“I didn't know that,” I piped in.
“Yes, without his generosity, I'd have been penniless and living in the streets. That's why Hazel's Curiosities is so special to me, you see.”
The wheels were plainly turning in Asher's head as the three of us headed for home. Then it began to dawn on me, too.
“One more thing. How old was Charles when you two were dating?”
She hummed to herself and thought about it. “Let's see. If memory serves me correctly, I think he was about twenty five.”
Grandma went back inside with the others, but Asher remained on the porch, a thunderstruck look on his face.
“What's wrong with you? I know it's weird that our grandparents were involved romantically, but – ”
“It's not just that. Charles got married to my grandma, Eleanor, when he was nineteen. They were still together when I was just a little kid.”
The meaning of his words hit me like a sack of rocks.
“You're saying that Charles was cheating on your grandma to be with mine.”
He nodded. “It sure sounds that way. So maybe this is the reason why my family seems to hate yours.”
It honestly sounded like the plot of some crappy soap opera. Did grandma have any idea that Charles was an adulterer? If so, she wasn't letting on.
“Maybe we should postpone announcing the wedding stuff,” he said quietly. “At least until I figure out what happened between our families.”
“I guess, but we're running out of time.”
“Something like this could be bigger than either of us imagine. If my parents kept this a secret from me, there was a damn good reason for it.”
Cole opened the door and poked his head out. The warmth from the fireplace inside made me realize my fingers had gone numb, and I hadn't even noticed it.
“You should come inside, Sarah. You'll turn into a popsicle out there.”
“Yeah. Coming.”
Indoors, mom had whipped out a stack of board games that she'd made dad get from the attic.
“Who's up for a game of Sorry?” She jiggled the box. “Or there's Scrabble, but we know grandma always wins at that one.”
“No games for me, I'm afraid,” Asher said. “I've got an emergency meeting to attend to.”
I wished he didn't have to go. I wanted him to stay longer, then to take me home and snuggle up under the covers together, just the two of us.
My feelings for him were growing, no matter how I tried to keep them at bay.
Stop being so ridiculous. This marriage is a business transaction, nothing more.
“Hey, Sarah. There's something I need to get out of the car.” Cole held up his hand. “Toss me my keys, would you?”
Dad gave me Cole's keys to hold earlier, and I'd stuffed them in my pants pocket. I reached in and felt for them.
“Yeah, sure.”
As the keys came out, something else did with them. It was the ring, its platinum band and the diamond sparkling brilliantly in the fireplace's light. Everyone's eyes were drawn to it as it fell, bouncing across the brick mantle and then finally rolling to a stop.
Nobody said a word as Cole plucked the ring up and stared at it. Even Asher, for once in his life, was speechless.
“Sarah,” Cole said carefully, “is this an engagement ring?”
Asher and I exchanged knowing looks. We'd planned to keep the wedding a secret for a while longer, but so much for those plans. There was no hiding it anymore.
I took the ring from him, forced a smile, and slid the band onto my finger. Having it there felt right, like that's just where it always belonged.
“Everyone, I have big news. Asher and I are getting married.”
Chapter 14 - Asher
Ken hummed along to the country-music version of “All I Want for Christmas is You” while neatly stacking computer speakers on a shelf. When I was done chatting with a customer, I turned to him.
“Stop singing or you're fired, Ken.”
He pretended to be hurt. “What, you don't like my voice? My high school's choir won first in state three years in a row, ya know. That was all me.”
“It's not that. All this holiday music is way too happy, especially when we're stuck with it on repeat until January First. Makes me want to punch someone in the throat.”
A couple of women rolled by with their carts and gave me strange looks. They were both younger than me, still in college probably, and quite cute. Definitely the type of chicks I'd ask out for drinks – if it wasn't for Sarah.
The one with kinky blonde hair and ruby-red lipstick winked at me when her friend wasn't looking. I ignored it, looked the other way and pretended to be extra interested in the shelving display.
“Whatever,” she muttered under her breath. “Probably gay anyway.”
Ken chuckled. “I swear, every single girl who shops here is checking you out.”
“It was awesome at first, but now it's just exhausting.”
“Gee, I wish I had your problems. Must be killer having your pick of the litter. Nobody wants you when you're twenty-three years old and already divorced. Twice.”
Ken launched into some story about how much his love life sucked. I couldn't possibly pay attention. No, I was too deep in thoughts of my own.
I could have gotten that blonde into bed if I wanted. Hell, I could've scored at least six times in the past three days alone. When I went out to lunch, this hot waitress even put her hand on my thigh.
But instead of asking for their
