Page 25 of Charming
“I bet your father loved that you followed in his footsteps.”
“He did, definitely, but you know what? He wouldn’t have cared if I decided not to. He always just wanted me to be happy. Still, I wish he had been there to see me graduate.”
“He sounds like he loved you very much.”
“I lovedhimvery much and I miss him every single day.”
“What about your mother? Does she miss him too?”
“My mother passed away from cancer when I was young. I have a few memories of her – I remember her laugh, and her long golden hair. She would let me brush it sometimes.” I smile at the memory. “My father and I both were lost after she passed. I remember crying out for her in my sleep, confused about why she wasn’t there.” I gaze off, seeing her beautiful face in my mind, remembering how happy she and my dad were together. “It was just the two of us for a long time, so it wasn’t exactly easy when he remarried.”
“You don’t like your stepmother?”
“That’s an understatement.” I shake my head, “I’m sorry, I’m just going on and on. Tell me about your family.”
“I will, but first tell me why it’s an understatement.”
Wiping my mouth with my napkin, I set it next to my empty plate and sit back. “I’m not sure I know how to define it exactly. I think if I had to guess I would say she never cared for the relationship I had with my father. Almost as if seeking his affection was a competition. It wasn’t, but I always felt that she thought so – as odd as it sounds. I was kind to her and did my best to get along with her, for my father’s sake if nothing else, but there was always coldness surrounding her; a distance that I could never penetrate no matter how hard I tried. Eventually, I just gave up.”
“Did your father and her seem to get along well?”
“My father got along with everyone. But-”
“But?”
“I guess I’ve never really voiced this before, but I’m not sure if he truly loved her, or if it was more about companionship for him and a mother figure for me. I know that I never saw them behave together the way I saw my parent’s love for one another. And that makes me sad. He deserved better.” Sighing, I look away from him, “And now, if she didn’t hate me before, she certainly does now.”
“What do you mean?”
“My father died of a heart attack while away on a business trip. It was a shock to say the least. Equally shocking was when we found out he left nearly everything to me, including his company, upon my graduation. He only provided her with the minimum required under the law. And his will was created after he married, so it isn’t like it was an old copy or something. Angelica, my stepmother, well I’ve never seen her so furious, so hateful. She gathered the board of directors and tried to convince them all I was too young, incapable and inexperienced to take over when I graduated, but she underestimated me. The company has done very well under me for the last few years.”
“That doesn’t surprise me one bit.” He stands and removes our plates from the table, “And your stepsister? I’m assuming given her actions with your ex that there’s no love lost between the two of you either?”
Knowing he remembers the story about my stepsister from when I told him about my broken engagement, I expect to feel embarrassment, but I don’t. “No. We never hit it off. She wasn’t interested in a relationship with my father or me. I think she missed her own father and didn’t want a replacement. All I know is that her father had a stroke and passed away a few years before her mother met my father.”
He returns to the table, “I hope you saved room for dessert.” He sets down another covered dish and unveils sopapilla’s with chocolate sauce.
“Wow,” I say in delight looking at the divine pastry, mouth already watering. “Dessert is my favorite,” I say and he laughs no doubt at the look on my face. Pushing the dish toward me indicating I should grab some, I don’t hesitate. Taking a sopapilla I break it in half dipping one end into the warm chocolate sauce. It’s divine and I moan in pleasure from the taste. “Oh my god,” I murmur.
“Good?” he asks, his voice husky making my eyes crash into his.
“So good,” I nod and watch transfixed as he dips his own pastry into the chocolate and takes a bite. His firm jaw moves slowly as if he’s savoring each bite. When his tongue flashes across his lower lip, my thighs clench at the sight.
Not one to be outdone, whether his actions were contrived or not, I dip the other half of my dessert into the chocolate and begin licking it off instead of putting it into my mouth. When I dare a look at Asher, his eyes are following every move my mouth makes, his own mouth parted. “Yum,” I murmur.
I’m not sure who moves first, but his mouth is on mine. His tongue lashing with my own and he kisses me like I’m the only dessert he ever cares to taste. Returning his intensity with my own, when he pulls away we’re both breathless. He licks his lips, “You’re right. Yum.” And with that, I’m pretty sure my panties catch on fire.
He gives me a light kiss on the forehead and moves the last of the dishes onto the room service cart and pushes it into the hall. When he returns, he holds a hand out to me, “How about you unpack, change into something comfortable and we can order a movie?”
“Sounds good.” He carries my suitcase into the bedroom and places it on the bed with a smile.
Grabbing the remote, he searches for the movie channels. “What movie do you want to watch?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I guess there’s just something weird about the movie star asking for my opinion on a movie.”
