Close Up: Exposure Book Three Read Free Page B

and he got out of the car. He looked sheepish, his hands stuck in the pockets of his jeans and his head cast down. I almost melted, because he was so goddamned handsome and sexy, and, with the look of a little boy who felt like he was about to be scolded, he also looked vulnerable.
    That was quite a combination, and it was all that I could do to not fly right into his arms.
    He opened the gate to the front yard and mounted the steps. He was soon right in front of us, and he extended his hand to Stella, who was looking at him like he was some type of god or something. “Hi, I’m Asher,” he said. “You must be Stella.”
    She nodded her head. “I am.” And then she looked at me. “CJ, do you mind telling me who this is?”
    I sighed. “It’s Asher Sloane. He’s my…”
    “Fiance,” Asher said.
    I gave him a look. “I was going to say boyfriend, but, apparently, Asher here doesn’t quite know how to respect boundaries.”
    Stella looked at me with wonder. “You and him? Really?” Then she looked him up and down, and looked at his car again. “Oh my God, I can’t believe it. How did you manage that?”
    “I don’t know myself how I did, but, apparently, Asher and I have been together for several months.”
    It was just then that Stella apparently was struck by the fact that I told her that I didn’t remember the incident where Nathaniel was abducted by the carjackers. “Wait, you said something earlier about you not remembering what had happened with Nathaniel. What did you mean when you said that?”
    I looked at Asher. “Asher, I hate to ask you this question, but what are you doing here? I need to tell Stella all that had happened to me, and I would really appreciate it if I was alone with her.”
    Asher looked crestfallen. “I’m sorry, but I thought that you needed me.” Then he motioned me to go with him to the edge of the yard so that he could talk to me without Stella hearing us. I reluctantly followed him.
    “What?” I said to him when we finally got to where Stella couldn’t hear us.
    “I was going to say that I was worried that your mother and sister wouldn’t want to talk to you. I thought that you would need me if something like that happened. I’m sorry, CJ, but I know how devastated you’ve been all these months. I just didn’t want them to spin you back into all of that emotional turmoil, that’s all.”
    “Asher,” I said. “I appreciate your concern, but I got this. It’s my sister and mother. We’ve had our problems over the years, but we’ve always managed to get past it.”
    “Well, I wasn’t sure. At any rate, I’d like to be around the corner if you need me. I’ll be at the Denny’s that’s on the main street, just a block away.”
    I shook my head. “Asher, that’s okay. You can stay. But I would like to know what compelled you to call me your fiancé. I didn’t think that was established yet, and you’re pushing me.”
    “It just came out.” He hung his head. “Wishful thinking, I guess.”
    “Well, you need to clear the record. Besides, you told me, time and again, that I need to meet your dad before anything happens in that regard.” I didn’t want to ask him exactly how that was going to happen. Would his father come here? Would I have to go to Russia? I didn’t know the answer to that. I would have to get a passport first, as I hadn’t ever traveled overseas.
    “You do have to meet my father. And, again, I’m sorry. It just flew out of my mouth before I could even think about it.”
    “Okay. Well, let’s go back up to the porch.” Stella was still standing there, watching us.
    We made our way back up to the porch, and the three of us sat down at the little table and chairs that was there.
    Asher smiled. “It’s nice having a porch. I often wonder why more houses don’t have them now.”
    Stella nodded her head slowly. She evidently still couldn’t believe that a guy like Asher would be with like a girl like me.
    Join the club, I