Chaste

by Lydia Michaels

  Her cheeks heated. She could never do that. “I’m not really his type.”

  “Is he a good man? You’re a good man’s type.”

  That was part of the problem. Kelly was a sexy man. The good was up for debate. She’d been raised the best her daddy knew how to raise a daughter. Kelly would never see eye to eye with her morals and beliefs. She may be lonely—painfully so, at times—but she wouldn’t sacrifice her principles for any man. Not even Kelly McCullough.

  Her father would likely want to see her with a man like himself, one capable of running the land and not afraid of a little hard work. Kelly had a business, one that was a universe away from farming. His days ended as theirs began.

  Roy was right. If she ever wanted to find a husband, she’d better start looking soon. It was time to put her childhood fantasies away and get real.

  “Maybe I should get on one of those dating sites,” she suggested sarcastically. She had a computer she used to keep her records for the store and every once in a while she found spam in her inbox proclaiming to have the key to the hottest singles in Center County.

  Her father snorted. “I can’t imagine finding your soul mate online, but if that’s what kids are doing nowadays who am I to put it down?”

  She hadn’t really been serious about the prospect, but maybe she should. That night, after her father went home, she turned on her laptop, and locked her bedroom door. She lived alone, but coming face to face with her desperation needed absolute privacy. It took only a few minutes to search through her spam folder until she found a message from a dating site offering a free three-month trial.

  Taking a deep breath she clicked the link under the image of what appeared to be a ridiculously happy couple. The site requested her login information. After choosing the profile name, Sugarbear24, she was sent to a page full of questions.

  An hour later she’d contemplated herself more than she ever had in her life. They asked everything from her body type to her personal hobbies. Ashlynn wished she could see the other female profiles to get an idea of what she was up against. Her profile seemed rather dull.

  When she got to the portion asking what the qualities of her perfect mate were, she’d written an entire paragraph only to delete it in the end. It described Kelly McCullough to a T. She really needed to broaden her horizons and reach below the surface if she planned on doing this. In the end she wrote—

  I am seeking a nice man with good Christian values. I love being outdoors, and hope he enjoys the same. Honesty is a must.

  Once she’d submitted the information, the site asked her to upload a picture. Ruffling her fingers through her hair she lifted her phone. All of her flaws seemed suddenly magnified. Her eyes continuously darted to the door of her bedroom. The mere thought of someone seeing how ridiculous she was being humiliated her. The fact that she lived alone in the middle of nowhere only added to her certainty that she was insane—insane and desperate.

  Finally, she managed a halfway decent picture of herself and sent it to her email. Once the image was uploaded to the site, her computer dinged. Huh, she had a message. She clicked on the heart over the envelope at the top of the screen.

  “Oh God,” she said the minute she saw the beer bellied man in a dirty baseball cap. He looked about twenty years her senior.

  Hey Sugar Bear,

  I’d sure like to know ya better.

  TheMan777

  Grimacing, she deleted the message. Her computer dinged again.

  Like the glasses. I have a thing for librarian types. Want to read me a bedtime story?

  BigRodRob

  “Ew.” She got rid of him as well.

  The messages kept coming and before she knew it, it was after midnight. Didn’t these people have work in the morning? As much as she discovered this was a waste of time, she couldn’t look away. It was like a train wreck, each suitor more perverted and unattractive than the last.

  She took another picture. This time without her glasses, thinking that might attract better men. Just as she was about to sign off, another heart appeared in her mailbox from a member named JustJosh. She considered leaving it until morning, but the temptation was too much. After promising herself she’d go to sleep after this one, she clicked on the heart.

  Hello SugarBear24,

  My name’s Josh and I noticed we live close to each other. I haven’t had much luck on this site, but I’m still here looking for Ms. Right. I work at a lumberyard and don’t really get out much, usually too tired after a week of hauling trees. If you’d like to talk I’d like to get to know you. You look sweet and your profile seemed up front and honest.

  Have a good night,

  JustJosh

  By the time she read to the end of the letter a smile tugged at her lips. He sounded normal and his profile picture was nice. JustJosh had blond hair and green eyes. He was a little on the thin side, but he was a far cry from ugly. Most of all, his note didn’t come off creepy or insincere. She clicked on the reply arrow.

  Hello JustJosh,

  This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, so I’m not really sure how it works. Your message was nice and I enjoyed reading it. I don’t have much of a social life either. I work outside and own my own business, so I’m usually pretty exhausted by Friday as well. However, I’d go out more if I had good company. What do you do in your spare time when you’re not tired?

  ~SugarBear24

  Sugar Bear,

  Thanks for getting back to me. I usually hang out at local pubs or play cards with the guys from work. Kind of boring, which, being from Center County, I’m sure you understand. Maybe one day I could take you out and treat you to some of that good company we both seem to be looking for. Just to talk of course. There’s a bar near me called O’Malley’s. Do you know of it?

  ~Josh

  She blushed. It was the first time a guy ever asked her out. Surprise folded into a warm, buttery thrill. Maybe there was more to be said for this online dating thing. Ignoring the fact that O’Malley’s was Kelly’s bar, she replied.

  Hi Josh,

  I know O’Malley’s. It’s only a few miles from my house. Lol…Yes, Center County can be quite boring at times. I’d love to meet you. By the way, my name is Ashlynn.

  ~Ashlynn

  Hi Ashlynn,

  That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. How about next Friday? Say we meet at O’Malley’s around seven?

  ~Josh

  Nerves twittered up her spine and in her belly. Was it really that easy? Should she say yes? It wasn’t like she was agreeing to go to his house. O’Malley’s was familiar and seemed a safe place to meet a stranger. Besides, there was no stopping any other stranger from approaching her all the other times she visited the pub. What was the harm?

  Hi Josh,

  Friday night at seven sounds great. I look forward to meeting you. I’m going to say goodnight now, as it’s way past my bedtime.

  Nice meeting you.

  ~Ashlynn

  As she shut her laptop she smiled. She had a date!

  Chapter Two

  Kelly shuffled and dealt out the cards. “Sevens are wild.”

  His brother Finn passed him a beer as he scooped up his hand. “Come on, the twins need new sneaks.”

  “Saw you and Mallory running the twins with that new, fancy jogging stroller the other day. Manly,” Kelly teased his newlywed brother as he dealt out the cards.

  The McCullough brothers had been gifted with two sisters-in-law over the past few years, first his brother Colin’s wife, Sammy, and now Finn’s charming lady, Mallory. The bachelors were dropping like flies, but Kelly was doing his best to maintain his reprobate image.

  “You’re just jealous,” Finn remarked as he dropped two cards and Kelly dealt out two new ones.

  “Luke, put down the phone and take your turn,” their dad grumbled.

  Luke, Finn’s twin, pocketed the phone. “I, ah, was just cleaning out some apps.”

  Kelly raised a brow. His
brother was so secretive. He’d obviously been sending a text. “Did you ever notice how when you start deleting apps on an iPhone the other apps start trembling like they’re wondering who’s next to get the ax?” Kelly joked as Luke took his turn.

  Luke traded in a card and said, “Josh here has a date tomorrow night.”

  Josh, one of the guys from their family’s lumberyard who played cards with them regularly, shot Luke a look, likely telling Kelly’s brother to can it.

  “Is that so?” Kelly teased the younger man.

  “It’s no big deal. We haven’t even met yet.”

  Frank, Kelly’s father, laid down a flush and Kelly folded. He turned to Josh. “How do you get a date with a lassie you’ve never met?”

  Josh grimaced. “I met her online.”

  Everyone stilled then laughed. “Online? That’s no way to meet a woman. She won’t look anything like her picture, I bet,” Kelly said as his father took the pot.

  Josh shrugged. “She’s pretty enough. I’ve talked to her a few times over the past few days. She seems nice, easygoing, no frills.”

  “Of course she seems pretty enough. Lassies have special cameras for that sort of shit. I think there’s a special lens setting they use just between portrait and landscape called dating site.”

  Josh rolled his eyes. “We’re meeting at O’Malley’s tomorrow night.”

  Kelly grinned and passed the deck to Finn. “Oh, I can’t wait to see this. Should we have some sort of signal in case you need rescuing?”

  Josh put down his cards and shrugged. “Even if she isn’t what I expected I’ll still treat her to dinner. She seems shy and I don’t want to be rude.”

  “Is she from around here?” Finn asked.

  “Yeah,” Josh said, peeling back the label of his beer. “She went to high school with us actually, but I don’t remember her. I think she was in your grade, Kelly.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s her name?” He’d likely sampled the goods, but he’d keep that to himself. Josh was a good guy and he didn’t want to throw him just before his date with his possible destiny.

  Finn snorted. “Knowing Kelly, he probably slept with her.”

  Kelly narrowed his eyes at Finn and sipped his beer. It was one thing for him to take a jab at himself, but when the others ribbed him it got old. It was old a decade ago, but that was who he was and they all knew it.

  “Her name’s Ashlynn.”

  Kelly stilled, a mouthful of beer still on his tongue. He forced it down. “Ashlynn Fisher?” What the hell was a girl like Ashlynn doing agreeing to meet strangers she found online?

  Josh shrugged. “We didn’t exchange last names, but Ashlynn isn’t a real popular name so that’s probably her.”

  Kelly purposefully blanked his expression as his mind tried to make sense of the information unraveling and why it irritated him so much.

  After running into her the other day he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He couldn’t quite remember what it was she said, but it pissed him off. Assuming she was too sweet to judge others, it jarred, the way she insulted him. Apparently even the church folk knew his reputation.

  Finn scratched his chin and leaned back in his chair. His brother sucked at poker and folded again.

  “Ashlynn Fisher,” Finn said retrospectively. “I remember her. Quiet little thing, sort of bookish looking, always hiding behind those glasses. Her dad owns Fisher Farm. It was a shame when her mom died. She used to be really pretty.”

  Kelly frowned. “She’s still pretty.”

  “I just mean she used to wear dresses and have her hair braided. After her mom passed away she sort of turned into a straggly tomboy. I have no idea what she looks like now.”

  Josh laid down a straight and twisted the cap off another beer. “Well, if it’s the same girl, she’s pretty. She’s got short spikey hair and I think she wears contacts now.”

  Ashlynn didn’t wear contacts. “She has glasses,” Kelly said, unsure why he cared.

  Josh shrugged. “She didn’t have them on in her picture.”

  He frowned. Why would she remove her glasses for a picture? Those glasses only added to her cuteness. He liked the little gems in the corner of the frames.

  Luke sniggered. “You probably should’ve picked a better place to take her than O’Malley’s.”

  “What’s wrong with O’Malley’s?” Kelly asked defensively. O’Malley’s was his place, for the most part, and it was the hot spot in their Podunk town.

  Luke raised an eyebrow. “Nothing, but it’s common knowledge Ashlynn Fisher only goes there for one reason.”

  “What’s that?” Josh asked.

  “To gawk at Kelly,” his brothers said at once.

  Kelly scowled at them. “Bullshit.”

  “Oh, come on, Kel! That girl’s had a thing for you since high school. Even Sheilagh knows it.”

  “I know what?” their sister said, coming into the den. Great. His little sister was a shark when it came to Hold’em. “Deal me in, boys.” She straddled the chair beside their father.

  They all sighed. “There go my winnings,” Luke said.

  Finn snorted. “Like you’ve won.”

  “The intention was there,” Luke commented.

  Sheilagh scooped up her hand. “So, what do I know?”

  “That Ashlynn Fisher has a thing for Kelly.”

  Sheilagh laughed. “Oh yeah. That poor girl’s got it bad for Kelly, has since we were little.”

  “Great,” Josh mumbled. “Is there anyone in Center County you didn’t ruin for the rest of us?”

  “Have no fear, my friend. Ashlynn’s not my type,” Kelly reassured the man, even though he couldn’t deny the girl’s sex appeal.

  “Why? What’s wrong with her?”

  Kelly’s brain blanked as he thought of a way to explain. “She’s just…”

  “Farmish,” Finn offered.

  “Quiet,” Luke added.

  “Virginal.” Sheilagh spoke knowingly, hitting the nail on the head with an arrogant smile.

  Josh’s eyes widened. “She’s a virgin?”

  “No,” Kelly snapped, defensively lying for the girl without thought, but at the same time the rest of them unanimously said, “Yes.”

  “Holy shit. She’s twenty-four.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” their father mumbled, as he switched out his hand.

  Josh appeared shocked at this bit of information. “I know. It’s just…unheard of.”

  Finn waggled his eyebrows. “Maybe you play your cards right and she won’t be a virgin for long.”

  Kelly shoved his brother. “Don’t say shit like that.”

  They all turned and gawked at him.

  “What’s it to you, Kelly?” Sheilagh asked, her pert mouth twisting mischievously.

  He shrugged and tried to distract himself with his shitty hand. “It’s nothing to me.”

  “Well, I know how you can cash in on that deal, Josh. Full house, boys,” Sheilagh said as she scooped up the pot.

  “How’s that?” Josh asked and Kelly scowled. He wasn’t cashing in on shit.

  Sheilagh stacked her chips and smiled shrewdly. “Marry her.”

  Josh paled. “Uh, I didn’t even know her last name until five minutes ago.”

  “Well, it’s Fisher and I know all about her. We went to CCD together to learn our sacraments. Everyone knows that ring on her finger’s a promise ring her dad gave her when she was sixteen. She’s old school, saving herself for the man she marries.”

  Their father grumbled something in Sheilagh’s direction Kelly didn’t catch. His sister was the wild child and there were certain things he was sure his father didn’t want to think about, like the ways Sheilagh and Ashlynn Fisher differed.

  “Well, shit,” Josh said as he put down his beer. “I’m just looking for a date, not a wife.”

  “Then maybe you should look somewhere else,” Kelly mumbled, standing from the table to toss his bottle in the recycling. When he turned everyone was
frowning at him. “What?”

  Finn smiled. “Maybe you should date her, Kelly. You seem awfully protective of her.”

  “I don’t even know the girl.”

  Josh continued to frown. “Don’t tell him that. If Kelly goes after her I don’t have a shot in hell.”

  “I think Josh should date her,” Sheilagh said, an evil glint in her green eyes. “I think he should woo her and all kinds of good stuff. We can have a secret pool on how long it takes for her to take off that ring.”

  “Sheilagh!” Kelly snapped.

  “What?” His sister shrugged innocently. “It’ll be fun.”

  “I’m in.” Luke tossed a twenty on the table. “I say she holds out for marriage.”

  “Damn it, Luke!” As someone who was frequently stereotyped, he didn’t like the turn the game was taking. Sure, it was a private joke, but his brother’s insensitivity was appalling.

  “Since when are you such a prude?” Finn asked, pulling out a twenty. “I say two months and the ring’s off with no engagement ring in its place. I think her virtue is more circumstantial than devotional.”

  Sheilagh whipped out a piece of paper from her purse and jotted down everyone’s names. “Josh?”

  Josh shifted, looking uncomfortable. “I don’t really feel right betting on this.”

  “With an attitude like that, I say Josh isn’t the one she takes her ring off for,” his father said, sliding Sheilagh a twenty. “You need a winning attitude, lad.”

  “Dad!” Kelly snapped. He grabbed for the list, but Sheilagh snatched it out of reach.

  She smiled mischievously. “I’m with you, Dad. But I’m going for the dark horse. I say she takes the ring off for Center County’s finest, our very own rake and rogue, Kelly McCullough, but I also say she gets him to marry her first.”

  “Are you fucking crazy?” Kelly demanded. “I’m not looking to ever enter that three ring circus.”

  Finn frowned. “What three ring circus? Marriage is great.”