Southern Secrets (Southern 7)

Chapter 27

Asher

"What time are you going to be done?" I ask Amelia when I walk into her office at the barn. She looks up at me, and again, for the I don’t know how many times, I stop and smile at her. Leaning back in her chair, she folds her hands on her stomach.

"I’m done at three," she says. "Like I am every single day. So in three hours." I walk over to her desk and sit on the side of it. It’s the closest I can get to her without touching her. It’s something I often do, and if someone came in, it wouldn’t look out of sorts.

"Did you eat lunch?" she asks, and I smirk at her, looking around to make sure no one is lingering or can hear me. My voice goes low anyway.

"I can tell you what I want to eat for lunch." I wink at her, and she shakes her head.

"You had that for breakfast." She laughs.

"Well, I’ll be having that for dinner also." I get up, standing by her chair. "Just so you know."

I want to bend down and kiss her lips, but I know it’s not the time.

It’s been over a month since I told her I loved her. A month that I’ve had to hide it, and if I’m honest, I am about done with it. But before I tell everyone about us, I have to come clean to Ethan and Jacob. "I’ll see you later." I smile at her, and she tilts her head back, and I glare at her. "Why do you tempt me like this?"

"Because I want a kiss," she says, and I walk to her door and close it.

Standing in front of it, I call her over. "Come here."

She walks to me and her arms go around my shoulders. "We need to think about what we should tell people." I look into her eyes as my nose rubs hers. "I think it’s time."

"Me, too." She smiles and kisses my lips.

"I have to talk to your father and Ethan first." I push away the hair from her face, knowing that after I talk to them, I have to come clean to her. "Then we can do that." My heart picks up, wondering how she will take the truth. I kiss her one last time. “Okay, I have to head over to help your grandfather." Her hands fall from my neck. "He has someone coming to pick up something." I sneak in one more kiss before I open the door and walk out to my truck.

I take my phone out before I chicken out and send Jacob and Ethan a group text.

Me: Was wondering if I could talk to you two tonight.

I put the phone in my pocket as I make my way over to Billy’s barn. When I pull in, there is already a brand-new pickup parked in the lane. I get out and walk toward the barn, seeing Billy with his hands on his hips. He listens to what the guy in front of him is saying, and even though he’s smiling, I know that it’s not a real smile. I walk to them, and the man turns to look at me. "If there is anyone who knows, it’s this guy," Billy says. The man turns and holds out his hand.

"Nice to meet you," the man says. "I’m Tex."

"Asher," I say my name, taking his hand and then looking at Billy to see how he responds to this guy. His eyes never leave the man. "What can I do for you?"

"My hay shipment is running late," he says. "Was wondering if I could maybe borrow some to hold off."

"I think we should be okay," I say, then turn to look at Billy, who just nods his head. "I can get you a couple, and you can send over some guys after to get more."

"Sounds good," he says, and I turn to walk into the barn going to where he keeps his hay.

"Thank you," Tex says from beside me when we walk into the barn. "I wasn’t sure Billy was going to go for it," he says, and my whole body becomes tight. "I used to work here," he says. "And I left him without notice." He continues talking when he stops right in front of the hay. "I actually had your job," he says, smirking.

"Really?" I ask. "I’ve never heard your name before." I grab the gloves out of my pocket.

"Doesn’t surprise me," he says, standing in front of me. "I broke his granddaughter’s heart," he says, smiling slyly while my whole body becomes a block of ice.

"I’ll grab one, and you grab the other." I ignore him and walk over, grabbing the ties of the hay and walking out to his truck. He follows me, and I wait for him to walk ahead of me, opening the bed of his truck. I slide my bale of hay into his truck and then stand back while he does his. Taking off my gloves, I put them back in my back pocket. He closes the back hatch and then looks at me.