Chapter 99 Part 99
Emerson
The rain lasted another two days, and on the morning of the third day, Asher had left at 5 a.m. He kissed her forehead, and she smiled in the dark room as he moved around, silently getting dressed.
Falling asleep in his bed had happened automatically. She had no idea how he’d carried her upstairs, their arms wrapped around each other, and their tongues fighting for dominance.
Asher was generous. He gave freely of himself, and Emerson couldn’t help falling harder and harder, as each day passed. Eden’s words came back to her, and she shifted in Asher’s bed.
She had no idea how things would work long-term. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Being with Asher felt real, it felt right. She almost wished that they wouldn’t catch Grover.
She sighed, knowing that life didn’t work that way. Fairytales and dreams didn’t come true, because this couldn’t possibly be real, could it? Men like Asher didn’t exist in real life.
At 7 a.m., she dragged herself out of his bed, and got ready for the day. She drank coffee, and ate a bowl of cereal before she locked the house behind her, and walked the 1.5 miles to the main barn where Eden worked.
Colt stood by the door at the far side, and he turned to look at her when she walked inside. He took a step backwards, and held his hands up as she chuckled.
“Hi, Emma!” he yelled loudly.
“Hey, Colt,” she replied.
“Does Asher know you’re walking around alone on the ranch?”
Emerson stopped, and put her hands on her hips. “Is Asher my boss?”
“Uh…is that a trick question?” He grinned, and Emerson really looked at him. He was Asher’s height, slightly leaner in bulk, but he was just as attractive as his older brother.
“Don’t you have some poor girl’s heart to break?” she asked him.
He barked out a laugh, and shook his head. “I ain’t breaking any hearts, I promise you.”
She turned to look at the voices coming from the hallway. A tall man, with a cowboy hat in his hands, walked behind Eden. His eyes were glued to her ass, and Emerson smiled. He had dark hair, very blue eyes, and was quite catching. She could tell he was rich; she wasn’t sure how, but she could tell.
“Hey, Emma, this is Winchester McRoy,” Eden said, and turned to look at the man behind her. “This is Emma, Asher’s girlfriend.”
“Hello, Emma, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you already,” he said, with a charming smile.
“Can’t say I’ve heard anything about you in return. You wouldn’t happen to be friends with Lorelei, would you?”
Winchester chuckled. “I see you’re not shy to speak your mind. Hold on to that, you’re going to need it.” He turned toward Eden, and his eyes held mischief. “Thanks for the advice, Eden. I’ll send you that proof of payment for the horse.”
Eden nodded her head, and they both watched Winchester McRoy walk out of the barn. Emerson turned her head to the side, and Colt’s arm came to rest on her shoulders.
“Should I feel offended that you watched his ass as he walked away but not mine?”
Eden laughed loudly, and Emerson grinned. “Who says I don’t watch your ass?”
“I can feel it when a woman watches me as I walk away. Trust me, you ain’t ever checked out my ass.”
“Walk away then, Colt, and maybe I’ll surprise you,” Emerson said.
Colt grinned, stuck his fingers through the loops of his jeans, and strutted away from them. Emerson stared hard at his ass, and Colt laughed. “I felt that, Emma!”
She laughed, and turned to look at Eden. “There’s something really wrong with your brother.”
“We call it the Colt Syndrome,” Eden said. “Come on, my office is warmer.”
Emerson followed Eden back to her office, and switched the kettle on. She prepared two cups, and sat down in her chair. Emerson looked around, and fixed her gaze on Eden.
“What exactly were you and Mr. Cowboy doing in here?”
Eden’s gaze snapped up. “Business. He has a horse that needs to be trained.”
“Uh huh,” Emerson said. “Your desk isn’t in the same spot, Eden. I can see the indents in the carpet where it used to stand.”
Eden’s cheeks reddened as she jumped to her feet, and pushed her desk forward. “How about now?”
“It’s fine now,” she said, and grinned as Eden turned her attention back to the kettle that had finally boiled. “Eden Fitzgerald! Did you get it on with him in your office?”
“Lower your voice!” Eden hissed, but a soft smile graced her lips. “Maybe I did, and maybe I didn’t.”
“I hope it wasn’t on this chair I’m sitting in.”
Eden laughed, as she placed the cup down on the table in front of Emerson. “It wasn’t. Your behind is safe sitting there.”
“So, why the secrecy? Is he married? Does he have a girlfriend? Do your brothers not like him?”
“He’s not married, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend. He went to school with Asher, so he’s a lot older than I am,” Eden said.
“Then what’s the problem?”
Eden sighed, and leaned back in her seat. “He was here to talk about his horse, but he was also here to tell me that he’s getting engaged, and–”
“What?!”
Eden held up her hand, and Emerson closed her mouth, anger flashing in her eyes. “His mother gave him until his 27th birthday, which was last week, to be young and sow his wild oats before she found him a wife.”
“Found him a wife? That is so archaic. This isn’t the 17th century where marriages were arranged!”
“She’s adamant that he’ll be paired up with someone respectable, meaning, not someone from Two Bear Meadow.”
“And he told you that after getting it on with you?” Emerson’s hands had formed fists on her lap, and she slowly straightened her fingers. The anger had surprised her. She cared about them all.
“It’s complicated.”