Chapter 23

ASHER

I invited Isa to dinner tonight with a clear idea in mind but no idea if I'd be able to carry out my project, and since money buys absolutely everything, I did. I button up my white linen shirt when Jax arrives at my bedroom door.

"We're going to order some food. Do you have a preference?" He frowns, looking me over up and down. "Going somewhere?"

"Yes I'm going out to dinner with Isabella."

"Okay, and when were you planning on telling us?" He asks me, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"I'm telling you now." I reply as I sit down on the trunk in front of my bed to put on my shoes. I sigh when I notice he hasn't moved a muscle. "I'm sorry, I should have told you. I'll think about telling you things if it concerns our mate."

"I'd be grateful."

An angel fallen from heaven. She looks beautiful in her white dress, so pure and innocent. She takes a step forward and kisses me. It seems so natural for her that I want to hug her and kiss her again.

"You told me to choose a casual outfit so I don't know if it..."

"It's perfect." I cut her off. "If you're ready we can go."

She takes a pouch from the cabinet in the hallway and leaves to join me, taking care to close the door after her. I can't wait to stop looking for her at home and find her with us every day until the last. We get into the elevator and she's surprised that I don't press the button for the ground floor.

She looks up at me, her eyebrows furrowed, and I can't contain the smile on my lips. I like to see the look of surprise on her face because there's amusement behind her eyes.

"You'll find out soon enough." I tell her simply.

"Didn't Jax and Knox say anything about us spending the afternoon together and us getting ready to do the same tonight?"

"They're happy we're getting closer."

"No jealousy?" She asks, but I can't make out what's behind her tone.

"We know you're ours. There's some rivalry between us, but it's good-natured. Don't worry."

"It's weird."

"Weird won't be in your vocabulary much longer with everything you're going to end up seeing and hearing with us."

The elevator doors open before she can respond and I watch as she's stunned out of the elevator. I follow her as she looks at the hanging lanterns and the table set for two. The two violinists continue to play and she turns to face me.

"How..."

"I'm not going to lie. Money can be used for a lot of things."

"I don't have the words."

I have to admit I'm pleasantly surprised myself at what they've been able to put together in such a short space of time. The clear sky lets us see the stars and the moon. You'd think I'd even paid the clouds to go away. We approach the table and I pull out her chair for her to sit on.

"Everything's perfect."

"Not as perfect as you." I reply and her cheeks instantly turn red.

"Thank you."

A waiter arrives and serves us each a flute of champagne, then another arrives behind him and brings us appetizers.

"I could get used to this." She whispers to me.

"It's the minimum you should get used to." I hold out my glass for us to toast.

JAX

I love my brothers more than anything else in the world, we've always shared everything and I've never felt jealous of them, but today, for the first time, I felt a little. I know I wanted him to get closer to Isa because he intimidated her. It was clear to anyone with eyes, but they spent a good part of the day together and now to know that they're both together doing I don't know what, it makes me... Aaargh I'm ridiculous. I shouldn't feel this way, but my wolf's feelings are more and more dominating mine.

"Are you okay?" Knox's question snaps me out of my reverie.

"Yeah... I think so."

"Does this have anything to do with Ash and Isa?" I sigh and he adds. "Well, I think you're a hypocrite, my dear brother. You totally spent the night with her. If anyone feels like a fool, it's me." He shakes his head, continuing to play on the console. "I can't wait for her to live with us, it'll be so much easier."

"Same here." I say, closing my laptop. I haven't been able to read this report for a while now. "I'm going to bed." I tell him before getting up from the couch.

" Already? Don't you want to wait until he gets home?"

"Whether he tells me about his evening today or tomorrow won't change a thing."

He shrugs and plunges back into his video game.

Sometimes I wish I were more like him and could detach myself from certain situations and take a step back. As I enter my bedroom, I notice the clear sky through my window. I'm sure they're sitting on the terrace enjoying a moonlit meal, and knowing Ash, he's got some background music planned. I grunt as I close the curtains. At this point I can't even concentrate on my work and run into the bathroom to get ready for bed.