Handsome uncle is Mad
When I told Asher about the blind date fiasco, he laughed so hard I thought he was going to fall off the couch.
“You’re telling me,” he gasped between bursts of laughter, “that your seven-year-olds hacked into a dating site and set you up with a guy named Dave? And you didn’t notice?”
“Don’t laugh!” I said, though his laughter was infectious. “It’s not funny, Asher. I was mortified!”
“Oh, come on,” he said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “It’s a little funny. Kids trying to play matchmaker? That’s pure comedy gold.”
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “I don’t know where they get these ideas. One minute, they’re asking me about bedtime stories, and the next, they’re creating dating profiles. It’s like living with tiny chaos gremlins.”
Asher smirked. “Sounds like they’re just trying to look out for you. And honestly, maybe they’re onto something.”
I glared at him. “Don’t you start.”
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just saying. You’ve been working so hard. Maybe it’s time to, I don’t know… get out of your comfort zone.”
“Dating random strangers isn’t exactly my idea of a good time,” I muttered.
“Well, lucky for you, I’m not a random stranger,” he said with a grin. “And I’ve got a great idea for tonight.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why do I feel like I’m going to regret this?”
“Because you probably will,” he said, grabbing his jacket. “Come on, we’re going out.”
\---
Asher’s “great idea” turned out to be a quiet little wine bar on the edge of town. It wasn’t my usual scene, but it was cozy, and for once, I didn’t feel like the weight of the world was pressing down on me.
“So,” Asher said, swirling his glass of red wine. “Tell me something you’ve never told anyone before.”
I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of my drink. “What is this, truth or dare?”
“More like ‘get Remi to loosen up,’” he said with a teasing smile. “Come on. Humor me.”
I thought for a moment, then smirked. “Okay. I used to have a massive crush on a certain CEO who shall remain nameless.”
Asher nearly choked on his wine. “No way.”
“Way,” I said, laughing at his reaction. “Back when I was working at the café. He’d come in every morning, looking all broody and important. I used to joke with my coworker that he was probably plotting world domination over his espresso.”
“Let me guess,” Asher said, leaning in with a grin. “Tall, dark, and handsome?”
“Something like that,” I said, shaking my head. “But that was a long time ago. Totally ancient history.”
“Sure,” Asher said, his tone dripping with mock skepticism. “Whatever you say.”
I rolled my eyes, but before I could reply, the door to the wine bar opened, and my stomach dropped. Rowan Vaughn, in the flesh, walked in.
Of all the bars in all the city, why did he have to walk into this one?
“Asher,” I said under my breath, trying not to panic.
“What?” he asked, turning to follow my gaze. “Oh.”
Rowan’s eyes scanned the room, and the moment they landed on me, I knew we were in trouble.
“He’s coming over,” I hissed, my pulse quickening.
“Relax,” Asher said, his tone annoyingly calm. “You’ve got this.”
“Got what?” I whispered, glaring at him. “I’m not—”
But before I could finish, Rowan was standing at our table, his presence as commanding as ever.
“Remi,” he said, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Rowan,” I replied, forcing a polite smile. “Likewise.”
His gaze shifted to Asher, his expression unreadable. “And you are?”
“Asher,” he said smoothly, extending a hand. “An old friend of Remi’s.”
Rowan hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking his hand. “Rowan Vaughn.”
“I know,” Asher said, his tone light but pointed. “Your reputation precedes you.”
Rowan’s lips twitched, but he didn’t reply. Instead, his attention returned to me. “Interesting place for a quiet night out.”
“It’s cozy,” I said, my tone deliberately casual. “And I could use a break.”
Asher leaned closer, draping his arm over the back of my chair in a way that made my heart race. “She works too hard,” he said, his voice low and warm. “I’ve been telling her to take it easy for years.”
Rowan’s eyes flicked to Asher’s arm, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. “Is that so?”
“Mm-hmm,” Asher said, his hand brushing against my shoulder in a way that was definitely deliberate.
I bit back a smile, realizing what he was doing. Two could play at this game.
Turning to Asher, I leaned in slightly, letting my hand rest on his knee. “You’re always looking out for me,” I said, my voice soft. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Rowan’s expression didn’t change, but the tension in his posture was impossible to miss. “Well,” he said, his tone clipped, “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting,” Asher said, his smile infuriatingly pleasant. “We were just talking about how much Remi deserves a little happiness in her life.”
Rowan’s eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, I thought he was going to say something. But instead, he gave a tight nod and stepped back. “Enjoy your evening.”
As he turned to leave, I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips.
“Handsome uncle looks mad,” Asher murmured, leaning close enough that only I could hear.
“Good,” I whispered back, laughing softly.
But as I watched Rowan walk away, something abouft the look in his eyes stayed with me.
As Rowan walked out of the wine bar, I felt a strange mixture of triumph and unease settle over me. I had gotten under his skin—that much was obvious. But the way his eyes lingered, the tension in his movements… it left me unsettled.
Asher’s amused voice cut through my thoughts. “That was fun.”
I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. “Fun? You call that fun?”
“Oh, absolutely,” he said with a grin, leaning back in his chair. “Watching Mr. Perfect try not to lose his cool? Priceless.”
I shook my head, but a reluctant smile crept onto my lips. “You’re impossible.”
“Admit it,” Asher said, pointing at me with his wine glass. “You enjoyed that.”
“Maybe a little,” I muttered, taking another sip of my drink.
“Exactly,” he said, raising his glass like he’d just proven a point. “But seriously, what’s the deal with him? He looked like he wanted to murder me.”
I sighed, setting my glass down. “It’s complicated.”
“You’ve said that before,” he pointed out, giving me a knowing look. “Want to elaborate this time?”
I hesitated, the words dancing on the tip of my tongue. “He… used to be someone important to me. A long time ago.”
Asher raised an eyebrow. “Important how?”
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