Her Secret Valentine - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The moment Ashton denounced any real feelings for Kiara, he felt like a fool. Like he'd betrayed her somehow.

"You're a moron," Greg said with a shake of his head. "Your feelings for her are written all over your face."

"Are not."

"Are, too." Greg poked out his tongue like he used to as an annoying eight-year-old. "There's nothing wrong with falling in love, man. About time you took a chance again."

"What's love got to do with it?"

Greg grinned. "Are you going to break into song, too?"

"Putz." Ash slugged him on the arm and headed for the fridge, suddenly desperate for one of his dad's craft beers.

"Grab me one, too." Greg perched on a stool at the island bench, looking way too knowledgeable and smug when Ashton handed him his beer.

"So what are you going to do about Kiara?"

"I don’t know." Ash took a swig of his beer. It did little to ease the tightness in his throat.

"If you were a real man, you'd go back in there right now and tell her how you feel."

Ash flipped his know-it-all brother the finger.

But what Greg said resonated. Elliott had announced to the firm earlier today that he'd made partner. Ash's first instinct should've been to end things with Kiara. Instead, he'd rolled up here tonight and hadn't told her, because it hadn't occurred to him until during the drive over that maybe if she learned of his promotion she'd be the one to end it.

She'd never shown any inclination for a longer-term relationship, something he'd never contemplated until two hours ago.

Yesterday, he'd wanted to push her away. Today, he'd realised that achieving his dream of partnership didn't mean so much if he didn't have someone to share it with.

He was turning into a loved-up schmuck like Greg.

"Just go already." Greg raised his beer in silent cheers before giving him a shove. "You know you want to."

Muttering, "Thanks," he headed back to the library to confront his greatest fear: a relationship with a woman beyond a week or two.

Only to find Kiara gone.