Page 95 of Because You Loved Me

“No fair.” Kat pretended to stamp her feet and have a little tantrum. “Why can’t we skip ahead to my turn? Asher learned his lesson fast.”

“You know that’s not how this works, Kat.” Charli wrapped an arm around her little sister’s shoulders and squeezed as Symon and the baby joined them.

“Wasn’t it you who told me there was a method to all this?” Craig asked Kat before chuckling. “Patience.”

“Yeah, right.” Chase joined in the good-natured ribbing before returning the focus to Asher. “I think the real question now is, since you came to your realization so quickly, what are you going to do with the rest of your six months before you can get back to work? Assuming you want to get back to work,” he added quickly.

“Oh, I do.” He scanned the ballroom. The familiar itch to find Penny and talk over the logistics of the big event and check on all the details had hit him hard just as soon as he’d stepped into the party. Standing back was difficult. Very difficult. “I don’t know what I’m going to do to fill the time,” he answered honestly. “All I know for sure is that it’s going to have something to do with this amazing woman right here.” He extended his arm for Noa as she approached the group.

He kissed her on the cheek and wrapped his arm around her waist as each of his siblings in turn offered her their unique versions of awelcome to the family.

Asher was about to whisk her back to the dance floor, where he could have her alone, when a figure by the bar caught his attention.

“Excuse me for a minute,” he whispered into Noa’s ear before pressing a kiss to the sensitive skin on her neck. “I’ll be back.”

It took him a few minutes to navigate through the crowd to the bar. Fortunately, Ryan was still there.

“Whiskey please, Brian.” He nodded his thanks as the man handed him a drink and turned to see that Ryan was waiting for him.

“Cheers.” Ryan lifted his own glass, and they clinked before taking a sip.

Asher wasn’t sure what to say to the man who up until very recently had been engaged to the woman he loved. He would have thought that Ryan would be angry with him. What man wouldn’t? But then again, his relationship with Noa wasn’t traditional, to say the least. Still, words eluded him for a moment.

He took another sip of his whiskey and lowered the glass. “I wanted to thank you, Ryan.”

“Thank me?” The other man had a wry grin. “For being cool with you stealing my woman?”

Asher almost choked on his drink, but Ryan only laughed. “I’m kidding, man. Calm down.”

Somehow, Asher regained his composure and wiped at his lips. “Holy shit. I thought maybe you wanted to kick my ass.”

“If I wanted to kick your ass, you’d know it.” Ryan chuckled. “But I don’t. You’re good. For now.”

“For now?”

The humor in his face was replaced with total seriousness as Ryan stared Asher in the eye. “If you hurt her, there is no doubt about it—Iwillkick your ass. She’s a very special woman.”

“Don’t I know it.” Asher held his gaze. “I’ll never hurt Noa, Ryan. I love her.”

Ryan lifted the glass to his lips and nodded slowly while he drank. “I know,” he said after a long moment. “I can see it. And she loves you, too.” He smiled. “I never thought I’d be able to say that. Honestly, I didn’t think either of us were capable of it,” he admitted. “Noa and I…we’re just built a little different than our brother and sister were. Or maybe I just am.” He shrugged and the smile returned to his face. “But I see it in you both, Asher. I think the two of you are going to be good for each other. And don’t worry…you and me…” He used his glass to gesture between them. “We’re good.”

“Who’s good?” Noa chose that moment to join them. She slipped an arm around his waist and dropped her head to his shoulder as if they’d been together forever, and not just a few hours.

“We are.”

“You are.”

He and Ryan spoke at the same time. Noa gave them each a look, eyebrows raised.

“You’re good,” Ryan said. “Together. You’re both great. I’m happy for you, Noa, and you were right.”

“I was right?”

“About all of this.” He waved an arm around the room. “There are definitely some new memories being made tonight. So many smiles we haven’t seen in way too long. And that’s all because of you.”

“No.” Noa pulled away from Asher and gave Ryan a squeeze. “You know we wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for you, too.” She kissed him on the cheek before returning to Asher’s arms.

Right where he wanted her.

---