by Candy Quinn
“You know, the Summer Sun dance is tonight in town,” I mentioned awkwardly.
“Oh yeah?” he said, replying to me without delay, casting his eyes across the blanket to mine before he took a generous helping of water. With a satisfied ‘ah’ he wiped his mouth. “We should go. Get off the farm.”
As easy as that.
I stared, a bit stunned by how nonchalant he was about it, but by the time that passed, I was grinning ear to ear like a maniac.
“Yea, we should,” I agreed, like it was all his idea. “It’s nothin’ super fancy, you know. Not a tux and tie thing or whatever hoity-toity stuff from the city, but everyone cleans up and I’ve heard it’s real swell.”
“You heard?” he asked, archin’ a brow over at me, lookin’ all inquisitive. Here I was, tryin’ to get information outta my dark, mysterious stranger for days with no success, but he was great at ferretin’ it outta me it seemed. “Don’t tell me you usually stay in, Shelby. Beautiful woman such as yourself.”
I flushed at just how quick he figured me out, tryin’ to shrug it off. “Just never interested me, y’know, dancin’ and all that.”
It was a lie, but I already felt exposed, I didn’t wanna give everything away.
“Well damn,” he said so simply in that deep, dark voice of his. “And here I was hoping to score a dance or two with you. Guess I’m all outta luck,” he lamented, still smilin’ a bit as he ate and drank across from me.
How did he constantly do that? Turn it around on me?
“Well, I mean, I want to go tonight. Wouldn’t have mentioned it otherwise...”
He arched a brow and peered at me, as if he could see right through me.
“Then you’ll be dancing with me.” It was statement rather than question, but somehow I felt the compunction to treat it like both.
I met his gorgeous eyes, trying to resist the urge to bite down on my lower lip. He was so handsome, in that rugged, rebellious way, but he was always so respectful with me. Not at all what I expected.
But I liked that, too.
“Okay,” I said, the word coming out like a soft puff of smoke.
With a big grin he flashed me a wink and chomped down into the last of his sandwich, polishin’ it off and washin’ it down.
“I don’t have any fancy clothes to wear though, is the only thing. Only got my work clothes,” he lamented, but then I remembered pa’s old things. Still sittin’ in the dresser in his old room. Right with ma. They looked about the same size too. Asher and pa, I mean.
Big, broad men, tall and filled out.
“Maybe I can find somethin’ in the house. We didn’t get rid of pa’s old things, and he and ma used to always go to the dances. They loved things like that.”
His smile grew wider and he nodded his head as he wiped off his hands on a cloth.
“It’s a date then,” he announced as he stood up, adjustin’ his belt and jeans. “Guess I’d better hustle and get my work done over on the east side before nightfall then. Don’t wanna be late gettin’ ready for the dance, now do I?”
My stomach was doing flips of excitement as I stood up, and I was sure I was beamin’. I’d never been so happy in all my days, and I knew I’d fret about it all afternoon.
I wished ma still had her mind about her so I could ask for advice about what to do. That was one of the worst parts of it, just feelin’ so lonely even though she’s still around. Wantin’ to share in my happiness with her and knowin’ she’ll never really understand.
Still, I couldn’t let that get to me, and I quickly packed up our picnic.
“We can eat here then go on if you want or else they have a small buffet thing before hand,” I suggested.
“Why not eat out? You’ve been bustin’ your ass cooking for us every day,” he said with a smile. “Dinner and a date sounds even better anyhow,” he remarked, and set off, brushing against me as he let his hand run down my arm. “I’ll be in to clean up early as I can,” he promised.
“Alright, I’ll try to find somethin’ nice,” I said, looking at him with such renewed affection and desire. My eyes roamed over his body before I turned on my heel, headin’ back to the farm. Each step felt lighter and more meaningful.
My first real date!
True to his word, Asher finished up his work early enough to get on back and get cleaned up. When he came out of the bath, I had a fresh set of pa’s date clothes waitin’ for him. I didn’t wait around to peek or nothin’, so don’t go thinkin’ me a total perv. But when he came on down, he was dressed up all nice.
Though he was a lil’ bigger’n pa was, it only helped him fill out the clothes even better. And he kept the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows, so his bulgin’ forearms were left exposed, just like I preferred.
I wonder if he’d noticed or just liked it that way too...
I guess it didn’t matter, I was just too stunned by him to really think about much else. Even after I’d washed my hair and put on my little bit of lipstick, all I could think about was him and if he’d like it. I even talked with ma a bit, though I doubt she remembered any of it, but she said I looked just like a vision and I figured that meant I looked nice.
“Wow,” I finally said, my fingers on the hem of my light yellow sundress. “You clean up some nice.”
I was too busy ogling him to notice he was doin’ the same to me, but when he let out a whistle I clued in some.
“Speak for yourself, hun. You’re a vision in that dress, I gotta say,” he remarked, and reached out, takin’ my hand in his like we was in some kind of movie! “Gimme a lil’ twirl, will ya?” he asked, with a lopsided smile on his face. Though he didn’t so much as wait for me to deliver, he lifted my hand and helped give me the twirl in question.
My sundress flared out over my thighs as I went up on tiptoe, still barefooted and without tights. I knew it was proper to wear them, but I hated the damn itchy things and it was too warm anyhow.
The dress dipped low, showing off the top of my breasts, and I knew I probably had the biggest in the town, though that weren’t sayin’ much when you’re in a town of three hundred odd souls. But I liked showin’ them off.
At least, I liked showin’ them off to Asher, right and wrong be damned.
After watchin’ my dress flare up and twirl, he helped me slow down and come to a halt, reachin’ out to grasp me by my hip and waist as he smile down from his towerin’ height.
“Safe to say I’m gonna be the luckiest man there tonight. With the most beautiful woman in the whole township on his arm,” he remarked, almost all his dark, rugged look hidden beneath that nice shirt and pants. Though his forearms still betrayed the dark lines of his markings, keepin’ him from losin’ all his edge.
And despite his words, I knew that I was really gonna be the one everyone’d be jealous of.
The dance wasn’t no mere thing. People from four towns over would all come out and join in the festivities.
“We better get a move on if we wanna hit the buffet,” I said, though really, I’d have been just as happy dancin’ with him in the kitchen without a beat of music.
“Sure thing, hun,” he said, escortin’ me over towards the door, but before I could grab the keys to the truck, he snatched ‘em up. “But I’m gonna drive,” he said with a devious, uneven grin on his face.
“Well sure but if you break it and we gotta push it into town, I ain’t gettin’ my shoes dirty,” I said as I put on my wedge heels, tying the pastel straps around my ankle before taking his offered arm. My heart was poundin’ in my chest and I couldn’t wait to go.
Though there was a part of me, a small part, that made me worried Marcus’d be there. I tried to push it aside, though. I hadn’t talked to him since, I was too livid, and still tryin’ to figure out what to say without tearin’ the family apart.
Asher escorted me on out to the truck, even helped me on in like a real lady, shuttin’ my door for me as I tucked my dress beneath me. Though when he climbed aboard, the truc
k rocked from his bulky, muscular weight.
Livin’ out in farm country meant that even though the community was small, the drive weren’t. It was a good half hour to get into the festivities area, the restaurant lookin’ busy. But since it was held outside, they usually made enough tables to accommodate everyone for the festival.
“Ma’am,” Asher said with a wry smile, offering his arm again before we stepped on down into the grassy area, the sun low in the sky as everyone talked and chatted around the pavilion.
We were lucky enough to be seated at one of the patio tables, rather than the overflow in the grass, so got to eat at the good buffet inside.
It was more than I ever expected. Not just the food, but the atmosphere too. I kept havin’ to stop and wave, or say ‘hi’ to people as we made our way to our table. It was like there was a buzz in the air, a real sense of community and excitement that I missed out on my li’l farm. Sure, even before Asher got there I’d see my aunts and uncles and Marcus from time to time, but it weren’t every day, or even every week. It was a slow life with hard work in the great outdoors, but damned if it weren’t lonely.
But Asher’d helped with all that, and now I was able to experience it all with him by my side.
“I didn’t realize how nice it’d be not to cook for a change. I guess I’d just gotten so used to it I never thought ‘bout how long it took!”
Truth of the matter was, before he showed up I wasn’t eatin’ fancy, but my days were taken up doin’ the work he was now in charge of. And takin’ longer at it.
“Ah well,” he said, as we walked on to the buffet together. “You’re cooking might take a while, but it’s sure as hell worth it. At least from the perspective of the guy who only has to eat it,” he added on with a playful wink as we filled our plates.
I couldn’t help but laugh. He was in such a good mood, though he was always pleasant with me, but it was somethin’ different off the farm. Not havin’ to worry about chores and cleanin’ and workin’. It was just like two grownups, relaxing.
I can’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed.
“Fair enough. And you’re workin’ hard enough to earn your keep so it ain’t right for me to complain.”
“Ah well, it’s good to be part of a team for once. Almost glad my motorcycle got busted up,” he said, looking across the table at me with a wry smile. “Almost,” he tacked on with a chuckle as we continued to eat.
“I wouldn’t have let you leave anyways, Asher,” I teased back, adoring that little sparkle in his eyes whenever he looked my way.
We chuckled, and he ordered us some wine. It wasn’t exactly a fancy city style restaurant, but there was some Shiraz they had and, as Asher said, “That’ll do just fine.” So we got to sip some as the sun slowly started to go down, turnin’ the sky orange on the horizon, the younger folk the first to head towards the dance area.
I wasn’t in much of a rush. Just sittin’ and enjoyin’ his company was pleasant enough for me, though I admit I was nervous. Excited. The idea of feelin’ his hands on my hips, his body pressed close to mine was enough to make the butterflies in my tummy flutter and my mind go a bit hazy, even before the wine.
I sipped it, looking over the rim of my glass at him, and it was like everything was right with the world. And for the first time in a very long time, by my reckonin’.
When at last we’d both finished our wine, Asher stood up, the tallest fella at the whole shindig by a mile. He extended his hand to me, palm up, some of the curious markings on his inner arm visible.
“Shall we head on in for a dance or two, ma’am?” he asked, soundin’ more suave than any of the country fellas I knew by landslide. While all around us the dance committee folk turned on the lights to compensate for the growing darkness of night.
“I’d love to,” I said with a wide smile, his hand so much rougher than mine. Takin’ some time off from farm work had softened them right up, along with my usin’ coconut oil on them every day. I wanted to feel a bit more feminine around him, what could I say?
He felt so warm from the hot summer day, his body radiating heat as I pulled in against him as we walked towards the other dancers.
The music, which was already in full swing, had been just a faint sound on the evenin’ air where we ate, but as we got over to the central pavilion and barn where the band played, it was boomin’.
“Shall we?” he said, but without waitin’ he took hold of my hand and my hip and took us out onto the dance floor with a powerful tug. A big grin lit up his face as he guided me into the first swings and motions of the dance.
The beat was fast, and all around us was laughter and joy, everyone really lettin’ their hair down for a change. I’d never been to nothin’ like it, and the giddiness was infectin’ me. I twirled in front of him, just like I had at the house, my skirt floatin’ up around my bare legs before my hand went to his hard chest, touchin’ there lightly. I was still uncertain of myself, of what to do, but I knew I’d fallen hard for him and touchin’ his body like I was felt amazing.
And him, he smiled down at me all the while, those big strong hands on my body, holdin’ me so firmly, feelin’ me in return. But ever the gentleman about it. Only the slightest hints of touches less appropriate. A brief graze of his fingers along my rear as I came to a halt to look up at him again, the light brush of his thumb along the edge of my breasts.
Each dance was magical, more so than the last as we got into a groove together. Our bodies masterin’ the art of workin’ as one on the dancefloor. It was so thrillin’, and it was clear he was enjoyin’ it no less than me.
“You’ve got some real moves. Especially for a woman who’s never danced before,” he said, and I felt for a moment like he had figured out my secret; that I’d dance by myself in my room ever since I was a lil’ girl.
I laughed it off, though, trying to play coy. The band moved to something slower, and he held me a bit tighter, pulling my body against his. My soft breasts against his hard torso, his firm hand on the low of my back as he looked down upon me with a devious glint in his eye.
I could barely breathe, my heart beating so fast as my head spun.
I was in heaven.
The two of us just worked so well together, like a team as Asher said, but so much more. Gazin’ up at him, him down at me, our eyes were locked and it felt so special, his hold on me tightening, squeezing me in against his hard, sculpted body.
Slowly he began to lean down into me, his lips partin’ just a bit, and I felt compelled in closer to him in turn. My head tilted, and we were a hairs breadth away from kissin’. When some scuffle off to the right nabbed our attention.
Asher looked over, and his eyes went wide, then narrowed hard. I followed after his gaze and saw the source of the sounds: several big, leather-clad ruffians were shovin’ the doormen, tryin’ to get into the dance without payin’ I guess.
“Brutes,” I said with a roll of my eyes, angry that they’d interrupted my moment. Our moment.
I could still feel his warm breath on my mouth, but I knew it’d passed. I looked up at him again, and I could tell, he wasn’t just mad that they’d interrupted our kiss.
I looked towards the group of men again and my heart went chill. What was going on?
“Fuck,” Asher cursed, and he moved his hands from around me and took hold of my hand, beginnin’ to guide me through the crowd towards the back of the pavilion.
It wasn’t like Asher to be scared of someone, I thought. After all, I saw how quickly he took off to investigate the disturbance that night at the farm.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him as we began to move.
“Trouble,” he muttered to me. But he was the type of man to run to trouble, not away from it. He went to help, not get away.
“Shouldn’t we help then?” I asked as we moved through the crowd.
“They won’t cause too much trouble, not unless they find me here,” he said through gritted teeth.
Ice water ran th
rough my veins, and I ran a little to keep up with his quick pace.
“Who are they?” I asked, my voice serious as I stuck by his side.
“Some bad, bad men,” he remarked as we went to the rope-fence that walled off the pavilion, he climbed over then reached back for me, lifting me up over then laying me down on the other side with such ease. “Sorry, we should head on back now,” he said to me, a moment’s sadness flickering across his determined face.
It didn’t bother me, having to leave the dance. What bothered me was his expression and the way he spoke of them. It wasn’t just some little thing he was runnin’ from. It was somethin’ way bigger. Something that left me feeling uneasy.
“What’s wrong?”
“I took from ‘em, and they want payback. You hired the wrong guy to work your farm, Shelby,” he said as we moved through the dark towards the parking area, though before I could ask anymore, we were caught. One of ‘em was waitin’ for us. And it was clear it was one of them, because you didn’t see no scraggly lookin’ biker outfits like that around farm country.
“There you fuckin’ are,” the bearded guy said as he advanced towards Asher and I, knife in hand. Though Asher didn’t slow down, he merely let go of my hand and left me as he went right at the man.
I couldn’t help but let loose a panicked cry because I felt for certain he was gonna get stabbed, but the suddenly rush into danger must’ve surprised the thug, or else Asher was just so damned fast and good. Because instead of a knife in his own gut, he planted a fist in the biker’s jaw and grabbed a hold of his wrist.
Crack! Another blow to the face, and that fella was down, his jaw undoubtedly broken. He went down to the ground as Asher still held his wrist in his hand, the knife fumbling from the fella’s grasp into the grass.
Though it weren’t over then, because from around some of the vehicles I saw another one comin’. This guy was big, and carried a big metal pipe in hand as he came at Asher from his blindspot.
“Asher! Watch out!” I cried, and thank the Lord I did! Because he turned just in the nick of time to hold up his arm and block the blow. Their forearms locked as Asher reached up to grab his wrist, and they were locked in a tussle.
