Southern Secrets (Southern 7)

He comes to me. "That’s all I can ask you," he says. "It’s time to set some roots. Maybe you were led here for a reason." He slaps my shoulder. "I want you to think about it, and I want you to know that I’m here for you regardless of what you decide. You’re one of the good ones, Asher."

He walks out and leaves me alone, my eyes looking up at the black screen. "Would he ask you to stay if he knew the truth?" I ask myself.

Chapter 16

Amelia

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I hear growled and look up to see Quinn standing in my office at the barn.

"It’s been three days. I’m fine," I say, and he shakes his head. "And I’m bored," I admit. "The last three days have been going at a snail’s pace. I can’t watch television; I can’t get on my phone. I can’t go to the bar because my father has guys stationed outside, and people are constantly hovering all over me." I throw my hands up in frustration.

"Who are these people?" He leans against the door, crossing his arms and his legs. He tries to hide the smile fighting to come out.

"Well, for one, Mother." I put my finger up. "She is there every single morning to make sure I wake up okay."

"That’s her job," he reminds me, making me glare at him.

"Then there is Asher." I put my second finger up, and I can see his eyes are going just a touch lighter as he listens to me. "Guy sleeps on the couch every night, and he wakes me up every fucking two hours."

"He’s making sure you are okay." He shrugs.

"I’m fine!" I shout out. "I don’t have headaches. I don’t have dizziness. I’m fine. One hundred percent fine."

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I look over and see Ethan standing there.

"This is where I work," I say. "That is my name on the door." I point at the door I added my name to last year when I got into a fight with Quinn.

Ethan looks at Quinn. "I know you work here, smart-ass. What I’m asking is why are you here? Chelsea said you have to be off work for seven days."

"Five days," I say, holding up my hand. "Not seven."

"Well, I don’t know about you," Ethan says. "But Sunday." He sticks out his thumb. "Monday." His other finger comes out. "Tuesday."

I hold up my hand. "I get it. You know how to count and the days of the week." I glare at him.

"Come on," he says to me. "Let’s go for a ride."

"I have a ton of work to do here," I say, looking at my desk and seeing that there is actually nothing for me to do. "Who did my work?"

"Willow," Quinn says. "She was worried you would be a basket case when you came back."

"I don’t know why everyone thinks I’m grouchy." I get up and walk to them. "I’m perfectly happy." I force the smile. "And chipper."

"You look like the Joker in Batman," Quinn says, and I punch his arm. "I’m telling your mom on you."

I’m about to punch him again when Ethan pulls my arm out of the office. "Come on," he says, pulling me out of the barn. "Let’s go visit Grandpa and get your horse."

"Ugh, fine," I say, getting in the truck with him. "You're annoying, by the way."

"That’s my job as an older brother," he says, smirking. "Literally my only job."

"Really?" I look over at him. "I thought Dad said it was to protect me."

"And bother you," he adds in. "You know, to make up for all the times you woke me up in the middle of the night."

"I was a child," I say, shaking my head as we get to the barn. I get out laughing. "I had no way of knowing it was wrong."

"What about when you came into my room when you were seven and painted my nails when I was sleeping?"

I roll my eyes when I look up and see my grandfather coming to us. His face fills with a smile, and I can’t help the smile that comes on my face. "There she is." His voice is soft, and I walk to him, hugging him.

"Hi, Grandpa," I say, smiling up at him. His big white cowboy hat is on his head.

"What are you doing out of bed?" he asks me. I roll my eyes, and he shakes his head, laughing. "Just like her momma."

"We are going to go for a ride," Ethan says. "I’m not saddling your horse," he says as we walk to the barn with my grandfather's arm around my shoulder.

"Don’t touch my horse," I tell Ethan, and we walk into the barn as I walk to my stall and saddle my horse.

"Be careful with her," my grandfather tells Ethan. "If she gets hurt, I’ll tan your hide."