Charming: A Modern Day Sexy Cinderella Story by Jennifer Miller Page A

disappointment feels. Pointing toward the dance floor, I stifle a laugh when I see Katie. “She’s dancing with a new friend.” Dancing is being kind. She’s practically having sex in her clothes. Wrinkling my nose, I shake my head at the downright indecent way she’s grinding on some guys leg. There should be a warning label floating above her head or something.
    Asher laughs, “Well, she happens to have made friends with one of mine.”
    “Oh yeah?” I ask raising a brow, “Jealous?” I ask and then want to slap my hand over my mouth in shock that I said that out loud, but I refrain.
    “Not even a little bit. Truth is, I actually knew where she was. I’ve been watching the two of you for a while.”
    “You have?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh,” I reply not sure what else to say.
    “I was trying to get the courage to approach you.”
    He needed courage to talk to me? Seriously? So I tease him, “And that line was the best you could do after all that thinking?”
    He throws his head back and laughs and I enjoy the sound. “Anyway, don’t worry about your friend-”
    “Katie.”
    “Katie. The guy she’s with is a good guy.”
    “I’m not worried. Katie can handle herself.”
    “What about you? Can you handle yourself?” Asher asks me with a smirk and seriously, the urge to jump into his lap, straddle his hips and have my way with him is ridiculous. No wonder he sells millions of tickets to his action movies. Note to self – slow down on the drinks. Or not.
    “Absolutely,” I tell him and he laughs, then hands me a drink. Clinking his glass with mine he says, “To the night ahead.” I nod and take a drink. He opens his mouth to speak, but before any words leave that beautiful mouth of his, Katie chirps, “Hi!”
    Turning to her in surprise, I see she’s standing next to the man she was dancing with and her eyes are wide as she looks from me to Asher a few times. Smiling and laughing softly, I say, “Asher, allow me to formally introduce you to my best friend, Katie. Katie, you’ve met Asher.”
    Katie smiles widely and cocks that hip of hers again. I narrow my eyes wanting to tell her to knock it off. “You owe me another photo. Where the hell is that friend of yours anyway? I need to teach him how to take a photo correctly.”
    Asher looks at me in confusion, “What happened?”
    “She’s mad because your friend cut all of our heads off.”
    Asher laughs, “I promise we can take another one together. Cool?”
    “Alright then,” Katie agrees.
    Asher gestures to Katie’s dirty dancing partner, “Mick, this is the beautiful Gabriella. Her friends call her ‘Ella’, so you can call her Gabriella.” He says and I swear there’s a little bit of possessiveness in his look and tone. Mick looks at Asher and smirks as if he’s in on some secret joke that Katie and I aren’t aware of.
    “Hi, Ella,” Mick says with emphasis and a laugh, “Nice to meet you.”
    “You too,” I reply, “and don’t worry. Asher has to call me Gabriella too.”
    “What? No way. You said I could call you Ella if I bought you a drink.”
    I slam back the rest of my jack and coke and smile, “I said you could start with one drink.” He laughs and turns to order me another.
    “Ella, can I steal you for just one second?” Katie asks me and I nod, excusing myself.
    “I will eagerly await your return,” Asher says and I giggle. I freaking giggle. Oh my god.
    As soon as we are out of earshot, Katie turns to me, “Oh my hell!” she whispers with a smile.
    “I know. He just came up to me and started talking not long before you came up.” And interrupted I want to say. What is wrong with me? Maybe Asher isn’t the only one feeling a little possessive. Which is insanity – I have no right, no claim – nor does he.
    “That’s Asher fucking Charming,” Katie says and her eyes are a little unfocused making me laugh.
    “Yeah it is,” I say with a shrug.
    “Oh please, you can’t tell me you’re not freaking