I gaped at her in horror while my brothers snickered. “Gram!”

She didn’t answer. Just chuckled and went upstairs.

The chairs scraped against the floor as my brothers all got up to clean their dishes. That hadn’t been an idle threat; she really would make us sleep outside.

I cleaned the frying pan and wiped the breadcrumbs off the counter—still in a great mood. Things were coming together. I’d be moving my stuff into my new place in a few days. And tonight, I had a date with Grace.

A date I’d wanted for a long time.

9

Grace

Standing in front of the full-length mirror in the bathroom, I smoothed my dress over my hips. My college-student wardrobe didn’t have much to offer in the way of date attire, so I’d gone into town and splurged on a new dress. It was black with thin straps and a straight neckline. A layer of sheer fabric on the outside added detail to the otherwise simple design. And I was showing a hell of a lot of leg. It was just long enough that I could sit down—but only just.

It was elegant and sophisticated—and different from anything I’d ever worn before.

I’d paired it with wedge-heeled sandals and painted my toenails bright red. My blond hair was down around my shoulders and I’d taken a gamble on some bold red lipstick.

I hardly recognized the woman staring back at me.

The doorbell rang, followed by Eli’s feet thundering down the stairs. My heart fluttered. I’d never been so nervous in my entire life. Which seemed so silly. I didn’t need to be worried about making a good impression, or whether we’d have anything to talk about. It was Asher.

But… it was Asher.

With a deep breath, I went downstairs to meet him for our first date.

He stood with Elijah and my mom just inside the front door, dressed in a button-down shirt with the sleeves cuffed and a pair of slacks. His gaze lifted to mine and a slow smile spread across his face. The same smile he’d given me last night—the one that shone from deep inside him, making my breath catch.

I was peripherally aware that my mom was smiling too. My brother stared at me like a stranger was walking down the stairs in his house.

“Why are your lips so red?” Eli asked.

“She’s wearing lipstick,” Mom answered.

“Why?”

Asher stepped forward, his eyes still locked on me. I let Mom field Eli’s questions. I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the man in front of me.

This wasn’t just a date, any more than last night had been just a kiss. It felt like every road we’d taken had been leading us here, even when neither of us had known it. That he and I were as inevitable as the sunrise.

Before last night, I wouldn’t have believed it. But the fact that the last twenty-four hours had changed the course of my entire life didn’t seem the least bit strange. It wasn’t rushed or shortsighted or reckless. It was right.

I was going to marry Asher Bailey someday.

Did he know it too? Was that what I could see in his eyes? We smiled at each other like we shared a secret. And maybe we did. Maybe that was our magic. We knew.

“You look beautiful.” The hint of awe in his voice made my cheeks warm.

“Thank you.”

He held his arm out for me and I tucked my hand in the crook of his elbow. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

“Have fun, you two,” Mom said with a little wave.

We said goodbye amid Elijah’s continued stream of questions. Asher led me out to his car and opened the door for me. I was practically giddy with excitement. I didn’t know where we were going, but I didn’t care. He could have been taking me to the Zany Zebra for greasy cheeseburgers and ice cream, and I would have been happy.

He took us to the south side of town, near the college, and parked outside a restaurant called Salt and Iron.

“Have you ever eaten here?” he asked as he helped me out of his car.

“No. It looks fancy.”

“I haven’t either. But I heard it’s good.”

His hand skimmed across my bare shoulder, down to the small of my back. He held the door and followed me inside.

Soft lighting illuminated an intimate space with dark hardwood floors and black-and-white artwork on the walls. About a dozen tables were adorned with white tablecloths and flickering candles. Quiet music played in the background, and only a few of the tables were full.

He’d made a reservation, and after he quietly conferred with the host, we were led to a table in the back. We both took our seats and the host handed us menus.

Asher eyed me for a second, then got up and moved to the chair beside me.

“What are you doing?”

“I like this better.” His leg rested against mine and he slid his arm over the back of my chair.

I liked this better, too.

His fingers traced idle circles on my shoulder while we looked at the menu. It was hard to concentrate on anything but the warmth of his body and the feel of his arm around me. When he asked if I knew what I wanted, he spoke softly near my ear, sending tingles running down my spine.

The server came to our table and we both ordered salmon, then chatted quietly while we waited for our food. With no one seated near us, it felt like we were tucked away—almost as if we were alone.

I liked that, too.

Our food arrived and Asher ate one-handed with his arm still draped behind me. I nestled in next to him, enjoying his closeness even more than my dinner. Which was saying something, because the food was amazing.

He asked me about school, and it didn’t take long before I was telling him everything. About going to parties and sneaking into bars. About the friends I’d made. The whirlwind road trip we’d taken.

And I heard the details I’d missed from the last couple of years of his life. The first time he went on an emergency call. The guys from the fire station getting him drunk on his twenty-first birthday. The tournaments he’d won. What it was like having Evan gone during the school year.

Before this summer, our conversations had become shallow, barely skimming the surface. This was different, like we were catching each other up on all the important highlights of the last few years. Although we steered clear of the details of our dating lives. None of that mattered now, anyway.

We finished our dinners, but he didn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave. I wasn’t either. I was tucked up against him with his arm around me while he spoke softly near my ear. I could have stayed all night.

The server took our plates and told us to take our time. Asher paid the bill and thanked him.

“I can’t remember if I mentioned it, but I’m competing in a jiujitsu tournament in a few days. Any chance you want to come?”

“Are you kidding? I’d love to.”

He kissed my temple. “Awesome. I’d love to have you there.”

“Of course I’ll be there. Did you decide about the apartment?”

“Yep. I get the keys tomorrow.”

“That’s so exciting.”

He nodded. “It’s going to be different. Honestly, it’s hard not to feel guilty.”

“Guilty for what?”

“Not being there. I know I’ll only be a few minutes away, but Gram’s starting to slow down as she gets older. And the twins and Gavin are…”