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From the ache of missing Brock.
She let out a sigh and then chuckled. Brock had been gone all of two minutes, and she was sitting here wallowing in pity. Ice cream and a TV show sounded like a good plan. Nikki would balk, but she wasn’t here.
Ice cream it is.
She’d finished off three-quarters of a pint of cherry Garcia and was going for the rest when the doorbell rang.
She blinked, wondering who it could be. An unreasonable hope surged through her. Was it Brock coming back?
Placing the ice cream on the coffee table, she wiped her hands on her jeans and stood. She walked into the foyer and peered through the peephole. Disappointment trickled through her. It was Asher, not Brock.
He was holding a covered platter.
Resting the flat of her palm against the wood, she hesitated, wondering if she should open the door or just pretend not to be home.
Okay, she didn’t want to be rude. She did have to work with him, after all. Straightening her shoulders, she opened the door.
“Hey,” she began with a cautious smile. “What’s up?”
He held up the dish. “I’ve been working on my baklava skills. Thought you might give this batch a taste test.”
Jules blinked. “Uh ... okay.”
“May I come in?”
She stepped aside. “Sure.”
Chapter 21
Jules resumed her spot on the couch, and Asher chose one of the armchairs across from her.
He placed the platter of baklava on the coffee table. “You may not have any room left for this,” he joked, motioning toward the remaining ice cream that was quickly turning to soup.
She chuckled lightly as she touched her stomach. “I can probably make a little more room to try one.” It was then that she realized the TV was on. She reached for the remote and clicked it off, suddenly regretting the action. The quiet would only heighten the awkwardness of this situation.
“You look like you’re getting around better than you were the last time I saw you.”
“I’m doing good. Been up and around.”
“How’s the pain?”
She arched a brow. “Going into doctor mode, huh?”
He smiled. “Occupational hazard, I’m afraid.”
“I’ve mostly just been taking ibuprofen. Maybe the occasional Tylenol here and there if I overdo it. I didn’t stay on the stronger meds long.”
“That’s smart. Better safe than sorry.”
He shifted in his seat as if he’d suddenly grown uncomfortable. “So … how are things with Brock?”
“Good. He had to head back to Coronado Island.” Geez, it was awkward having Asher here. She hoped he wouldn’t stay long. He’d been easy to talk to at the cooking class, but that was when they were surrounded by people. This evening, with just the two of them. Well, it was strange.
“Oh. That’s where he lives?”
She nodded.
“It must be hard to have a long-distance relationship.”