Page 68 of A Time of Witches

“That’s one way to put it.” He cleared away the plates and indicated a bottle of wine on the counter. “Shall we open another?”

Before Lilith could reply, Dragon hopped into her lap, his belly round and full as he fell instantly asleep, purring in contentment. “It appears I’m not going anywhere for a while.”

“Ah, yes, the cat on the lap excuse.” He chuckled.

She liked the timbre to his warm laugh and the way it made her want to tease more out of him.

Asher popped the cork from the bottle with a hollow plonk sound. “I suppose I’ll have to join you. After all, it’s been nice to have company.” He filled their glasses with a rich red cabernet. “For the record, I was talking to Dragon, not you. You know I’m better with pets than people.”

He winked.

Oh, he was definitely flirting. And the low chuckle rising in her throat betrayed that she was not indifferent.

And how could she be?

He cared for his aunt with kindness, saved animals, and still found time to cook.

“Well, thanks for putting up with me.” Lilith stroked a hand over Dragon’s vibrating form.

“It’s amazing how quickly he’s latched onto you.” Asher smiled at the little cat sleeping in her lap. There was a gentleness to his tone when he spoke, a warmth to his expression. “I think he suspects you’ve never had a pet before and wants to set the standard.”

“He’s set the bar pretty high.” She scratched under Dragon’s chin, and he lifted his face, eyes closed in pleasure as his throat vibrated under her fingertips. “I’m in love already.”

“Do you typically fall in love that quickly?” The corner of Asher’s lips lifted, and Lilith suspected he’d had a bit too much to drink.

But, then, she had too. “No, actually.”

The statement hadn’t meant to be so sobering, but the smile fell away from Asher’s face. “Why?”

She frowned in thought. “Why?”

“I’d say it’s as easy as not having found the right chap…” His eyes narrowed in a way that suddenly felt overly perceptive. “But you’re not a simple woman. I imagine your reasoning is complicated. Deep.”

Lilith swallowed, hating that he saw her so easily. But also grateful.

No one had cared to see her in far too long. Essie was the only one who even really knew her. Well, her and Daddy. But Essie was so busy these days and Daddy was gone…

Lilith chose her words carefully. “I didn’t have a great example of love growing up.”

“That can be hard.” Something flashed in Asher’s eyes. Pain. Understanding.

Lilith considered that look, dissected it to unearth its meaning. “My Mama,” she said slowly, her tongue loosened by the hope that he actually did get her.

She took the first sip of her third glass, letting the heady taste of wine sit on her tongue before sliding down her throat. “Mama wanted a better life than she was dealt. Daddy was a lawyer and she thought she hit pay dirt. But then…”

Lilith set her glass down and lifted her hands in a helpless little ta-da. “Surprise! I showed up and ruined everything.”

“What about your father?” Asher asked.

“Daddy chose me.” A twinge pinched inside Lilith’s chest. “He stopped trying to climb the corporate ladder so he could spend more time with me.”

Asher tapped a finger on his wineglass. “I wager your mother didn’t take too kindly to that.”

Lilith took a hearty swallow of wine, letting what she once savored burn a path down her throat. “Mama never forgave me.”

The recollection of the journal floated into Lilith’s mind. The way Mama confessed to never feeling complete. How she envied Lilith’s interest in the supernatural, how she resented it.

With the trip to England and impending doom, Lilith had scarcely thought about the journal.