by Candy Quinn
I could almost feel the steam coming out of my ears, and I clasped my hands into fists. I was loosin’ my cool.
“That little dick,” I cursed, so unlike myself. I just couldn’t believe it, though!
Whatever it was about my bein’ angry, it helped Asher catch his own cool again. His fists loosened, and he reached up to run a hand back over his hair then reach out to squeeze my shoulder.
The two of us stood together like that for a while in quiet silence, the buzz of the hot summer day in the air as bugs whizzed by the shed door, the warming air flowing into the shaded area where we stood. It seemed to last an eternity, but not long enough either.
“Hey, don’t let it bug you,” he urged, his voice returning to its usual calm again after that momentary flare up of his frightful anger.
“That’s all you got! That and the clothes on your back, and he just breaks it? You’re not payin’ for this, no way. He’s goin’ to give you every penny you need and an apology. This ain’t right, Asher, ain’t right at all, not after you’ve been so good and doin’ not a thing wrong. He just can’t see past your tattoos and muscles and the bike, that’s all, and that ain’t fair he’s judgin’ you for that.”
Nothing of those three things being the main thing that attracted me to him...
He took a deep breath again, focusin’ himself.
“It’s okay,” he said, but he wore a smile on his face once more. Somethin’ about my words must’ve cheered him up a might, because he lifted his free hand to my chin and directed his gaze to mine. “We’ll sort that all out in time, don’t you worry. But in the meantime…” he shrugged his broad shoulders. “Guess I’m stayin’ for now anyhow.”
There were things I coulda done, maybe. Offered him a ride in the back of my pickup, bring him and his bike to the nearest autobody shop, but I selfishly didn’t wanna overextend my helpfulness. Especially watchin’ his mouth smile like that again, and the feel of his hand on my chin. It was like fireworks were goin’ off inside me.
“Yea,” I said dumbly, but I couldn’t call upon no more words than that. I was transfixed.
His big, strong hand went from my chin up to my hair, where he petted my long locks so affectionately. Havin’ such a big strong man, smilin’ down at me all tender like was more soothin’ than I’d like to admit. Reminded me of better times, and times I’d never had neither!
“I can think of worse fates,” he said, and he sounded genuine, though part of me knew he had a real urgency about him when Hank had asked him questions. He was runnin’ from somethin’. Someone.
And I won’t lie, it should’ve made me more cautious. I knew just as sure as Marcus that from the looks of him he was trouble, but everything about him called out to me. Made me want him in a very real way that I couldn’t fight.
“Now come on, I still gotta get some work done today,” he remarked with a wink and leaned in. For a moment I thought he was gonna kiss me, but instead he picked up his bag and offered it to me. “Mind runnin’ it inside for me? I wanna get right to work.”
My breath was stolen and harder to get back as I scrambled to take his bag, still stunned and a little confused. I coulda sworn he was gonna kiss me and I’d be able to feel those full lips against mine. I licked along my lower lip at the thought, and it tingled against my tongue.
“Oh, sure, yea...” I mumbled stupidly as I backed away, my face warm with embarrassment.
“Hold on a second,” he said, and he reached down, pullin’ that big shirt up off himself, and liftin’ his tshirt beneath up, exposin’ his bare abs again as he disrobed. He tucked the long sleeve into the bag then adjusted his still remaining tshirt, smilin’ at me.
“Thanks hun. You’re a doll,” he said.
“Sure,” I said, though I won’t deny that those words made me feel a lot lighter on my feet. It was nice to dote on a man. Feel a bit like a lady for a change instead of just a farmer and caretaker.
And I was lovin’ the little buzz in my mind, the excitement I had in me since he’d come to town. I knew it ain’t been long, but still, can’t change how excitin’ it felt.
* * *
We spent the first few days together workin’ like a lovely team. I cooked for him, did the laundry, and aside from havin’ to teach him a few things about farm work, he handled all of that there was that needed doin’.
One day I came out for lunch as a surprise, picnic basket in tow as I greeted him in the fields.
“What’s all that?” he asked, lookin’ me over with a surprised smile. It was a scorcher outside, so he was already bare chested and glistenin’ in the sun.
“Lunch,” I said with a smile. “Hope you’ve worked up an appetite,” I said with a grin as I motioned towards one of the cleared areas towards the side of the farm.
“And there’s more water than y’know what to do with, I promise.”
Asher chuckled and made his way on over with me, slingin’ his shirt over his shoulder as I laid out the blanket for the picnic.
“Well ya didn’t have to bring the food to me, I’m a travellin’ man,” he said with a playful grin on his face as we settled in. “But thank you all the same, miss Shelby. You’re a right lady,” he declared, foldin’ his legs up beneath him.
I smiled as I opened the basket, handing him one of the packed sandwiches. It had more meat on it than a leg of lamb, and I was pleased with myself. I made up this new sauce, just for him. He’d mentioned he liked things a little spicy and flavourful, after all.
“Hope you like it.”
He took the sandwich and smiled, “Thank you ma’am,” he said, catchin’ on to the way things were done it seemed. Though nothin’ diminished his appetite, of course.
Of course, I had ulterior motives to settin’ up a picnic. The summer sun dance was that night, and for once I thought I might like to go. Accompanied.
Though I didn’t have the nerve to ask him just then.
“There’s carrots in there as well if you want some crunch, too.” I took my own sandwich, much thinner than his, and took a small bite. I was a bit more aware of myself around him.
He nodded appreciatively and smiled widely, though the real treat of the meal was gettin’ to watch him up close, bare chested and hard bodied, the sun havin’ only enhanced his tan since he got on my farm.
“Y’know, I was thinking…” he started, lookin’ around the area. “That old abandoned storehouse of yours is in pretty good shape. It’s just the roof that needs repairs, and I’ve got carpentry skills to spare. I could fix that up for you, with some lumber and supplies.”
“Yea?”
I was stunned. I mean, I hadn’t even thought about gettin’ that place fixed up, it was too big of an undertakin’ for me. And it’d cost an arm and a leg to hire folk to come fix it for me. Even with him there, I didn’t think it’d ever get fixed.
“That’d be amazin’. I mean, would lead to there bein’ a lot less rubbish around, at least.”
Asher’s smile lit up his face and it was hard to believe he was the tattooed ruffian he appeared to be.
“I’ll get right on that then, soon as we get the materials together,” he said, lifting his sandwich and taking another big bite as he flashed me a wink.
Maybe it was the farm livin’ that was turnin’ him into such a warm, carefree spirit. Or maybe he was never the hard case he appeared to be. How could I say?
Whatever it was, I was fallin’ hard and fast, and the fact that he hadn’t made a move only made me like him a little bit more. He was bein’ respectful, the type of guy that I knew my parents woulda been proud for me to have.
“You know, the Summer Sun dance is tonight in town,” I mentioned awkwardly.
“Oh yeah?” he said, replying to me without delay, casting his eyes across the blanket to mine before he took a generous helping of water. With a satisfied ‘ah’ he wiped his mouth. “We should go. Get off the farm.”
As easy as that.
I stared, a bit stunned by how nonchalant he was about it, bu
t by the time that passed, I was grinning ear to ear like a maniac.
“Yea, we should,” I agreed, like it was all his idea. “It’s nothin’ super fancy, you know. Not a tux and tie thing or whatever hoity-toity stuff from the city, but everyone cleans up and I’ve heard it’s real swell.”
“You heard?” he asked, archin’ a brow over at me, lookin’ all inquisitive. Here I was, tryin’ to get information outta my dark, mysterious stranger for days with no success, but he was great at ferretin’ it outta me it seemed. “Don’t tell me you usually stay in, Shelby. Beautiful woman such as yourself.”
I flushed at just how quick he figured me out, tryin’ to shrug it off. “Just never interested me, y’know, dancin’ and all that.”
It was a lie, but I already felt exposed, I didn’t wanna give everything away.
“Well damn,” he said so simply in that deep, dark voice of his. “And here I was hoping to score a dance or two with you. Guess I’m all outta luck,” he lamented, still smilin’ a bit as he ate and drank across from me.
How did he constantly do that? Turn it around on me?
“Well, I mean, I want to go tonight. Wouldn’t have mentioned it otherwise...”
He arched a brow and peered at me, as if he could see right through me.
“Then you’ll be dancing with me.” It was statement rather than question, but somehow I felt the compunction to treat it like both.
I met his gorgeous eyes, trying to resist the urge to bite down on my lower lip. He was so handsome, in that rugged, rebellious way, but he was always so respectful with me. Not at all what I expected.
But I liked that, too.
“Okay,” I said, the word coming out like a soft puff of smoke.
With a big grin he flashed me a wink and chomped down into the last of his sandwich, polishin’ it off and washin’ it down.
“I don’t have any fancy clothes to wear though, is the only thing. Only got my work clothes,” he lamented, but then I remembered pa’s old things. Still sittin’ in the dresser in his old room. Right with ma. They looked about the same size too. Asher and pa, I mean.
Big, broad men, tall and filled out.
“Maybe I can find somethin’ in the house. We didn’t get rid of pa’s old things, and he and ma used to always go to the dances. They loved things like that.”
His smile grew wider and he nodded his head as he wiped off his hands on a cloth.
“It’s a date then,” he announced as he stood up, adjustin’ his belt and jeans. “Guess I’d better hustle and get my work done over on the east side before nightfall then. Don’t wanna be late gettin’ ready for the dance, now do I?”
My stomach was doing flips of excitement as I stood up, and I was sure I was beamin’. I’d never been so happy in all my days, and I knew I’d fret about it all afternoon.
I wished ma still had her mind about her so I could ask for advice about what to do. That was one of the worst parts of it, just feelin’ so lonely even though she’s still around. Wantin’ to share in my happiness with her and knowin’ she’ll never really understand.
Still, I couldn’t let that get to me, and I quickly packed up our picnic.
“We can eat here then go on if you want or else they have a small buffet thing before hand,” I suggested.
“Why not eat out? You’ve been bustin’ your ass cooking for us every day,” he said with a smile. “Dinner and a date sounds even better anyhow,” he remarked, and set off, brushing against me as he let his hand run down my arm. “I’ll be in to clean up early as I can,” he promised.
“Alright, I’ll try to find somethin’ nice,” I said, looking at him with such renewed affection and desire. My eyes roamed over his body before I turned on my heel, headin’ back to the farm. Each step felt lighter and more meaningful.
My first real date!
* * *
True to his word, Asher finished up his work early enough to get on back and get cleaned up. When he came out of the bath, I had a fresh set of pa’s date clothes waitin’ for him. I didn’t wait around to peek or nothin’, so don’t go thinkin’ me a total perv. But when he came on down, he was dressed up all nice.
Though he was a lil’ bigger’n pa was, it only helped him fill out the clothes even better. And he kept the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows, so his bulgin’ forearms were left exposed, just like I preferred.
I wonder if he’d noticed or just liked it that way too...
I guess it didn’t matter, I was just too stunned by him to really think about much else. Even after I’d washed my hair and put on my little bit of lipstick, all I could think about was him and if he’d like it. I even talked with ma a bit, though I doubt she remembered any of it, but she said I looked just like a vision and I figured that meant I looked nice.
“Wow,” I finally said, my fingers on the hem of my light yellow sundress. “You clean up some nice.”
I was too busy ogling him to notice he was doin’ the same to me, but when he let out a whistle I clued in some.
“Speak for yourself, hun. You’re a vision in that dress, I gotta say,” he remarked, and reached out, takin’ my hand in his like we was in some kind of movie! “Gimme a lil’ twirl, will ya?” he asked, with a lopsided smile on his face. Though he didn’t so much as wait for me to deliver, he lifted my hand and helped give me the twirl in question.
My sundress flared out over my thighs as I went up on tiptoe, still barefooted and without tights. I knew it was proper to wear them, but I hated the damn itchy things and it was too warm anyhow.
The dress dipped low, showing off the top of my breasts, and I knew I probably had the biggest in the town, though that weren’t sayin’ much when you’re in a town of three hundred odd souls. But I liked showin’ them off.
At least, I liked showin’ them off to Asher, right and wrong be damned.
After watchin’ my dress flare up and twirl, he helped me slow down and come to a halt, reachin’ out to grasp me by my hip and waist as he smile down from his towerin’ height.
“Safe to say I’m gonna be the luckiest man there tonight. With the most beautiful woman in the whole township on his arm,” he remarked, almost all his dark, rugged look hidden beneath that nice shirt and pants. Though his forearms still betrayed the dark lines of his markings, keepin’ him from losin’ all his edge.
And despite his words, I knew that I was really gonna be the one everyone’d be jealous of.
The dance wasn’t no mere thing. People from four towns over would all come out and join in the festivities.
“We better get a move on if we wanna hit the buffet,” I said, though really, I’d have been just as happy dancin’ with him in the kitchen without a beat of music.
“Sure thing, hun,” he said, escortin’ me over towards the door, but before I could grab the keys to the truck, he snatched ‘em up. “But I’m gonna drive,” he said with a devious, uneven grin on his face.
“Well sure but if you break it and we gotta push it into town, I ain’t gettin’ my shoes dirty,” I said as I put on my wedge heels, tying the pastel straps around my ankle before taking his offered arm. My heart was poundin’ in my chest and I couldn’t wait to go.
Though there was a part of me, a small part, that made me worried Marcus’d be there. I tried to push it aside, though. I hadn’t talked to him since, I was too livid, and still tryin’ to figure out what to say without tearin’ the family apart.
Asher escorted me on out to the truck, even helped me on in like a real lady, shuttin’ my door for me as I tucked my dress beneath me. Though when he climbed aboard, the truck rocked from his bulky, muscular weight.
Livin’ out in farm country meant that even though the community was small, the drive weren’t. It was a good half hour to get into the festivities area, the restaurant lookin’ busy. But since it was held outside, they usually made enough tables to accommodate everyone for the festival.
“Ma’am,” Asher said with a wry smile, offering his arm aga
in before we stepped on down into the grassy area, the sun low in the sky as everyone talked and chatted around the pavilion.
We were lucky enough to be seated at one of the patio tables, rather than the overflow in the grass, so got to eat at the good buffet inside.
It was more than I ever expected. Not just the food, but the atmosphere too. I kept havin’ to stop and wave, or say ‘hi’ to people as we made our way to our table. It was like there was a buzz in the air, a real sense of community and excitement that I missed out on my li’l farm. Sure, even before Asher got there I’d see my aunts and uncles and Marcus from time to time, but it weren’t every day, or even every week. It was a slow life with hard work in the great outdoors, but damned if it weren’t lonely.
But Asher’d helped with all that, and now I was able to experience it all with him by my side.
“I didn’t realize how nice it’d be not to cook for a change. I guess I’d just gotten so used to it I never thought ‘bout how long it took!”
Truth of the matter was, before he showed up I wasn’t eatin’ fancy, but my days were taken up doin’ the work he was now in charge of. And takin’ longer at it.
“Ah well,” he said, as we walked on to the buffet together. “You’re cooking might take a while, but it’s sure as hell worth it. At least from the perspective of the guy who only has to eat it,” he added on with a playful wink as we filled our plates.
I couldn’t help but laugh. He was in such a good mood, though he was always pleasant with me, but it was somethin’ different off the farm. Not havin’ to worry about chores and cleanin’ and workin’. It was just like two grownups, relaxing.
I can’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed.
“Fair enough. And you’re workin’ hard enough to earn your keep so it ain’t right for me to complain.”
“Ah well, it’s good to be part of a team for once. Almost glad my motorcycle got busted up,” he said, looking across the table at me with a wry smile. “Almost,” he tacked on with a chuckle as we continued to eat.
“I wouldn’t have let you leave anyways, Asher,” I teased back, adoring that little sparkle in his eyes whenever he looked my way.