AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She leaned forward, reaching for his hand. “I’m saying…there are feelings there. For me, at least. But I’m with you, Asher. The past months with you have been amazing. I’ve never been so happy. That’s because of you.” She patted his chest with her fingertips. “You don’t have anything to worry about with Finn. Not anymore.”
His eyes filled with relief as he pulled her into his chest. “I love you, you know that?”
“I love you, too,” she told him, kissing him firmly on the lips.
He stood, pushing her backwards on the bed with their lips still together. His hands took hold of her arms, pinning them back as he trailed kisses across her lips and down her neck. “What would I ever do without you?” he whispered into her ear, his warm breath on her skin causing cold chills to cover her body.
He pulled back slightly, their noses still connected. As she stared into his warm, dark eyes, she wondered the same thing. “Lucky for us both, you’ll never have to find out.”
“I’m serious, Blythe.” He kissed her in between sentence fragments. “I am,”kiss, “so happy with you.”Kiss. “Like…I didn’t even know this,”kiss,“was possible.”
She giggled. “You keep me pretty happy, too.”
His gaze moved from her lips to her eyes, darting back and forth between each eye. “I’m so sorry I ever hurt you.”
She sat up, lifting one leg over his lap. “Asher, we’ve talked about this. What you did—seeing other people—you don’t have to apologize for it. It was a long time ago, and we were so new, it wasn’t like you cheated on me. We hadn’t set boundaries or rules yet.”
“Yeah, but how could I have been so blind that I didn’t see I had it all right in front of me?”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “Well, that one’s all on you.”
He kissed her cheek, brushing a piece of her hair out of the way. “I’m just glad I didn’t ruin it.”
“Me too,” she told him. “We were both lucky you came to your senses in time.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “Apparentlyjustin time.”
Chapter Nineteen
Thanksgiving dinner at the Graces’ was nothing short of spectacular. Like Grandmother Lorene’s birthday party, no expense was spared. The Grace’s estate was breathtaking. The mansion was nestled on a two-hundred-acre maple farm, and the home alone was nearly eleven thousand square feet. With eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms, Blythe had to wonder why the family even bothered having three cabins for their guests to stay in. With a bit of effort, it would be entirely possible to have guests in the house you never had to see.
The dining room housed a one-hundred-and-twenty-five-foot-long table and, as Blythe and Asher arrived, the staff was busy setting it with a feast that could have adorned the cover of any holiday magazine.
“There she is!” Mona screeched, scurrying across the expansive entryway when she spied the couple. She pulled Blythe into a hug before turning to Asher and hugging him as well. “I’m so glad you could make it. I was hoping you wouldn’t already have plans with your family.”
“Mom, I told you Blythe’s parents passed away,” Asher said, his voice filled with contempt.
Mona’s face went pale. “I’m so sorry, Blythe. He did tell me. I’d just forgotten.”
“It’s okay,” Blythe assured her. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Oh, we wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said, appearing relieved. “Asher, did you see the special guest your father had at the cabins for you?” She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
Asher looked confused for a moment before he nodded. “Finn?” His voice sounded much less enthused than it had yesterday at the mention of his best friend’s name, and Blythe couldn’t help worrying whether she’d caused irreparable harm to their friendship.
“Mhm,” she said gleefully, either intentionally ignoring or just not noticing her son’s lack of enthusiasm. “He’s out back with your father now. I’m sure he’d love to meet Blythe.”
Asher frowned. “Sure. Maybe later, Mom. Is there anything we can help with?”
“I don’t think so,” she told him. “Dinner is just about ready. We’re waiting on Martin and Sharon to arrive. Then we’ll be all set to eat.”
A member of their staff approached them suddenly, stealing Mona’s attention, and she hurried off after them and left Asher and Blythe alone in the doorway.
“Your home is immaculate,” Blythe told him. “I can’t believe you grew up here.”
Asher nodded. “Yeah, well, it’s nothing special.”
“Are you kidding me? My house was one of the biggest in Darlington, but it didn’t even compare to half of this place. Not to mention the furniture in one room costs as much as our whole house.”
