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)
“Yeah. I figured she’d argue about the arrangement.” Zach had filled him in about the new scandal before Nikki joined them.
But the bastard had skipped the news that Derek already knew about the Asher and Nikki moving-in scheme, dropping the information like a bomb in the room. While Asher had been trying to figure out how to deal with Derek, Zach had known all along that Derek had agreed. Brothers, he thought and shook his head.
“Well, at least we don’t have to deal with her making things difficult. So what’s going on? It seemed like there was a lot of tension when she walked into the room. And she couldn’t have chosen a seat farther away from you. What’d you do wrong?”
Asher rolled his eyes. “You are such a pain in the ass. I didn’t do anything.”
“Except?” His brother walked over and nudged Asher in the arm. “Come on, you can tell me.”
“She asked what going home would mean for us. And instead of giving her a straightforward answer, I deflected.”
“Oh, man.”
Asher raised an eyebrow. “Like you know how to handle women?”
“Good thing we aren’t talking about me.” He grinned. “Here’s the deal. We can all see how you feel about this girl. It’s also obvious the age thing is as big an issue for you as Derek. Want my advice?”
“Why should I answer?” Asher rose from his seat. “You’re going to give it to me anyway.” And the truth was, he could use the advice even if Zach wasn’t a relationship kind of guy.
“Derek will get used to it, and the age difference worked out well for Dad and Serenity. Not so much for you as a kid, but you’re an adult now, so get your shit together. Nikki needs you. It’s not like we’re going home to a settled situation.”
Unable to argue either point, Asher nodded before walking to his bedroom to get his things together for the trip home.
* * *
The plane ride home was easy and everyone’s mood was light. Asher’s family talked, the brothers tossed insults, and nobody brought up Nikki’s problems, for which she was grateful. Lucky had behaved, acting as if he were born to travel in style. He sprawled out on the floor in front of her seat and slept most of the trip.
She’d told Derek not to pick her up at the airport. Instead, she and Asher had made plans to meet him for dinner during the week. Since Zach had decreed she couldn’t go home, she wanted to see if her brother had packed enough of her things for her to stay at Asher’s. Otherwise, she’d be ordering online, because there were some items a girl couldn’t do without. Her needs in the city were very different from those on the island.
Everyone had a driver waiting to take them home, so they parted ways in the parking lot. Serenity promised to keep in touch and insisted she’d see Nikki at Aurora’s baby shower. Zach had hugged her and told her not to worry. He would come through and help her out. Though Harrison was preoccupied with something or someone on his phone, he’d also promised to talk to his partners about a job for her, had given her a brotherly hug, and told her to call if Asher fucked up. That had earned him a slap on the head from his oldest sibling, and Nikki laughed.
She, Lucky, and Asher loaded into the waiting vehicle. Asher was silent on the trip home, giving Nikki time to think. She felt odd being back in New York, and she missed the island already. The moment she’d stepped out of the plane there, she’d felt different. More at home. The warmth of the sun had called to her, and despite Asher’s initial attitude, Maggie had welcomed her. He’d even lost some of his negative, grumpy personality. The longer they’d been together, the happier he’d become.
He spent the ride home talking to his assistant and other people from his office while she watched the scenery as it passed. Once at the building, he introduced her to Stan, the doorman, and put her on his permanent list of people allowed upstairs. He gave her a quick tour, and she loved the taupe, black, and cream masculine style of his living space. The furniture and decorative pieces were as beautiful as those on his island estate.
Despite being sure his cousin had been the decorator here, too, the place lacked a female touch. No photographs or knickknacks to warm up the space. This was Asher’s home whereas the Bahamas estate acted as the family retreat and had been decorated with lighter colors and many more personal pieces and pictures.
To her relief, Derek had dropped off her suitcases, and Stan had brought her things to the apartment. While Lucky sniffed his way around all the rooms, Asher picked up the heavier pieces of luggage and put them in his bedroom, giving her permission to move his things to make room for herself. In some ways, the gesture gave her hope, but she refused to focus on it until her personal problems were solved.