Must Love Frosting (Must Love Diamonds 1)

Honor reached over to grasp his arm. “Asher, let’s just go to your parents’ house right now. I’ll call a ride service to get home. This isn’t something that should wait.”

He didn’t want to agree, and yet at her insistence, he found himself starting the car and driving the couple miles to his childhood home. After passing a number of news vans out by the gate, he pulled up to the house to find numerous vehicles in the driveway. From his siblings’—excluding Loyal who was back in Texas—to his grandfather’s, to the Explorer his dad’s campaign manager drove. Then there was the red sedan that belonged to the head of the press team.

Someone was going to earn their salary tonight. Or get fired. Might be a toss-up as to which one.

He spotted Merit sitting on the brick half-wall of the formal front porch, tumbler in hand. Straight whiskey, no doubt. Shelby leaned against the brick next to him, a beer raised to her lips. His stomach knotted. Great. Merit was one thing, but if Bells was drinking, it was bad.

Both turned to watch while he parked and hurried around to Honor’s side. She’d already gotten out and stood beside the car. She glanced at his brother and sister by the house, then tipped her head up to meet his gaze.

“Do you want me to stay? Is there any way I can help?”

His chest swelled at her offer. He stepped closer, grasping her free hand as the madness of the past fifteen minutes shifted sideways and she took center stage. “You’ve already helped. And I would love for you to stay, but I don’t want the crazy in there”—he gestured toward the house—“to run you off before we have our second date, so it is probably best if you go home.”

“Your family’s crazy couldn’t hold a candle to mine,” she argued.

“I’m not willing to chance it.”

He noticed the front door open and turned to see Celia and Robert step out to join the other two on the porch.

“You’re sure?” Honor asked as they both stared toward the house.

“No, but yeah.”

He returned his gaze to her and saw her lips curve up into a gentle, surprisingly understanding smile. Man, he wished he could just go home with her. Get lost in Honor and forget all this shit.

She squeezed his hand, then pulled away to swipe the screen on her phone. He stopped her by pressing the keys to his Camaro into her palm. Her lashes lifted, green eyes wide.

When she began to shake her head no, he insisted, “Yes. I’ll get a ride home from Merit.”

“I am not taking your car.”

“You said you wanted to drive it.”

“Not like this.” She tried to give the keys back. “Not without you.”

“I trust you, Honor. And I’ll feel much better having you drive the Camaro home than riding with a stranger.” They had a long moment of silent standoff before she finally gave in. Asher gave a subdued smile in victory. “The garage door opener is in the glove box, and then all you have to do is lock the service door on your way out.”

“I’ll be very careful with it,” she promised.

“As long as you get home safe, that’s all that matters.” He walked her around to the open driver’s side door.

Instead of getting in, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist while pressing her cheek to his chest. He automatically closed his arms around her, and then tightened his hold when her warmth seeped in to calm the rough edges of his frayed nerves.

“Let me know if you need anything,” she said. “Pizza and beer, a piece of cake, a shoulder to lean on…”

Emotion swelled again and he pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I will. Thank you.”

Up on the porch, Merit stood to give him a dark glare while he jerked his head toward the house.

He reluctantly released Honor so she could slide into the driver’s seat. As soon as the door closed, he motioned for her to roll down the window, then leaned in to give her a quick kiss that lingered.

He eased back a few inches to meet her gaze, and she laid

her palm against his cheek. “I mean it, Asher. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the night or twelve noon.”

After a single nod, he pressed one last kiss to her lips, then straightened and stepped back while sliding his hands into his pockets. “Send me a text when you’re home?”

“I will.” She cut her somber gaze toward the house as she rolled up the window. “Good luck.”