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“It’s fine, I’ll check.” I was out of the room before she could stop me.
Francis had just opened the door when I rushed into the entrance hall and saw him.
Asher Martino, in a designer suit, looking like a million bucks. Goddamn, he filled that suit out well. His dark, wavy hair was tamed back for once, and his white collar contrasted sharply with his tanned skin. He looked heart-stoppingly good. He had flowers in his hand, a huge, beautiful bouquet. He stepped into the house and paused when he saw me staring.
“Your guest has arrived, Miss Winter,” Francis said.
“Thank you, Francis. I’ll take it from here,” I murmured, and moved aside so the old butler could shuffle past.
Asher’s eyes scanned me from head to toe, taking in every inch of my demure white dress. It was fitted tight to the body on top, see-through lace with a beige-colored lining that kept it modest. Hugging my waist, it flared out in a chiffon skirt that ended just below the knee. My gold heels made me a little taller than usual, not that it made much of a difference compared to Asher.
“Now, you’re not playing fair, Ice Queen,” he said.
He approached me, the paper wrapping crinkling around the flowers. “How do you expect me to concentrate on impressing your parents, when you look like that?”
“Very funny.”
“Who’s joking? Take mercy on me now and again.” He tugged me close and kissed me softly.
My hands were shaking, I was so anxious. I smoothed my damp palms over my dress. “We should go in now.”
“Sure. Try and calm down. You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted and turned on my heel, striding up the hallway. I wasn’t, though. I really wasn’t. My dad liking Asher was suddenly vitally important. I’d forgotten the reason for our game, and I had no idea how to claw back my composure.
Asher followed. When we got to the door of the drawing room where my mom was waiting, I hesitated and jumped again when Asher bumped me with his shoulder.
“Come on, we’re in this together,” he reminded me. “You’re not alone. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
I nodded, took a deep breath, pasted on a smile, and pushed the door open.
“Look who’s here,” I called to my mom, like I was on a cheesy sitcom. I felt so awkward, I couldn’t help it.
I went into the room, while my mother stood and came to fuss over Asher. She complimented the suit and how well it fit him. She loved the flowers. My father came in and shook his hand. There was a lot of small talk and chuckles. I hovered, watching everything critically, waiting for something terrible to happen.
Asher was smooth. I hadn’t expected that. He charmed Mom with smiles and Dad with jokes. He held out my chair and pushed it in after me, then respectfully filled Dad’s wine glass for him. I’d had no idea such gentlemanly manners were lurking under his hard exterior.
The appetizers were brought in, and Dad talked to Asher about hockey. The conversation flowed easily until the main course.
“So, you two lovebirds, tell me how you met. Everyone needs a great meet-cute.” Mom smiled at us.
“How we met?” I repeated dumbly. Why the hell hadn’t we thought to prepare something to say? “We went to high school together,” I pointed out, like that would preclude us from having a meet-cute.
“So?” Mom urged.
I had no idea what to say. My mind just blanked.
“When I started at HHH, my sister and I got in under a special allowance so I could play hockey there,” Asher said. “It wasn’t my local school; as you probably know, I grew up south of River Street.”
My father nodded, listening closely.
“It was freshman year. I went to the Chickadee Diner in town with my sister. She was applying for a dishwasher position there. Outside, there was a homeless man — not a common sight this side of town, but easy enough to find in my neighborhood. I waited outside for my sister. Plenty of people came and went, but they all walked past him.”
It was still around the table. I had a horrible fear of where Asher was going with this story. Was he about to call all rich people assholes or something equally terrible? I had no memory of the day he was talking about.
“Then Winter came along. She was in her cheerleading stuff. Gorgeous, like always. She went into the diner, and after a little bit came right back out. She had a takeout box, and she gave it to the guy, drink and all.”
I cast my mind back to when he was talking about. I still couldn’t remember. I’d bought meals for nearly every homeless person I’d ever walked past. I had no memory of Asher watching me.
