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)
Ugh. I hate to tell people this because you never know how they’re going to react, but I might as well tell him all of it. “My parents had an arranged marriage, and that’s what they want for me. For the last year, that’s been their main focus.”
His face hardens. “So they’re trying to fix you up?”
I blurt it out. “That’s an understatement.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “And you don’t want to?”
I put a hand on my hip. “I can get my own dates.”
“All right, well, let’s go.”
He starts to walk, and I stop him. “What? Seriously, Asher. Go back to the orchard. I can handle my parents. It will be fine.”
He stops walking and holds his hand out to me. I walk toward him, but I don’t put my hand in his. “Fine. But it’s not a good idea to hold my hand. My parents will have us married within the year and will hound you about when you’re going to put a baby in me.”
He grunts, and I walk past him. I must have stunned him because he’s jogging to catch up with me. “I’m forty-two, Maddie.”
I keep walking. “Yeah, I know. So what?”
He puts his hand on my arm to stop me. “So you’re twenty-eight. Your parents are not going to try and hook us up.”
I burst out laughing. “Right. You obviously haven’t met my parents. But don’t worry, you’re safe.”
But that doesn’t appease him, and it doesn’t make him budge. “What do you mean, I’m safe?”
“Asher, my parents don’t care about age. My mom is almost fifteen years younger than my dad, but don’t worry, I won’t do that to you. You’re safe. I promise I wouldn’t put you in that position because I wasn’t exaggerating. My parents are not playing. They want grandkids.”
I search his face, wishing I could read what’s going through his thoughts. “All right, last chance. Are you coming, or do you want to go out to the orchard and let me handle this?”
He nods his head. “I’m coming.”
We walk up to the porch and see that my mom and dad have made themselves at home. “Hey, Mom, hey, Dad! What are you doing here?”
My dad stands up. “Is that any way to greet your parents?”
I walk into his open arms. “You’re right. Hey, Dad!”
I then walk over to my mom and hug my mother. “Hey, Mom.”
I point to Asher. “Mom, Dad, this is Asher Wild. He’s one of the owners and my boss at the Wild Peach.”
My dad shakes Asher’s hand, and I watch him closely. It’s obvious he’s measuring my boss up. It’s hard telling what he’ll say to him, so I clap my hands together. “So what are you all doing in Georgia?”
“We thought we’d take a day—”
I interrupt my dad. “You’re here for a day?”
He nods his head. “Yes. Are you not happy to see us?”
“Yes, of course I am, but I’m working. You should have given me a heads-up. I can’t take time off when I only started two days ago.”
My mom starts to sway on the porch swing. “Well, we thought we’d go check out the hundred miles of golf cart paths that the town is known for, but honestly, I could sit right here on this porch and be happy. This is beautiful, Mr. Wild.”
Asher sits on the porch ledge. “Thank you, Mrs. Weston. I love it. And you can call me Asher.”
She practically preens. “Oh, well, my, aren’t you sweet. You can call me Rachel.”
“Well, Rachel, you’re more than welcome to sit on my porch for as long as you like.”
I can feel my eyes bug out of my head. What is Asher doing? He’s completely going to win my mother over, and he does not want that.
“You know who I saw the other day?” my dad asks.
I grit my teeth. Here we go. “Who?”
“Jace Carter.”
I search my memory. “Who?”
I can feel Asher’s gaze burning into me. I was hoping he wouldn’t see this all in action, but I guess that’s not possible. He’s going to witness my dad trying to fix me up.
“Jace Carter. He owns the farm upstate. You know the one where you pick your own produce.”
I give him a pointed look, and he shrugs. “What? You want to work on a farm, what better way to do it? He would love to see if you’re a good fit or not.” My dad holds his hands up. “And don’t worry, I talked to him and let him know you’re committed to working here through the summer.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “So he wants me to come work for him?”
My dad shakes his head. “No. I mean, yes, I guess sort of. You can work there and get to know each other and see where it goes.”
I can’t help it. I scrunch up my nose. “Isn’t he in his forties?”