Free The Arrangement by Thayer King Page A

she waved her hand across her arm to shoo it away. When the sensation continued, she glanced down. A fat furry caterpillar inched along her forearm. She hated caterpillars. It wasn’t that they were ugly. This one was thick and black and resembled a tiny fur coat. No it wasn’t their appearance. It was that their boneless squishy bodies were filled with disgusting goo and their movement gave her the creeps. Just the sight of it made her stomach turn.
    She was just inhaling, seconds from screaming and freaking out when Asher plucked the offending insect from her arm and set it harmlessly on the ground. He gave her a brief smile. He’d never paused his conversation with Jamil or given any indication that he was aware of her. But apparently he was very in tune with her.
    Ariadne gave a relieved sigh. Her heartrate had barely returned to normal when their tabl e was approached by her cousin Janice with Daniel at her side. She couldn’t believe the gall of them. Yes, the eventual confrontation needed to happen, but they should have waited for her to acknowledge them.
    “Aunt Ro,” Janice cooed, bending to hug and kiss her mother. Aurora returned the embrace with a half-hearted pat before pushing her away. “Ari,” Janice said with a false smile, shoving back a thick man e of braids and wiggling her fingers in an exaggerated motion to show off a sparkling engagement ring, before clasping Daniel’s hand in hers.
    “Janice. Daniel.” She nodded at them both.
    “Well, I guess I will perform the introductions . This is my friend, Jamil.” Aurora’s smile turned wide. “And this is my son-in-law, Asher.”
    “Son-in-law?” Daniel asked, looking confused. “Do you have another child?”
    “He’s my husband,” Ariadne explained.
    Daniel’s head snapped back as though he’d received a blow. “What? This guy? But-”
    “Congratulation s,” Janice interrupted Daniel’s continued sputtering.
    “And he’s given her the most beautiful rings,” Aurora continued in a cheerful tone as though she didn’t notice the awkward stiffness that had overtaken the couple. “Show them, baby,” she insisted and grabbed Ariadne’s wrist when she didn’t move fast enough to suit her.
    “It’s lovely,” Janice said, but her expression showed her displeasure. Her cousin was a lovely woman with a beautiful smooth dark complexion. She would have been far lovelier if she didn’t have such a bitter disposition. For some reason that Ariadne could not fathom, she had hated her since they were children. Their personalities didn’t click. They didn’t share any of the same interests, but as far as Ariadne had been concerned that only meant that they should avoid each other outside of family events. For Janice, it apparently was a declaration of war.
    Swinging hands with Daniel, Janice nodded. “Guess we’ll see you later. Dan, baby, we don’t want to wait too long. Food flies fast when there’s this much family around.”
    Ariadne expelled a breath after they left. She glanced at Asher. He’d been curiously silent during the exchange which was simply not him. “Why are you so quiet?”
    “Just sizing up the competition.”
    “And what’s your verdict?” Aurora asked.
    Asher took a sip of his soda and then flashed that sexy grin of his. “There is no competition.”
    “What did she mean when she said she would see us later?” Ariadne asked with a frown.
    Aurora shrugged. “I don’t know. Rebecca did invite everyone to come over to her house for iced coffees and dessert later. Maybe she plans to drop by.”
    Ariadne groaned, losing what was left of her appetite.
     
    “Girl, I would have thought you were faking it, if it weren ’t for the way he stares at you,” her cousin Sierra said.
    Ariadne glanced across Aunt Rebecca’s den at where Asher was entertaining some of the women in her family. Of course. He was like catnip to the fairer sex. “What do you mean?”
    “He looks at you lik e he can’t wait to get