“You’re not getting any younger.”
“I’m only twenty-eight!”
“The years fly by fast,” Aurora cautioned. “Don’t wait too long.”
Ariadne nodded, suddenly feeling guilty for not telling her mother the truth. She’d decided that letting her mother in on the secret would mean asking her to lie to family as well. She couldn’t do that. Beneath the table, Ash’s warm hand covered her knee and he gave it a squeeze. Her eyes met his and she knew he understood exactly what she was feeling.
She’d forgotten some things about Asher, Ariadne reflected later that night as she plumped her pillows and lay down her head. Asher was actually quite intelligent. When they were in high school, she’d assumed that his father used his money to buy Asher out of scrapes and possibly to purchase his acceptance to Duke University. Anyone who got into as much trouble as Asher couldn’t conceivably have the grades to get into a good school.#p#分页标题#e#
It wasn’t until one weekend when Erika had wheedled her parents into ordering Chad to take her to a friend’s party that she realized how smart Asher was. Though Erika had permission to go to a senior’s party, they couldn’t go until they finished their trigonometry homework. They’d both been struggling while Chad had been growing increasingly frustrated with having to wait for them. Finally, Asher had reluctantly stepped in and tutored them. Ariadne had been skeptical about accepting his help and then shocked to find he was actually quite skilled at math. Ash had been rather grumpy about it, almost as though he didn’t want to ruin his reputation as a bad boy.
Tonight as he’d held his own while discussing a variety of topics she’d recalled how smart he was. And charming and sexy. When he wasn’t being annoying, it was easy to see why so many women fell for him.
There was a knock on her bedroom door only seconds before it opened. The light came on as she rolled over. “You’ve got to stop doing that. Suppose I was naked?”
“Then it would have been a happy day for me,” Asher said, taking a seat next to her on the bed and forcing her to scoot over to give him space. He was still fully dressed in worn jeans and a soft cotton t-shirt.
She sat up, one hand holding the sheet to her chest. “What do you want?”
“Just these.” He produced a blue ring box and popped it open. Two rings nestled in a bed of velvet. One was an engagement ring with a two carat princess cut diamond. The other was a platinum band with channel set diamonds in the same cut.
“They’re beautiful,” she breathed. “But you didn’t have to buy anything so extravagant.”
“Yes, I did. I couldn’t have my beautiful wife wearing anything less.” He removed the rings from the box and slipped them onto her finger.
“I didn’t get you a ring,” she protested.
He shrugged. “I bought one.” He wiggled his fingers and a plain platinum band winked in the light. “We couldn’t show up at your family reunion claiming to be married and not have rings.”
She studied the rings on her hand. “Still, they’re more than I would have expected. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She cleared her throat. “My mom really liked you.”
He grinned. “Moms always love me.”
“That’s hard to believe.” He hadn’t lied to her mother even when the truth wasn’t pretty.
He laughed. “It’s strange, but it’s true. I usually try to avoid meeting them, but it occasionally happens.” He patted her leg and stood. “I meant to ask your mom, but I forgot. Why did she name you Ariadne?”
“Well, you know she teaches Greek mythology at the university. Ariadne was one of her favorite names. How did you end up with Asher?”
“It was my mother’s maiden name.” He ran a hand through his hair. She realized that he’d had a haircut recently. “So…she didn’t think there was anything amiss between us?”
“No. Why?”
He shrugged. “Just curious.” He smothered a yawn. “I’m going to turn in. Goodnight.”
He turned out the light and closed the door behind himself. Ariadne turned on the bedside lamp and stared at her wedding rings. They had to have cost him a small fortune.
Out of nowhere, she was assailed with the memory of her one make out session with Asher. It had not been of her choosing. Erika’s parents had thrown her a graduation party and had been considerate enough to not be present. Their house had been packed with rowdy teenagers. Chad, Asher and Ted were unofficial chaperones. Ariadne’s graduation celebration had been the exact opposite. It had been more of a family dinner with very few of her friends present.#p#分页标题#e#