Page 139 of Trusting You

I point toward Locke’s room. “Go. Grab what you need, then go.”

“You don’t own this place.”

“And you can’t touch my friend.”

“Locke would sure be interested to know if you’re hosting friends here.”

“Locke is going to meet her in about half an hour. He knows who she is.”

“Has he said she could stay here?”

“Why do you care?” I say, then realize my mistake.

Asher gives an undertaker’s smile. “Because she can always stay with me.”

“Damn it, Asher, get lost. Give me the baby and just…fuck off.”

He tsk-tsks. “Not in front of Lily-belle.”

The sound, the sheer use of Paige’s nickname for Lily and how it so blithely comes out of Asher’s mouth, has me losing all the blood from my face.

He notices. “Carter? I’m kidding, all right? Swear all you want, I don’t know fuck-all about raising a kid.”

I snap out of it. “Give Lily to me.”

He does, but not without giving me a careful once-over. “This place is too small and crowded, anyway.”

Asher’s insulted, but I don’t care. His use of Lily-belle unintentionally put a hole in my lungs, and I’m still getting my breath back.

I hear Asher banging around Locke’s drawers and shoving things into a plastic bag. He appears in the doorway when he’s done, the thick chain links dangling from his jeans’ pocket clanging. He probably ties women up with it.

“All finished,” he says, raising the bag as proof. He stalks past me, shoots one last look at the kitchen, then says, “See you at the hospital, I guess.”

“‘Bye, Asher,” I say, practically pushing him out the door as he attempts another glimpse at Sophie.

I slam it shut behind him.

“Whew,” Sophie says, sandwiches ready on a plate. She’s even sliced pickles. “That was a sexy storm if I’ve ever seen one.”

“Oh, not you, too,” I say with disgust.

“What?” Sophie’s gaze goes from the door, back to me. “Was he checking me out? Was that high heat, tropical hurricane checking me out?”

“All of you,” I say flatly, “Every single one of you, need to fuck the hell off.”

“Language, Carter!” Sophie admonishes, then lifts up a piece of sandwich and takes a perky bite.