“Just a favor for a friend.”
The zipper finally let loose, shooting down a couple inches before he could stop the momentum. His hand brushed the curve of her butt when he grasped the material to pull it tight so he could run the zipper up in one smooth motion. It wasn’t until his fingers fumbled to connect the teeny little hook at the top before he was able to step back and draw in a lungful of air—that still smelled like cake.
“All set.” Relief and disappointment warred in his tight chest.
“Thank you.”
The breathless words had him fisting his hands to keep from reaching out for her. All the more difficult to resist now that he knew she wasn’t spoken for by another man—or three.
In the next moment, she flipped her hair back over her shoulder and crossed to the bed to grab the pair of black heels lying on the comforter. He traced his gaze over the enticing curve of her shapely ass when she bent to secure one shoe, then the other. They were nothing more than a sole and two little straps to secure them on her feet, but they were sexy as hell with her dainty red toenails peeking out.
He slid his clenched hands into his pockets to camouflage his growing arousal as she scooped up all her things, stuffed them into her duffle, and zipped it shut.
“All right, then. I’ll get out of your way.” She crossed the room with the handle of her bag slung over her bare shoulder and her gaze fixed about chest level. “Again, sorry about the room mix-up.”
I’m not.
Definitely not in my way.
You can get naked in my bedroom any time you’d like.
Merit would’ve said any or all of those things out loud. Asher stood aside for her to pass with a quiet, “Not a problem. Can I carry that for you?”
“I got it, thank you. I’m going to put it in my car right away.” She paused, shifted her stance while glancing toward the stairs, then gave his chest a quick smile. “I guess I’ll see you down there.”
“Yep.”
Another brief curve of her mouth, a second of hesitation as her gaze dipped, and then she abruptly walked away. He released a low groan under his breath as he watched the subtle sway of her hips before a shift of the duffle blocked his view. When that flaming mane of hers disappeared below the top step, he remembered he’d come upstairs for more than the unexpected wardrobe assist.
That’s right. He was supposed to put his bag in his room, make sure Shelby didn’t still have her nose stuck in her veterinary books, and round up everyone to help greet the arriving guests.
He bent to pull his camera from his equipment bag when he saw Merit in the hall, walking toward him with a shit-eating grin. He met up with him in front of Loyal’s room. His youngest brother’s eyebrows rose until they disappeared behind the unruly mop of hair tumbling over his forehead.
“Never thought I’d see the day Angel Asher snuck a woman out of his room.”
God, he hated that nickname. Roxanna’s was ten times better and even then, he only tolerated it because it was Roxanna. “There was no sneaking going on.”
“There you go. Own it.”
Asher rolled his eyes, though reluctant humor did tug at his lips as he rapped on Loyal’s door, then cracked it open to warn, “Mom wants us downstairs pronto.”
“I can’t tie this damn tie,” his oldest brother groused as he came to the door in his tux.
“Ash got a quickie in with a sexy little redhead before the party started,” Merit said with a grin.
“Help him.” He shoved his loud-mouth brother toward the fashion challenged one before moving across the hall to Shelby’s room. “And grow up, moron. Nothing happened.”
Though, now that he knew Honor wasn’t engaged or dating the guy from the wedding, he wouldn’t have objected if it had. But not here. While their parents weren’t stupid enough to believe their kids didn’t have sex, ‘shenanigans’ were expressly forbidden on the second floor until they were married.
Merit worked his magic on Loyal’s bow tie as he tossed over his shoulder, “Right. Nothing happened. You were just helping her put her dress back on for no reason at all.”
Clearly, Merit had no problem breaking the rules.
Loyal cocked a questioning eyebrow and Asher shook his head. “She baked the anniversary cake, and Celia sent her up here to change. All I did was help with her zipper.”
“That’s your story?” Merit scoffed.
“That’s what happened. Now drop it.”
Shelby opened her door and stepped out in a little black dress and heels similar to Honor’s. Geezus. When had his baby sister become a woman? He was used to seeing her in her vet tech scrubs and glasses. Even with her dark, signature Diamond hair pulled back into a smooth ponytail, her outfit, contacts, and makeup made her look much older than twenty-three.
She eyed the camera in Asher’s hand with resignation. “Show time?”
“Yeah.” He gestured for her to go first, then waited while the other two followed.
As they all headed toward the stairs, Merit asked, “Where’s Mini-Mom?”
“Probably with Main-Mom,” Shelby answered.
“That stopped being funny ten years ago,” Loyal admonished.
“But it’s still true,” she shot back.
“So true,” Asher confirmed. “They were rearranging the flower arrangements when I arrived.”
As usual, the stairs had been cordoned off at the bottom to keep guests from the second floor, and Shelby and Merit turned to face him and Loyal for their usual huddle up before political shindigs.
“You all know Dad’s announcing his senate run, right?” he asked.
They each nodded, and he took note of the mixed emotions on his siblings’ faces. Shelby’s lashes lowered to cover her dismay, but the downturn of her mouth gave it away. Merit was more than happy to welcome the spotlight, and the brighter the better. Loyal’s stoic expression didn’t give much indication of his feelings either way. Typical.
“All right, then,” Asher said. “Everyone on their best behavior.”
It was a warning meant for their younger brother, but the horn-dog just grinned as they each put their hands in for a quick pile and break. The first time they’d done it as a joke, but over the years it had become a secret little tradition he actually looked forward to. It grounded him, while at the same time reinforced they had each others’ backs. It was nice to have Loyal back in the huddle tonight. He’d been absent for most of them the past four years.
“FYI,” Merit said in a stage whisper, “I got dibs on the wine cellar after ten o’clock.”
Loyal frowned. “Show a little class, Mooch.”
Merit’s gaze narrowed at the hated nickname. “You should try it sometime. You might have better luck getting ‘em to the cellar than the altar.”
Their oldest brother’s jaw clenched. “Fuck you.”
Shelby backhanded Merit on the arm as Loyal stalked away. “I can’t believe you said that.”
He shrugged, and she shook her head as she left as well. He turned his mutinous gaze toward Asher. “No one can take a joke around here anymore?”
Except it hadn’t been a joke, and they both knew it. Hell, they all knew it. “Like I said before, Merit. Grow the hell up.”
Leaving him there, he made his way into the growing crowd of guests. Much as he loved his little brother, he’d had just about enough of him already tonight. Loyal had headed straight to the bar. When his oldest brother turned around with a healthy glass of his usual Black Maple Hill bourbon, he acknowledged Asher’s silent concern with a tight nod. He nodded back, and eased back against the wall to fiddle with the settings on his camera.
Wine-red hair and a burgundy dress flashed in the corner of his eye. Just that one glimpse reeled him in like one of the Rocky Mountain spotted trout mounted on Grandpa Ira’s wall. He raised his camera to zoom in on Honor talking with an older couple near the French doors leading out to the patio. The smile on her glossed lips lit up her eyes and rounded her freckle-dotted cheeks.
Time slowed even as his heart skipped and dipped before thumping so fast his breath caught in his chest.
She’s The One.
The thought hit hard, and he swallowed hard as his pulse continued to race. From fear or excitement, he wasn’t entirely sure, but then, he realized he’d felt an inexplicable connection to her from the moment he first laid eyes on her. Acting on it had been impossible when he thought she was engaged, but now, the impossible was entirely possible.
His heartbeat settled to a more normal rhythm as acceptance sank in. Followed by approval, and definite anticipation.
It was time he took a page out of Merit’s book and went after what he wanted. Right?
Right. Difference was, he wasn’t only looking for a one night stand or fifteen minutes in the wine cellar.
His feet itched to carry him to her side and jump right in. But the weight of what was at stake slowed his roll. As the song went, only fools rush in. Honor Hartman wasn’t a woman he wanted to make a fool of himself over. Not in that way, anyway.
Forcing himself to take it slow, Asher gradually made his way across the room under the guise of taking pictures of his parents’ guests. Unlike at the wedding where he used his camera to avoid her, tonight she was fully in focus.
Chapter 9
The hair on Honor’s arms prickled for the third time in as many hours, and it had nothing to do with the cool evening air. Even with her shoulders bare, the patio heating lamps provided plenty of warmth. No, this was something else entirely. Someone else.
While casting a surreptitious glance around, she raised her champagne glass to her lips. The bubbles were long gone, the sweet liquid now lukewarm, but holding the drink gave her something to do with her hands while talking to people.
Sure enough. In the middle of her pretend sip, her gaze landed on Asher’s profile about three feet away as he snapped a photo of his father shaking hands with a nun. The governor left the woman with an ear to ear grin before placing his hand on his wife’s back to guide her to a podium set up on a raised dais at the far edge of the huge patio.
It was crazy how awareness flared to life when the younger Diamond was within her vicinity, and yet when Celia made introductions earlier, there hadn’t been a single tingle with either of his handsome brothers, or her fiancé, Robert. The older brother had a solemn intensity about him, while the youngest one was an outright charmer she recalled seeing at the wedding last weekend. He’d seemed equally…charming…then, too.
By comparison, Asher wasn’t even looking at her, and clear as day, she could picture his amber irises framed by thick, dark lashes. Her heart thumped hard in her chest as she recalled how she’d barely been able to breathe while he fixed her zipper. The graze of his warm hand on her back and her butt nearly had her hyperventilating.
It was a miracle she’d managed to walk away when the urge to turn around and press up against his tall body left her stomach quivering with the most intense longing. Hell, a move like that would’ve had her thinking of pulling him into the room and shutting the door. Undoing that perfect bowtie of his, stripping off his shirt, and seeing what he looked like lying on a bed for real instead of only in her late night fantasies. (And a few daydreams, too.)
Yep. It was an honest to God miracle she’d retained enough common sense to walk away.
When he’d come downstairs for the party, he’d circled close a few times while taking pictures, but they hadn’t spoken again. She dreaded and anticipated the moment they were face to face because it seemed something had changed upstairs, after he’d learned she wasn’t engaged—to two men.
Sheesh. He must’ve thought she was a real piece of work to accept a ring from two different guys while going to a wedding with a third. No wonder he’d given her the cold shoulder.
But now…now she had the distinct feeling if that had been what was holding him back, she was in trouble. Up in the doorway of his room, he hadn’t even tried to hide the heat in his gorgeous eyes when she’d met his gaze over her shoulder. Just thinking about the moment made her body go hot and her breath turn shallow.
Governor Diamond called for his guests’ attention from the podium. The older man was as dashing up there as his sons, and Mrs. Diamond looked like a movie star on the red carpet with her dark hair in an elegant up-do, diamonds sparkling at her ears and throat, and a long sleeved, floor length white gown hugging her svelte figure. As the governor thanked his wife, family, and staff for their hard work, Honor was able to lean against a nearby column and watch Asher while his attention was wholly focused on his parents.
So many wants and wishes ran through her mind. Unfortunately, whatever may have changed for him, nothing had changed for her. He was still her neighbor, and worse, he was a Diamond. No matter how fast the guy made her pulse race, she couldn’t risk losing the commission from his sister’s wedding.
But after the wedding—
No—neighbor.
The firm reminder made her sigh with disappointment.
“He’s a great guy.”
Honor started at the hushed female voice directly to her right. She turned her head to see the tall, willowy brunette who’d been with Asher at the wedding the weekend before. She’d seen them together tonight, though again, she got the distinct impression they were friends, not lovers.
The woman was probably close to her age, with a cascade of incredible curls that reached nearly to her waist. She wore a dark pair of wide-leg, tye-dyed silk pants paired with a sleek black halter top. Not many women could pull off such an outfit, but she managed to look exotic and elegant all at once. A quick downward glance had her thinking Mae would be so jealous of her black boots.
After offering a quick smile, Honor returned her attention back to the podium. “The Governor seems very nice, though I’ve only met him briefly.”
The brunette tipped her head slightly to the right while she sipped some reddish-orange, fruity-looking drink. “I meant Asher.”
She realized her sigh must’ve made her sound like a love-sick school girl. “We’ve barely met. I don’t know him well enough to say if he’s great or not.”
“Well, I do, and he is.”
Lucky you. With a sideways glance, she asked, “How long have you two been together?”
“Me and Ace? Oh, God no.” The woman laughed softly while giving a delicate shudder. “That would be like dating my brother. Not that I have a brother, but I imagine that’s what it would feel like.”
The concrete confirmation sparked relief she had no business feeling. “Ace?”
“Just a nickname.” She extended her free hand. “I’m Roxanna, by the way.”
“Honor.”
When she accepted Roxanna’s handshake, the woman’s grip tightened as her eyes widened. Then she jerked free, her sculpted eyebrows drawn down in a frown.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “Static electricity.”
Honor hadn’t felt anything…but, o-kay.
“You’re the wedding cake baker.”
“I am. I did the anniversary cakes for tonight, too.” Celia had made numerous introductions and provided plenty of networking opportunities.
“They’re beautiful.” The flat note of Roxanna’s voice didn’t match the complimentary words.
“Thanks.” I think?
The conversation stalled, and she tuned back into the governor’s speech. He’d moved on from thanking their guests to telling the story about his and Mrs. Diamond’s first meeting. As he waxed poetic about their thirty-five years of marriage with their five children standing by, she couldn’t help but think of her parents’ seven divorces. Four for Mom, three for Dad. None of them amicable.
“I love their story,” Roxanna murmured beside her. “It’s inspiring to see love so lasting.”
“They’re an exception, not the rule,” she commented with an absent glance sideways.
The woman’s brown gaze narrowed defensively. “No. Diamonds don’t divorce. It’s like the golden rule of the family. The gover
nor’s parents have been married for fifty-five years. And each of Asher’s uncles have been married at least twenty-five to thirty years, as well.”
Honor shrugged. She didn’t begrudge any of them their happiness, but the Diamonds’ track records meant nothing to her. A few couples with long marriages were simply anecdotal no matter what type of ‘rule’ they deluded themselves with.
“Diamond men are in it for the long haul.”
The statement sounded like a warning, but Roxanna’s expression gave no clues, so she looked back toward the podium. Standing slightly behind the rest of the siblings, Asher’s youngest brother flirted with yet another pretty female guest as the rest of the family listened to their father’s speech.
“I doubt that one got the memo.”
Roxanna grimaced. “Merit’s a bit of a playboy, but trust me, Asher’s the complete opposite.”
As if to illustrate that point, the photographer shot his brother a glare over his shoulder that made the younger guy roll his eyes. He whispered something to the blond woman, then dutifully turned his grin to the podium as he slid his hands in his pockets.
Even from a distance, Honor could see the annoyed clench of Asher’s jaw—until he glanced her way, and his expression softened. Her pulse skipped when he flashed a quick smile. It wasn’t until after his mother stepped up to the microphone and he lifted his camera once again that she realized he’d probably been smiling at his friend, not her.
A sneak peek sideways brought her all the way around in surprise. Roxanna had faded back into the crowd as quietly as she’d appeared. Hmm. Honor faced the podium again, her mind replaying the past couple of minutes.
Odd as the exchange had been, and whatever the reasons for it, the brunette’s comments reinforced the fact she needed to shut down her insane attraction for Asher Diamond.
He was a long haul guy. She was a short-term girl.
Diamonds didn’t divorce; Hartmans always divorced.
Bottom line, neighbors, Diamonds, and long hauls were completely off-limits.
Another heat-inducing look across the room told her if presented with another moment similar to in the hallway outside his room, she wasn’t so sure she could trust her willpower or her common sense. The only way of shutting down her body’s magnetic attraction to the man was to leave now and avoid contact.
Must Love Frosting Page 6