Chapter 54 Part 54
Maggie
A knock on her office door had her looking up. Her eyes widened, then she cried as she got to her feet and wrapped her arms around Asher. She buried her face against his chest and sobbed.
“It was just two days,” Asher said, as his hand rubbed up and down her back, the other hand cradling her head.
Her hands fisted his T-shirt, and after a while, she lifted her head. “I’m just glad you’re out.”
“Does this mean you missed me?”
Maggie swatted his arm and laughed. “Yes, you big idiot, I missed you. Melody missed you, too, and Dakota kept whining as he looked at the front door.”
“I really need to take a shower, and wash the prison grime off. You could always join me,” Asher said, with a sly smile.
“I wish I could, but I’m on a deadline with the payroll.”
“Fine, I’ll just go wash myself, head over to Pop’s, and take Melody off his hands,” Asher said.
“I’ll finish early, and then I’m all yours,” Maggie said.
Asher kissed her forehead, and then he was gone. Maggie sighed, as she sat down behind her desk again. His presence was so big and dominating that, now, the office felt empty.
For the rest of the day, she couldn’t stop smiling. Asher was finally home, and that meant that the evidence the deputies collected had proved his innocence. She’d been a nervous wreck the whole weekend, especially when Thomas told her that Asher didn’t want her to visit him.
Two hours before she usually left the office, Colt appeared in her doorway, and chuckled. “Go home, Maggie. You finished the payroll hours ago. I don’t need an angry, fresh-out-of-jail Asher beating me up.”
Maggie laughed, as she shut down her laptop. “He won’t really beat you up.”
“You know prison changes a person,” he said, and she laughed again.
“He wasn’t in there that long, you goof.”
“I’ll tell everyone else not to bother you two tonight. And you know, Melody’s always welcome at the main house. I need some time alone with her. She has to say my name correctly before she says ‘Dylan,’” Colt said.
“Melody’s fine where she is,” Maggie said, with a smile.
“Asher marched into the house, glared at everyone, and took Melody, all without saying a word. That damn dog’s tail nearly fell off with how much he was wagging it.”
“Poor Colt, you can always get yourself a dog,” Maggie said.
“And a kid,” he said, laughing at the look on Maggie’s face. “I’m kidding!”
“Sure, you are. I’m just going to pretend we didn’t have this conversation and go home.” Maggie had her keys in her hand, nearly pushing Colt out of the office before locking the door.
“Bye!” She ran out of the barn, and jumped into the truck, spinning away from the building in her haste to get to her man.
Asher’s truck stood in front of the shed. A new excitement was bubbling up in her, and she realized that she truly loved him, no matter what. She didn’t care that he’d spent the weekend in jail, even though he was innocent; she wouldn’t have cared if he wasn’t.
When she opened the front door, the crackle from the fireplace welcomed her. She could hear Asher talking to Melody in the kitchen, and she headed straight there after taking her jacket off.
“You’re back early,” Asher said, without turning around.
“Colt chased me out of the barn after a very disturbing conversation,” she said.
Asher turned to look at her over his shoulder. “Colt and disturbing in one sentence, yeah, that sounds right.”
“Are you making dinner?”
“I’m trying, but Melody thinks it’s more fun to feed Dakota whatever I give her,” he said.
“I’m sure he appreciates her feeding him,” Maggie said.
“She’s spoiling him,” Asher replied.
“What are you making?” Maggie moved closer to the counter, where Asher was clearly busy doing something.
“The only thing I know I can make properly. Steak.”
“I smell garlic bread,” she said.
“I bought one of those ones you just put in the oven, and I’ve got steamed vegetables on the stove.”
Maggie smiled and wrapped her arms around him from the side. “What did you get for dessert?”
Asher’s smile froze on his face. “I knew I forgot something.”
Maggie chuckled, unwrapping her arms from him. “I was thinking more along the lines of that shower you promised me.”
“Maggie Conroy! I like the way your mind works,” he said, grinning. “Go sit on the other side of the table, so I can concentrate on our food.”
Maggie laughed, but moved away from him. Asher took a deep breath, and she laughed louder. “Colt was worried that prison might have changed you.”
Asher laughed loudly, and shook his head. “There might be something wrong with his perception of spending the weekend in jail.”
Dakota nudged Melody with his nose, and gave a soft bark. Maggie stood from her chair, and picked her up. “Thank you, Dakota. I’m going to sort out Melody while you finish dinner.”
She bathed Melody, put a fresh diaper on, and dressed her warmly before going back downstairs. The steaks were sizzling, and Asher had set the table. She smiled, as she looked at the glass of wine on the table by her seat.
“Dakota and I figured out our own system. He tells me when she needs a diaper change,” Maggie said.
“He’s a highly intelligent, well-trained, war dog,” Asher said. “Now he’s detecting dirty diapers?”
“He’s an incredible dog, Asher. He never growls at Melody, and he’s always keeping an eye on her.”
“Yeah, he is.”
They finished dinner, making small talk. Asher asked her a hundred questions about anything he might have missed with regard to Melody. They talked about the wedding and the ideas Maggie had.
They put Melody to bed together, Asher watching her with a smile as Maggie tucked her in. Dakota settled himself on the pillow bed, and closed his eyes.
“You owe me a shower,” Asher whispered, and Maggie clasped a hand over her mouth as she laughed.