Page 53 of Pure Abandon

“Why not?”

“Group sports are not my thing.”

“So you won’t be playing on the company softball team?”

“That’s a definite no.”

“Snob.”

“Nosey.”

“Narcissist.”

“Nar…?” Asher takes the rest of his wine and finishes it in one gulp. “Do you want me to tell you about myself or shall you continue to berate me with foolish names all day?”

I can’t help but show my grin. “Fine. What do you do in your free time?”

“Well, I work… a lot.” He lifts the orange and begins to peel away the skin. “My grandfather, as I’m sure you do know about…” he says with a wink.

I cringe at the notion that I’m the worst investigator in the world.

He continues. “My grandfather believes in hard work and only hard work. He takes these large companies, buys them for cheap, rips them a apart, and sells the pieces to the highest bidder.”

“Sounds like Pretty Woman.”

“Yes… like Pretty Woman but without the call girls,” he says with annoyance.

“No call girls?”

He looks up from the orange peel and gives me a hard stare. “I don’t pay for sex.”

I don’t doubt the man.

Tilting his head to the side, he leans his body toward me. “Shall I add ADD to your file when I get back to the office? I don’t talk about my personal life often, and you are making it very difficult.”

Fine, I’ll behave. “I’m sorry. Continue. So all work, no play.”

Asher pops an orange slice into his mouth. His lips glisten with the juices in the sun. “Yes, all work, no play has been the way since I was ten years old. Aside from the office, I work toward funding music programs and helping kids.”

“Why?”

He takes another slice and furrows his brows as if he doesn’t understand the question. “Why all the work?”

“Why the music and the kids?” I bite my lip, thinking of how to deliver my next statement. “You don’t seem like the caring, giving type.” I wince.

He bites back. “That was mean.”

I smile sweetly. “That was honest. You said you liked honest.”

He peers down at me. He’s only inches beside me yet feels like he’s mountains above me. “I do, but it doesn’t mean I like to hear it.”

Asher may not like it, but I may not get this opportunity again. “So why the music programs, the grand concert in the park to raise money for music education programs? Is it a big tax write-off?”

A frown creases his face. I know I’ve hurt his feelings.

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly.

“Don’t be. I know that’s how my grandfather sees it, but the motivation behind all of it is completely personal.”