Page 102 of Shattered

Asher

I’m told that Edgar and Nash are the men to talk to when it comes to formal attire, and Allegra is the best cook of the lot. I’ve never worn a suit a day in my life, and I haven’t got the first fucking clue. I borrowed one from Gareth, who’s roughly the same size as me. While the guys struggle to make a man out of me, Allegra and Ian drop off our meal. It still baffles me how kind all these people are. Two weeks ago, I was on their shit list, and suddenly, it’s like I’m the stray dog they adopted.

After thanking them all profusely, they clear out, and I’m left to wait for Sunshine to come home. I lit some candles that I found in her den and put either a curtain or a tablecloth on the table, I have no sweet clue which.

Sunshine left the house alone today for the first time since her attack. She wanted to speak to her boss and resign and said she needed to do it alone, which I was all for. When I hear her SUV pull in, I position myself in the center of the kitchen. Just as I suspected, the moment she passes the threshold, her jaw practically hits the floor as she lays eyes on me.

“Ash…” She turns her head to see her kitchen table.

“Welcome home, Sunshine.”

She smiles. “What’s all this?”

“Come sit down, and you’ll find out.”

When I roll over to the table and pull out a chair, she gives me a surprised smile as she lowers herself down and helps me push her chair in. Once she’s comfortable, I grab a single red rose from the counter behind me and offer it to her—Nash’s idea.

“Thank you.”

“Before you get too excited, I didn’t cook this. I asked Macy who’s the best cook of you lot, and she said Allegra. I would’ve cooked myself, but I’m a shit cook.”

“That’s really sweet of you, Ash. You didn’t have to go through all this trouble, but I’m glad you did.”

Oh, Sunshine.

She takes a bite of her cranberry pork, and by the look on her face, I’d say she enjoys the flavor. Once she’s taken a bite, I try my own. It really is good.

“Allegra’s an amazing cook.”

“And Nash and Edgar are great guys. They helped me into this monkey suit. Gareth loaned it to me.”

She grins. “I wouldn’t say the suit matches your bad boy persona, but you do look handsome.”

My brows furrow. “What bad boy persona? I’m a perfect gentleman.”

She scoffs. “Yeah, right,” she says, amused.

I know she’s joking, but this is exactly why I wanted to have this dinner with her tonight.

“I have a million things to say to you, Lila, and I don’t know where to start.”

Her brows pinch together, and I see a wash of concern paint her face, which I remedy immediately with those three easy words.

“I love you.”

It brings her smile back and the light to her eyes. “I love you too, Ash.”

I take a deep breath, trying to find the words, but I don’t think there are any. The feelings I have for Lila are beyond words.

“We really haven’t had much time to get to know each other,” I start.

“You’re right,” she says, her smile disappearing. I hate that she’s nervous, like I’m about to drop a bomb on her.

“I’ve never loved anyone before, Sunshine.”

She frowns. “That’s sad. Why not?”

“I had no desire for it before. I was a playboy, I fucked anything with a pulse. Love wasn’t something I felt like I needed.”

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