Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Emma
I wondered what Asher meant. A few hours later, I found out. The men were on their way to being drunk. I’d never seen men put away so much beer. Even though they ate, the guys were unsteady on their feet.
“Another pitcher,” Marcus said.
“Nope.” Cassie waved the waitress away. “All of you are getting drunk.”
“Aw, Cassie. We’re fine,” Josh said, his words slightly slurred.
Cassie shook her head. “No, you’re not.”
“How are they going to get home?” I whispered to Cassie.
“Can you take Asher home? The other four can do a ride share, and of course, I can take Marcus.”
“What about their cars?” I wasn’t sure how secure they would be.
“The parking structure locks down at night. I’ll let security know their cars are going to be there.”
“It locks down?” I didn’t know that.
“Yes. After nine, the gates come down so the only way to get in or out is with your badge. This way no one can walk into the garage and lurk.”
I nodded. Another way that Fantasies, Inc. took care of for their employees. “Thank goodness we’ve already paid the bill.”
“Yes. Prepare for a lot of moaning and groaning.” Cassie turned to the men. “All right, Lucas, Miles, Josh, and Dean, up and with me to the front door.”
The men glared at her but stood. I watched with amusement as they all walked to the front and out the door like obedient puppies. Cassie knew exactly how to handle these guys.
“I can feel your humor,” Asher commented.
“If I didn’t know better, I would think Cassie was the Dominant.”
“Bite your tongue, woman,” Marcus said.
“Hey.” Asher glared at Marcus. “Don’t call her woman.”
Marcus snorted, then looked at me. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.”
“No offense taken.” I’d been called worse.
Besides, I knew Marcus was drunk, and in a normal situation, he would never call me that.
Funny, I was getting to know Marcus mainly through Cassie.
I still didn’t know a lot about Asher, beyond where he went to school and his family.
I wanted to know more, and that was different for me.
“Okay, those four are off,” Cassie said, returning to the table. “Let’s go.” She put her hand on Marcus’s shoulder.
“We should go too,” I said to Asher. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”
Asher’s voice on the word sweetheart was almost a caress. I helped Asher to his feet. While the pub was only two blocks from the office, getting Asher and Marcus back there took twice the time it should have.
We all piled in the elevator; I pushed the button for the second floor, and Cassie pressed the third.
“Have a good night,” Cassie said, as I guided Asher out of the elevator.
“You too.” Asher had thrown his arm around my shoulders as I helped him to my car. I pushed him up against the vehicle while I pulled my keys out and unlocked it.
“Okay, big boy, into the car.”
“This isn’t my vehicle.”
“You’re in no shape to drive.” I pushed the passenger seat as far back as it would go and guided him onto the seat. It was a tight fit, but he made it. I secured the seatbelt over him and shut the door.
I huffed then climbed into the driver’s seat. I fastened my seatbelt and started the engine.
“I’m not that drunk.”
“Yes, you are.” I pulled out of the parking spot. “What is your address?”
He rattled it off. I put the brake back on and input his address into my navigation system then drove out of the structure. Asher was quiet as I drove, and then I heard a soft, small snore.
I glanced at him at the next stoplight. His head was slumped to the side. He was asleep or passed out. A laugh bubbled up. Asher wasn’t in control at the moment. Would he even remember this tomorrow morning?
Once I arrived in his neighborhood, I drove slowly when I got closer to his house so I wouldn’t miss a turn.
This was a nice area. Some of the houses were huge, and others were what I considered normal.
When the navigation app announced the house was on my left in a hundred feet, I turned into the driveway and stopped at the gate.
“Asher…” He didn’t even stir. Louder. “Asher.” I reached over and shook his shoulder. “I’m at your house; I need the gate code.”
“Seven, four, eight, two,” he mumbled.
I rolled down my window and punched in the code. After the gate opened, I drove through. I blew out a breath when I saw his home. A ranch style painted in white and gray, with outdoor lights on.
I pulled to a stop in front of a three-car garage. After getting out, I opened the passenger door. “Asher.” I shook his shoulder again. “You’re home. I need your help to get you into the house.”
He opened his eyes. “Home?”
“Yes. Come on, big boy.” Seatbelt released, I encouraged him to get out of the car. I gripped him around the waist, holding on to the waistband of his pants. With slow steps, we made it to the front door.
Oh boy, another keypad. I should have guessed Asher would have some kind of smart house. “Code for the door.”
“One, five, three, seven, four.”
I was glad he was coherent enough to give me the codes. I heard the lock click, and I opened the door. A beeping started. “Asher, alarm code.”
“Seventeen, twenty, and five.”
Punching it in, I was glad the beeping stopped. The last thing we needed was the police showing up.
The foyer was large, but I didn’t really look around. “Bedroom?” I asked.
“In the back, down the hallway.”
Figures it would be all the way in the back. He was getting heavier by the minute. As we made our way down the hallway, I noticed he had low level track lighting, so I didn’t have to worry about bumbling around in the dark.
I was happy when we made it to his bedroom. I froze for a second when I walked into the room. Hell, this was huge.
There was a king-sized bed, and I guided him to it. Asher flopped down on his back. I sighed. As lean as the man looked, he was heavy. He looked uncomfortable with his legs hanging off the bed.
I knelt down and removed his shoes and socks, then swung them up onto the bed. I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up when I saw him. He was sprawled out now. At least it was a king bed, so he had room.
I grabbed a pillow and carefully put it under his head. Next, water and ibuprofen. He was more than likely going to have a hangover in the morning. I almost felt sorry for him.
When I’d found everything, I put both items on the nightstand next to his bed.
While it was almost summer, the nights were still cool.
Just in case, there was a blanket at the end of the bed and I pulled it from under his feet, shook it out, and placed it where he could easily reach it. Then I left the room.
I paused. “Should I stay?” I muttered to myself then answered my own question. “Nope. Asher can take care of himself.”
I turned out most of the lights, leaving one on in the ensuite bathroom, one in the hallway, and one in the foyer, set the lock, let myself out of the house, and drove home.