Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 74

Gabriella's face went scarlet in an instant. She turned away, attempting to deny everything with what little dignity she could muster. "What on earth are you talking about? I would never say something like that..."

The corner of Asher's mouth quirked upward. "No?"

"Of course not!" Gabriella's voice grew progressively quieter, her confidence waning with each word. "I mean... I couldn't possibly have... not in front of everyone..."

Bloody hell.

Fragments of memory were beginning to resurface.

Last night, she had... possibly... perhaps... Oh god, she really had said those things, hadn't she?

"I was talking absolute rubbish!"

The soft morning light filtered through the windows, illuminating her crimson-flushed face.

Gabriella bit her lip, utterly mortified. "You know I was completely sloshed. I was just babbling nonsense. You wouldn't hold a drunk person's ramblings against them, would you?"

She didn't sound particularly convinced of her own argument and added in a small voice: "When someone's intoxicated, they can't fully control or recognize their actions. In legal terms, that's considered diminished capacity..."

Asher's shoulders shook with quiet laughter.

"Are you giving me a legal lecture now, counselor?"

In reality, intoxicated individuals weren't legally classified as having "diminished capacity" at all—Gabriella was merely grasping at straws.

Knowing she was on shaky ground, Gabriella let out an indignant "hmph" and attempted to wriggle free from Asher's embrace.

His arms remained firmly around her waist. "Trying to escape? Have you forgotten how thoroughly you teased me last night? You can't simply wind me up and then disappear."

The scent of shower gel lingered on his skin—Gabriella recognized it as her own usual brand.

Asher leaned in and claimed her lips, his elegant fingers threading through her hair. They kissed with urgent passion, like a summer storm or a howling winter gale—powerful and impossible to resist.

"Gabby," he murmured against her lips, "may I?"

The faint morning light gradually brightened, and even the air between them felt charged with electricity.

Gabriella knew exactly what would happen next. Though she trembled slightly with nervousness, there was unmistakable anticipation in her eyes.

She loved Asher and yearned for this deeper intimacy with him.

Outside the window, birds sang sweetly in the trees. Everything felt utterly perfect.

It was a gloriously romantic morning.

Just as they reached the precipice of no return, a mobile phone rang suddenly.

In the quiet sanctuary they'd created, the sound was particularly jarring.

Asher's eyes darkened with displeasure. He seemed inclined to ignore the ringing and continue, but Gabriella had been startled back to reality. Blushing furiously, she broke free from his embrace and backed away a few steps.

"Your—your phone," she stammered, gesturing vaguely.

Asher's gaze was molten, his voice low and husky with desire. "Why are you running, darling? I promise I won't ravish you completely."

"You should... probably answer that first..."

Asher reached for his phone, the heat in his eyes cooling back to his usual composed gaze.

The caller ID showed Grace Bennett.

Why wasn't she having a lie-in on this early morning? Why choose precisely this moment to call? Asher suddenly found his sister rather irritating, and his tone carried a distinct edge as he answered, "What is it?"

Grace spoke excitedly: "Brother, the meteorological service just announced there'll be a meteor shower tomorrow night! Fancy watching it together? The best viewing spot is at South Downs National Park. Let's go hiking tomorrow!"

Holding the phone to his ear, the man's gaze drifted to Gabriella standing nearby, his expression softening instantly.

A meteor shower?

His Gabriella would probably adore seeing something like that. She'd been working herself to the bone these past days, and tomorrow being the weekend—it was the perfect opportunity for taking her out to unwind.