Page 41 of Because You Loved Me

She already knew the answer. They would be worried. Ever since Tom and Olivia’s accident, they’d become obsessed with knowing where she was, who she was with, and if she was safe. It had been oppressive and overbearing, but at the same time, with everything they’d been through losing their firstborn, Noa couldn’t bring herself to tell them to back off.

Until now.

There was probably a better way to express her need for independence than dramatically running away from her wedding. But…

“I just wanted to put it out there.” Asher pushed from the table and took his empty plate with him to the sink. “Last night…”

He dropped his head, and Noa wished she could see the look on his face.Did he want her gone?She’d go. As much fun as they’d had together—and theyhadenjoyed themselves, multiple times—the last thing she wanted was to overstay her welcome.

“I get it.” She pushed her chair back. “Maybe you could drop me off at?—”

“You don’t have to leave.” Asher spun around quickly. “I wasn’t saying that.”

She scanned his face for any trace of dishonesty.Was he just saying what he thought she wanted to hear?The problem was, she didn’t know him well enough to know. Her instincts told her that Asher was the type of guy who wouldn’t hesitate to say what he was thinking. Still, she knew deep down she couldn’t hide from the world or her problems forever.

But maybe a few more days…

“Asher, I know you didn’t plan on having a runaway bride on your hands, so I don’t blame you for one minute if you?—”

His hands gripping her upper arms stopped her. “Noa. Look at me.”

She did.

“I’m not trying to force you out. Quite the opposite. I just wanted to know if I could pick anything up for you?”

* * *

It had been some sort of miracle that Asher hadn’t run into anyone he knew at the grocery store as he filled a cart full of whatever he could think of. Including a few bottles of wine. It wasn’t that he was planning on any romantic dinners with Noa. But he also wasn’tnotplanning on it.

For the first time in his adult life, Asher had no plan at all. And he still wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

He got lucky at the grocery store, but when he pulled into the parking lot for the plaza in the center of town, he knew he wouldn’t be so lucky. The week before Christmas, the pedestrian-only strip that included a variety of shops and restaurants, including three of four of his siblings’ businesses, was bustling with people.

Asher pulled his knit toque down over his ears and tried to hide in the collar of his jacket as he headed directly for Summit Style.

Although he would happily have Noa wear only his T-shirt or the ridiculously sexy bustier around the cabin, neither were very practical options for the end of December in the mountains.

Especially if she was going to stay with him.

It was definitely the question that hung in the air between them. No one had been more surprised than he was earlier when he insisted she stay longer. Everything about having Noa in his cabin was a bad idea.

Almosteverything.

Having her in his bed was most definitelynota bad idea. His dick twitched just thinking about the moments they’d already shared between the sheets, and Asher had to force himself to focus on the task at hand.

He moved quickly through the busy store and grabbed a stack of things, including a warm winter jacket, boots, socks, some leggings and sweaters before heading to the checkout desk.

“Asher? Is that you?”

Reluctantly, he looked up with what he hoped was a friendly, but not encouraging smile. “Hi, Krysta. Pretty busy in here today.”

“All the last-minute Christmas shoppers.” She started to fold and scan his pile of items. “What about you? Shopping for…Kat?” She held up a sweater. “Because I think she probably takes a different size.” She moved to the boots next. “And I know for a fact that she wears the same size as me. These are?—”

“Those are fine.” He didn’t have a lot of experience with women’s shoe sizes, but he had held Noa’s feet in his hands for quite a long time the day before, and he was pretty sure he had their size right. Not that he was going to explain that to Krysta Nelson, the owner of the shop.

It was a small town, and Asher and Krysta had been out a few times in the past. Although they’d never pretended to be anything more than friends with benefits, he didn’t feel like explaining to her who he was buying everything for.

Krysta eyed him suspiciously but thankfully didn’t press the issue. “I’ll just put a gift receipt in just in case.”

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