The Assassin's Allure

Chapter 4: Awkward Reunions

Ivy

“There we go,” I mutter as we lay the last finishing touch on Santana and Declan’s table. I look around the beautiful yellow and white decorations tastefully placed around the room and smile. There are mini champagne bottles, streamers, and tastefully decorated decorations around the room for San’s wedding shower.

Sage, Jade, Mal, and Sophia smile.

Jade giddily claps her hands and gracefully jumps up and down, “San will flip?”

Mal raises her hands and calls out, “Alright, ladies, let’s lay out the food and drinks. Sage go and get the champagne and wine bottles. Jade can get the ice buckets ready, and …” she turns to me, “…Ivy, you get the appetizers in the industrial freezer inside of the storage room while I set up the cake.”

Everyone nods and follows her instructions. As I make my way to the storage pantry, I hear scuffling and grunting sounds. Curious, I walk toward the sounds and stop when I see who it is. My throat dries, my heart flutters in my chest, and my palms begin to sweat at the stunning sight before me.

Asher’s sweaty, muscular back curves and undulate as he pounds on the boxing bag. The way his velvety skin moves with his powerful movements is nearly hypnotizing. Unable to help myself, I run my gaze across his broad shoulders, hard pecs and sculpted abs. Swallowing hard, I bite my lower lips when I see that his shorts cling to his round ass, and I have a clear view of his adonis line and his powerful thighs. The man is a walking work of art. It’s also pretty freaking hot that he has a tattoo of a black dragon on his pec and shoulder.

His hair is cut short on the side and back and slightly longer at the top. He has a five o’clock shadow with a bit of scruff that makes him look ruggedly handsome.

I must make a sound because Asher’s back stiffens, and he slowly turns to face me. Everything inside me tells me to run, but somehow, I maintain a calm façade and remain where I am.

Asher’s penetrating gaze meets mine, his jaw ticking and his chest heaving with his exertions.

Seeing that he’s waiting for me to say something, I stand straight and smile, “Hey, Asher. Mal told me you were in town, but I didn’t know you were staying here.”

Asher puffs out a breath and removes his gloves before he approaches me. His tall form hovers over my smaller one. It takes a lot of effort to resist staring at his heaving chest and ripped abs, “Hey, Ivy. Yes, it seems that I am between homes at the moment.”

My body quivers at his husky voice, so I tuck my hands in my back pockets and try not to squirm. “I’m sure you and your wife will find something suitable for both of you,” I answer steadily.

His lips tighten at my words. For a moment, I think he’s not going to respond. But then he looks forward and mutters, “It will just be me.”

I don’t know what to make of it, so I don’t dig further. I mean, his answer is ambiguous at best. Though Asher didn’t say that he wasn’t engaged or married, I got the message that I should mind my own business.

I swallow hard and try to think of something else to say, but my mind is blank. Instead, I point to the storage room and mutter, “I should go and get the appetizers before Sophia finds me and bitches me out for taking too long.”

His lip quirks, but once again, there is no smile.

I walk to the storage room and gather the trays, not giving it another thought. I don’t bother looking back, even though I can feel the scorching heat of Asher’s gaze. Puffing a breath, I open the storage freezer and roll my eyes when I see that the trays were put on the top shelf. I have to stand on my tippy toes to open it, which is not an easy task when you’re wearing heels. I’m having difficulty gathering one of the boxes when a strong, muscular arm reaches over my head and lowers the tray. Frowning, I turn around and find myself facing Asher’s muscular chest. My hands itch to touch him, but somehow I manage to resist.

Seeing that I’m standing too close, I jump back and stumble. But before I fall to the ground, Asher wraps his other arm around my waist and manages to keep me and the tray upright. My palms flatten against his chiseled chest, making my fingers tingle, and my body heats with pleasure.

Unaware of my lurid thoughts, Asher lowers the tray on the metal counter behind me while keeping his other arm tightly around my waist. A gasp escapes my lips at his proximity, and my heart beats wildly inside my chest. I open my lips to speak, but all I can do is stare at his luscious lips and yearn. Just as he’s opening his lips to say something, Sophia walks inside the room.

“Hey, are you almost─” she stops, her eyes widening as she takes in our posture, “Uh…sorry…I was just checking to see how you were making out─I mean, making progress,” her face flushes when she realizes her slip.

Laughing awkwardly, she backs away and croaks out, “You know what?” she makes a sweeping gesture with her hands, “take your time. I’m gonna go and…” she points dazedly behind her, and to my embarrassment and hers, she clumsily bumps into the wall, “…yeah, I’m just going to go.”

She rushes back out of the room like a bat out of hell without another word.

Though I’m a little annoyed that Sophia interrupted us, a great part of me feels relieved. Even if Asher wasn’t going to kiss me, it would have been a great blunder to try considering he might be engaged or married.

As I gather the trays, my face flames, “Y-yeah, well…see you later,” I stutter clumsily.

I’m breathless by the time I make it back to the party room.

When I place the trays on the table, Sophia arches a brow. I scowl at my friend and mutter, “Real smooth, Soph…making out…really?” I place my hands on my hips, “What the hell?”

Sophia cringes, “Sorry, I…you guys surprised me. I didn’t expect to walk into you and Asher embracing…I panicked.”

I shake my head, “We weren’t embracing, Soph. He caught me before I fell. And let’s also not forget that he might still be engaged or...” I slap my palm against my forehead and sputter, “…married. You shouldn’t have left me hanging back there. Next time, make up an excuse to get me out of the situation. Okay?”

Her shoulders fall, and her lip puckers into a pout, “Okay, I get it…sorry for leaving you. It’s just you two are so─”

I raise my palm to halt her argument, “There’s no, it’s just, Soph. Asher is in a relationship, and I am not a homewrecker.”

Her nose scrunches into a grimace, “Yeah, you’re right…sorry.”

Seeing that I have brought my point home, I take her hand and squeeze it lightly, “I forgive you. Now, let’s see what else needs to be finished before tonight’s party.”

As I help my friends complete the finishing touches on the party, and I listen to them talk about their loves, a deep sadness overwhelms me. I just hope that someday I find what they have. It’s just not going to be with the man who haunts my thoughts.