7. Madelyn

CHAPTER 7

MADELYN

I’m pantingas I get into my bedroom. As soon as I shut the door, I lean back against it. I can’t get the image of Asher out of my head. He’s not gay. And he wants me.

I go over to the full-length mirror and stare at myself. I really should have done this before I walked out of here this morning. My hair looks like a bird’s nest, but if I look past that, I discover that Asher was right. This shirt does nothing to cover me. He didn’t even kiss me, but my cheeks are flushed, my eyes are bright, and sure enough, my nipples are erect under my shirt.

I rush to get dressed, wanting to get back to the kitchen. After brushing my hair and pulling it up in a ponytail, I brush my teeth, apply a little mascara, and then walk out of my room. I get a few steps into the hallway and stop when I hear what Asher and Beau are saying. “You told Madelyn I was gay?” Asher asks.

Beau starts to cackle. “I told her you don’t like women. It’s not my fault she took it that you were gay.”

“Well, why didn’t you correct her?”

“Asher, how many times have you told me to stay out of your business? I was just doing as I was told.”

I hear a smack, a scuffle, and then laughter and I can’t help smiling from where I’m standing in the hallway.

When there’s silence, I start to move again but stop when I hear Asher say, “Did you tell her about Janet?”

Beau’s response is immediate. “Hell no. I’m an ass sometimes, but I’m not an asshole. There’s a difference.”

Janet? Who’s Janet? And what does she have to do with Asher hating women?

I pull my shoulders back and walk the remaining steps into the kitchen. I force a smile to my face as I walk in. Asher is at the stove cooking eggs, but he turns to look me up and down. He gives me a knowing smile. “Morning, Madelyn.”

I blush. “Good morning, Asher.”

His eyes light up when I say his name. Before I get caught up in staring at him, I move past him and turn to Beau. “Beau.”

From the tone in my voice, he knows what I’m saying without even saying it.

He laughs. “Do you blame me? It was a good one, right? I mean, come on.”

I try to hold back my laughter, but I can’t, and before I know it, Beau and Asher are both laughing with me. “It was a good one.”

Asher plates the eggs and starts bringing them over to the island. When he has all three plates settled in front of us, he looks at me. “I can’t believe you fell for it.”

There’s no stopping it. I blush and can feel the heat of it from my chest and it flares up to the tip of my ears. “Yeah, uh, I should have known better.”

I busy myself with the food in front of me even though I can feel Asher watching me. It’s funny that I’m not really a big eater in the mornings, but it would appear I am by the way I’m fully concentrating on the food in front of me.

As soon as I’m finished, I take a big gulp from the glass of orange juice Asher had sitting in front of me. As Asher and Beau are talking about the day, I get up and start grabbing plates. When I reach for Asher’s, he stops me. “I can do the dishes.”

I just laugh and avoid his eyes. “No way. You cooked. I’ll clean up.”

Beau stands up and brings his plate and cup to the sink. “All right, well, it seems like you guys got it, so I’ll see you out there.”

Asher and I laugh as he practically runs from the kitchen. Asher comes toward me with a dish towel and holds his hands out. I place the clean plate in his hands, and he starts to dry as I wash. We’re both quiet, but it’s not awkward.

When the pan and dishes are done, I dry off my hands.

“So…” I start. How can him just looking at me make my body feel alive like this?

“So…” he repeats.

I put my hands on my hips. I guess I’m going to have to be the one to bring it up. “Are we going to talk about earlier?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I don’t think there’s anything to talk about.”

I look down his body until my gaze settles on his crotch. His dick twitches under my scrutiny. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t say it’s nothing.”

Asher starts to cough, and he’s red in the face.

I lean against the counter. “Okay, so you don’t want to talk about it.”

He shakes his head. “It’s a bad idea.”

I roll my eyes. Here we go with this again. I walk over to him, and it’s almost comical how he sucks in a breath and holds it the closer I get. I don’t stop until we’re toe to toe.

He can play it cool all he wants. The truth is he wants me—even if he doesn’t want to admit it. His nostrils are flared, there’s a vein pulsating in his neck, and he’s tense being this close to me.

I put one hand at his waist, and he sucks in another breath. I hide my smile. “Okay. I understand. I was thinking we could have some fun together while I was here, but I understand. You say it’s a bad idea, and well, you’re the boss.” I pause, go up on my tiptoes, and whisper into his ear, “That’s too bad, though, because I think we could have had a good time together.”

I go back down to my heels and search his face. He’s gripping the counter, his knuckles white, and I shake my head. This man is so stubborn. There’s no doubt whatsoever he wants me, but he’s not giving in, and it makes me wonder again, who is Janet and what did she do to him?

I take a few steps back, and he lets out a breath. I laugh and tell him, “Okay, well, I guess I’m going to go out to the orchard and get started. Lots of pruning to do today.”

I get out the door and halfway to the orchard before it hits me. I’m pretty much harassing my boss. He says it’s not a good idea, and instead of giving up, I continue to put myself close to him, which I’m sure is a good way to get fired. Damn it. Now I’m going to have to apologize to him… again.