“Kiss. Right. No pressure there. A whole star higher?” he said with a grin. But he found it easier this time to reach out for her. Wrapping his arms around her waist and feeling her warmth at his touch, even over her clothes, pleased him. She swayed closer, her head up, her plump lips waiting for his. He lowered his mouth on hers and their breaths mingled before he pressed harder on hers. It was a long, slow, delicious kiss and their mouths opened as naturally as morning glories do to the morning sun. They held each other tightly and kissed, their tongues stroking and hands gripping.
Finally, he lifted his mouth from hers, finding it harder this time than before. Her eyes stayed closed a second longer, as if she were savoring it. Which was damn hot. Her eyelids fluttered open as her head slid back a few inches.
“Was that worth another star?” Asher inquired.
“I think so. But you’d better make sure.”
He grinned and obeyed her suggestion. Enjoying himself more this time, he made very sure it was a full star-worthy kiss. Releasing her, she nodded. “Yes, I think we could call it a genuine, five-star kiss.”
He was glad to freaking earn it. Grinning, they held hands and she looked up at him with a new expression. Asher hesitated to call it dopey or sappy, but an on-looker might say it was.
“So… back to school?”
“Yeah. I came home for Violet, but I wonder if she even knows I was here.”
“I’ll keep checking on her.”
Daisy stepped away from him and wrapped her arms around her middle. It was like being slapped in the face with a wet fish and she regretted mentioning Violet. “And still she isolates herself. She won’t let anyone talk or get close to her.”
“No. I guess not,” he agreed, his tone as hollow as hers.
“Do you think she’ll be okay? I mean, in the long term?”
“I have to believe she will.” There wasn’t a lot of conviction in his tone.
“Do you think we’ll be okay long term? I mean, trying to follow the plan?”
There it was. The first reference to what they were. He wasn’t ready to talk about it or wanting to hear her take. But there was probably no way to avoid it. “Same answer.”
She nodded, biting her lip. “That’s a decent and fair answer I can live with.”
“So how do we go about following it?”
“We talk? Or text? No rules. No exclusivity. Whatever happens is fine. But we must agree to complete honesty.”
“I can do that.”
“Me too.”
Asher didn’t ask, who the hell would he date around there? She was the one going back to school in a city so full of available men, his mind might explode trying to picture it. He put his hand out again. “Deal.”
Her smile was quick, and he liked the interaction they shared. The possibility of it moving towards kissing and sex made it even more fun. Like good friends who fantasized about becoming more than that. Asher never interacted with a woman like Daisy before. He had friends who were strictly friends; whom he never imagined wanting to kiss. His encounters with sex were mostly casual and strictly about sex, since he had zero desire to spend any of his time with those women. Being raised with Daisy might have been an advantage; and that suddenly, he felt different. He found it exciting. Anticipation enhanced their encounters and most of all, it was fun.
She shook his hand in agreement and he pulled her forward to kiss her lips one more time. He felt unable to stop himself since she looked so adorable. Her blond hair brushed her shoulder, and her wide eyes were bright, warm and full of humor and understanding. She was staring up at him. Big boobs and soft body too. All of it suddenly appeared wildly attractive to him.
Now? They were inextricably connected.
And all it required was three dates, two of which were conclusively awful. They must have had some good moments or there could not have been a third date. They were odd and strange and unpredictable. That bothered him.
But also, they were kind of exciting, fun, intriguing. Which surprised him. And left him wondering what the hell to do about that?
His offer for the old Riesling ranch and house was accepted. Stunned but grateful, he took title of the decrepit, old, beautiful monstrosity as if he were tying an albatross around his neck. Miles of fencing needed repair and much of it had to be replaced. He had to buy cattle and plant the land. No idea where to live yet, or where to even start. It cost a lot of money and the dry, dusty land would take a long time to justify the cost.
But the excitement almost made Asher do cartwheels.
Asher couldn’t wait to go straight to his parents. They praised him with accolades, and he reciprocated with undying gratitude. AJ and Asher drove directly to the property.
Grinning, Asher said, “It’s such a fucking mess, I don’t even know where to start.”
AJ nodded, his grin just as big. “It is. That’s what most excites you. Making the plan, getting a big bite on it. Basically, by rebuilding it and restoring it from the ground up, each plank and nail and fencepost you construct, and every seed you plant, will make it yours. It will be your sweat and your labor. All yours. Not many people get to enjoy that kind of personal satisfaction or experience. I never did it for myself. It’s something to admire in you, Asher.”
They stood before the front porch stairs. Asher was picturing a soft, round bottom on his lap, his hands full of rounder, softer mounds, the most glorious boobs he ever fondled. Hair as gold as sunshine and a mouthful of nectar-flavored lips under his. He blinked. What the hell? When did he start to fantasize? When did he get lost in his fantasies? When did they become sexually based on a pretty, blond girl?
What if Daisy were much more than just a girl?
That’s what had him so twisted up. The reason for overreacting to her. In all ways.
Ignoring the lusty images, he stomped a boot on the ground. Daisy was gone now. Big-city Daisy. Coed Daisy. Absent Daisy. He tried to ignore his distraction and answered AJ.
“Or that I’m crazy by trying to resuscitate a dying lifestyle and doomed to fail as a businessman for reviving an unpopular way of life.”
“No. You’re not. Look around you. Ranching exists. Right here. Right now. If you’re doing it, then it’s real. Hold onto that. It never occurred to me to branch out on my own. I was never that ambitious. I’m surprised Kate didn’t think of it and push me harder. But I would have been too anxious. I needed Jack Rydell to guide me. He took all the risks and reaped most of the rewards. I liked the work. But you? You’re going to take all the risks and you will reap all the rewards. Again, I’m so proud of you, son.”
Asher grinned and replied, “Pride won’t build a roof over my head. Or put the cattle and horses I want out to graze on that hill. Or seed the pasture come spring.”
AJ nodded. “You know if ever need anything…”
“You’re supposed to be retired.” He reminded his dad.
“I know. But in what crazy-assed world do I not work outside? At least this way as it’s under the guise of helping you, your mom can’t get mad at me. You know retirement and me… don’t really mix. If you’ll have me—”
“I’ll definitely take any help, knowledge, advice, and muscle you want to lend me.”
“Then let’s get started. What’s step one?”