Page 38 of Because You Loved Me

Asher retrieved his phone from his jacket pocket and powered it on. The screen lit up almost immediately with dozens of texts and missed calls.

Half of the messages were from his siblings. All of whom expressed varying degrees of concern for himduring this transition.

He laughed. If they only knew exactly how he’d beentransitioning, they wouldn’t be too worried at all. Or maybe they’d be even more concerned.

Either way, it wasn’t his problem.

Asher ignored his siblings and looked at the messages from Penny. He didn’t bother listening to her voicemail, but simply pushed the button to call her.

She picked up on the first ring. “I’m not supposed to talk to you.”

“Good morning to you, too.”

“Good morning, Asher.” She sighed. “I’m not supposed to talk to you. It was made very clear to me that you are no longer the CEO of Carlson Corp, at least for the next six months, and if I help you circumvent the boundaries put in place by Michael Carlson’s estate, I will face disciplinary action.”

“Are you reading that from something?”

“A letter from your family lawyer,” she admitted.

He wasn’t surprised. “I’m only returning your call,” he said after a moment. “I’m not trying to get you in trouble.”

“I shouldn’t have called you.” He heard a door shut and the background noise dulled as Penny obviously moved somewhere more private. “Seriously, Asher! The bride? The friggin’ bride!”

“It is a bit?—”

“For the biggest wedding of the year. A wedding you left me pretty much high and dry on.”

“That wasn’t my?—”

“Andyouhelped her? What the actual?—”

“Wait a minute. I didn’t help her.” He stopped himself. “Well, I didn’t mean to help her.”

“She climbed into a marked Trickle Creek Lodge truck and you drove her away, Asher. Three bellmen and herfather, of all people, saw you.”

Penny was on the verge of hysteria, and Asher had to admit, it did look bad.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “If it helps, I certainly didn’t mean to help her. It’s not like I planned it or anything, Penny. Hell, I didn’t even know Noa was the bride until the moment she got into my truck.”

Penny muttered a string of expletives under her breath before refocusing on the conversation. “I don’t suppose you know where she is now, do you?”

He turned toward the bathroom at the same moment the door opened to reveal a very naked and very wet Noa wrapped in only a towel. Asher swallowed hard. He couldn’t lie to Penny. He’dneverlied to her. It was part of why their work relationship worked so well. And he needed her more than ever now to keep things running smoothly while he was gone. But…Noa.

When she saw that he was on the phone, her expression shifted. “Do I know where the bride is?” He repeated the question for Noa’s benefit.

“Yes. The runaway bride that you took off with, Asher.Thatbride.”

Noa shook her head slowly. She mouthed the wordno.

Asher took a breath and turned away. “I’m sorry, Penny. I can’t tell you?—”

“To hell you can’t, Asher.” Her voice vibrated with anger, and Asher knew the woman was likely only holding on by the thinnest of threads under all the pressure she had to be under.

“I’m not even supposed to be talking to you, Penny. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

Penny laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “That ship has sailed. The family is…well, they’re worried.” Her voice softened. “Just tell me she’s okay.”

“She’s okay.” Asher didn’t look at Noa when he spoke but he didn’t think that letting her family know that she was at least safe would be a problem. “They don’t need to worry.”

---