Gloria’s eyes brimmed with tears. It was beautiful. The entire journey. And she didn’t miss the way her mind had strayed from Donny and Sofie’s journey and focused on hers and Asher’s.
Little by little, guests made their ways to their cars, waving good-bye and saying “nice to meet you” to new friends and acquaintances. The band packed up as well, chatting with Asher as they did.
Connor stepped out of the mansion as the caterer stepped in, Gertie at his side on a leash, a giant bag of dog food balanced in his arm.
“Guess I know where Gertie is staying during the honeymoon,” Gloria said as Faith followed him out, a bag over her arm that Glo guessed was filled with treats and toys. Soon, Gertie wouldn’t be an only child and she wondered how the pooch would feel about sharing her parents.
She bent to pet the dog and stood, her pulse kicking into high gear when she heard Asher right beside her.
“Key,” he said.
“Oh, right.” Connor dug into his front pocket and handed over a key. “Skeleton. Fits everywhere.”
“Thanks.” Asher tucked it into his pocket. “I’ll check every room.”
“’Preciate it,” Connor said. “I have to get my wife home. And our new dog.” He scrubbed Gertie’s head and she smiled up at them all, tongue lolling.
Asher and Gloria said good night and watched as Connor and Faith loaded their temporary canine into the back of his Mustang, which would take them to the cottage on the back acreage of what used to be part of Donovan’s estate but was now Connor’s.
“You’re checking every room?” Glo asked as she and Asher walked across the back patio.
“Can’t have someone passed out in the library and wake to find themselves trapped in the mansion, now, can I?”
“No, I guess not. I’ll help.”
“Not yet.” Asher clasped her hand and then grabbed his guitar. He led Gloria to one of the white plastic chairs on the patio, dipped his chin in an order for her to sit. She did. Then he took a chair across from her, played a few chords on his guitar, and said, “I’m calling your song ‘Fated.’”
Then he launched into the song he wrote about her. The one he sang to her while he sat on her grandmother’s couch, then stayed the night with her. Some of the lyrics had changed to include skinny-dipping in the moonlight, passing out on the beach, and breakfast in bed. The last line was “We were always fated to be, you were meant for me,” and Ash sang it looking right at her.
He strummed the guitar one final time, then peered up, chin down, eyebrows raised. He looked good in his tux. He looked clean and simple and like a man she could easily love for the rest of her life.
“Well?” He was asking for her opinion on the song, but what she gave was her answer to something else entirely.
Love me.
“I already do,” she whispered.
In the light cast from the strings of bulbs overhead, she could see in his eyes he knew exactly what she meant. There was a fire burning in there, bright and hot. And solely focused on her.
Then, while she watched, that look of heat faded into pissed off.
“I’m adding one,” he growled. “For saying something that fucking sweet when I have a thirty-five-room mansion to check before I can get you naked and under me.”
She bit her lip.
“Adding one more for that cute look you’re giving me.” His eyebrow tilted.
Gloria grinned.
“One more for being cocky. And you’re helping.” He abandoned his guitar on a chair, took her hand, and walked inside. They checked the mansion, first floor and second, room by room. By the time they ended up in the last room down the hall, Asher smashed his mouth into hers, stripping her of her little red dress like he’d promised earlier.
He also delivered every slap to her ass as promised. She knew, because she counted each one.
Aloud.
Chapter 27
Endless Avenue was quiet for a Tuesday afternoon. Gloria figured it was because most vacationers had gone home after the weekend. Hand in hand, she and Asher walked down the sidewalk, away from Torsett & Torsett—Scott Torsett’s office. The lawyer had drawn up the paperwork for the custody agreement, and Jordan and Asher had just signed it.
“How do you feel?” Glo asked.
“Relieved. I get to have Hawk every other week.” Until he started school, and then Jordan and Asher had agreed they’d reevaluate. Hawk needed as much permanence as possible and they were doing what was best for him. That suggestion had come from Emily, who’d also been present, no surprise there. What had surprised Gloria was when Emily approached her, thanked her for being so good with Hawk, and then apologized for the way she’d treated her in the past.
Gloria had accepted the apology, of course, saying she only wanted what was best for Hawk. Emily stated that she agreed, then went to the table and sat with Jordan, where she allowed the meeting to go forth without a single peep of interference. Gotta love the country club type. Emily did have a sense of decorum.