Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
He stood beside Zach at the island in the kitchen. “Hey. Sleep well?” Asher asked his brother.
Zach took a long sip of his coffee. “I think I should be asking you that question.” He spoke low. “I saw your girl sneaking into her room this morning, wearing your shirt.”
Asher raised his cup to his lips. He wouldn’t dignify his brother’s prying with an answer.
Zach swallowed and smirked. “I already told you I like her, which is why I offered my assistance with her… photo problem.”
Asher nodded, grateful. “I was going to talk to you about her situation regardless. I spoke to her brother, Derek, this morning, and he found a hidden camera in her bedroom,” Asher said quietly so as not to be overheard.
Zach frowned, his protective instincts as strong as Asher’s for people he cared about. “Text Derek. Set up a FaceTime or Zoom chat after the parents go into town.” He tipped his head toward their father and Serenity. “Dad said Corey’s taking them in a few.”
Although Asher didn’t want to put Nikki through the conversation, they had no choice.
He rose and walked over to the main table just as Michael and Serenity stood to leave. “We won’t be back late,” he said.
“Dad–” Asher began.
His father shook his head. “We’re fine. She’s fine. I still want to talk to you but it can wait. We’re going to enjoy our day.”
Serenity walked to Asher and pulled him into a hug.
He hugged her back. “I guess there were things I didn’t deal with as well as I thought,” he whispered. “Are we really good?”
She stepped back and patted his cheek. “Always.”
Michael grasped her hand and they left for the day.
Asher let out a long breath, aware everyone had been watching.
“Nikki, you up for a chat with your brother, me, and Asher?” Zach asked, breaking into the silence.
“I’d like to sit in, too,” Harrison said. “I hate what happened to you. Maybe I can help?”
Nikki wrapped her arms around herself and nodded. “I appreciate it.”
Asher walked over and slid an arm around her. “It’ll be okay.”
She nodded.
A little while later, coffees refilled courtesy of Maggie, they gathered in Asher’s study, with Derek pulled up on the computer screen.
Asher sat at a distance from Nikki, giving Derek the impression he was the same dick he’d always been. Present because Derek had asked and not because he was now personally invested.
Nikki twisted her fingers together in her lap, nerves written all over her, evidenced by her furrowed brows and tense expression. Asher had no doubt she hated having to discuss the situation at all. A room full of men only made it worse. But everyone here had her best interest at heart.
He shot her an understanding look, but that was all he could do with her brother basically in the room with them. Asher wanted to be beside her, holding her when they broke the bad news. Would it be that horrible for Derek to find out Asher and Nikki were together? Since it meant Asher, at thirty-three, hadn’t been able to keep his hands off Derek’s twenty-one-year-old sister? Yeah. It’d be bad.
“Nikki? Are you ready to talk?” Derek’s voice broke into Asher’s morose thoughts.
Nikki nodded. “I am. So what’s going on at home?” She leaned forward for a better look at her brother, who glanced at Asher – because Derek had already told Asher about the camera.
Shit. Did Derek think his sister couldn’t read a room?
Asher merely shook his head.
Nikki, meanwhile, stiffened and narrowed her eyes, her gaze darting between them. “What’s going on? What do you two know that I don’t?”
Asher decided the answer had to come from him. “Derek told me something this morning, and I didn’t want to announce it at breakfast.”
“Told you what?”
He met and held her stare, knowing there was no way to break the news easily. “Derek found a tiny hidden camera in your apartment. Your bedroom, to be exact.”
“What?” she shrieked before breathing in and out, obviously attempting to calm down. “Okay, okay,” she said, more to herself than them. “I mean a camera makes sense, right? How else could someone have taken those photos?”
Derek ran a hand over his face and groaned. “I’m sorry, Nik. I hired someone to come in and do a sweep. They found it and asked if I wanted it removed.”
“Of course I do!” Her voice rose again. She glanced at her trembling hands and shoved them beneath her thighs.
His brothers remained silent, obviously realizing this wasn’t the time to interrupt, but Asher had had enough of Nikki’s suffering.
He rose from his seat and sat down beside her. Without hesitating, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. Whatever Derek took from his actions, Asher would deal with his friend later.
She put her head on his shoulder with a grateful sigh.