Page 76 of For Your Consideration

He paused and looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. When I looked away, he cleared his throat, pulling my attention back to him.

“I wanted to show it to you before, and it was really hard not to tell you, but the baby proofer couldn’t come until earlier this week. I wanted you both here but I couldn’t do that until it was safe.”

My stupid eyes got watery again, and I nodded when he just stared at me. He narrowed his eyes a little but went back down to grab my daughter.

He passed Sophie to me and she started babbling as Asher walked down the hall. I turned back to look at the large yard that backed onto the same ravine that Quinn and Knight’s place did. He already had a table out there with ample seating and a heater so you could use it even in the winter. It was magical out there, with string lights hanging above the lush green grass. I would love to spend an evening enjoying it. I turned at the sound of Asher coming back.

“What did you do?”

He set the pack and play on the ground, grabbed a bag out of it, and started pulling out toys. “I didn’t know when she would be here, but I wanted her to have everything she needs.” He shrugged it off like it was no big deal.

“Asher…”

“Just don’t say whatever it is you’re going to say. I have more money than I know what to do with. What I wanted was to make sure Soph was comfortable here so that you can come over whenever you want without having to think or plan. You can show up and just be. I want you here, I want you both here, often. I wanted to buy it so don’t say anything else.” He had moved toward me during his speech and was now standing in front of me with his hand on his hip, glaring at me and daring me to argue.

“Thank you,” I replied quietly instead of the million arguments I had to explain why he shouldn’t have done this. He waited a moment with a raised eyebrow and then nodded his head.

“You feed Soph. I’m going to order us food.”

While we waited for the food, he gave me a tour of the house. It had five bedrooms upstairs and three down. He didn’t open any of the doors, just pointed them out as we went. He did show me his room, though, asking me what color comforter and lamps he should get. When I asked why he didn’t just get his interior designer to do it, like they’d done with the rest of the house, he just shrugged and said he didn’t want them in this space.

After that, between feeding Sophie and eating ourselves, the next two hours went by quickly and there wasn’t a single lull in our conversation. I talked a lot but Asher was surprisingly chatty too. I’d started noticing that although he still spoke in looks and grunts around others, when it was just me and Sophie, he opened up more.

Like right now, he was sitting on the floor, Sophie on a blanket in front of him with building block toys. He had just finished telling me about the newest company he was thinking of acquiring.

It was a funny contrast. My sweet, small daughter and beside her a giant man, tucked up as best he could, leaning on his side. He was still wearing his button-up shirt from earlier, but his sleeves were rolled up. His veiny arms were covered in tattoos, the ink on his chest visible too. The tiny block he was holding looked minuscule in his thick hands.

He may grunt and grumble and his all-around size made him look menacing, but he was really just a giant softy. At least for us.

I had my legs tucked up under me as I watched them. As a comfortable silence settled between us, the weight and stress and fear of the day started taking over and with Sophie’s happy sounds the only noise, the pressure behind my eyes built.

Turning my head down, I looked at my lap in an attempt to hide the tears because I was afraid once they started, they weren’t going to stop.

But it was too late. Tears started running down my face.

“Sweetheart?”

His voice didn’t help.

I covered my eyes with one hand and waved the other, trying to tell him to drop it. I was worried if I spoke it wouldn’t make any sense. I felt him shift before he came to my side, wrapping both arms around me and pulling me into him.

“Let it out.” His voice was a gruff demand and so I gave in.

I wrapped my arms around him, buried my face in his chest, and cried. He didn’t say a word as his hand made soothing circles on my back.

I’d cried a lot since having Sophie, in moments of uncertainty and depression and loneliness. I’d never had someone there to hold me through it. His calm scent reminded me that he was here. Reminded me that I wasn’t alone.

After a few minutes, my tears slowed. I sniffled as I got myself back under control. He bent down and kissed my head. I closed my eyes and breathed him in a few more times before opening my sore eyes and trying to pull back. He seemed a little hesitant to let me go but he uncurled his arms, one hand locking on the back of my head instead.

“She’s been happily playing,” he answered before I could look over at Sophie to check on her. “She’s good.” His amber eyes pinned me in place and I relished the feel of his hands on me.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” He raised an eyebrow at me.

Letting out a puff of air, I relaxed a little. I was really tired now that I’d let those tears out. “I’m not.” I sent him a smile as his fingers tightened slightly.

“What can I do?” He had a serious look on his face, a deep furrow of his brows.