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)
“You’re pretty amazing,” Nick told her. He glanced at Asher and winked, giving Asher his younger sibling his seal of approval.
Asher’s entire family knew he had something going on with Nikki. If he didn’t tell Derek soon, he’d get his ass kicked twice and he’d deserve it.
He slid his hand into Nikki’s and squeezed. “I want to take Nikki to meet Sasha and Cassidy, and you two have other guests waiting to say hello and congratulations.” He tipped his head toward the people behind them.
He led Nikki toward Harrison’s partners, determined to make sure she left here with a job. She deserved to have something positive come of this difficult day.
* * *
When Nikki and Asher returned to his apartment, Lucky bounded to greet them. She knelt and buried her face in his fur, needing the comfort only a pet could give. Asher offered to walk him, and she was only too happy to take him up on it.
Later that night, Nikki and Asher made love. Despite the fact that the words hadn’t been spoken between them, she refused to think of the act as anything else. She found solace with him in ways she’d never experienced before, and she held on while she could. Eventually, she slept, something that had become a regular occurrence with Asher by her side.
When she opened her eyes, Lucky was on the bed, which told her Asher had let the dog into the bedroom at some point during the night. He’d become quite the softy where the pup was concerned.
She’d woken up before him, which surprised her since she’d had a difficult time falling asleep. Her mind kept replaying the events of the morning with her parents, then the afternoon with Asher’s relatives, who couldn’t be more different than her screwed up family.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked from behind her, his voice gruff.
“I didn’t know you were up.”
“I could hear the wheels turning in your head,” he teased.
Letting out a sigh, she admitted the truth. “I was just thinking about how my parents acted toward me and how much warmer your family is than mine.”
He pulled her tighter against him, but his silence just meant he agreed and probably didn’t want to speak and make things worse. She appreciated it. Her emotions were raw and hurt hovered at the surface. Tears threatened but she did her best not to let them fall, telling herself her mother and father weren’t worth it.
“When I have kids, they’re going to know they’re loved,” she said, her voice as fierce as she felt about the subject.
Asher stiffened behind her. Not wanting to freak him out or force a conversation he wasn’t ready for, she dove into something else that had kept her awake last night. “I need to have a conversation with my mother.”
“About what?” He pushed himself back up against the pillows and headboard, and she did the same.
“I quit modeling and I want to tell her to her face that her choices aren’t mine. I’m going to do what I want with my life.”
Confusion etched his features. “After yesterday, why bother?”
She understood his reaction but he didn’t know Colette Bettencourt. “My mother wants things her way. As in, she wants to be in control. Right now, she thinks I’ve been a bad girl and a disappointment, so she’s punishing me. But once this scandal blows over—”
“Hasn’t it already? That’s why we came home,” Asher said, obviously still struggling to keep up.
Nikki pulled up the covers a bit more, jostling the dog.
He jumped off and made his way to the bed Asher had put on the floor for him. One he rarely used.
“My mother can hold a grudge longer than the average news cycle keeps up with a story,” she muttered. “But when she gives in and lets it go, she’ll be happy to tell people her daughter is a model and name the high-end runways I’ve walked down.”
Asher pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a disgusted groan. She patted his shoulder in understanding. “I know. Believe me, I know how ridiculous she is. Anyway, when I tell her I’ve fired my agent and quit? That she can’t control me anymore? She’s going to lose her mind.” And Nikki couldn’t stop the smile that took hold of her lips at the thought.
“You’ve got strength, growing up in that house,” he muttered.
“I had Derek. Though she did try and control him during that period when he was engaged to that witch, thank God he came to his senses. But he’s always been there for me.”
Before Asher could reply, his cell phone rang. He leaned over and glanced at the phone on his nightstand. “It’s Zach.”
“Take it. Maybe he has news.” She clutched the comforter in her hand.
“Hey. Tell me you have news for Nikki?” Asher said. He paused, obviously listening. “Sure. Hang on.” He glanced at her. “I’m putting him on speaker so you can hear.”