“I’ll ride with her,” Nic offers with a smile. “We’ll have girl time that way. You can drive Matt into the French Quarter, get us a table, have a beer, and we’ll be right behind you.”

Asher shakes his head, but I lay my hand on his arm. “Asher. Nothing has happened in weeks. We’ll be fine.”

“What do you need at your apartment?”

I grin and bat my eyelashes. “Casey isn’t coming home tonight. That means I get to sleep with you all night. And I might have something pretty to show you.”

His face softens, and he cups my jaw in his hand, then leans in and presses his lips to mine. “Okay. Please be careful.”

“Don’t you know? Careful is my middle name.”

* * * *

“So,” Nic begins about five minutes away from the townhouse. “Tell me about Asher.”

“Well, he has dark hair, gorgeous eyes. He’s tall, not quite as tall as Matt. His arms are To. Die. For. Seriously, he’s got muscles on his arms for days.”

Nic laughs.

“Okay, tell me about you and Asher.”

I glance at her, to find her smiling at me. “Well, I’m completely in love with him.”

“Duh.”

I blink and change lanes.

“That obvious, huh?”

“Oh yeah.” Nic nods. “What do you love about him?”

“His arms,” I reply immediately and then sober as a flood of responses fill my head. “The way he holds me. His arms are hot, but they’re also strong and when he holds me, it’s the safest I’ve ever felt.” I turn down my street. “His laugh. Sharing his coffee with me in the morning. The way he touches my face when he kisses me. How much he loves his daughter, and how he parents her.”

“That’s a lot.”

“And it’s only the beginning,” I reply honestly. “There’s so much to love about him.” I pull to a stop, put the car in park, and turn to my new friend.

“You’re right.” Nic smiles reassuringly. “There is a lot to love about him, and I’m very glad that you see that. How did you meet?”

“On an airplane last summer.” I grin, cut the engine, and turn to look at Nic. “I fell in his lap.”

“In his lap?” She giggles. “Do tell.”

“Well, we had arrived here, and I was standing, trying to get my bag from the overhead compartment, and this man pushed me, sending me right into Asher’s lap.” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. “I noticed his arms then, too. He laughed, planted his hands on my hips, and helped me up.”

“Hot,” Nic says and waves her hand over her face.

“So hot,” I agree. “Was that a test?”

“Of course.”

“Did I pass?”

“With flying colors. You’re good for him. I see changes in him, all for the better. His eyes aren’t sad anymore.” Her own eyes fill with tears as she thinks. “And when he looks at you, he lights up. It’s beautiful, and I’m happy for both of you.”

“Thank you.” Her words have lit me up inside. “I’ll be back in a few.”

“I’ll be here,” she says and pulls her phone out of her bag. “I’ll just text my sister-in-law, Brynna, and let her know we arrived safely.”

“Great.” I jog up the steps to my apartment and let myself in. It’s strange to be here. It almost doesn’t feel like mine anymore. It smells musty, the way a place does when you’ve been on an extended vacation.

I walk back to the bedroom, grab the dress and underwear from my closet, and am about to change when I hear footsteps behind me.

“You can make yourself at home. I wouldn’t want to wait in the car either. It’s hot out there. I’ll be right out.”

“Hello, Lila.”

I spin, shocked that it isn’t Nic that’s let herself into my apartment, but Colin from class.

“Colin? What are you doing in here?”

“Oh, you didn’t hear me knock? I’m sorry.” He looks nervous and apologetic, so I smile reassuringly.

“It’s okay, but what can I help you with? I’m on my way out.”

“Oh, I just have a couple questions about class.”

I frown at him, alarm bells going off like crazy. “You can ask me all the questions you want on Monday. I’d like for you to leave, please.”

His face transforms from apologetic and nervous to simply…evil. A slow grin spreads over his face. His eyes grow cold.

“I’m not leaving, Lila.”

“What the hell is this, Colin?”

“Don’t you remember?” He’s circling me now, cracking his knuckles almost absentmindedly. “I have a date tonight.”

“Yes, with the guy from Starbucks.”

He nods, that creepy smile still on his face. “No. With you.”

My heart kicks up into overtime, and a cold sweat breaks out over my skin. Colin is the killer!

“Colin, I don’t know what you want, but I’m quite sure we can talk about this.”

“Oh, we’re going to talk about it. We’re going to do a lot of talking, actually.” He’s advancing on me. My mind is racing, trying to figure out how to get past him, out of this room and outside. “You’re going to get really tired of talking. And then I’m going to cut your tongue out of your pretty little mouth.”