Page 88 of Her Chosen Protector

“Okay, can you be more specific as to what that would look like, say, in the next six months?” she asked slowly.

“Well, I have to live in Virginia for my job. You take translator gigs all over the place, so where you’re based doesn’t matter. I figured you could stay with me for a bit, then we could find a place that would suit you.”

“Asher Thorne, are you asking me to move in with you?”

“I’m not asking, I thought that’s what we were doing here. Did I get this wrong?”

Eden laughed.

Asher scowled.

She was now adept at hugging him in such a way she knew wouldn’t hurt his injury, so she threw her arms around him. “You have my mind, soul, and heart. I love you, Asher Thorne. I definitely want to live with you.”

His smile could light up all of Boise. Hell, it could light up the entire state of Idaho.

“So, does that mean you’re up with my plan?”

“It’s going to take a little more than a minute to get it accomplished, but absolutely.”

She reached up and kissed him with trembling lips.

“I love you too, Eden. More than you can ever know. Heart, mind, and soul.”

E P I L O GU E

Asher laughed at Eden’s nervousness. It was a new look for her. “You know they won’t care if the food doesn’t come out right on time. As long as the beer is cold, they’re good.”

The doorbell rang.

“Oh no, somebody’s on time.”

“Well, sure,” Asher smiled.

“Oh, God.” Eden disappeared into the kitchen.

“Is she always like this?” he asked her friend, Samantha Brooks. Sam was staying with them for the weekend and had agreed to man the tables in the backyard.

“I’ve never seen her like this. It’s a totally new phenomenon. What have you done to her in the last four months, Ash?”

“Nothing, I swear.”

Sam took a sip of her beer. “Now, that’s certainly not true, I’ve gotten some details.” She smirked.

Asher felt his face heat. How come my teammates can give me shit all day long, but the idea of one of Eden’s friends knowing something about our sex life scares the hell out of me?

“I’m going to go see if I can help the hostess, but everything is perfect in the kitchen. I’ll see if there’s a paper bag for her to breathe into.”

That caught Asher up short. “Do you think it’s that bad?”

The doorbell rang again.

“Go answer the door. Eden will be fine.”

When Asher got to the door, he was confronted with a big bowl of potato salad, courtesy of A.J.

McNamara. “I figured that Eden could use some reinforcements. I also brought tequila for her and me.

Maybe Carys too, if she isn’t on-call.”