AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What if your parents see? That isnothow I plan to meet them.”
“No one’s here yet,” he told her. “My parents won’t be here until this evening, and the caterers and event planners still have an hour before they show up.”
“Event planners? For a birthday party?”
“Mhm,” he said, biting his lip as his hand slid up her shirt again. “Now, do you want to keep talking or should we finish what we—”
“Please don’t finish anything,” a man’s voice said from behind Asher. He whipped his hand out of her shirt, turning around in a flash.
“Dad?” he asked.
“Don’t mind me,” the man said, a friendly smile on his face. He stood a few inches shorter than Asher, though his posture made him seem taller. He had a full head of salt-and-pepper hair that perfectly matched his well-kept beard. Dressed in khakis and a suit jacket, he was the model of business casual as he reached out his hand to shake his son’s, pulling him into a tight hug. “Hello, Son.”
“Dad, hi,” he said against his shoulder. When they pulled apart, he reached for Blythe’s arm, pulling her so that she was standing even with him. “This is Blythe.”
“Blythe,” his father said, kissing the top of her hand. “You’ll forgive me for interrupting.”
Her face burned red at his words, but he seemed to be genuine enough. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“None of this ‘sir,’ nonsense. You can call me Jacob.”
“Right, sorry,” Asher said. “This is my father, Jacob.” She nodded, placing her hand in her pocket and waiting for Asher to say something else. “We weren’t expecting you and Mom until later.”
“Yes, I heard,” he said, smiling deviously. “But your mother insisted we arrive early. She’s hired new caterers, and she wanted to make sure everything ran smoothly.”
“How’s Grandmother Lorene?”
“She’s as sharp as ever,” he said, but added, “unfortunately,” as he laughed. “Anyway, your mother saw your car pull up, and I’m recruiting you to be my buffer. Sorry, everything else will have to wait. Besides, she’s dying to meet the first girl you’ve ever brought home.” He winked playfully at Blythe, and she couldn’t help but notice how much he reminded her of Asher.
“Okay, let us get our bags put away,” Asher said.
“Fine,” Jacob agreed. “Ten minutes and I’ll be back.” He sighed. “Actually, make it five.”
Asher grabbed hold of the bags and began to head up the large staircase on the far side of the room. “You coming?” he asked.
“I’ll just…um, I’ll wait here,” she said awkwardly as Jacob walked out the front door, casting one last sly glance at her.
A few moments later, Asher appeared at the top of the staircase. “I’m so sorry about that.”
“It’s okay,” she said, brushing a piece of hair from her face. “But I’m sure they probably think I’m ruining their son now. Not exactly a picture-perfect way to meet, huh?”
He shook his head, his hand running down the railing of the staircase as he made his way toward her. “Trust me, I was already ruined, and what he just saw doesn’t even put a dent in the car wreck that was my teenage years. They’ve seen me through a lot worse. You’re probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me. At least, in their eyes,” he added at the end, his voice a little higher as if he was worried about what he’d said.
“Well, thanks,” she told him, locking her fingers with his as he held his hand out.
“Do you think he’ll tell your mom?”
“Nah,” he said. “Dad and I…we’re cool. He’s not gonna rat us out.”
“I feel like we’re in high school,” she said. “Sneaking around and worrying about being caught.”
He pulled open the door. “Yousnuck around in high school?”
“As much as the next person,” she told him, elbowing him in the side when his eyes bugged out. “Oh come on, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” he joked, pointing toward the far cabin and leading her that way. “I just picture you as a little goody two-shoes in school.”
“I got in my fair share of trouble,” she said. “I wasn’t a bad kid, though. But I had my rebellious teen years just like everyone else.”
