Page 42 of Asher
“A true gentleman.”
“Damn right.”
The pad of my finger traced my bottom lip. “So, it’s safe to say you’re a shower, not a grower, huh?”
Asher groaned, rolling his head back. His eyes focused on the seatbelt sign. “I know what you’re doing.”
“What? I’m seriously interested.”
He squeezed my hand. “You make dirty jokes when you get uncomfortable.”
“I do not.” He gave me a look that said he didn’t believe me. I rolled my eyes, sucking on the inside of my cheek. “Fine. Maybe a little.”
“What’s making you uncomfortable?” He tilted his head to the side, studying me.
“Honestly?”
“Yes.”
I played with the edge of the blanket as blood rushed to my face. “I’m worried that this is one big dream. Like I’m going to wake up and you didn’t just tell me you like me.”
“I didn’t just tell you I like you. I told you that I love you.”
“Asher,” I sighed because the more he spoke, the more I fell. And let’s be honest, I was already ass over head for the guy, and that was before he went all Nicholas Sparks on me.
“I do love you, Haley. I even think I know the moment that it happened.”
“Really?” My pulse raced.
“Really.”
“Please enlighten me.”
He leaned into my space, leaving only inches of space between us. “On one condition.”
“Depends on the condition.” I bit my lip.
“Do you ever let anything be easy?”
“No.”
His lips grazed my cheek, and my stomach flipped from the brief touch. “I get to kiss you.”
I had to stop from melting into him. “Alright,” I said, my voice more breathy than intended.
Asher’s eyes darkened as he stared at my lips, before flicking his gaze up to mine. “You were over for dinner. We were making spaghetti, and Nix accidentally flung a noodle at you.”
I laughed, remembering the night immediately. “She got sauce all over my new white shirt.”
He smiled as he remembered it, too. “Yeah. She looked about ready to cry and instead of getting mad, you picked up another noodle and tossed it at her, making her laugh.”
“If I remember correctly, that ended in a disastrous food fight that almost stained your tile floor.”
“It did.” His eyes softened and he squeezed my hand still laced with his. “You were chasing her around the kitchen table. Both of you were laughing and sliding all over the place. When you caught her around the waist, you looked at her with so much love. Your chest was heaving. Your hair was a mess and you had sauce everywhere. But the smile on both of your faces was enough. I knew right then I wanted to keep you forever.”
Tears burned the back of my eyes from the conviction in his voice. “You’re really sure about this? About us?”
“Yes.”