Page 50 of Because You Loved Me

“You’ll be back for Christmas, right?”

Christmas.She nodded. “Of course.” She couldn’t stay away forever, and she’d never forgive herself if she missed what could be Grandma Rose’s last Christmas. After everything, she knew better than to take time for granted. “But I think we need to tell them the truth, Ryan. When I get there. We just need to?—”

“Noa. Just wait. A lot can change in a few days. Don’t make any decisions you can’t come back from.”

ChapterTwelve

He’d donehis best to avoid looking at his phone for the last few days, which, in any other circumstance, Asher would have considered some sort of miracle.

They’d spent their days playing cards, making love, and talking. Asher found himself opening up about things in his life that he’d never shared with another person before. How he wished he could travel more, but he’d been too tied down with Carlson Corp to leave for long. How he’d wanted to make his father proud of him for as long as he could remember, and how, despite all his best efforts, he’d never heard the words. And in return, she’d talked about her life and her hopes and dreams. It was effortless to talk to her, and she made it so easy to open up in ways he never had before.

Noa had been a pretty decent distraction. Okay, better thandecent.She’d been an absolutely perfect distraction from the fact that his entire reason for being had been ripped away from him.

He didn’t want to think about what that little fact told him about his life. Or how on earth he would distract himself from the reality of the next six months without work to focus on once Noa went back to her life.

Because she would go back to her life.

He glanced toward the bathroom door and the sound of the shower he’d only very recently vacated so that she could finish her shower while there was still some hot water left.

As much fun as they were having together, Asher wasn’t stupid. He knew it couldn’t last forever, even if he wanted it to. Which he didn’t.

He shook his head clear of the conflicting thoughts and focused on the matter at hand. It was Christmas Eve, and—as every one of his siblings had pointed out via half a dozen text messages and voicemails—the baby’s first Christmas and he “better not miss it.”

Asher had plenty of faults, but being a dick to his family wasn’t one of them. As much as he’d prefer to stay cuddled up with Noa under their rustic little Christmas tree, he knew he’d be heading into town for a big family Carlson Christmas.

He picked up his phone and fired off a text to Charli.

You know I won’t miss it. What can I bring?

A moment later, his phone rang.

“Good morning, sis.”

“Is it still morning?” Charli sounded exhausted. “I swear, this little girl’s internal clock is seriously off schedule. I’ve been up for hours.”

“Procreator problems.” Asher tried not to laugh. “I guess that answers my next question,” he added. “How are you doing?”

“So great. Really. I love being a mom, Asher. Poppy is the sweetest thing.”

“Despite the early mornings?”

“And the late nights…and the times in between.” Charli chuckled. “But we’ll figure it all out.”

“If anyone can, it’s you.” Asher looked at the bathroom door again, but the shower was still running. Now, he was sure he could hear Noa singing the strains of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” “What time do you want me at the big house tonight?” he asked his sister. “Do I need to bring anything?”

“Chase and Annie put themselves in charge of dinner this year,” Charli told him. “And last I heard, they said they have it totally under control, so just bring yourself.” Her voice changed. “You know we’re all a little worried about you, Asher. Truthfully, I’m just really glad that you’ll be there. I miss you.”

“It’s only been a few days since I’ve seen you, Char. I’m fine.”Was it true? Was he fine?

“It’s okay to talk to us about all of this, you know? It’s a lot, Asher. None of us expected this for you, and I know it’s a big?—”

“It’s fine.” He didn’t want to hear any more about how worried they were about him, as if he couldn’t function without work.

Is that what they all truly thought of him? That he had nothing else in his life besides running the family business?There was a lot more to him than that…Asher swallowed a sigh. He just didn’t know what it was yet.

He turned at the sound of the bathroom door opening as Noa, wrapped in a towel, appeared. Instantly, and despite the fact that he’d only very recently beeninthe shower with her, his body reacted to the sight of her. Never had he spent so much time with a woman before and not grown tired of her.

And not just that, but with every minute that went by, he found himself looking forward to thenextminute, too.

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