Fair question. He shrugged one shoulder and tossed the towel aside. “She wasn’t the right one.”
“The right one?” Her brow furrowed with what looked like disappointment. “Really? You believe in psychics and soul mates?”
He tilted his head at the question, considering how best to answer. “I don’t not believe.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means…I believe…anything is possible.” Deciding he’d rather leave her with that than give her a chance to argue, he gestured toward the frosted cupcakes. “I get two of those, right?”
She hesitated a moment, looking like she might have something more to say on their discussion, but then she turned to pull a plate from the cupboard. After arranging three treats in a center triangle, she offered it to him with both hands and a smile. Anticipation surged as he took it. Not because of his sweet tooth, but because she’d given him a plate he’d have to return. Was it a deliberate move, or subconscious?
Didn’t matter. It was his open invitation to come over again.
Honor followed him to the door, stepping close to hug the edge after he swung it open. “Goodnight, Asher.”
He paused on the threshold t
o reply, but one glance at her beautiful face and he couldn’t resist lifting his free hand to cup the back of her neck while leaning down for another kiss. One more taste of heaven to get him through until he returned the plate.
Her lips softened under his, parting as his tongue sought hers. As with each time he touched her, his pulse quickened and threatened to steal his breath. With the cupcakes in his other hand, and the door partially between them, he couldn’t get as close to her heat as he’d have liked.
She’d risen up on her tiptoes, her free hand fisted in the collar of his shirt. His body urged him to dump the plate, sweep her up into his arms, and head straight to her room. Imagining the motions in his head spiked his already rapid heartbeat.
A low sound came from deep in her throat as she dropped back on her heels to break the kiss. Instinct sent him after her, but his name came from her lips in a husky whisper full of regret.
“Asher…”
He reluctantly lowered his arm and stepped back. She didn’t have to say more. They were neighbors. She didn’t want to do this.
Time to go home and give her some space.
But thanks to the glimpse of heated longing in her green eyes before her lashes lowered, it took every scrap of willpower he could muster to thank her for the cupcakes and make himself walk across the street to his own house.
He thought about how he had his work cut out for him, even as a cautious voice inside his head whispered he was setting himself up for the heartbreak of a lifetime.
CHAPTER 13
I believe anything is possible.
Honor shifted in bed as the memory of Asher’s deep, husky voice made her insides flutter. She’d dreamed of his kisses most of the night, and woke up hot and bothered with that one line running on a loop in her head. His words gave her hope for something she never dared dream of, even though she knew the utter folly in believing their empty promise.
She groaned in frustration while rolling over to bury her face in the pillow. It wasn’t even seven a.m. Her eyes burned, and each limb of her body felt like it weighed a hundred pounds as she lay there debating about getting up to get some housework done before getting ready for lunch with her mom and Glory, or trying to sleep a few more hours.
When the Scooby Doo theme song erupted from her night stand, she reached out to fumble for her phone without lifting her head from the pillow.
“Why are you calling so early?” she demanded of her best friend.
“It’s after ten a.m.,” Mae replied somberly. “I texted earlier, but you didn’t reply.”
Whoa. She must’ve dozed off again. “I was sleeping and didn’t realize it was so late. I ended up baking and frosting until almost three in the morning.”
“I’m not surprised. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, confused by the concern in her friend’s voice. “Should I not be?”
“Um…you tell me. What happened last night?”
Asher Diamond happened.