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“You never…” Marcus said, lookin’ at me like I’d just burnt down the family farm, instead of givin’ some guy a break. “What’re ya thinkin’, Shelby?!” he said, as Asher looked up and over in our direction as he slowly continued along his way towards us.
“If’n you needed some help, I’d have give it!” Marcus said, gesturin’ wildly with his lanky arms.
“You got your own stuff and I won’t have you be put out on my account! ‘sides, he’s just here to help out for the busy season, gettin’ everythin’ ready and all that. Even you and I couldn’t work faster and better than one of him and you know it.”
Marcus’ eyes both widened and narrowed somehow, and he looked downright savage!
“That’s a dang lie, sure as shootin’!” he said obstinately, but already Asher was within earshot, pullin’ his shirt on over his head, tuggin’ it down around his broad shoulders and bulging torso.
“Hey you,” Marcus said brazenly to Asher, puffin’ up his own puny lil’ chest as he attempted to intimidate the much larger man, but gettin’ only a furrowed brow and a confused look from the hunk. “You better keep yer paws off a Shelby here. ‘Cause I only live down the road, and I got more’n enough guns to stop whoever gives our family trouble, y’hear?”
Of course, Asher just continued to stare, standin’ there like a colossus.
“Marcus,” I hissed, reaching for his shoulder. “He ain’t been nothin’ but a gentleman and already finished squarin’ off the patch for the flower garden, just in the one afternoon!”
Marcus brushed off my hand, and continued on though, stubborn as a mule.
“You best watch your behaviour ‘round here, fella. The Sherriff’s a friend of the family—” which was true, but then Hank was everyone’s friend, it weren’t like there was a ton of people “—so just you watch out, hear?”
Asher for his part simply stood, starin’ down at Marcus like he was some yippin’ dog and he couldn’t figure out what the pup wanted.
“Fine, Marcus, you made your point!” I protested, and really, I was getting worried that Asher might be put off from all of it. Just hop on his hog and take off to someplace he wasn’t gonna be told off for doing not a thing wrong.
Hell, even if he had touched me, ain’t nothing wrong with that. Not like I didn’t want it.
Marcus glanced at me irritably before glaring back at Asher, and with no response, he just stormed off on his own, back to his pickup and left in a huff, the gravel of the driveway kickin’ up in a mess.
Asher just adjusted his shirt back down over that gorgeous physique of his as he watched Marcus leave, then looked to me.
“Seems awful worked up. What’s his problem?” he asked simply, in that deliciously dark voice of his.
I didn’t even know how to explain, so I sighed, and motioned for the door.
“C’mon, I made a huge feast, and I’m sure you’re way hungrier for food than family drama,” I said, brushin’ back some of my blonde hair from my cheek and hoping that I looked calmer than I felt.
“You bet,” he said in a gruff, firm voice, and I could tell he wasn’t gonna pass up the opportunity for some food.
So we traipsed on into the house, where I had laid out an embarrassingly big meal before us, and Asher sat himself down.
“And it’s just the two of us?” he asked, sounding surprised as he tore off a drumstick and wasted no time helpin’ himself. Not that I could blame him, I still remembered what my pa was like, and it weren’t pretty come dinner time!
“Yup, so eat as much as you need. Seriously, you did awesome work out there today, Asher,” I gushed, and I tried to dial it back a notch.
“I got your room all ready too. I mean, we have power and all that, so if you wanted to hang out for a bit after sundown, we got the family room.”
Asher didn’t need much encouragement, the big lug was tearing into his drumstick even as he scooped up some mashed potatoes with his other hand, and it was clear he was ravenous. Couldn’t blame him after a hard day of work like he’d put in.
“That’s damn good,” he managed to get out in the short span between bites.
I smiled, watching him eat before more lightly beginning my own dinner. I couldn’t help but get enjoyment out of watching such a gorgeous hunk devouring my cooking.
“Thank you,” I said with a sigh. I had been planning on changing before Marcus pulled up, but instead I was stuck in my daisy dukes and button down shirt. He didn’t seem to even notice, though.
Asher helped himself to a generous portion of everythin’ on offer, and of course, I only welcomed it. I’d served up ma’s portion to her in her room before hand, not that she got much enjoyment outta such things anymore. And best of all, he took great relish in enjoyin’ it too. He ate fast, but the number of savoury mmm’s and ahhh’s I got were not to be diminished!
“You’ve got a real knack for cooking,” he said, looking across the table at me with his dark, intense eyes. “Shame you’ve not had anyone to cook for out here.”
“Yea,” I admitted, a bit more morose about it than I intended. Loneliness is a hell of a thing, but I’d done well to ignore that nagging feeling and just do what needs to be done. One day at a time and all that.
