Page 17 of Charming
“Well yeah. I’m totally counting on you getting lucky, then telling me all about it.” We laugh and walk arm in arm back to the guys. She and Asher tell each other goodbye and she gives me one last look as she leaves. I nod telling her without words that I’m fine.
Asher and I look at each other and smile again. “So,” I begin, “What istheAsher Charming doing in Cabo San Lucas? Shouldn’t you be on a movie set somewhere?”
His brow raises, “You’ve seen my movies? I was surprised you and Katie recognized me.”
“Really? Who doesn’t know who you are?” I ask and I swear his face flushes. “You’re face is usually plastered all over the movie theatre. How many Jack Danger movies have you done now?” Jack Danger is the action movie character he’s played in a series of movies about a hit man employed by the government to go on secret assassination missions.
“Well I want to know aboutyou. You didn’t answer my question – haveyouseen my movies?” he asks again.
“I’ve seen your movies,” I tell him with honesty and now I know there’s no doubt. He’s definitely blushing and I can’t resist pointing it out. “You’re blushing.”
He shrugs and smiles and it’s incredibly endearing, “I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to that.”
“Seriously? You’ve been in how many movies now? You have to deal with screaming crazy fans all the time.”
“Seven, four of them Jack Danger films. But, that doesn’t mean it ever stops being surreal. And I think that the moment it does, I won’t want to do this anymore because I’ll be an ego inflated asshole.”
We each take a sip of our drink, watching each other out of the corner of our eyes as we do so. I almost smile, every cell of my body tuned into his. I notice every movement, every blink of his eyes and twitch of his fingers. “A bachelor party.”
“Excuse me?”
“You asked why I’m here in Cabo. My best buddy got married and we’ve been celebrating. When they decided to get married here they invited guests to make a vacation out of it. It’s been a bachelor party, wedding, and honeymoon vacation. I’m here to attend everything – well not the honeymoon.”
“That’s cool.”
“I’m his best man in the wedding.” I nod my head not sure what else to say. The wedding talk for once isn’t making my stomach drop or sadness surface and it’s a relief that makes me smile. “And you?” he asks.
“Me?”
“Yes. What brings you here?”
I think about my answer, not sure what I want to say. If anyone would understand wanting privacy it would be him I’m sure. I settle for a small truth instead of full disclosure, “Bad breakup.”
He nods, “You know…I can help with that.” His voice drips with sex and suggestion and it makes my body tingle. Everywhere. Shivering at the feeling, my mouth falls open as I gasp wondering if he just propositioned me and why the hell I’m screaming ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ in my head.
No doubt Asher would give me one hell of a rebound, that’s for damn sure. Before I can give it anymore thought, he lifts up his finger and calls, “Bartender! We need some shots over here!” He smiles at me and somehow I return it, but my body deflates in disappointment. Immediately on the tails of disappointment, I internally freak out because I realize I totally want to have sex with Asher Charming.
“What can I get you to drink?” a cold voice asks me.
The flight attendant looks at me expectantly with a plastic looking smile on her face. Her hair is pulled back in a bun so tight the corners of her eyes pull back just a smidge; it has to be giving her a headache. Maybe that’s the reason she’s wearing a pinched expression every time I look at her. Or maybe she was accidentally mooned along with the rest of the people near my seat. If so, I was certainly judged and found wanting given her frigid attitude. Oh well, that just means I smile widely at her when I answer. “I’d love a diet coke, please.”
Nodding she makes a note on a pad of paper then looks at Faye for an answer, “I’ll have a water, thank you.” When she moves on to another row Faye turns to me, “Is Asher just like the character he plays in those action movies of his, Jack Danger?”
I can’t help it, my head falls back and I laugh. “Wait, so not only do you know who he is, but you’ve seen his movies too?”
Another laugh almost bursts from me when she actually rolls her eyes at me. “Honey, what did I tell you? I’m older, but I’m not dead. I’ve seen his movies. Have you?”
“Yes,” I nod. “And I guess I would say both. He is and isn’t like Jack.” Talking about him makes his face appear in my mind - his dark hair, chiseled cheekbones most women would kill for, the slope of his slightly crooked nose, the only small imperfection he has. If I concentrate hard enough I can see his eyes too although my memory doesn’t do them justice. They’re so expressive it’s really no wonder he’s an actor, he can say so much with a look. My heart automatically aches with longing and I take a deep stuttering breath to try and ease the discomfort in my chest.
“I’m guessing if you spent time with him, and seem upset that it’s over, that he must have been a nice young man?” Smiling and nodding at Faye, I know she’s trying to continue the conversation and encouraging me to share more. Even though I don’t know her well I have no doubt if I elected to quit talking, that would be fine with her, she’s simply being kind. Curious a little, no doubt, but her mannerism and style of communication is encouraging and enabling rather than invasive or inappropriate in any way.
“Yes, he was more than nice. Being with him was strange at times, a bit surreal, but it also felt…right. It was odd how comfortable I was with him too. Almost as if we’ve known each other forever.”
“A bond like that between two people is special. It almost sounds like you were meant to be together.” Looking down my eyes well with tears. I hate how easy they come. “Well get to the good part, honey. Did you sleep with him?”
Gasping, a laugh bubbles up my throat, “Faye!”
“Do I have to remind you again?”
