his handsome face that had been there after their kiss.
“Two hot apple ciders,” the waiter said, carefully setting down two fragrant, steaming mugs.
“Thank you so much,” Allie said, not sure if she was sorry or grateful that the moment had been interrupted.
“Are you ready to order?” he asked.
Ash gestured for Allie to go first, and she ordered her favorite, the creamy potato soup with a fresh homemade roll.
“I’ll have the burger,” Ash said. “I’m told it’s next level.”
