Igniting Ash Read Online Free PDF

did,” Emma said, reaching across to steal one of the offending greasy sticks.
    Asher nodded, pushing her paper cup of coffee toward her. When he spoke his voice was scratchy. “Coffee,” was all he managed.
    He took his time, sipping his drink and chewing slowly on the food. Emma was watching him, adding short comments here and there.
    “Why would you have looked like you wet yourself?” Asher finally asked, still feeling rather foolish.
    Emma shrugged, stealing another of his fries. Why did women always do that? They never wanted food, and yet they’d happily eat his. He’d have bought her some if she was hungry.
    “I wiped the back of the dress but the damn hand dryer was broken, so now I have a large wet patch on my arse.”
    “Could be worse. You could have nearly choked to death in a fast food joint.” He raised a brow and smirked at her.
    She giggled. “True, but it’s not like it’s really busy in here. I’d still check You Tube when you get home. You never know who’s recording you on their phone.”
    They both burst into laughter, her comment lifting his mood. After that the conversation flowed freely, each of them staying away from the subject of Asher’s past. They stuck to safer topics, his bookstore, her volunteering at the youth shelter, along with their friends, Ben and Meagan. It was a miracle to him how easily he could talk to her as he’d never imagined he could be this calm with someone who knew the teenage him. He tried his best to avoid that kind of interaction. However, this was different. If he didn’t acknowledge that part of him and just talked to Emma, then he was good and it seemed Emma was more than happy to set that aside.
    There was an awkwardness that started to grow between them when the food had been eaten and the cups had been drained. Asher checked his watch, gasping when he realized they’d been in the restaurant for hours and it was now nearing three in the morning.
    “When we agreed on coffee I never meant to hold you hostage until now.”
    Emma looked down at her own watch. “Wow. Neither did I. I didn’t notice the time at all.”
    “I should drive you home. It’s really late.”
    Emma slid out of the booth, waiting for Asher to stand beside her before moving over to the door. “I had fun tonight. I didn’t expect to.”
    “Me to,” he said quietly, removing his car keys from his back pocket. “The night wasn’t what I’d expected.”
    “It’s nice to be surprised sometimes.” Underlining her point, she reached up on her tip toes and placed a small peck on his cheek. “Thank you for being a wonderful surprise, Asher.”
    He gaped at her, his mouth bobbing open and closed as she climbed into the passenger seat. He touched the skin she’d kissed, his blood pounding as it rushed through his veins. Cursing his body’s reaction to her, he pulled open the car door, wondering what on earth was going to happen next.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
    Emma
     
    Emma slotted the folder back on the shelf, trying to focus on her job and not be, once again, distracted by the events of the weekend. Reconnecting with Asher had been a wonderful surprise, so completely unexpected. Since that moment she’d been hit with many long forgotten memories. All of them contained Asher, and each one of them was heart-breaking.
    She would have liked to talk about them with him, discuss what had happened to him the night she’d given him the money. That wasn’t going to happen anytime soon; not only had he put a block on the subject but she hadn’t left her number with him. Nor had he offered up his own.
    The night would remain just that—one night.
    “Can you come and talk to a new arrival, Emma?”
    Turning her chair toward the sound of Jack’s voice, she smiled at her colleague. The man was a marvel, long past retirement but showing no signs of giving up his calling in life or slowing down.
    “Sure. Everything okay?”
    Concern contorted her bosses