Page 13 of Always Mine (The Barrington Billionaires 1)
“Nothing.”
He took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up so she was forced to meet his eyes. “I don’t lie to you. Don’t lie to me.”
All caution fell to the side and Emily pushed his hand away as her temper and voice rose. “Maybe. Possibly. There is a chance that you might save something that means everything to me, but only if it’s convenient for you? Do you hear yourself? I won’t pretend that I didn’t enjoy last night and this morning, but you make me angrier than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Asher’s lips pressed together and he frowned. “I can’t simply end a project that is this far along just because we—”
Emily wagged an angry finger at him. “Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it.” She hitched the sheet higher around herself and said, “You should go now. I know I should care how this affects your decision, but right this second, I don’t. I want you to get out of my house and stay the hell away from me.”
Asher’s frown deepened. “I put my project on hold. For you.”
Emily waved her hands angrily in the air, not caring that the sheet fell to her feet. “On hold? You don’t get it.” She rubbed her forehead roughly. “Or maybe I don’t. Maybe you are so used to sleeping with people you don’t give a shit about that; this is normal for you. It’s not normal for me. I made a huge, huge mistake last night and this conversation is just bringing that truth home once again.”
Asher looked at her for a long moment then said, “I’ll shower first or you can join me. Pack for weather slightly warmer than here. If we leave within the hour we can be in the air by noon.”
The whole conversation felt unreal. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Asher closed the distance between them and pulled her flush against him. One glance at his cock revealed that their conversation had excited him rather than convinced him to leave. “I don’t know what we have or if it can possibly last, but I know we won’t figure it out here. Your cute little ass can come with me willingly, or I’ll pick you up and carry you onto my plane, but I’m taking you to Paris.”
Emily’s mouth dropped open. “Paris?” It was the last place she’d expected him to want to take her. “Why would we go there?”
His expression softened. “The Louvre has a tactile exhibit similar to your museum. It was going to be a surprise.”
Sure she’d heard him wrong, she shook her head to clear it and asked, “You want to take me to Paris to see an exhibit for the visually impaired?”
With his hands on her hips, he held her against him, his cock grazing her inner thighs. “It sounded like something you would enjoy.”
She brought a hand to her mouth and her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t know if she loved him or hated him in that moment because both emotions were raging wildly within her. She was turned on, pissed off, and touched by his thoughtfulness all at once. “I don’t know what to say.”
He lifted her up into his arms and carried her toward the bathroom. He gave her a lusty grin and said, “Let’s continue this conversation after we shower.”
She squirmed in his arms, but it was only a token gesture of protest. Her body and her mind were racing. Paris with Asher? Further thought soon became impossible as Asher joined her beneath the hot spray of the shower and began to tenderly wash her. Despite her confusion, there was no denying how young and sexy Asher made her feel. Because of that confusion she’d slept with him the night before and was now seriously considering going away with him.
After so much time alone, being with someone felt good. Being with Asher felt better than anything she’d experienced. That kind of good was terrifying because she knew all too well how quickly things could end.
Later, after they were both dressed and Asher was packing her luggage into the trunk of his car, Emily excused herself to go back into her house. She said she’d forgotten something, but what she actually sought was a minute or two of privacy.
She stepped into her bedroom, closed the door behind her, and quickly called her best friend. “Celeste?”
“Hey, how is New Hampshire? Did it work out that Asher went with you?”
Knowing she was short on time, Emily blurted, “I slept with him, now we’re flying off to Paris because he wants to show me a museum there. Have I lost my mind?”
Celeste made a surprised sound. “Wait a second. Back this story up. The last time you texted me you said you were taking him up to Welchton to show him your museum. He was still undecided about what he was going to do. Does this mean he isn’t buying your land? Your museum is safe?”
Emily sat on the edge of her bed and buried her face in one hand. “He doesn’t know what he’s going to do.”
“Oh, Em. What are you doing?” Celeste asked, concern thick in her tone.
“I was hoping you could tell me. I want to hate him, but I can’t. He says things that make me angry, and he’s brutally honest about how important his company is to him. According to him, it’s all that matters. We couldn’t be more different. But then there are moments when we connect. I showed him my mother’s work and he got it. Not everyone does. And then there’s the sex. Celeste, I didn’t know it could be this good. At first I thought it had been so long since I’ve been with someone and that’s all it was, but this is different. I can’t explain it, but it is. He asked me to go to Paris, and I want to. I want to be young and free for just a couple days, and then I’ll come back and finish my museum. I can’t even believe I said that. See why I need you? Have you ever heard me talk like that? You’ve known me forever; what is wrong with me?”
Celeste sighed, and she took a moment to answer. “Nothing, Em. Listen, you’ve been through a rough couple of years. You lost your grandfather and then your mother. That’s huge. And you didn’t give yourself time to grieve. You threw yourself into finishing your mother’s project, and I know you said it made you happy, but you didn’t put aside any time for yourself. You haven’t dated anyone since your mother died. You’re lonely, Em. And Asher Barrington, God, I don’t know a woman who would say no to Paris with him. There is nothing wrong with you. In fact, I think you need this.”
“What happened to thinking he was dangerous?”
“I’m more afraid of what will happen if you don’t go. I’m going to say something that may upse
t you, but you need to hear it. Lately, I’ve been worried about you. You used to care about a lot of things, but over the past few years your world has become smaller and smaller until you can’t see anything past your grandfather’s house and this project. It’s not healthy.”
Hurt, Emily snapped, “I thought you understood why the museum is important.”
“I do, but I also worry about what will happen if it doesn’t work out the way you imagine it will.”
“You don’t think I can do this?”
“Stop. I’m on your side. You called me for my opinion, and I’m giving it to you. Go to Paris with Asher and forget about everything back here for a few days. I’m not saying you should trust him, but if being with him helps you find the Emily Harris I know, then you should go. You’ve always been a crazy artist, amazingly creative and so full of life. I remember wishing I could be as passionate about something as you were about your sculptures. I know the museum is important to you, but it’s not all you are. It’s okay to do things simply because you enjoy them. You’re going to finish what you and your mother started, Em. I know you will. But you need a life, too.”
If the advice had come from anyone else, Emily could have dismissed it and told herself they didn’t know her. She and Celeste had been as close as sisters since early childhood. Celeste spoke out of love, and her concerns helped Emily understand what she had been feeling. “I’ll text you updates.”
Celeste chuckled. “Every day or I’ll hunt you down over there.” She paused a moment, then asked, “Are we good?”
Emily nodded even though her friend couldn’t see it. “We’re good.” Emily smiled. “Hey, Celeste, guess what?”
“What?”
Giving in to the playfulness of the decision, Emily whispered in excitement, “I’m going to Paris.”
Leaning against the side of the car waiting for Emily, Asher checked his messages. He answered several emails regarding a variety of projects. When he read an email from one of his men in Trundaie he decided to add a work component to his trip to Europe. He’d spend some time with Emily in Paris, then let her explore the city a bit on her own while he flew over to Trundaie, and then fly back with her when he’d completed his business. Things were working out perfectly.
