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)
When we get inside and seated at a table for two, I look around the restaurant. We are getting quite a few looks from the tables around us. A woman walks by and looks at Asher. “Hey, Asher.”
He nods his head at her, and she keeps going.
I lean toward him. “What’s going on?”
He continues to look at the menu. “What do you mean?”
I lean closer to him. “What’s up with everyone staring at us? Particularly all the women?”
He just shrugs and keeps looking at his menu.
The waitress comes, and we both order steak, potato, and salad. After she goes to put our order in, I slap my hand on the table in front of him. “Oh my God, Asher, are you known as the town playboy or something? I’m getting some kind of vibe. It’s like they can’t believe you’re on a date or something.”
He rolls his eyes. “I’m not a playboy.”
“So how do you explain—”
“Ugh, you’re not going to quit, are you?”
I smile at his frustration. “Nope, I’m not. So what’s up? Why are all these people surprised to see you here?” I gasp. “Is it me?”
He reaches across the table and grabs my hand. I swear I hear a lady gasp from somewhere in the restaurant. “People are surprised because they haven’t seen me out with anyone since my divorce.”
I nod. Okay, that makes sense. “So it’s not because you’re here with a different woman every week.”
He laughs. “It’s definitely not that.”
“When did you get a divorce?” I know he’s told me about his divorce, but I don’t think I ever asked when it happened.
“Five years ago.”
I bite my lip. “So it’s been five years since…”
His face turns red. “Yep.”
I shrug. “No wonder you’re insatiable.”
He threads our fingers together. “I’m insatiable because of you. You make me this way. Even now I want you.”
When he brings our hands up and kisses my knuckles, I’m pretty sure I’m going to swoon right here in the booth.
When our dinner comes out, we eat in silence for a while.
As he cuts up his steak, Asher asks, “Tell me about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
He shrugs. “Everything.”
“Uh, okay, well, I grew up in New York.”
His nose scrunches up. “Why did you get into agriculture?”
I take a bite of my steak and chew. “Uh well, I’ve always loved the idea of contributing to the world’s food supply. I grew up always wanting to create gardens and grow things. I loved playing in the dirt, much to my mother’s dismay. But you have to know what that’s like. How satisfying it is to plant something, nurture it, and watch it grow.”
He agrees. “I do. Okay, so tell me more.”
I ask. “More?”
“Yeah, tell me more about you. Like, what’s your favorite vacation?”
That’s easy. “Italy. Hands down.”
His eyebrows raise. “Favorite childhood memory?”
“My nanny traveled with me across the East Coast one summer, and we hit up pecan farms, apple orchards, peach orchards, and strawberry fields. You name it, we saw it that summer.”
He nods, smiling, but it’s not as big of a smile as it was. “You like to travel?”
I nod. “I love to travel. Besides farming, it’s probably my favorite thing to do.”
He’s staring down at his almost empty plate. “What about you? Tell me about you.”
He shrugs. “You know everything about me.”
“No I don’t. Tell me about your brothers.”
“My brothers. Okay. Well, Owen is the oldest, and he owns a brewery in Silver Spoon Falls. Fletch is a cop here in town. Justice is the lead singer of the Wild Ones—”
My mouth drops. “Your brother is Justice Wild?”
He smiles proudly. “Yes, that’s my brother. And then Colton was a stuntman and was injured, so he’s back in town, recovering. And then you know Beau.”
“Wow.”
He shakes his head. “I know. They all have exciting lives, that’s for sure.”
The rest of the meal is eaten in silence. We decide to forgo dessert, and I notice that Asher is quiet on the way home. No matter what I do or say, I can’t seem to bring him out of it. The sun is going down, and I enjoy the night air as we go back to The Wild Peach.
When we walk into the house, I tell him, “I had a great time tonight.”
His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Me too. I’d better hit the hay. Thanks for joining me tonight, Madelyn.”
Before I can say anything, he’s disappeared through the house and is taking the stairs two at a time to get away from me.
Stunned, all I can do is stare after him. I cross my arms over my chest and start to pace back and forth, wondering what happened. I thought we had a good time. I know I did. Did I say or do something wrong?
The only way to know for sure is to ask him.