Before I’d even made it off the driveway, I heard Beth’s car door slam. Putting a physical barrier between us that I was afraid we’d never come back from.
Was she right, and I was the kind of woman who’d betray a friend for a man? Compromise who I was and what I stood for? No, I absolutely wasn’t. And it hurt that she thought I was. It’s not like I was throwing my career away for some guy. I was ready for a change. Beth’s derision hurt, probably more than it should.
When I stepped inside, Ash opened his arms, and I walked right into them. “That went well,” I muttered.
“From where I’m standing, she doesn’t get to be pissed off. She married one of my best friends.”
I winced. “Considering they’re divorced, I don’t know that we want to go there.” I smiled sadly. “And you guys aren’t friends anymore.”
“That’s because he’s a cheating dickhead who broke my sister’s heart, not because they got together.”
“Maybe that’s part of Beth’s problem. Misplaced anger.”
“You planning on breaking my heart?” he teased.
“Definitely not. You’re stuck with me now. But maybe what happened with Brian is skewing things a bit.”
He wrapped his arms tighter around me, holding me closer. “But I’m not Brian and you’re not my sister. Their relationship was complicated.”
“And ours isn’t?”
“Not the same thing at all.” He traced his thumb across my cheek. “I am so crazy about you. I think we’re both old enough toknow that what this is between us is rare. I’m not letting anyone, including my sister, get in the way of this. Are you?”
“No, I’m not.” I sighed. “I just wish it didn’t have to be like this.”
“Me too, baby.” He kissed my forehead. “Me too.”
Chapter Nine
Asher
Iknocked on my sister’s door and impatiently tapped my foot as I waited for her to answer. Natalie placed her hand on my back. “You’re practically vibrating, Ash.”
I closed my eyes and took a breath, willing myself to relax. I needed this to go well because there was no way in hell I was losing Natalie.
The snick of the front door lock made my eyes snap open.
Beth opened the door, took one look at us, and scowled. “I don’t want to talk to you,” she said as she tried to shut the door.
I slapped my palm against the door to hold it open. “Tough.”
Beth’s eyes narrowed. “You gonna be a big man who throws his weight around?”
“Grow up,” I grumbled. “You know I’ve never been that guy, and I’m not about to start now. You’ll either listen or you won’t, but since we both know you need my money—”
“Asher,” Natalie snapped.
I winced as guilt churned in my stomach. “Sorry, that was uncalled for.”
“You think,” Beth jeered. Her face contorted into a weird combination of God knows what. Some mix of pissed off and guilt.
We both knew she needed my money to survive since her deadbeat ex never lived up to his end of the agreement. And I didn’t even mind giving it to her so I’m not sure why I’d thrown that out other than I was pissed.
“You gonna let us in?” I asked.
Beth looked at me, then Natalie, then glanced over her shoulder inside the house. “The kids are here,” Beth said.
I glanced around. “So? I don’t plan on being a dick. Do you?”
