Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Rick is a good ten feet away. “I got it, boss. I’ll tell them.”
I curse under my breath and look at Madelyn, who is staring at me with her mouth hanging open. I’m not sure what’s come over me, but I’m usually a patient guy. I don’t yell, but it seems that jealousy brings it out of me.
I make my way back over to Madelyn and pick up the pruning shears. “What?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing.”
I shrug. “He was staring at your ass,” I explain to her as if it makes perfect sense for me to jump all over the guy for it.
I can see the glint of a challenge in her eye. “Oh yeah, well, I’m pretty sure you’ve been checking out my ass all morning too.”
I grit my teeth. I can’t even deny it. I’ve been half hard the whole time. It seems my idea that jacking off would cure that little problem was wrong. “Shit, I’m sorry, Madelyn. You should be able to work and do your job without assholes leering at you. I’m sorry.”
She smiles. “It doesn’t bother me when you do it. I like having your eyes on me.”
So of course my eyes travel down her body, and she knows I’m doing it because she sticks her ass out a little bit. I’m about to say fuck it and walk over to her when Beau hollers at me from the entrance of the orchard. I’m not sure if I should feel like I’m being saved or if I’m upset that this conversation is over. “I’ll be back,” I tell Madelyn.
I meet Beau halfway. He gives me an update on the irrigation system, and I let him know about our neighbor borrowing a tractor. By the time I make it back to Madelyn, the moment from earlier is lost.
We work side by the side the remainder of the day and walk back toward the house.
“What do you want for dinner?” I ask her.
She skips to keep up with me, and I slow down. She smiles when she realizes what I’m doing. “Well, you don’t have to keep cooking for me. I saw a lasagna in the freezer. How about if I put that in the oven?”
I shrug. “I can do it.”
She grabs on to my arm, and we both stop walking. “I don’t mind. You shouldn’t have to do it all.”
There’s a big part of me that appreciates her willingness to take on things and just jump in. When you’re so used to just doing it all, it’s sort of nice to have one less thing to think about. “Okay, sounds good.”
We walk the rest of the way to the house. Both of us have our hands swinging back and forth between us, and I feel like a teenager or something the way I’m wishing they would touch. What the hell is wrong with me?
When we get to the house, she stops next to me.
“Okay, well, I’m going to get that lasagna.”
I pull a twig from her hair while staring into her eyes. “Okay.”
She doesn’t move, though. The chemistry between us is palpable, and all I would have to do is lean toward her just a little and I would be able to touch her. I’m about to do just that until she giggles and shakes her head, backing away from me. “Well, I guess I’ll get started.”
I stay rooted in my spot as she walks through the house into the kitchen. From this angle, I can see her working, and if I don’t walk away now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to. I point toward the stairs. “I’m going to go up and shower.”
She holds up the box. “It says it will take fifty minutes in the oven.”
I nod. “Okay, I’ll be back.”
I take the stairs two at a time and consider the fact that I have fifty minutes. That’s perfect time for me to calm my nerves and shower before dinner. I need to prepare myself for spending more time with Madelyn anyway.
CHAPTER 9
MADELYN
After putting the lasagna in the oven, I went to shower and sent a text to Delilah. I know if I don’t report in and let her know how it’s going, she’ll call and try to find out for herself. And it’s not that I’m hiding anything from her; it’s just I don't know how to tell her that I have a thing for Asher. A big thing. And sure enough, if I talk to her, I’ll confess it all.
I look into the mirror and take in my reflection. I put on jeans and a T-shirt. Nothing fancy or like I’m trying too hard.
I pull a brush through my hair and then put it in one long braid down my back. And then to top it off, I add a little bit of mascara and call it done. I don’t need any blush because my cheeks are rosy from being in the sun all day.