Chapter 37
37
ASHER
Uh-oh. Based on the stubborn slant of Summer’s chin and the pout of her lips, I was going to have to be very careful about how I answered this question. A chill skittered over my skin. It was cold inside, although thankfully there was no longer a breeze blowing through the place.
“I’d love to go with you,” I said, monitoring her expression carefully for any indication that I might be upsetting her further. “But I don’t think it’s wise for us to spend a night together until we’ve labeled whatever is happening between us and told our friends and family about it.”
The lines around her mouth softened. “I understand that, but there’s a spare bed. Or the sofa, if you’re really worried.”
I sighed. “I know, and maybe I’m being overly cautious, but I’m not sure you realize how tempting you are. If I knew you were sleeping just down the hall, I might make decisions I otherwise wouldn’t.”
Her lips curved into a reluctant smile. “I think you’re just trying to butter me up.”
I shrugged. “Maybe partly, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Let’s do this right, Summer.”
“Fine.” She wrapped her arms around me and rested her cheek against my chest. “Let me soak up the feel of you before you go.”
I held her close, loving the fact there was no space between us. When she pulled back, I dipped my head and brushed my lips over hers. The kiss lingered but didn’t deepen. This moment wasn’t about that. It was about connection.
“Will you at least let me drive you to Frannie’s place, so I know you got there safely?” she asked after we separated.
“I’d like that.” Perhaps it meant something inside me was fucked up, but it was nice to know she worried over me. “Just let me pack a bag.”
She sat on the sofa and waited while I went to my bedroom and put a couple of changes of clothes in a bag, along with my toiletries. I’d need a shower soon or I’d stink out Frannie’s place.
Cookie was still asleep on the bed, so I scooped her into my arms and carted her to the pet carrier. She gave a mew of protest at being disturbed but didn’t struggle. Frannie and Dean had a cat, so I didn’t bother packing food or kitty litter. They’d have plenty of that.
With my duffel bag in one hand and Cookie’s carrier in the other, I joined Summer in the living room.
She arched an eyebrow at the sight of the cat. “You’re taking her with you?”
“Yeah. She’s family. I’m not going to leave her here alone if there’s a chance of someone coming back.”
I might not show it, but the question that had been scratched on that rock unnerved me. Honestly, I was a little scared, and I doubted I’d be able to sleep unless I knew the people—and cats—I cared most about were safe.
We left the house, and I locked the front door and checked that the board across the window was solid, then we got into Summer’s Ute, and she drove me several blocks over, to Frannie’s charming 19th century home, complete with white picket fence and a well-maintained front garden.
She parked outside and I looked across the center console at her delicate face in the dark.
“Thanks for coming over,” I told her. “I don’t like you putting yourself in danger, but I appreciate you wanting to be there for me.”
“No problem.” She reached across, took my hand, and squeezed it. “How about you don’t get into any more excitement today though?”
I gave her a tired smile. “It’s a deal.”
I opened the passenger door and climbed down, then slung my bag over one shoulder and carefully lifted Cookie’s carrier out.
“Good night,” she said.
“Night.” I tipped my head to her and let myself through the gate onto my sister’s property. Summer remained where she was until Dean had opened the door and welcomed me inside. Only then did she leave.
“Come on in,” Dean said. “We’re watching TV.”
I stepped inside, and he glanced down at my bag, frowning.
“You here to stay the night?”
“I had a bit of an incident at home,” I told him. “Is it all right if I do?”
I knew they’d say yes, but it was polite to ask. I should have called ahead but hadn’t been thinking clearly enough to do so.
“Of course. Frannie,” he called as we entered the living area. Warmth greeted us, along with the comforting scent of baby powder. “Asher is here. He’s got something to tell us.”
Frannie was sitting cross-legged on the floor while Marcy slept in her arms with a plush blue bear on her lap. Dean reached down to take the baby from her, and I sat beside her on the floor. With as few words as possible, I explained the events of the day.
Frannie grimaced as I described my altercation with James Conroy and gasped as I mentioned the broken window. I left out the message on the rock. There was no point in scaring her unnecessarily. Most likely, it had been a nasty prank by James and wouldn’t lead to anything else.
“Seems like it’s a day for vandals,” she said. “Someone punctured a hole in one of my tires yesterday. I wouldn’t have realized it was intentional except that they left a pocketknife sticking out of it.”
“Fucking kids,” Dean muttered. “Those vacationers come here and think the rules don’t apply. The police don’t do anything about them either.”
“They’re doing the best they can,” I protested. “It’s not like they have much in the way of resources.”
He grumbled an acknowledgement.
Frannie rubbed her palms together. “Never mind all that. What you need is a good meal and a beer.” She reached behind herself to grab a throw blanket from the sofa. She draped it over my lap and then clambered to her feet. “We have leftover low carb bean burritos from dinner. I’ll reheat one for you.”
I put my hand on her knee to stop her. “How about I have a shower first? I stink.”
“Okay.” Her eyes shone with affection. “You know where everything is. I’ll shut the doors and let Cookie out of her carrier.”
“Thanks, Fran.”
I took my bag to the bathroom, stripped off my cold, sweaty clothes, and washed myself until I smelled of nothing but soap. Then I dried and dressed in a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt.
When I returned to the open plan living area, Frannie handed me a plated burrito, accompanied by a bunch of sauces and salsa, and guided me onto the sofa. Over on the armchair, Marcy was sleeping on Dean’s chest, as he gently stroked the back of her head.
“What a crazy week,” Frannie said quietly. “All of this, and Ashley is back in town too. How did your date go?”
“It wasn’t a date,” I said, cutting into the burrito and inhaling the delicious scent of spices and tomato.
Frannie rolled her eyes. “So you said, but there could be something between you again, right? I never really understood why you broke up.”
“Because she didn’t like how much I work,” I said bluntly. “She told me that I wasn’t around enough, and when I was, I wasn’t fully focused on her. She felt ignored. Since I’m still doing the same job and I don’t intend to start half-assing it, then nothing has changed, so there’s no reason to think we could be happy together now.”
Frannie looked disappointed. Hardly surprising. My entire family wanted me to settle down and start a family. I was the lone holdout. Both of my sisters had children, and both were partnered up. Then there was me. The baby of the family. The eternal bachelor who didn’t have the decency to start producing grandbabies.
I chuckled to myself. It wasn’t quite that dire, although sometimes it felt like it.
“What are you laughing about?” Dean asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing.” Deciding to throw Frannie a bone, I added, “I am interested in someone else, Fran. I just can’t say who until we have a few things sorted out.”
Her face lit up. “Really?”
“Yes, but keep it quiet for now.”
She mimed zipping her lips. “I promise.”
No doubt Mum would know by morning. Frannie meant well but she’d never met a secret she could keep. Oh well. I’d known that and still chosen to tell her because I had faith in whatever was developing between Summer and me. I just had to hope she wouldn’t come to the same conclusion Ashley had—that what I could offer wasn’t enough
As I wolfed down the burrito, I couldn’t help mulling over Summer’s theory that someone was behind everything that had gone off track in my life recently. It was a ridiculous idea. No one could possibly hate me that much.It was just my own carelessness—and the fact I’d let my temper get the best of me once or twice—that was to blame.
Given the arrests of Kennedy’s stalker, Tyler, and Grace’s assistant, Alice, both within the past couple of years, I understood Summer’s paranoia, but there was no substance to it.
Then why did part of me have the sick feeling that she might be onto something?