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I end the call abruptly, and when I turn around, I find Asher leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest, a knowing look on his face.
“You’ll be at the benefit this weekend?” he asks, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
“Of course. Weston wouldn’t let me live it down if I missed. You know how obsessed he and Carlee are with the arts.”
He fully enters the room, pulls out the piano bench, and sits. I focus on him.
“Do you play?” I ask, genuinely interested.
“Sorta,” he replies, a hint of modesty in his voice.
I smile and take a seat beside him. He places his fingers on the keys and begins playing “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” It’s flawless, and when he reaches the second chorus, I join him, playing a lower octave on the keys.
“You sorta know how to play?” I tease as we transition into the pre-chorus. “Lies. What other secrets are you hiding?”
“It’s not a secret, princess. You just never cared enough to find out,” he says, finishing the song and leading straight into “La Vie en Rose.”
The notes twinkle under his touch, creating a light, dreamy atmosphere. It’s a timeless song about falling in love. His brow quirks up as he watches me, and the world around us slowly fades away as he plays just for me.
“Who are you?” I whisper, suddenly realizing I might have misjudged Asher. A chill runs over me, and I think Weston might have been right about this man.
Asher removes his fingers from the keys and turns to face me. “Stay with me until Saturday morning, when I leave.”
I focus on him, noticing how his hair falls messily across his forehead. I can’t help but admire his long eyelashes, framing those intense eyes. “I have a meeting after lunch today.”
“And I give a fuck, why? You’re the boss. Reschedule it,” he tells me nonchalantly. “Reschedule the rest of your week while you’re at it.”
A sly smile slips across my lips. “Onlyifyou beg. On your knees.”
“Ah. Well, unlike you, I’m not too fucking proud to do what it takes to get what I want.”
Asher stands, pulling me to my feet, and then drops to his knees before me.
“Wow,” I whisper. I didn’t realize how incredibly hot this would be.
He grabs my hand, and I look down at him, feeling a rush of exhilaration. The room, the piano, the paintings—everything disappears but us. Right now, it’s intensely personal, and I swallow hard as he looks up at me.
“Pretty, pretty fucking please, stay with me until Saturday.” His gaze narrows. “If you walk away from me now, you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering what could’ve been.”
My breath catches in my throat. Asher gently lifts my sweater, sprinkling soft kisses on my stomach. My fingers thread through his hair, and I know I can’t deny this feeling.
“Okay,” I whisper.
I can’t walk away from him.
I don’t want this to end. Not yet.
“Was that a yes?” he asks, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Yes,” I confirm.
“Good fucking girl.” He stands, grabs my cheeks, and smacks a kiss on my lips that leaves me breathless. “Now, since we have days to spend together, I have some things I want to discuss first.”
He takes my hand, leading me away, and suddenly, the mood grows more serious than I expected.
My phone buzzes in my pocket again, breaking the spell. I pull it out, seeing it’s Harper again.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, annoyed.