Page 84 of Burning Deceptions
Asher hadn’t raised his voice. He didn’t spin on his heels and storm off. He stared at me for a long second, nodded once with a whispered “good night,” then quietly walked away.
I stood there like a dumbass, stunned, shocked to my core. My throat burned with emotions, legs shaking with a need to chase after him, to tell him I understood.
Iwas Shelley.
Asher, in his captivating way, told me that I’d been beaten. Not physically, but mentally beaten into fearing what my life would be like if I went against my family. I’d taken the pressures and demands from my parents without ever fighting back. Yet in me, he saw the tools, the means, and the desire to reshape my life. Asher saw the man in me I wanted to be.
And when I found what was worth changing my world for, I’d destroy it all to make a new one where I could have my dream and cherish it the way it deserved.
Only I didn’t have to wonder what was worth it. I knew. As sure as I knew I’d never met a person like him and never would again. Maybe I’d known since the night we met and was reaffirmed every time he made me smile, every time he swept away my gloom, every time he reminded me that I was alive, that I was important, that he’d made me a priority in his life.
I had to show him I’d make him mine, my top priority.
The check was paid in advance of the night, so I tossed cash on the table for the tip and gave chase. I wouldn’t let him leave like that, at least not without telling him how much he meant to me.
As soon as the door opened, I glanced left and right, but Asher was right at the curb’s edge, staring straight in front of him.
“Ash …” I raced forward, skidded to a halt beside him, and then followed his line of sight across the street.
“Fuck,” I hissed.
“Exactly,” he muttered.
Mother’sfacelitupat seeing me. She raised a delicate hand, then checked both ways before crossing the street.
“Luke,” she called as she waved. “Luke, my goodness. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Mother,” I said as I clamored for what to say, how to explain why I was on a date with a man. Fear. Huge, debilitating fear threatened to send me into shock.
Mother glanced at Asher, then leaned in for me to greet her with a kiss to her cheek, which I automatically gave, though all higher brain function had ceased.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Mary’s soon-to-be sister-in-law had an exhibit at the art gallery across the street.” Mother gestured behind her. “I was just leaving and saw …” Mother shifted her gaze to Asher, and on reflex, I did the same, then startled. I’d completely forgotten he was here as Ashley.
Mother crinkled her eyes and kept a well-rehearsed smile on her face. “Sorry, dear, but have we met before?”
“I …” Asher trailed off.
Obviously, she only saw a woman, or this would be progressing very differently.
“Yes, you have, Mother.” I curled my arm around Asher’s back and tucked him to my side. “You met at one of the events this season. This is Ashley.”
Mother’s armor wilted as if she might break the laws of decorum and call me out for my indecency. Either for the public display or going against her wishes. She scanned the length of Asher, then hummed softly.
“Ashley, my mother, Elizabeth Dorset.”
“Hello.” Asher nodded.
“Ashley?” she echoed, and her eyes narrowed.
We were sofucked.
“I remember you from the Halloween event, yes?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Asher said.
“Hmm.” Mother sniffed once, lifted her nose slightly, and turned to me. “Explain, please.”
