Well, that was pretty freaking sweet.

“I’m glad everything is okay. He sent you over here? He could have just texted me.”

“I was here when my mom called. I borrowed his tent and was returning it, so I said I’d stay and wait to tell you in person. Anyway, it gives me a chance to meet you.”

“Oh. Well, hi. I’m glad to meet you too.”

They settled in his kitchen.

“Can you believe this was actually a wall with a tiny window when Asa first bought the house?” His sister waved a hand at the wall of windows leading out to a deck spanning the entire length of the second floor.

“Why would someone do that?” The view was spectacular. Lake Washington glittered in the distance with the Cascades’ white-tipped mountains farther beyond that.

“Right?” Courtney shook her head. “It was dark and it seemed way smaller too. Asa has a way of seeing right to the heart of things. He has a great instinct like that.”

PJ grinned. “That was an awesome way to compliment and warn me at the same time. Bravo.”

Courtney tipped her head back, laughing. “He said you were smart and funny as well as pretty. Come on then and let me keep poking into your life. I need to report back on you to my mom and sister. We’re all dying for details.”

“He must love that.”

Courtney nodded. “Yes, of course. He’s so serious all the time. Always was. He worked extra jobs so he could help my mom get us into a better place to live. Even when he enlisted, he sent nearly all his money home to us. But we’re grown, my sister and me, and our mom is fine. He needs to lighten up in ways that don’t include driving too fast.”

“Ha. Don’t hold your breath.” Asa liked to live on the edge. Fast was like breathing to him.

“At least he has a thick skull. When he was a kid he was legendary for how crazy he was. We didn’t have a lot, but our mom found the money and the parts and stuff so each one of us had a bike. Asa rode his off the top of the roof of the church. He rode it off things. Into things. There was a public pool we’d go to all summer long. He and his friends would sneak in at night and ride into the pool on their bikes and skateboards. Then it was dirt bikes. He broke his arm twice. Anyway, then he went into the army and we worried, but it gave him direction and some control. He’s still crazy, but racing on a track is better than on a street.”

“Safer too. Have you seen him out there?” When Courtney shook her head, PJ continued. “They have an emergency team at the track for every race. A medical team, fire suppression crew. They wear some protective gear.” Not as much as she’d hoped, but she knew who Asa and his friends were. They’d be safe – within limits – but still push it as far as they could. “He’s really good at it. And when he comes off the track, he’s totally full of joy. It’s worth the nervousness when I see that expression.”

“He’s so fearless when he’s on wheels of any kind. But… I like the tone in your voice when you talk about what makes him happy.” Courtney paused and then went back to the subject. “Mainly I’ve accepted it. Drives my mom crazy, but he tries to shield her from most of what he gets up to.”

Ha! PJ bet.

“Anyway, so Asa says you’re amazing with custom paint. He showed us some pictures. He’s proud of you.”

PJ blushed. “He is? Well, wow, that’s nice to hear.” It was sweet that he showed her off like that. There was an Asa very few people got to know. One who was soft and tender all while being very protective. It was something she yearned for. Each thing he shared, every moment they reached a new level of trust and he let her in a little further made her greedy for more.

“It’s pretty cool that I get to do what I love. It pays my bills and that’s nice too. I get to be around cars, also a plus. Asa tells me you’re a dental assistant.”

“I am. I just work down in Burien. Did he try to get you to switch dentists? He does that a lot. I’m sorry.”

PJ laughed because he had. “I’ve had the same dentist since I was a kid. But I think it’s so adorable that he does it to everyone. If people only knew.”

“At my graduation he brought the biggest freaking bouquet of roses I’ve ever seen. And then he had to hold it the whole time and never complained.” Courtney smiled as she shook her head. “He was very proud of me, and my sister too. I’d say something like his bark is worse than his bite, but that’s not true. It’s just that he has a very small intimate circle. He hasn’t added a woman to it before. Which is why they never really hold on when he walks away.” She stood, moving to the windows. “You’re in it, though.”

“I think so. Yes.” It was why she wasn’t really that bothered by the fact that their larger circle included a few women he’d slept with. He never looked at anyone the way he looked at her. And that was more than enough to keep any worries away.

“I really have to ask you something. Is Asa as big a pain as he seems like he’d be to date? He’s so bossy. That must drive you nuts.”

“He’s actually pretty sweet. I mean, he glowers at anyone who looks at me sideways, but he doesn’t get too bossy about anything that’s important to me. Your mom did a good job with him. He’s a gentleman.”

Courtney looked dubious. “He gets into fistfights with his friends for recreation. Has he told you about that?”