Chapter 34: The Secret Rendezvous

Harper’s POV



My body feels groggy and heavy, like someone is pushing me into the mattress with all their weight. My head is pounding, and I struggle to open my eyes. I must’ve drunk heaps last night because my body only ever feels like this after one too many glasses of wine.

When I manage to open my eyes, I see that the sun has only just risen, using its powerful rays to wake me. I groan, slowly lifting myself into a sitting position. The pounding in my head intensifies, so I use my fingers to rub at my temples in hopes it will make the pain ease enough to gather my surroundings.

“What happened last night?” I mumble, hoping Asher is awake to answer my question.

When there is no response, I look over at his side of the bed. He must be awake already because his running shoes are missing. He went for a run without me. Maybe he assumed I would be hungover and incapable of running long distance.

I swing my feet over the edge of the bed, ignoring the fact that I’m only in my underwear when I always sleep-in pajamas. I must’ve been really drunk.

Stumbling around the room, I find a pair of sweatpants and a thick jumper to pull on. I’ll make a cup of coffee and wait for Asher on the back porch for when he arrives home.

Once dressed, I move as slow as a snail through the hallways and around the kitchen making a cup of coffee. The steam coming out of the mug heats the dry skin on my face; it’s as if I’m receiving a free facial.

I shuffle out the back doors, taking a seat at the small wooden table set up in the corner. The air is cool against my face, but luckily, I have a cup of coffee to keep me warm while I wait.

The weather has been very nice recently. The fall season is beautiful at the compound; the leaves are beginning to change colors and fall from the surrounding trees, which leave a pretty pattern of different shapes and colors on the grass. Looking at the sight from where I’m sat makes me smile. It’s the small things in life that make me happy.

Several minutes pass of me watching the leaves fall when I hear Asher’s panting coming from the front yard. He must’ve taken a different route this morning. I scoop my coffee up and walk around the side of the compound to greet him.

I’m stopped in my tracks when I see Asher talking to Zoey on the front porch.

He looks like he’s just gotten back from the run, but how did Zoey manage to entrap him before I got the chance to greet him. Maybe she was stalking him, waiting for him to return to make her move on him.

Asher doesn’t look impressed; he has his hands shoved into the pockets of his running shorts. Zoey is dressed in black leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. Somehow, she still looks beautiful in casual clothes.

I stay hidden around the corner and use my heightened hearing to listen in on their conversation.

“We shouldn’t be talking out in public,” Asher says.

Zoey nods, “I know. But I’m worried about you.”

Asher frowns, “Why? I’m fine.”

“I don’t trust Harper,” She says, shifting on her feet, “She threatened me last night.”

Asher laughs in her face, “I’m sure she had good reason to. You showed up unexpectedly and pretended not to acknowledge my existence in front of your husband.”

Zoey sighs in frustration, “You don’t understand. I had to do that; it was for your own good.”

Asher kicks at a small rock on the ground, “You’re right, I don’t understand. Please, explain it to me.”

Asher seems like he’s done with this conversation because he can’t trust a word she says.

“Someone is after you,” she says, dead serious.

Asher waits a moment before laughing again, clutching at his stomach, “You don’t think I already know that? Someone has been after mine and Harper’s lives ever since we got married.”

Zoey frowns, “Shouldn’t that be a sign that the two of you shouldn’t be together? Clearly being with her is toxic and putting a target on your back for potential enemies.”

“It’s more complicated than that,” Asher says, his voice becoming firm and serious, “I will spend my life protecting my wife.”

Zoey grabs Asher’s bicep, batting her eyes, “She’s not good for you. I mean, she’s allowed you to look the way you do. When we were together you were so handsome and clean cut. But now, you look like you should be living in the woods.”

How dare she say that about him. Asher is so attractive it hurts me to look at him sometimes. Growing his hair out and letting himself have a beard is him expressing his confidence and allowing himself to feel attractive not just for others, but himself, too.

Asher snatches his arm back, “You made me look like that because that was how you wanted a man to look on your arms. You didn’t care about my feelings or ask how I wanted to dress or grow my hair.” He shakes his head, “This is the real me, Zoey. The man you were with was a fake version of who I am now.”

Zoey looks upset, she’s holding back tears, “She’s gotten into your head. This isn’t the real you.”

“You leaving was the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” Asher says, holding back his anger, “I was blinded by my love for you and couldn’t see who I was or what I wanted.”

Zoey pouts, “Do you still love me?”

I’ve heard enough. Before Asher can answer I walk around the corner, a smile plastered across my face.

“Oh, there you are!” I act surprised to see them both out here, as if I haven’t been hiding around the corner spying on them.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Asher places a delicate kiss on my forehead as he wraps his arm around my waist.

I smirk at Zoey, “How’d you sleep?”

She looks at the floor, refusing to meet my eye, “It was great, thank you.”

“Well, we best be going. Asher needs to shower before our scheduled cooking lesson with the children.” I grab Asher’s free hand.

As we walk past Zoey, I stop right beside her and say loud enough for just the two of us to hear, “By the way, how hot is Asher’s messy curls?” I lean on the tips of my toes to run my hand through his soft curls, “I think they make him look sexy.”

The way she looks at me indicates she knows I overheard their conversation. I can hear her breath hitch in her throat, and she breaks eye contact immediately.

“It’s a good thing I’m the only one who gets to enjoy them,” I smirk, walking off without another word.