Gable really had hurt my feelings. It’s rare anyone gets under my skin, but it was the way he’d said it. I know I’m not the most exciting person in the world. The kind of life I lead could be seen as boring, but I like it, and what the hell is wrong with that? But my fears that my job have consumed me and turned me into an anti-social bore surfaced and it hit me harder than anything else he’d said.
“I have a surprise for you,” Asher says, kissing my temple.
I look up at him. “You do?”
He smiles and nods excitedly. “If you can stand, drunkard.”
“I can stand,” I say, but I do still feel a little woozy. He takes my hand and leads me to the second bedroom, and when he opens the door, my hand flies to my mouth.
Bookshelves. He’s built my bookshelves. And every one of my books, my babies, that have been kept in dusty boxes for months, are now on full display. My very own library.
“You did this today?” I ask, my voice breaking, and he nods. His smile is so warm. His gesture is so beautiful. And maybe it’s the alcohol, maybe it’s how he’s looking at me, but tears fill my eyes. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
I wrap my arms around his waist and try not to cry, but damn, it’s hard. This man swept into my world less than a month ago and has officially made my life. With bookshelves.
Asher touches my face, and the moment between us feels more real than any we’ve shared before. His mask falls away again, and I see something in his eyes that both frightens me and pulls me in.
His voice is low, his expression soft as he says, “I love you.”
Everything inside me bursts into our memories, from the moment we met until right now, and it seems absurd to hear those words from a man I barely know, but what’s more absurd is that I’m considering saying it, too. Tingles run across my skin and my heart feels full, almost bursting from my chest.
Should I say it back? Am I there? I may have only known him a few weeks, but surely love isn’t measured in time?He’s perfect. Perfect for me, perfect for my life, and I don’t want to lose him.
“I have to tell you something,” he whispers.
I search his eyes, swallowing hard.
Oh, God, he’s married, isn’t he?
“What?” I ask, clinging to him.
Hammering on the door brings us back to reality and I pull from Asher’s arms, answering to a flustered Gable.
“Where’s Asher?” He bursts into the apartment, and I stumble back to let him in.
I’ve never seen Gable like this, and any other time I’d kick him back out or make fun of him, but half of my heart is still in the conversation with Asher.
“I’m here,” Asher says, frowning. “What’s?—”
“Our friend Monty,” Gable says, eyes flicking between Gable and me. “That job for our third party. It’s been … increased.”
Asher stares at him, and I cross my arms. “You burst into my apartment to talk about work? Are you a loser?” Gable places his entire hand over my face to shut me up. “Why do you smell like pussy?” I ask, smacking his hand away.
“Another story for another time,” he says, still staring at Asher. “Third party. Two fifty.”
I’m still scrunching up my nose, both at the interruption and the pussy, but when I see Asher’s face, a tendril of fear curls around my heart.
“Where is she?” Asher asks.
“Taking a nap,” Gable says. “Another long story.”
My heart pounds. “What is happening right now?”
“Pack,” Asher says to Gable. “I need to talk to Ella.”
I glance between them, my panic rising. “Pack for what? Are you leaving already?”
Gable swears under his breath and leaves, slamming the door closed behind him. My heart is officially hammering, my throat dry. Asher stays on the spot, hand over his mouth, not looking my way.
