Asher (A Wesley Brothers Novel Book 3)

by Michelle Smith

  What I see has me shaking my head in laughter.

  Ms. Crabtree and a few of her friends are standing around Ash, who’s straddling a motorcycle, and oh my God does he look good. I had no clue he even owned a bike.

  I step out into the breezeway a few feet, then clear my throat to get their attention. Ash’s gaze meets mine first, and the broad smile across his handsome face hits me right in the chest. A simple look from this man can set my heart fluttering.

  The other ladies turn their attention to me, Ms. Crabtree the first to speak. “You didn’t tell me your boyfriend rode a motorcycle.”

  I cut my eyes to Ash, curious to see his reaction to Ms. Crabtree calling him my boyfriend. I love my neighbor, but she knows damned well Ash isn’t my boyfriend. We had this discussion the day after the first night Ash spent here.

  The smile never drops from his face, so if he’s rattled by what she said, he doesn’t show it. Still, I don’t bother correcting her. “That’s because I didn’t know he had a motorcycle.” My eyes bounce back to his. “Hey.”

  Ash slides his fingers through his hair, the thick brown strands all mussed up from his helmet. “Hey. You about ready to go?”

  I hitch a thumb over my shoulder. “Yeah, let me lock up and get my bag.” He nods in understanding, and I leave him with his groupies while I run to get my things.

  Stepping inside my front door, I grab the backpack I left sitting there earlier today, the one Ash told me to pack and bring with us tonight. The plan is to stay the night at his house and go into work together in the morning. I'm a little nervous. Up until this point, we've spent most of our time together at work, except for the night after the party when he came back here and left early the next morning.

  Slinging the backpack over my shoulder and threading my arms through the straps, I back out the door and lock it, pocketing the keys before heading back down the breezeway to the parking space where Ash is waiting for me, now alone.

  “Where did your fan club go?” I can't help but tease him, especially when doing so rewards me with one of those charming, boyish smiles he occasionally gives. No wonder Ms. Crabtree is smitten.

  “They went inside to start their book club meeting. We have an open invitation to join them, if you're interested.”

  This makes me smile. I've been invited to Ms. Crabtree's book club meetings many times before. The indifferent expression on Ash's face tells me she didn't tell him it's an erotic book club.

  “Hey, I'm game if you are. I wouldn’t want to deny you the opportunity to sit around with a bunch of grandmas and talk erotic literature.”

  His smile droops a bit on his face, but he recovers quickly. “They read dirty books?”

  “The dirtier the better, according to Ms. Crabtree.”

  This revelation has Ash throwing his head back, a full laugh escaping from him. He shakes his head once he regains his composure. “And here I thought she was another sweet little old lady.”

  “She still is, but she has a whole other side to her.”

  Standing to his full height and swinging his leg over the side, Ash climbs off the motorcycle and takes two long strides to reach me. When he does, he cups my face in his hand and strokes his thumb across my cheek. He takes in my expression for a moment before dipping in and pressing his lips against mine. He tastes like cinnamon, the flavor bursting across my tongue with every stroke of his.

  He pulls away, leaving me breathless. “What was that for?”

  Stepping close, he gives me another quick peck on the lips. “Every girl deserves a proper hello.” A smile splits his face as he entwines his fingers with mine and walks us back to the bike.

  I think my heart might have skipped a beat. I feel like a teenager, a giggle threatening to burst through. Clearing my throat, I get myself under control. “I didn't know you rode a motorcycle.” I’m not surprised though. He’s fun, adventurous, and seems like the type of guy who likes to live on the edge sometimes. I can see how a motorcycle would help him achieve that. Granted, I only saw him on it for the first time a few minutes ago, but damn he looks good.

  Grabbing a second helmet hooked to the side of his bike, Ash fidgets with it. It's sleek, black, and shiny. “I do, but not nearly as much as I'd like to. Mostly weekends when I have the time and if the weather's good. Ever been on one before?”

  “Nope,” I shake my head. “I'm a motorcycle virgin.”

  Ash tugs me closer and whispers in my ear. “Well, I'm honored to be the one who gets to pop your cherry.” He kisses my cheek and pulls away, leveling me with a heated gaze and another smile.

  And a wink.

  Jesus.

  This man and his cheesy comments, but Christ, I bet my panties would remove themselves if they could right now. A wink from Ash is deadly but couple it with the heat in his gaze and a smile and it's lethal.

  Unsnapping the strap from the helmet, he slides it over my head, securing the strap and adjusting it for a snug fit. “Hop on behind me, put your feet up on the bar, and hang on tight. Got it?”

  I nod my head and he flips down the visor before climbing onto the bike. He secures his own helmet and reaches out a hand to me when he's done. Mimicking his movement, I swing my leg over the bike and settle in behind him, resting my feet where he pointed to earlier. My arms slide around his waist and I press my hands together tight against his stomach, pressing myself in close behind him. He rolls us backward out of the space and the engine roars to life when he turns the key. The vibrations of the motor course through my body, and on instinct I press tighter into him. Ash gives my hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze before putting his hand on the handlebar and pulling out of the parking lot.

  The day couldn't be more perfect for a ride. There's barely a cloud in the sky and the Florida sunshine beats down on us. Wind whips the ends of my hair hanging loose from the helmet and plasters Ash’s shirt to his body as we weave our way out of the city. I never understood why people liked to ride motorcycles, but now I see the draw. It's exhilarating. Clinging to the man in front of me only adds to the experience. I can feel his abdominal muscles contract with his movement, not to mention I’m being treated to some serious arm porn watching the muscles in his forearms and biceps flex as he steers.

  He turns into a long drive and follows the curves to a house I can only described as breathtaking. It’s large, two-stories, surrounded by plenty of land and beautiful trees.

  Ash takes the last few curves and pulls the bike into the circular drive, stopping it near a set of steps leading to the front door. He kills the engine and holds a hand out to help me climb off. Joining me next to the bike, we remove our helmets.

  “So, what did you think?”

  “That was so much fun!” I can’t wipe the smile from my face as I run a hand though my hair, smoothing it out. “Who knew riding behind you could be such a turn-on?”

  Ash returns my smile while putting our helmets on the bike. “You’re turned on?” I notice the heat in his eyes is back when he focuses them on me. I can’t look away.

  I nod. “The vibrations from the bike didn’t hurt either.”

  He laughs, shaking his head. “Come here.” He pulls me into him and plants his lips firmly against mine, his tongue sliding across my lips, begging for entry. I can’t deny him. The way he sweeps his tongue over mine, the way his lips devour me, I lose all sense of time and place. When his hands slide up to grip my neck and tangle in my hair, I’m a goner. Every nibble, every suck, every caress makes me want to hop back on the bike and have Ash take us back to his place.

  In the back of my mind, I hear the movement coming from the side of us on the porch, but it doesn’t register. I’m lost in the moment with Ash. Someone clearing their throat breaks the spell, and we pull away from each other

  “Man, you are lucky mom’s not out here to witness this.”

  Ash laughs. “Why? You think she’s going to ground me for making out with my girl?” He pulls me to him, taking my backpack off and putting it on the bike
seat. Slipping my hand in his, he walks up the stairs, tugging me in behind him.

  “No. But she will start planning your wedding and getting her list of suggested baby names ready.” The man laughs. His blue eyes, much like Ash’s, crinkle at the corners.

  “That, I don’t doubt,” Ash mumbles. “Baby, this is my younger brother, Nik. Nik, this is my girlfriend, Kara.”

  Girlfriend?

  Interesting.

  “Nice to meet you Kara.”

  “Nice to meet you, too.”

  Nik turns his attention back to Ash. “You’re the last one here. Mom was about two minutes away from blowing up your phone. She heard the bike and told me to come see if it was you, like it would be anybody else.” Nik pushes open the door, and Ash leads me in behind him, stopping us in the entryway, and tugging me closer to him. Nik goes on ahead.

  “Ready?”

  I let out a small breath with the nod of my head. “Let’s do this.”

  Chapter Nine

  Asher

  The living room is empty when we walk in, but I can hear noises coming from the dining room. The laughter and chatter from my family filters into the hallway, making me smile. It reminds me of all the chaos surrounding dinnertime with my brothers when we were kids. There was never a quiet moment.

  My mom is the first one to notice when we walk in. “Perfect timing, Asher. We’re getting ready to eat.” Putting down the platter in her hand, mom comes to greet me with a hug, something she insists on doing, no matter what.

  “Hey Mom.” She smiles brightly, pulling me down to her height and pressing a kiss to my cheek before turning her attention to Kara.

  “You must be Kara.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Wesley.”

  Mom pulls her in for a hug while chastising her. “Please, call me Leanne.”

  Kara smiles in acknowledgement as my dad gets up to greet her, wrapping her in a hug like my mother did. After he introduces himself, I breeze through the rest of the introductions. She already knows Sloan and Nora, and she met Nik at the door. The only ones left are Elizabeth, Cade, and Natalia.

  Kara and I take the last two open seats and spend the next few minutes passing dishes around the table, making our plates. Dad smoked a brisket in the smoker the guys and I bought him for Christmas last year and grilled some steaks and seafood to go along with it. Mom and the girls made loads of potato salad, southern baked beans, and plenty of other sides. Mom usually tries to go all-out when she does these family barbeques once a month. There’s always enough food to feed a small army.

  Conversation through dinner is light and easy, setting my mind at ease. My family can be very…inquisitive when someone brings a newbie into the fold. It’s why I often don’t bring girls around. When Sloan suggested I bring Kara, a million things crossed my mind, but fretting about her fitting in with my family never did. Her personality makes her instantly likable. They laugh at her funny stories, make her laugh at some of mine, and make her feel right at home. She’s won them over, and it sends a warm feeling through my chest. I honestly don’t know where this thing with Kara is headed but seeing how much my family likes her makes the possibilities a little more open.

  Dad rises from the table and the rest of us follow. When Kara begins clearing her plate to take to the kitchen, my mom stops her. “Oh, don’t worry about your dishes, honey. The boys will take care of it.”

  “I don’t mind, really. I’d love to help.”

  Mom’s not having it though. “Nonsense. You’re a guest in this house. And besides, these boys know the rules. We cook, they clean. Grab your drink and us ladies can head into the living room.”

  Kara looks around, watching Natalia, Nora, and Elizabeth grab their glasses and head out the doorway. “Are you sure?”

  “It’s fine babe.” Grabbing her glass off the table, I hand it to her, my fingertips brushing over hers. “Go relax. We’ve got it covered.” I bend to place a kiss against her lips, keeping it more chaste than I want to. “I’ll be in there in a few.”

  “Okay.” Her voice is soft, and with a sweet smile, she walks out of the room.

  Something is seriously wrong with me. I can’t wipe the stupid grin off my face. I stack the last few remaining place settings and gather them in my arms, making my way to the kitchen where my brothers are already busy at work. Mom’s rule has been in place for as long as I can remember, and years of experiencing it means we all know our place. We rotate through the chores every time, and tonight it’s my turn to be the one who puts away all the clean dishes.

  Nik is busy packing the leftovers into the containers Mom sends home with us every month. Sloan is up to his elbows in soapy dishwater and Cade is on rinsing/drying duty this time. He already has a small stack of dishes dried and ready for me to put away.

  “Kara seems nice,” he tells me, adding another dish to the stack. “I’m surprised you haven’t brought her around before. Where’ve you been hiding her?”

  “I can answer that question,” Sloan chuckles, drawing interest from my brothers.

  “Shut up, Sloan.”

  Nik stops scooping potato salad into the containers and lifts an eyebrow at me in curiosity. “No, don’t shut up, Sloan. What are you talking about?”

  Sloan laughs again. Asshole. “Don’t look at me. That’s Ash’s story to tell.”

  Cade stops what he’s doing and turns his attention to me. “What’s he talking about?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s definitely not ‘nothing,’” Nik chimes in.

  I let out a pent-up sigh. “He’s giving me a hard time because he caught Kara under my desk last week.”

  “Doing what?” Nik asks, and he raises one eyebrow in question. The look I give him must convey the answer he’s looking for because I don’t even need to say it. “Oh.”

  Cade laughs. “How the hell did that happen?”

  “Things got a little heated, and we forgot to lock the suite’s door. Kara panicked when Sloan came in and hid under the desk, since she was on the floor anyway.”

  “If she was already under the desk when you came in, how did you know she was there?” This time, Cade directs the question to Sloan.

  “His desk doesn’t reach the floor. I don’t think she realized that though.”

  “Neither of us did,” I tell Sloan. “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything about it to her. She doesn’t suspect that you know she was under the desk. And I don’t plan on telling her either.” She’s already done enough embarrassing things since she started working for me. I don’t want to run the risk of her trying to quit again if she finds out the truth.

  “Relax, Ash. None of us will say anything.” Sloan scrubs the last few pans Nik gives him and drops them into the sink for Cade to rinse. “You really like this girl, huh?”

  I grin at the thought of her. “Yeah, I really do.”

  “How much longer will she be working with you?”

  I contemplate Cade’s question for a second. I’ve given this a lot of thought over the last week. Though our time together is nearing its professional expiration date, I’m hoping I can convince Kara to continue seeing me. It’s only been a month since she blew into my life with her skirt up around her waist, but I’m not ready to give her up yet. And it’s not because of the amazing sex between us. I’m enjoying the non-sex aspect just as much. “Kendra’s supposed to come back in two weeks.

  “Has Kara found another job yet?” Sloan dries his hands on a dishtowel and tosses in onto the counter. “Where’s she going to go once Kendra comes back?”

  That’s the one thing I didn’t think about. “Not that I’m aware of. We haven’t really talked about it. I’m not sure what she’s going to do.”

  Natalia appears in the doorway, drawing our attention. “Your mom is looking for you guys. She’s anxious to find out why Cade insisted everyone be here for this barbeque.”

  Cade and Nik follow behind Natalia to head to the living room while Sloan hangs
back with me. “Hey, if you want, I can check around the office and see if anyone has an open position she might be interested in applying for.”

  “Thanks. I’ll talk to her about it and see what she says.”

  Sloan claps his hand on my shoulder and drops in behind me as we walk down the hallway and into the living room where everyone else is already seated—everyone except Cade and Nora. They’re standing up front waiting for Sloan and me to take our seats.

  Once we’re both seated, Cade starts talking. “I’m sure you all are curious why we asked you to be here tonight, but we had an announcement to make and we wanted to tell everyone at the same time.” He turns to Nora and takes her hands in his, the two of them smiling at each other. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what their announcement is. My mom is poised on the edge of her seat, waiting for the magical words she’s longed to hear from one of her sons. She’s doing her best to hide her excitement but failing miserably.

  The happy couple smiles at each other again, and Nora turns to address the room. “I’ve decided to go to law school!”

  No one says anything.

  I’m as lost as it appears everyone else is. I thought Nora was going to tell us she’s pregnant, and I’m sure everyone else here thought the same thing.

  My dad is the first to speak, standing from his chair and making his way to where Cade and Nora are standing. “Congratulations sweetie,” he says, embracing Nora in a fatherly hug.

  Never one to let anything but happiness show, mom puts a smile on her face and stands, prompting the rest of us to join her. “Congratulations honey, I’m sure you’ll make an excellent attorney.”

  “Is everything okay, Mom?” Cade looks on in curiosity, perhaps seeing the look of disappointment cross Mom’s face, the one she quickly tries to hide.

  “Of course, it is.”