Page 8 of Finally Yours
“That’s kind of what you were wearing when I answered the door.” He shrugs, “so I really have no idea.”
I close my eyes and try to remember.Oh shit.Images slide through my brain at a rapid pace. Reina and Sophie’s advice to seduce Asher. Me getting home drunk after a few beers and deciding to go out again. Calling an Uber and deciding to wear this lingerie under my coat. Showing up on his doorstep…everything is definitively foggy after that.
My eyes grow wide. “Did we,” I gulp, “did we do anything?” I can’t decide if I wish we did or I hope we didn’t.
A wry grin appears on Asher’s face. “No, you kind of, um, fell asleep pretty soon after you got here.”
I hold a hand to my head. “Oh, thank God. I’m so damn sorry.” I can’t even look him in the eye. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Now, I’ve embarrassed myself and he’ll never thinkof me as anything other than an immature kid trying to get his attention.
He pulls my hand away and says, “Look at me, Lyla.”
I finally meet his green-eyed gaze. In his eyes, I see sympathy and affection. It’s the affection that soothes me.
“There’s no reason to be embarrassed. You did nothing wrong. And,” he heaves a deep sigh, “if you hadn’t been so drunk I don’t know if I could have resisted you.”
“Really?” I squeak in a high voice and then swallow. “Really?” I ask again in a more normal voice.Act cool, Lyla. Don’t act like the goof you usually are.
He smiles. “Really. I want you, Lyla. Like I said the other day, I’ve wanted you for a long time.” His smile turns sad and that damn sympathetic look in his eyes grows. Fuck, I hate when this man feels sorry for me. “But that doesn’t mean we should act on it. I’m not the one for you.”
“But why?” I raise my hand to his cheek. “Help me understand. Why are you so certain that we won’t work?”
He swallows. “Because we want different things, sweet girl. You deserve a husband and kids. You deserve the family with the white picket fence. I can’t give you that. I can’t give any woman that.”
I shake my head. “I don’t need that right now. I just need you.” I don’t deny that one day I want to get married. I do. I can’t deny I want kids. I do. But maybe he’ll change his mind one day? Maybe we could make it work, even temporarily? Right now, having him, even for a little while would feel like heaven.
“No, Lyla,” he says firmly. “I won’t let you do that to yourself. I won’t let you settle for less than what you deserve.”
I search his eyes for something, I’m not sure what. Maybe something deeper than affection or sympathy. Whatever it is, I don’t see it in those depths of green.
I grab the mug from his hand. “Then I guess there’s nothing more to say about it.”
I won’t bother him again. I won’t beg any man, no matter how much I love him. It’s time to finally let him go. It’s what I must do.
Chapter Nine
I’m older and more mature, so I did the right thing, didn’t I? - Asher
Asher
Lyla throws back her head as she laughs at something the new resident just said. I grind my teeth when she grabs his arm.What the hell could Dr. Jonathan Felix have said that is so damn funny?He’s never made me laugh before. Fucking youngster.I narrow my eyes as I watch the two of them together.
Lyla’s blue eyes sparkle when Dr. Felix chuckles and then points at something in the chart he’s holding. Dr. Felix steps closer to her and my hands curl into fists.
“You’re looking rather feisty today, son. Did you have enough bran in your breakfast? Constipation can be difficult, especially as you get older,” Dr. Blanchard’s voice breaks through my haze of rage.
I glance over at him, and he laughs. “You look ready to kill someone. Either your bowels haven’t moved or you’re ready to punch young Dr. Felix over there for talking to your girl.”
I roll my eyes and slam the chart in my hand down on the counter. “I’m fine,” I say through gritted teeth, “And no I’m not constipated. Thanks for your concern.”
Dr. Blanchard slaps me on the back. “Guessing you don’t like Dr. Felix talking to our Lyla then.”
I hear Lyla’s tinkling laugh again and my shoulders tense. She usually only laughs like that for me.
“What did I tell you, son? You need to make a move, because if you don’t, some other young buck will.” His gaze slides over to where Dr. Felix and Lyla stand talking still. “And it looks like Felix is throwing his hat in the ring.” He shakes his head. “Good looking fella. And young. Probably doesn’t have your anger issues either.”
I tighten the grip on the pen in my hand until it snaps and ink splatters on my hand.Fuck me.
Dr. Blanchard sends my pen a pointed look. “See, that right there is a turn off. Got to get that anger under control, buddy.”
