Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Kat
I wake to find the other side of the bed empty. The sheets are cool when I reach across, telling me Asher has been up for a while. Long enough that his body heat has completely faded from the fabric.
From downstairs I hear the sounds of someone in the kitchen. The clink of dishes, cabinet doors opening and closing. The faint sizzle of something cooking.
I stare up at the ceiling for a moment, unable to keep the grin off my face. My body feels pleasantly used, deliciously sore in places I’m not used to being sore.
What happened at the barn last night was so fucking hot.
The blindfold, the way he took control, the newness of it all.
But it was just the beginning. Both of us were so turned on by it that Asher was on me the second we got home.
Eating me out against the front door, making me come before we even made it upstairs.
Then carrying me to my bedroom and fucking me against the wall, both of us still half-dressed and desperate.
My ass is a little sore this morning, a dull ache that makes itself known when I shift on the mattress.
But it’s the good kind of sore. The kind that makes me remember exactly what we did, exactly how it felt.
I really, really liked that. Want to do it again.
Want to explore more of what my body is capable of feeling.
I throw on leggings and Asher’s button down shirt from yesterday, not bothering with anything else underneath. The fabric smells like him, that mix of cologne and something that’s just his skin. Then I pad down the stairs barefoot, my feet silent on the wood.
The kitchen smells incredible, like coffee and pancakes and something sweet.
I find him shirtless at the stove, wearing only jeans that hang low on his hips, flipping pancakes onto a plate.
The muscles in his back shift as he works, and I take a moment to just appreciate the view.
The broad shoulders, the taper of his waist, the way morning light from the window catches on his skin.
He glances back at me, and his eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles. He sets down the spatula and strides over, pulling me into his arms.
“Morning, bright eyes.”
He kisses me, deep and thorough, as if he’s been waiting to do it since he woke up. As if the hours apart while I was sleeping were too long. His hands slide down my back, pulling me closer.
“I thought about taking you to Li’l Dipper again this morning,” he says against my lips. “But I wanted you all to myself. So I’m making pancakes.”
“They smell amazing.”
We kiss again, getting lost in it as his hands slide down to my ass, squeezing. Mine tangle in his hair, which is still messy from sleep, and I can feel him getting hard against my stomach.
Then a hint of burning reaches our noses, the sharp scent of something starting to char.
“Shit!”
Asher breaks apart from me with a curse and runs back to the skillet, scooping out the slightly charred pancake. He laughs as he tosses it in the trash, shaking his head.
“A worthy sacrifice,” he declares, grinning at me over his shoulder.
He finishes the rest of the pancakes without incident, and we settle in at the kitchen table with our coffee. The pancakes are fluffy and golden, and he’s even made bacon—extra crispy, the way I like it.
He steals a piece off my plate, popping it in his mouth with a lopsided smile.
“So I’ve got a few calls to make today,” he informs me between bites. “Hockey stuff, mostly. And I need to head over to my dad’s place this afternoon.”
“Another project?” I blow on my coffee and then take a sip.
“His basement is full of junk. Floor to ceiling in some spots. I want to try to get it cleared out before I leave.” He shrugs. “It would make the house more usable if that space wasn’t just dead storage.”
I hide a smile behind my coffee mug. I’m pretty sure he’s coming up with excuses to spend time with his dad now. Things do seem to slowly be getting better between them, but Asher still needs these practical reasons to justify going over there.
“We should be done for the day by two or three,” he adds. “After that, I’m all yours. Whatever you want to do.”
My stomach flutters a little at his phrasing, and I lean back in my chair. “Good, because I’ve got big plans for you.”
He raises his eyebrows, interest clearly piqued. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
“There’s an ice carving competition happening downtown today that I want to check out. I think it sounds fun. We could—”
Before I can really get into pitching the ice carving thing to him, a knock at the door interrupts me.
Asher frowns, setting down his coffee. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No.” I shake my head, confused. “It’s barely nine in the morning.”
I get up and head into the foyer, wrinkling my nose at the thought that it might be Daniel again.
But it’s not.
When I open the door, I don’t recognize the woman standing on the porch.
She’s beautiful, tall and willowy, with the kind of effortless elegance that seems to come naturally to some people.
Her blonde hair falls in waves past her shoulders, and her makeup is flawless even at this hour, subtle but expertly applied.
“Oh, hi,” she says, her voice bright and friendly. She looks at the address numbers on the front of the cabin, like she’s worried she came to the wrong place. “I’m so sorry to bother you. I’m looking for Asher Vaughn? Is this the right place?”
I feel Asher step up behind me, and when he speaks, there’s shock in his voice.
“Alexis.”
My stomach drops. I know that name. His ex. The one who sold stories about him to tabloids, who betrayed his trust for money and fifteen minutes of fame.
Alexis’s face lights up when she sees him, her smile becoming even brighter.
“Oh, you are here! I heard in town that this was where you were staying.” She beams at him, her whole demeanor changing.
“Congratulations on the Denver deal, by the way. That’s such incredible news.
I read that interview with you where you mentioned you were in Maplewood for the holidays, and I just had to stop by. ”
I glance from Asher to Alexis, still stunned by his ex’s sudden appearance on our doorstep. Asher seems equally thrown, his face blank and unreadable.
“I was in Richmond visiting family for Christmas,” Alexis explains. “And when I realized you were so close, I couldn’t resist stopping by. I hope that’s okay. I know it’s early, but I wanted to catch you before you got busy with your day.”
She finally glances at me again, really looking at me this time.
Her eyes take in the borrowed shirt that’s clearly too big for me, my bare face with no makeup, my hair that’s probably still messy from sleep and sex.
The look in her eyes is quick but assessing, and nowhere near as warm as her smile.
“Hi,” she says, holding out a dainty hand. “I’m Alexis McKenzie.”
“Kat.” I shake it. “I’m Asher’s girlfriend.”
“Oh, how lovely to meet you!” Her smile doesn’t waver, but something flickers in her expression. “I’m an old friend of Asher’s. We go way back.”
Old friend. That’s one way to put it.
She looks at Asher again, her expression hopeful and bright. “I was actually hoping I could steal you for a bit. Maybe take you out for coffee? There’s that cute place downtown I saw. I’d love to catch up properly. It’s been so long since we’ve talked.”
Asher’s expression hardens slightly. His jaw tightens, and when he speaks, his voice comes out clipped. Polite but distant. “I’ve got plans for the day. Things I need to take care of.”
A flash of disappointment crosses Alexis’s face, so quick I almost miss it. But she covers it quickly, her smile never faltering. “Oh, of course. I should have called first. I’m sorry for just dropping by like this.”
“It’s fine,” Asher says, but his tone suggests it’s anything but.
“Well, I’m staying at the Smithwick Inn over in Richmond for a few days. But I’ll probably spend today exploring Maplewood. It’s such an adorable town. So quaint and charming.”
The way she says “quaint and charming” makes it sound like “small and provincial,” but her tone is so friendly I wonder if I’m reading too much into it.
Asher just nods stiffly. “Okay.”
He doesn’t offer anything more than that, just stands there with his hand on the doorframe, clearly not inviting her in. Another reaction darts across Alexis’s face—surprise, maybe, or annoyance. But she covers it smoothly, as if she’s had practice hiding her real feelings.
“Well, I’ll get out of your hair,” she says, stepping forward with her arms open. “It was so good to see you, Asher.”
She hugs him, and he stiffens, not reciprocating. The embrace lasts maybe two seconds, then she finally steps away, turning back to me.
“Nice to meet you! Your place is so cute, by the way,” she says, gesturing at the cabin. “Very cozy.”
I don’t really know how to respond to that, and I don’t want to get into some lengthy explanation of how it’s not actually my place, so I don’t say anything.
She turns around pertly, heading back over to the sleek black BMW parked out front, then gives us a little wave before sliding into the driver’s seat.
We watch her drive away, neither of us speaking until her taillights disappear down the long driveway. Then Asher scoffs under his breath, shaking his head.
“Jesus. Of course she’d come out of the woodwork now.”
I close the door and turn to face him. “Did you know she was in town?”
“No.” He runs a hand through his hair, scowling.
“I had no idea. I shouldn’t have mentioned I was in Maplewood in those interviews.
She wouldn’t have known where I was otherwise.
” His expression darkens, something bitter crossing his features.
“Of course she’d try to ‘reconnect’ now.
Now that I have another NHL contract and I’m worth something again.
That’s all she ever cared about. My status, my earning potential. Not me.”