Page 86 of Burn With Me

As I hopped out of the truck, my feet barely touched the ground when the door to the pretty seaside home burst open with a loud shriek. Startled, I jumped as a woman came running out of the house with her hands in the air, but she had a big old smile on her face.

“Is that my baby?” she called out like she was trying out for cheerleading practice.

I watched, shocked and fascinated, as Asher’s mom gripped him in a massive hug, and then she physically rocked him from side to side. I was positive she would’ve picked him up off the ground to swing around if she'd been strong enough.

“Look at you, oh my god! Every time I see you, you get more handsome.”

Before Asher could answer, his mom turned her eyes to me. I now understood what it was like to be an animal frozen by a set of headlights. Her eyes lit up as she saw me, and she pulled away from Asher to jog around the truck to where I was standing. I’d been completely wrong if I thought I was safe from the wild bear-like hug. “You must be Violet.”

“Hi, Miss….I mean Lizzy. Nice to meet you,” I said, on a wheeze as I tried to draw in a breath.

“Ah, I see my boy, here, explained the rules to you. That is a good thing. I’d hate to have you designated to clean up duty on your first visit.” Lizzy laughed and gripped me by the arms. “Dang, you’re pretty. Asher, you have good taste when you finally decide to settle down.”

“I’m not sure I’d classify us as settled down,” I said, but it was like I’d never said a word.

“Asher, Hunny, can you get all the luggage and bring it in? I’m going to give Violet here a tour,” Lizzy said and guided me toward the front door.

She didn’t wait to see if he had heard or if Asher was even going to do it. She just assumed what she said would happen, but she did it with such enthusiasm and a glowing smile that would make even the coldest person want to hop to the task.

“I hear you love it here,” I said and her arm tightened around my shoulder as she gave me a squeeze.

“This place is a godsend. The gators I could do without them, but the rest of it is amazing. There’s a beautiful big old deck out back, and it can hold twenty people easy. You’ll see what I mean.”

As soon as we stepped into the house, I was assaulted by the delicious aroma of pasta and garlic. My stomach rumbled at the thought of food. I’d been too nervous to eat lunch, and that poor decision was creeping up on me.

“Did Asher give you the itinerary?”

“Umm…” I started, but Lizzy was already on a roll.

“Well, it’s going to start with dinner tonight and sitting around telling stories and singing carols. Then we’ll play board games until we can’t hold our eyes open while we stuff our faces with all the homemade baking. Then Christmas morning, we will have ourselves a large country styled breakfast and open gifts, and then we’ll head out on the boat for the day and relax while Monica makes a gourmet version of a traditional Christmas meal. Don’t worry. She hates to go out on the water, which is ironic since her restaurant is on a boat. Have you been to her restaurant?”

“Umm...”

“If you haven’t been, then make sure Asher takes you. The food is outstanding.” She smiled wide, and I took a deep breath like I’d just stepped off a fast-moving train.

“Mom, let Vi breathe,” Asher said as he walked into the house behind us with all the bags under one arm.

“Oh, stop, Asher. It’s not every day you bring someone home for me to meet.” Lizzy lowered her voice so only I could hear. “He’s never brought anyone home to meet the family. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it,” she said and laughed as she tightened her grip on my arm as if she was hugging it.

Even though it felt like her enthusiasm had run over me, she seemed like a genuinely amazing person. Her blonde hair had white mixed in and laid in ringlets over her shoulder and was held together with a teddy bear scrunchy.

Her glasses were pushed up on her head, and they were lined with little rhinestones, making them glitter. She was wearing a simple linen jumper that reminded me of the style artists would use to paint. But, it was her smile that had me smiling back and her caring eyes that had me relaxing in her home.

“Oh wow, I said as we turned the corner to the open concept living room.

There was not a spot that hadn’t been decorated. It was like the spirit of Christmas had decided to throw up in the spacious room and leave behind everything and anything. Not a single thing matched. Yet, just like Lizzy herself, you couldn’t help but admire and like the confusion that assaulted your senses.

“Do you like it? I know I went a little overboard, but I just wanted everything to feel perfect and special,” she said, the first hint of doubt slipping into her voice.

“It’s beautiful. I feel like I just stepped into Santa’s workshop,” I said and smiled at Lizzy. She beamed back.

Something dinged and Lizzy practically jogged off. “My cookies, I’ll be back.”

I sighed as Asher’s hands gripped my hips and then wrapped his arms around my body as he pulled me into his tall frame. He kissed the side of my neck and my stomach fluttered with a nervous energy that he always seemed to invoke in me.

“Thank you,” he whispered into my ear.

“For?” I turned my head to look at him and his lips found mine. By the time we came up for air, I couldn’t remember the question I’d asked.