All the Days After

by Carrie Thorne

  Offering her credit card to Jillian before the bill even arrived, Denise nodded. “Sure thing. But I’ll have to put some of those jalapenos on the side or your dad will have to chase it with a whole bottle of Tums.”

  “I can pay for mine, Denise. You don’t have to–” Sophie hated others covering any expenses for her. Freeloading, even if happily offered, was a painful reminder of her aunt.

  Denise winked at her, “I wanted to. It’s because you argue that I want to treat now and again.”

  After all was paid up, the four meandered out to the parking lot. “Hope you don’t mind, Mom, but I borrowed your car. Truck still wouldn’t start today.”

  Denise nodded, “That’s just fine. I was thinking of bringing my box of leftovers to your dad anyway, so why don’t you hop in with the girls and I’ll take my car. He just texted me; he’ll be working late tonight. Inventory tomorrow and their early counts aren’t adding up.”

  Sophie didn’t quite know Asher well enough to read his expression, but he was clearly not impressed. His expression turned grim in uneasy acceptance. He handed his mother her keys and climbed in the backseat of Sophie’s CR-V.

  As soon as the engine started and they were moving, Pippa immediately started back in on wedding talk. Surprisingly, she’d made it through a good part of dinner without talking about it. Understandable; it was a big deal and she’d had too much to worry about with exams, graduating on time, job interviews. She hadn’t been able to focus on the wedding much before now.

  “I can’t wait to see us all in our formalwear. The bridesmaid dresses with their old-fashioned silk will complement the old-fashioned lace of mine so well.” Pippa babbled a mile a minute, overjoyed by the day’s accomplishments and the next steps on her calendar.

  Rolling her eyes adoringly, Sophie glanced in the rearview mirror. Asher held a similar expression, fond of his sister but not at all on her same page. Sophie savored in the stolen glance at him, his chiseled features softened with love and amusement. Until his eyes met Sophie’s in the mirror.

  Briefly, they shared a silly smile and eyebrow raise over Pippa’s animated descriptions of her vision. Sophie felt a bubble of heat forming low in her belly as his gaze locked with hers. Focusing on the road, Sophie couldn’t help but glance back again a few moments later. Big mistake.

  Taking advantage of her concentration elsewhere, Asher had been watching her. His expression was no longer jovial. Something darker, penetrating, hungry. Forcing breath in and out, Sophie had to remind herself how to get home.

  5

  T-Minus 12 Days

  Asher doubled his normal run this morning. After yet another night of fucking erotic dreams, he awoke writhing and imagining Sophie doing some dirty, possibly illegal deeds with his body. Hopefully some extra distance on his run this morning would tame that raging erection that just wouldn’t quit.

  Every morning since she’d arrived, he’d passed Sophie on the trail, then quietly sipped coffee with her while watching the sunrise. Again, he passed her this morning as they ran the trail in their normal opposite directions. A glutton for punishment, he ensured he timed it right to pass her on the run every day. She ran like Wonder Woman, agile and determined.

  He was starting to get hooked on their morning routine. She didn’t push like his family. Instead, she was content to sit quietly with him and enjoy the moment.

  Sometimes they’d make casual conversation. Comments on Pippa’s wedding plans. About the weather. How that last hill on the trail to return to the house was downright murder. She was easy to talk to. Never made him feel judged or foolish. Easy to look at, too.

  He’d left early in the hopes that the extra distance wouldn’t make him miss sunrise. Normally, he was running to escape the damn demons that haunted him each night. Not the last few nights; those dreams were painful in a very different, very pleasant way.

  The nightmares really weren’t as bad lately. He slept well most of the time, but now and again, one would wake him and leave him sobbing. Getting back to sleep after one of those was damn near impossible. Thoughts of Sophie were a welcome diversion.

  Wiped out, about gasping for breath, he slipped off his running shoes and padded across the house in his socks. Huh, maybe she was already done with her run, as they hadn’t passed on the trail. She wasn’t on the patio yet, nor was she in the kitchen. Perfect; he hadn’t missed her. Sunrise, it was sunrise he got up for every morning, not Sophie.

  The house was still dim, save for the kitchen and stairwell nightlights to light his way. The predawn gray glow was starting to morph into a deep orange that saved him from a bruised knee as he nearly crashed into the table at the top of the stairs.

  Shutting himself in his bedroom, he flicked on the excessively bright overhead light and peeled off his running shorts. Studying his shoes, he scowled. Damn, these were wearing out already. He may not invest much in his wardrobe, but good running shoes were critical. Wear something uncomfortable or broken, and he was off his feet for a week or more.

  Rushing so he could catch Sophie and the sunrise, he opened the lever door to the bathroom and realized his mistake almost immediately. She wasn’t downstairs or outside or still running because she was in the shower. Getting out, actually.

  Sophie stepped out of the shower, her skin pinked from the heat, her wet body slick and toned. He instantly went rock hard. The blood all rushing south, he stood like a moron, his feet glued in place.

  “Asher.” She looked as shocked and sounded as breathless as he felt.

  Both stood awkwardly in place, staring at each other’s naked, wet body. He tried not to stare. Well, maybe not. The opportunity was too good to pass up.

  She was so fit, but those breasts were so pert and would be a perfect handful. Her confused, lush lower lip was red from the steamy shower, just waiting to be sucked on.

  Stop it. Not going there.

  Although, she looked equally pleased with what she saw. Until her eyes landed on his rock-hard erection. The corner of her mouth quirked up in amusement. Feeling suddenly shy, he tried to cover himself. No towels on the shelf, he looked like a moron with his hands covering his raging hard-on.

  “I’m so sorry.” He slowly started to back out of the room.

  “Not to worry, my fault. I thought I locked it.” She searched the empty shelf for a towel, making do with the hand towel next to the sink. What was she planning to cover with it?

  Trying to be helpful, to distract himself, and maybe stay an extra few seconds to enjoy the view, he nodded towards the switches on the wall. “It’s, uh, there’s a button to lock both doors.”

  Not covering, just drying. She was a cruel, mean-spirited, outrageously sexy woman. Did she have to linger, caressing each breast with the towel as she dried it? Run the towel leisurely down each long leg? She pretended to pay attention to his instructions, glancing at the switches he’d pointed to.

  Trying to maintain a shred of modesty, he kept one hand over the goods, well, as effectively as he could, as there was a fine line between covering a full hard on and just plain holding it. Regardless, he showed her the locking mechanism with his free hand. Not that she was shy in the least, apparently, not bothering to hide anything with the hand towel.

  “See, there’s one button to lock just your door, but this other button locks both electronically.”

  She smiled sheepishly. Who knew sheepish was so damn sexy? Well, it was on her anyway.

  “I’ll just leave you to finish up.” He slowly backed out of the bathroom.

  “I’ll be just a moment. By the way, there aren’t any towels.” She winked at him as he closed the door.

  Keeping his hands off of her was going to be damn near impossible. He was already having a hard enough time. Dammit, don’t say hard.

  He was having a difficult enough time before but didn’t see her more than their morning routine, and then again at dinner with his family, so it was all aboveboard. Otherwise, he spent most of his time in the garage just avoiding
her, so he didn’t get too close.

  Now, her lithe, naked body was going to take up permanent residence in his head. He didn’t know many accountants, but doubted many others looked quite like she did. Or reacted so nonchalantly in a situation that totally floored him, and he didn’t blush easily.

  ***

  Sophie’s heart was about to beat right out of her chest. The thundering was downright deafening. She’d about lost it, especially when she’d seen he was rock hard. Just looking at her? Kinda flattering really.

  Surely, she should be horrified. But she just couldn’t make herself not replay the moment over and over in her head. It hadn’t been easy to stay so calm; she had to build a spreadsheet in her mind and try to solve the national deficit to keep her mind off of his spectacular body. He was not just built, he was… built. Damn, she was overheating just thinking about it.

  She’d seriously dated a few times. Had been intimate with a number of no-commitment partners in her brief wild period. None had made her feel anything even close to what she’d felt just now.

  The way he looked at her. No one had ever looked at her so lustfully. Had made her feel so desired.

  Cracking open the door to his bedroom, she let him know she was done and dashed into her room before he could see her bare ass as she fled the bathroom. Typical, no towels, today of all days.

  Not a problem, Sophie would jump in and move things along. Never wanting to wear out her welcome, Sophie always helped with chores. And she liked staying busy.

  Throwing on a sundress as bright and breezy as her mood, she floated down the stairs. Her attitude was unbeatably light this morning. Despite consciously knowing she should be feeling guilty for her very dirty thoughts, she couldn’t help but feel she was floating on a white puffy cloud of imagination.

  Pouring two cups of coffee, she brought Asher’s cup outside and set it on his chair next to hers. Sunrise was still a few minutes out. Hopefully he wouldn’t dawdle and miss it. Although, after his reaction to her a few moments ago, she’d know why he was delayed in the shower.

  He didn’t disappoint. She was almost afraid he’d avoid her now that they both had each other’s wet, naked bodies permanently tattooed in their memories. Dressed in tan cargo shorts and a snug t-shirt with NAVY written across it, he joined her directly outside and picked up his coffee as he slid into his chair just in time.

  Taking a sip of the hot coffee, he broke the silence before it became awkward. “So. That was interesting.”

  Coffee cup hovering at her lips, she poorly hid her almost-maybe-embarrassed grin and licked her lips before taking a sip. “Interesting. Good word for it.”

  “Nice body. By the way.” He avoided eye contact, instead staring ahead at the impending sunrise. His cheeks were tight, fighting the corners of his mouth turning up in amusement.

  “Thanks, I work out. And ditto.” Might as well be honest. She usually didn’t get to be honest in relationships. That’s okay, I like pepperoni on my pizza… Your mother didn’t hurt my feelings at all… Of course I orgasmed, you’re a stallion.

  Not that this was a relationship. It wasn’t. Couldn’t be. If for no other reason, and there must be good reasons, Pippa would kill them both. She couldn’t do that to her best friend.

  “I like your tattoo, what’s it of?” Amused grin gone, he looked like he actually was interested. Few had cared before, more aroused by its location.

  Even fewer actually got to see her tattoo. Sophie blushed. Dumb idea for when she has children someday, but she hadn’t been thinking of that when she requested it placed on her right low abdomen just above her hairline. It could be seen if she wore a skimpy bikini, but otherwise it was her little secret. Which was part of why she’d chosen the location.

  “It’s a Scandinavian compass. I went a little nuts when I turned eighteen and lived on my own. Since my mom died, I’ve never really had a home. Somewhere in my youthful logic, I figured it might help me to find my way home one day, guiding my choices along the way, as the myth behind it tells. Besides, it looked good with the belly button ring I had around the same time.”

  “It must be working. You seem pretty set on the whole home and direction part of life.” He sipped his coffee slowly, watching the sky in the distance. Not pushing, but supporting. “Why did you get rid of the belly button ring? Bet you looked fucking hot in it.”

  She grinned, enjoying his compliments. As the proper accountant she’d become, her last few boyfriends would never have used phrases like fucking hot to describe her. More like, lovely.

  Lovely was nice to hear. But there was nothing like having a fucking hot Navy SEAL be unable to describe her attractiveness without expletives. And, for him to get a spontaneous erection just looking at her naked body.

  “How did you get out of the military without any tattoos?” None that she’d seen, anyway. And she’d seen more than she’d bargained for.

  “Can’t make up my mind. Everything seems too trite or fleeting or excessive. Maybe someday. Once I figure out what I want.” He was very matter of fact. Didn’t seem bothered by his indecision. Or he was accepting of it anyway.

  “Makes sense.”

  They sat in silence again. Not awkwardly, more of an understanding sort of quiet.

  “Why accounting?” He glanced her way, not seeming to care that he was missing the moment the sun was coming over the mountains. His expression was curious, genuine.

  “It may sound boring, but I like numbers. Making sense of a budget, making it last.”

  “It doesn’t sound boring. It sounds like it makes you happy.” He looked back to the sunrise, but it was too late, the sun was too bright to look at.

  He didn’t seem to notice he’d missed anything, glancing back to her. Answering her question before she had a chance to ask, he shared a bit of himself with her… the gooey center, not the drool-worthy outside this time. “Everyone thinks I joined because I needed the adrenaline rush. They’re not entirely wrong, but I knew I was going to end up high on something, get some girl pregnant, or just plain wasting my life away doing nothing relevant. Honestly, despite my stupidity, I wasn’t a complete moron. I never did any heavy drugs. I never committed any felonies, nor have I been arrested. A few speeding tickets over the years, but nothing major. And, I have never not used a condom, contracted any STDs, or gotten anyone pregnant.”

  He was serious. Must have scared himself with his prior juvenile path of self-destruction.

  “They don’t let just anyone be a SEAL.”

  He laughed at that, the wood of his chair squeaking under his weight as he turned in his chair to face her, his knee resting against the arm of the chair. “No, they don’t.”

  “I don’t think Pippa has had a rebellious day in her life. Where did you get your roguish streak?” She shifted towards him as well, their bodies only separated by the arms of their chairs.

  Shrugging, he contemplated for a moment. “I didn’t want to work at Sutherland’s Hardware Store, so I did just about everything I could come up with to convince Dad it wasn’t for me. When drugs and sex didn’t work, I went to college. When that didn’t work, I joined the Navy and bought myself eight more years.”

  Stretching his legs in front of him before resting his arms behind his head and melting into the chair, he sighed before continuing. “I didn’t have a clue what I wanted out of life; I just knew it wasn’t the same things he wanted for me. Pippa wasn’t interested either. She got out of it by expressing her interest in being a sweet little elementary school teacher, which, we all know Pippa, and you don’t question her plans.”

  “None of your impressive, very respectable endeavors seemed to appease him?” Sophie curled up as unconsciously close to him as she could get without actually touching him, or that would cross a line that shouldn’t be crossed.

  “It was easier to have a little fun and let him cringe at the fallout of my dastardly deeds.” Finally rising from his chair, he held out a hand. Sophie let him help her out of the deep chair.<
br />
  Standing toe to toe, she realized just how much taller he was. And she wasn’t short. “And now he expects you to step up?”

  “Even if I wanted to, I’m still working on fixing me after the shit that I went through.” Leaning down, he paused before their lips met, then let his lips brush across hers before pulling away. Yearning stirred low in her belly, burning from deeper in her core.

  Releasing her hands, he added, “Pippa would kill me if I even hinted that I was interested in you.” He stepped backwards, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just want you to know. I’m more than interested, but I can’t.”

  Sophie picked up her coffee cup from the arm of the chair. She walked past Asher and stopped at the sliding glass door. Turning back, she smiled sorrowfully, “Ditto.”

  ***

  Lincoln was over for dinner and he and Pippa glowed talking about their day. They had spent hours planning the table layout, centerpieces, music playlist, other odds and ends Sophie never knew were a thing.

  Sophie was overwhelmed by the whole thing. Who knew even the color of tablecloth was such an ordeal? She just might have to elope.

  After dinner, everyone pitched in with dishes so they were done in a flash. Even Asher. She’d created a monster; a helpful one. Judging by his pink-hued socks, he was even trying his hand at laundry. Apparently, he’d hired it done while living alone, not having had a machine in his apartment.

  After dinner, Lincoln said his farewells and headed back to his and Grady’s place. While the others puttered for the evening, Pippa invited Sophie to join her on the front deck. Just the two of them, perfect. Maybe she could lay some groundwork. They sat in cushioned chairs around the propane fireplace and settled in around the fire to relax.

  Pippa sighed, looking out at the glow of the setting sun creating a soft luminosity on the mountains. “Am I too neurotic?”

  Trap! Don’t go walking into that. Why couldn’t she have studied psychology? “In what way do you feel neurotic?”