"My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require." 

– Edward Elgar

Asher POV

I check myself over in the mirror one last time before I head out of the room, I just got a notice from the pilot that they are five minutes from landing and I want to be there to meet her when she gets off the jet.

Hailey is five minutes away from me, it seems surreal.

I'm crushing hard over a girl I spent two days with, and haven't even kissed.

This girl has made me lose my mind. When I had told my closest friends about Hailey Quinn they thought it was just another girl, a groupie, but I have never felt like this with any groupie or one night stand, she's different, I don't know exactly how.

I just know I like myself when I'm with her, she's real.

Making my way outside the master suite, I make my way to the private runway on the island, I had invited Hailey to a private island I rent out sometimes, I come here to write or just escape, no one but me, not even my mother has been here, Hailey would be the first.

Hailey would've had to change planes halfway to arrive here, only a helicopter or boat can arrive here, we are completely away from civilization and alone, apart from the staff on the island, no one would bother us here.

Originally I thought inviting people would be a good idea, but then I wouldn't be able to introduce her to the island, I will be going slow, or at any damn pace, she's willing to let me, if she wants to be just friends after this, I'll accept it.

Shit, it'll hurt, but I can't force this, I can't push my feelings onto her.

I'm near the helipad landing waiting and I can see the helicopter coming closer to the landing, I can't keep the shit-eating grin off my face when it begins to lower and I finally see her face, she's as stunning as the first day I laid my eyes on her.

Waiting for the helicopter to stop, I walk forward to the door and open it to see the beautiful Hailey Quinn. "Good flight?" I ask her, as she just simply looks at me, shocked.

"The best.. apart from no one would tell me where I was going." She laughs and I grin and unbuckle her seatbelt.

"Sorry." I smirk, taking her hand in mine. "Then it wouldn't be a surprise would it?" I say, helping her down the steps of the helicopter.

I turn to the pilot and a friend of mine, James, and hug him. "Thanks, man."

He shakes his head. "No problem Ash." He says with a smile. "She's a good one, hold onto her." He says quietly as his eyes travel to Hailey then me.

Oh, I plan to.

Once I say my thanks and goodbyes to James I focus on Hailey to see her looking around in awe and amazement, it's 6 PM so it's quite late, but at this time the sunset from the island is one of my most favorite things about this island.

"You like it?" I ask, coming up beside her as I walk towards the house, hinting for her to smile at me, she timidly nods her head and smiles shyly.

He clears her throat. "Yeah, this is amazing." She glances around and I watch amused. "Do you own this island?" She asks, her eyes wide in amazement.

"Nah, I come here sometimes to relax, I thought it'd be a perfect place to get to know each other." I say, taking her hand in mine, leading her down the lit-up pathway, the house in view, surrounded by exotic plants and palm trees.

"Damn, I need to get rich, I could totally live here." She mumbles and I laugh out and grin.

I slide the door open and it leads into the lounge room, it's cozy and filled with everything one may need to truly relax, Hailey is looking around impressed as I release her hand and carry her bags inside then slide the door shut.

She runs her fingers through the books on the bookshelves and I'm so fucking glad I had asked to restock the books with new ones, just encase she wants to do something for herself, as much as I would want her to myself, I'm not going to smother her with affection, not yet anyway.

"Wow, this one isn't even out yet." She mumbles to herself and I come up behind her.

"Everything here is new or not public yet, I got them for you." I tell her and she looks at me confused. "Are you hungry?" I change the subject.

Her cheeks flush and I grin. "The chef has already prepared something, I hope you're hungry." I say, winking at her as I lead her to the deck.

The deck is lit with soft lights and chairs and a table, set for two, and in the corner is an outside circle sofa with a lit fireplace in the middle that is lit and cackling.

"Wow." I hear her say quietly.

"Let's sit." I lead her to the sofa and we both sit down.

I can't stop looking at her, she's actually here, she's the same, she's dressed in a floral dress and sandals and her hair is loose, her soft blonde curls free and she's not wearing makeup, just how I like her.

Fuck, she's beautiful.

I tear my eyes away from her as a waiter comes with drinks, and because I figured she would want to sleep after eating, I had ordered us some ice tea, she was constantly carrying around a bottle of the stuff whenever I saw her in Portland, I figured this would be better than wine.

When the waiter goes, I turn to her again, she's sitting comfortably and sipping her drink. 

"How do you like it so far?" I ask, taking my own drink and drinking it.

She smiles warmly. "It's.. wow.. this is probably the best mini vacay I've ever had." She chuckles.

I hum. "Don't travel much?"

She snorts and puts her glass back down on the table. "No, studying and working took up all my time, I haven't actually been out of America before."

I raise my brows. "Really?" I say and she nods her head shyly. "What a better reason to visit London." I joke and she smiles.

"I would love to, but you know.. I can't just leave my job." She smiles sadly.

Oh, right. "What if I paid you?" I shrug and she looks at me weirdly. "I'm serious, I'll pay you to visit London." I say seriously and she laughs.

"Damn, is London that good?" 

"No, but I'm there." I say, wiggling my eyebrows and it makes her snort-laugh.

Our food comes out and I stand up and hold my hand out to pull her up and lead her towards the table and chairs, away from the sofa.

We both sit and look hungrily at the spread on the table, I had ordered one of everything, unsure what she would like so I had asked the chef to make one of each in small portions, just to see what she likes so I can make a note.

"Wow, trying to get me fat Asher?" She jokes, eyeing the food with a laugh and my chest squeezes when she says my name.

Fuck, my name in her mouth sounds so good.

I start adding food to my plate and shrug. "Nah, although I might get fat from this, my manager would kill me if she knew I was eating this." I laugh. "Maybe don't tell her." I say with a wink and she laughs.

She starts adding food, bits of everything like me. "That must suck." She pauses. "Will you get in trouble for being here?" She pauses and looks at me worried. 

I snort and grin. She's cute. "Of course not, I'm a grown man." 

She nods her head slowly and we both dig in, starting with the crab, she mirrors me and watches me as I begin to peel and eat, her eyes studying my every move she also dips the crab meat into the sauce.

I watch amusingly as her face changes from conflicted to surprised. "Do you like it?" I ask, hiding my grin.

She nods her head, blushing. "Sorry, I've never.. I don't usually eat this stuff." She coughs out, hiding her blush and I shake my head.

We both finish eating, with me eating just a little more than her, I can fully say we are stuffed and both getting tired from how many times Hailey has yawned in the past five minutes.

I decide it's time we call it a night, after all, this is just the beginning and tomorrow is another day, there's no way she's escaping me here, we have plenty of time to spend together in the next few days.

We both get up and I lead her through the beach house towards her room, where all of her stuff is already there, her room is opposite mine and I gave her the best room in the house, hoping when she wakes up she will notice why it's the best room in the house.

I open the door for my head and turn the light on. "This is you." I say smiling and he looks around, tiredly but in awe.

She turns to me and frowns. "What about you?" She asks, then her face goes slightly red. "I mean, where will you sleep?" 

I lean against the door and smirk, then hint to the door behind me, opposite hers. "You want to sleep with me, Hailey?" I ask, amused and her eyes go wide and she goes silent.

She's standing there, unsure what to say and I laugh and lean off the doorway. "I'm joking Quinn, I'll see you in the morning?" I smile down at her.

She swallows hard and nods her head, and focuses on me. "Of course." She clears her throat slightly. "See you in the morning, Asher." She says quietly, her beautiful blue eyes look up to me innocently and I hold a groan back.

I walk slowly in front of her and lean down, her eyes go wide as I lean forward and place a kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight love." I say lowly.

Pulling myself away from her and stepping back, I see the blush on her face and I want nothing more than to stay and spend the night with her, but I know it's too soon for her, so I turn around and walk out of the room.

I look at her one last time and smile as I close the door.

Taking a deep breath, I run my fingers through my hair, go into my room, and shut the door behind me.

I'm hard, from a fucking kiss to her forehead, how does that shit happen? This girl...

This is going to be a long four days, but fuck, it's going to be worth it.