more of her cuteness coming through. “Are you sure? Because you’re going to have to let me go to make that happen.”
“That’s the problem, Ashe …” The emotion in her face was taking ahold of me, clenching as tightly as her fingers. “Every time I’m with you, it gets harder and harder to do that.”
Thirty-Seven
Before
Pearl
“Good morning,” Ashe said as he pulled me against his chest, my face falling somewhere around his neck.
I stretched my leg over his, my eyes blinking from the spring sunlight that came through his window, yawning from the little sleep we’d gotten.
I had known coming here after work was going to make me even more tired than usual, but I’d wanted to spend every second I could with him.
Even if that meant hardly any sleep.
I nuzzled into the crook of his muscles. “Morning.”
“I hope you don’t have any plans today.” I glanced up at his eyes, and his hand cupped my butt as he added, “Because I have no intention of letting you leave my bed.” His hardness pressed against me, the tone of his voice changing.
“Mmm,” I groaned, my hips meeting his. “I can give you a few hours, but then I have some errands to run to get everything ready for tonight.”
“What’s tonight?”
“Gran’s birthday.”
His hands were suddenly on my face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrugged. “I don’t do anything crazy to celebrate. I just make her favorite foods for dinner and banana pudding for dessert—she loves that for some reason—and I always swing by the used bookstore to grab her a couple of paperbacks.”
He held my chin. “No.”
“No?”
He rolled me onto my back, hovering over me. “I’m going to take you both out for dinner.” When I didn’t respond, he went on, “You’re an excellent cook—I’m not trying to take that away from you. This is just something I’d like to do … if you’ll let me.”
There was so much love in his eyes that I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t form any thoughts.
I couldn’t even answer him.
“I realize I wasn’t invited.” He laughed. “Maybe I’m imposing. If I am, just tell me—”
“Not at all.” I swallowed. “This is just one of those moments when it feels like a dream.”
He pressed his nose to mine, rubbing our tips back and forth, his fingers on my ribs. “You’re very much awake, and you haven’t given me an answer.”
When I’d met this man, the leaves had started to change colors and fall from their branches. With my hand in his, I’d watched the first snow fall. And now, clasped once again, spring was whistling from behind the window next to his bed. Each season, he had continued to surprise me. I wasn’t sure if that was something I’d ever get used to—how his thoughtfulness and caring nature were a constant theme in our relationship. I’d certainly never seen that in all the years I’d lived with Vanessa.
But men like him really did exist.
I had proof.
“I would love that more than anything.” I took a breath, the tightness in my chest another reminder of how real this was. “But I don’t want you to pay—”
“I knew you were going to say that. I knew you were going to try and stop me, and there’s no way I’m letting you.”
“Ashe …”
His hand moved to my cheek, his thumb swiping my bottom lip. “How much would you normally spend on dinner and books for Gran’s birthday?”
Since I bought items I typically wouldn’t—like steak and twice-baked potatoes with cheese and sour cream, fresh vegetables instead of canned, and the pudding—it exceeded my average food budget. I’d planned on getting her some white wine as well—now that I was old enough to buy it.
“Probably around fifty, maybe sixty.”
“Take that money and go get her nails done instead. Wouldn’t she love that? Someone to rub her hands and make her feel beautiful for the day?”
I didn’t know if Gran had ever gotten a manicure. I couldn’t remember a time that I’d ever seen them painted. I trimmed them for her, her hands no longer able to grip the small clippers. I even cut her hair, keeping it in a short bob that only required me to scissor straight across.
“Ashe …” I shook my head, torn. It wasn’t his responsibility to feed all of us on Gran’s birthday.
“Please, Pearl.” He kissed my lips. “This is something I really want to do.” He framed my face with his palms. “You take Gran to the salon and give me the address, and that’s where I’ll pick