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)
“I mean, sure, we had a rocky start,” she said, talking to said dog. “But we really got to know each other. And in the end, him believing in me helped me believe in and stand up for myself.” Those were things that could never be repaid.
Asher had even let her stay in his apartment since they’d returned from New York. Their relationship had run its natural course. It wasn’t his fault she’d fallen in love with him.
Lucky howled. She’d swear the dog was a mind and mood reader.
“It’ll be okay,” she told him. “We’ll have each other and we’ll get through the pain.” Eventually.
She sighed and walked toward the bathroom with a small bag to put her toiletries into. She added her lotions and makeup pouch, her toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner, and whatever else she could find that belonged to her.
She glanced around the countertops and inside the shower. “Looks like that’s it,” she said to herself, the lump in her throat growing larger. She just needed to get through a little while longer without breaking down. She could cry all she wanted when she settled into Derek’s guest room.
She shut off the light and stepped out of the bathroom to find Asher standing by the bed, staring at her open suitcase.
“What is that?” he asked.
She tipped her head to the side. “My suitcase,” she said, as if it were obvious. Because it was.
“I got that. Why?”
“Didn’t Zach call you? Meg and Lance were arrested.”
He nodded. “I got the message on my way home. I’m still not seeing the correlation.”
She’d never known him to be dense. “Asher, we agreed to be together on the island. In fact, I had to convince you to keep things going once your family arrived. I was staying here so whoever planted the camera and sold the photos knew I was protected and they couldn’t get to me. That’s all over now.”
“So you’re leaving? Just like that?” He snapped his fingers, the sound echoing around her.
“A couple of days ago, Zach told us who was behind the pictures. I knew then our time together was coming to an end. I thought you would say something. You didn’t mention me leaving, but you didn’t ask me to stay, either. I don’t want to take advantage. You’ve done more for me than anyone I know and more than I can repay.”
And the last thing she ever wanted was for him to resent her for overstaying her welcome.
* * *
Asher drove home on a high. Engagement ring in his pocket, Derek’s blessing – or as close to it as he could get for now – giving him a boost, he was mentally planning when and how to propose. He wanted Nikki to know he’d given the moment the seriousness it deserved. Until he walked into his bedroom to the sight of her suitcase, packed full of her clothing, open on the bed.
His insides twisted into knots. Lucky trotted up to him, nudging his leg with his nose. “Don’t worry, boy. You’re not going anywhere.”
The time frame for his proposal had just been moved up. If he believed she wanted to leave, he’d swallow his pride, step back, and let her go. He knew better.
Just then, she strode out of the bathroom, wearing a pair of leggings and one of his oldest tee shirts, cementing his gut feeling. She was as attached to him as he was to her.
“What is that?” he asked, staring at the piece of luggage on the bed.
She tipped her head to the side. “My suitcase.” She stated the obvious.
And it wasn’t what he’d meant. “I got that. Why?”
“Didn’t Zach call you? Meg and Lance were arrested.”
He nodded. “I got the message on my way home.” He’d been too busy choosing the perfect diamond to answer his phone. He glanced at her. “I’m still not seeing the correlation,” he said when in fact, he understood completely. He wanted her to spell it out for him so he could tell her just why she was wrong.
“Asher, we agreed to be together on the island. In fact, I had to convince you to keep things going once your family arrived.”
Because back then he was still coming to terms with the notion that he’d found the one and not only was she too young, she was his close friend’s sister.
She watched his face as she spoke. “I was staying here so whoever planted the camera and sold the photos knew I was protected and they couldn’t get to me. That’s all over now.”
“So you’re leaving? Just like that?” He snapped his fingers loudly.
“A couple of days ago, Zach told us who was behind the pictures. I knew then our time together was coming to an end.” The light in her eyes dimmed and he wanted to pull her into his arms, but he waited. “I thought you would say something. You didn’t mention me leaving, but you didn’t ask me to stay, either.” Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “I didn’t want to take advantage. You’ve done more for me than anyone I know and more than I can repay.”