Holding her heart, p.3
Holding her Heart, page 3
holiday, but in this moment, Aster wondered if she would be
doing it for the wrong reasons. To share a room with a
woman she felt a growing attraction to? No, it would never
work. Aster would never torture herself like that.
“Think about it all.”
Aster scratched at her forearm. She did so when she was
nervous. But did she need to feel that way? Eden was
completely unavailable in every sense of the word, so why
not enjoy a holiday…and get a full-time job too?
“Just let me know. The team don’t know this yet, and I
trust you to keep it quiet, but Blair has booked us into a
fancier hotel. The team are staying somewhere…well,
undesirable.”
“Oh, I know exactly where the team will be staying. And if
I did go, I wouldn’t be joining them.”
“You could stay with us at the five-star boutique o the
strip…”
Aster was tempted. She hadn’t been abroad for two years.
But her reasons played on repeat at the back of her mind.
Eden watched her expectantly, a perfectly defined eyebrow
arched. “I’ll…definitely think about it.”
“Save your new boss from complete humiliation and
come along. You know you want to,” Eden said, winking. But
it only made things worse. When Eden winked at you, it was
only natural to melt into a puddle. “Cocktails. Bikinis.
Tapas.”
Please stop. Aster thought. “Like I said, I’ll think about it.
All of it.”
Eden sighed dramatically. “Fine. But if someone comes
along with a better o er, I want the chance to up my own
o er first, okay?”
Aster smiled. Nobody had ever been so excited by her
work before. “I don’t think you have anything to worry
about. Nobody is going to come along and sweep me up.
Now, let’s get back to the schedule for Saturday. Then I can
get home and prep.”
“You have a decent work ethic, Aster Bennett. But me? I
want to lie on the couch and drink wine all night.”
“Oh, please. You have everything memorised for Saturday.
I’m sure you don’t need to frantically rush around like I do.
I’ll walk through my door and panic mode will set in.”
Eden got to her feet, her hands landing on the zip at the
back of her pencil skirt. As she walked across the room,
lowering the zip ever so slightly, Aster’s mouth hung open.
“I’ll be right back. Let me change, and then we’ll discuss the
plans.”
“Holy fuck!” Aster murmured. “Why am I doing this to
myself?”
4
EDEN FELT HER PHONE BUZZING IN THE BACK OF HER SKIRT; SHE KEPT
it jammed into the waistband when she was rushing around
at events. She knew who it would be, it was always Liam
during the weekends, but she wasn’t available right now.
And he knew it, too. The vibrating stopped, giving Eden a
moment to think about what she should do. She could take
five minutes outside—a business call, if you will—or she
could ignore Liam’s calls and do her job.
If I don’t answer the phone, he’ll keep calling.
She sighed, spying an exit to the left of her.
Aster was leaning against the wall close to the door,
focused fully on her equipment as she changed lenses. She’s
so good. Eden watched her for a moment, taken aback by
Aster’s confident stance. But as she did so, she also
recognised what Aster was saying on Thursday night when
she explained to Eden how she didn’t put herself out there.
She should. She’s amazing. When Aster was behind the
camera, she was an entirely di erent person.
Eden paused in her thoughts. She’d spent most of the day
watching Aster, getting to know her quirks and her
mannerisms. At one point, she’d almost lost her footing as
she followed Aster across the dancefloor, her eyes fixed on
her long blonde hair and how it shone as the spotlights
caught it. Why are you staring at your photographer? Okay, it
was weird. At least, Aster would think so if she looked up to
find Eden glaring.
And then Aster did exactly that.
Her brown eyes narrowed as she focused on Eden, a warm
smile playing on her lips.
But then Eden was interrupted by the buzz of her phone
again. For the love of God! She rushed towards Aster, holding
up her ringing phone. “I need to take this call, okay?”
“Sure.”
Eden pushed through the door, hitting accept as soon as
the music inside the venue died down a little. “Liam, I’m
working. You know I am.”
“I know, babe. I was wondering how much longer you’re
going to be. I’ve told a few friends we’d meet them this
evening.”
Eden frowned. “Why the hell would you? You know I
can’t.”
“You can. You must be nearly finished now.” Liam
laughed, sending Eden’s anger through the roof. “Come on,
Eden. You’re always working. Live a little.”
“I’m always working because I have a business to run. You
may live o mummy and daddy’s money, but I don’t.” She
pinched the bridge of her nose. Eden would usually apologise
for saying something like that, but it was all truth. Liam
drove around in his sports car, meeting friends and playing
golf, barely a day worked in his life. But Eden, if she wanted
to be successful, had to work for it. She wasn’t jealous—far
from it, actually—but it did infuriate her when Liam said the
things he did. “I’m working. And then I’m going home.”
“Well, should I call over once I’ve been out to dinner with
them?”
“No. Don’t bother.” Eden ended the call, leaning back
against the brick wall outside the hotel. Liam was fun to a
point, but he didn’t fulfil her in any way at all. “You need to
cut him loose. He’s doing nothing for you whatsoever.” She
wedged her phone into the back of her skirt, tugging on the
door handle.
Aster moved around the room with ease, stopping to chat
with the bridal party between shots. The bride had already
complimented Eden on her choice of photographer. Aster
knew how to give o an air of ease and comfort; it was
important when she was spending an entire wedding day
with the happy couple. Eden didn’t want someone to share
their private moments if they couldn’t be inconspicuous and
discreet. No, she wanted someone exactly like Aster.
Aster threw her head back laughing as the bride leaned in
to speak to her. Eden’s belly swirled as the light caught her
exposed jawline, sending a wave of something unfamiliar
through her. “Wow. What was that?” She backed up, resting
against the wall and giving herself a moment. Was it…
attraction? No, it couldn’t be.
As Eden placed her palms flat against the wall, she
lowered her head, taking a deep breath. For some reason,
one which was unknown, Eden found herself gravitating
towards Aster at any given opportunity. Perhaps it was
because she was so approachable. Or maybe Eden was
looking for a friend. God knows she needed one lately. With
Blair o living a blissful, engaged life, Eden felt as though
she went home every night and sat alone. Yes, she
continuously turned Liam down at every turn, but he wasn’t
the man she needed. She just needed…something. Someone
who could occupy her time. Someone she could be satisfied
with instead of spending Sunday alone, week after week.
Someone who made her think, made her laugh. Someone she
enjoyed being at home with.
Love, in an ideal world.
“Earth to Eden…”
Eden frowned. Aster was waving a hand in front of her.
“Sorry?”
“Is everything okay? You’ve been in a world of your own
for the few minutes I’ve been standing here.”
“Yes, of course.” Eden smoothed the front of her blouse,
shaking her head. “Tired. It’s been a long day.”
“Well, I’m just about finished. I’ve spoken with the bride,
and I believe we have everything she wanted.”
Eden smiled and o ered a single nod of the head. “You’re
free to go then. I’ll look forward to seeing what you’ve got.”
Aster chewed her lip, lowering her camera. “I was
wondering…what time do you finish?”
“Oh, I finished about an hour ago.” Yes, she hung around.
Mainly because the idea of going home alone after such a
beautiful day was a miserable thought. “I like to stick
around.”
“You don’t want to get home to Liam?” Aster asked,
toying with the camera strap on her wrist. “It’s Saturday
night.”
“No. Liam is…busy.” And we do NOT live together. Ever!
Aster shrugged. “Well, I was planning to head up to the
rooftop bar. You’re more than welcome to join me if you’d
like to?”
I’d love to. Eden relaxed her shoulders, glancing behind
Aster. Everything appeared to be perfectly fine here. Eden
wasn’t needed. “I could probably come with you for one.”
“Brilliant.”
Eden almost gasped when Aster beamed a huge smile. One
so huge it almost knocked her through the wall.
“Let me get my stu together. My equipment. I can meet
you up there if it’s easier for you?”
“Y-yes.” Eden swallowed. Why had the air suddenly dried
up in here?
“Perfect. I’ll see you in a few. No rush, though.”
Eden watched Aster turn and move through the crowd on
the dance floor. Why had she so readily agreed to a drink
with Aster? And why did her heart pick up every time Aster
smiled at her? You need a friend and some fresh scenery. This
can only be a good thing. And Eden would make sure it was a
change for her. She was tired of Liam or nothing.
Aster sat at a table close to the edge of the rooftop. Her face
felt heated, and her hands were clammy. She’d just…invited
Eden up here. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but
now, as she sat alone swirling her whiskey, Aster believed
she’d made a mistake.
You’ve spent half of the day staring at her.
And she really had. She was also certain that she had
images of Eden on her camera. Nice pictures, of course, but it
was crossing the line, and Aster knew it. Grace would know
what to do, and Aster had considered calling her, but as she
lifted her glass from the table, the lift doors opened, and
Eden walked out of them. Okay, smile and act cool.
This was ridiculous.
“Hi. Sorry I took a while. I got talking to the bride,” Eden
said, pulling out a chair. “She’s singing your praises.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’s not.”
“Mmhmm. She is.”
Aster sipped her whiskey. “She hasn’t even seen the
pictures yet. She could hate them.”
“We both know that’s not going to happen.” Eden looked
pointedly at Aster, one corner of her mouth upturned. Okay,
Aster was a sucker for a woman with a sexy smirk…and Eden
definitely had one.
Instead of focusing on the drop-dead gorgeous woman
next to her, Aster continued with their conversation. “She
could, though. She could hate them, and then you’d be
disappointed.”
The frown lines across Eden’s forehead deepened. “Where
has that confident woman I saw earlier gone?”
“I-I don’t—”
“When you have that camera in your hand, you go o into
a world of your own. I saw it with my own eyes. You knew
exactly what you were doing, where to be, and I’m certain
that if I’d asked you to climb up a fifty-foot ladder to get the
perfect shot, you would have.”
Aster was surprised by everything Eden had said. In all
honesty, she wasn’t sure her boss had even noticed she was
in the room today, so to hear that Eden had e ectively
‘studied’ her, piqued Aster’s interest. “Nothing else matters
when I have the camera in front of me.”
“Let me get a drink and then we can get comfortable up
here.” Eden stood, but the barman came towards her. She
ordered a whiskey for herself and another for Aster.
“So, I was thinking,” Aster started. She’d done a lot of
thinking last night, and she knew what she wanted deep
down. Something guaranteed. “Is the o er to join the team
still on the table?”
Eden’s eyes shone. “One hundred percent.”
“Then I’d like to accept.”
Aster held out her hand, but Eden turned and threw her
arms around her instead. Shocked was her first reaction…
aroused, her second. “That’s brilliant. I’m so happy you
agreed.” Eden pulled back, holding Aster at arm’s length. “So
happy.”
“M-me too.” Aster ignored the shiver that ran through
her body. Eden was pretty…that’s all this was.
Eden jumped back. “Sorry. That was completely
inappropriate.”
“It’s fine. It’s nice to see someone who is excited to have
me around.”
Okay, that sounded as though Aster was looking for
sympathy, but it wasn’t like that. She was content with her
own company; she always had been. While Grace was pining
after Mia, Aster went home each night and relaxed. She
didn’t have anyone to answer to, nobody demanding
anything of her, and it worked.
“I see very good things with you around.” Eden returned
to her seat, smiling as the bartender brought their drinks.
“Thank you.”
Aster had to change the subject. When Eden told her
things like that, it only made that attraction grow.
Completely unrealistic and unfounded attraction. “Why
event planning?”
“I’d like to say I had this big epiphany when I was
younger, how I’d always seen myself doing this, but that
would be a lie. I saw a market for it, took a chance with
numerous loans, and it paid o for me. Thankfully, I love
what I do. Especially nights like this when I see the smile my
clients are wearing.”
Aster focused on the smile Eden was wearing. And then
her eyes dipped to Eden’s full lips, her light makeup, her
neckline… “N-nice.”
“People will always want to celebrate something.
Birthdays, weddings, christenings. You name it, there’s a
celebration for it. And over the last ten years or so, it’s only
gotten more lucrative. You wouldn’t believe the price people
will pay for a baby shower or a christening.”
“I can imagine. I’ve seen the pictures on social media.”
“But it’s weddings that I thrive on. I love them.” Aster
noted the way Eden’s eyes lit up. It only made them all the
more enticing. “You know, seeing the love two people have
for one another. That happily ever after. Isn’t it what we all
want?”
“I…guess so,” Aster told Eden what she assumed she
wanted to hear. “Are those plans on the horizon for you and
Liam?”
Eden cast her gaze on the table, o ering a wry smile.
“Not likely.”
“No?” Aster asked, aware that she could be overstepping.
“Tell me to mind my own business…”
“Actually, it’s nice to sit here and talk like normal people
do. If I’m not working, I’m with him. If I’m not with him or
working, I’m at home pottering about.”
Eden didn’t appear to be too happy with that.
“Liam is…di erent. Sort of. I don’t know.” Eden ran a
hand through her hair. Aster was mesmerised as it fell back
into place. “I mean, he’s nice. But he demands so much. He
called me tonight while I was working to ask how long I’d be.
Said he’d made plans for us.”
“He didn’t know you were working?”
“Oh, he knew. He has my schedule. But he likes to try to
take things out of my hands and then seems to be o ended
and pissed o when I can’t make it.”
Aster snorted. “This is why I’m single.”
“I did wonder…”
“If I was single?” Aster didn’t recall that having any
bearing on her potential position at The Garden of Eden.
“Yes. This job can be demanding, especially when
wedding season arrives. I wanted you to be prepared for
that.”
“Oh, it’s fine. Even if I did meet someone, they’d probably
leave me within a week.”
“You have a very bad habit of putting yourself down.”
“Self-deprecation. I’m aware that I do it.” Aster smiled,
